Written by Wouter Kramer
Life and Times of John Waite
John Waite - Short Biography
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John Waite.
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Without realizing it many people are acquainted with John Waite.
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Although a first encounter with the name "John Waite doesnt immediately ring a bell, a short summary of his
?xml:namespace> musical achievements commands very soon recognition, admiration and respect.
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Especially his unique, pristine and fragile voice throws people into ecstasies. John Waite is: The Babys, the solo hit
?xml:namespace> "Missing You and - of course - Bad English.
?xml:namespace> Being born in
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Like no other his voice is capable to shape the stilled emotions and chilled romantic relations through singular songs and lovely tuneful scores - the voice of John Waite is one of unmatched quality.
?xml:namespace> The excellently modest, crystal clear sung, distinct vocals accomplish that pieces of music like: "Isnt It Time, "Every
?xml:namespace> Time I Think Of You (with The Babys), "Missing You, "Time Stood Still and "When I See You Smile (with Bad
?xml:namespace> English) are ever more often being regarded as pinnacles of the rocking chronicles.
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Together with The Babys John Waite had big hits, apart from The Netherlands also in
?xml:namespace> in particular in the U.S. of America.
?xml:namespace> Very well known are: "Isnt It Time (nr. 4 position in The Netherlands - 1977), "Every Time I Think Of You
?xml:namespace> (nr. 7 position in 1979) and "Piece Of The Action - records that were played perpetually by Frits Spits and others.
?xml:namespace> After The Babys separated in 1981, John Waite had a number one hit record in the U.S. of America with: "Missing
?xml:namespace> You - which was also an "M.T.V.-Darling.
?xml:namespace> In this song John Waite describes the miserable loneliness he felt when living in the
?xml:namespace> adolescent love
?xml:namespace> His song "Missing You has numerous times been covered by other artists.
?xml:namespace> Tina Turner, Rod Stewart, Brooks and Dun, Tylor Hilton but also our own Bert Heering (Vandenberg) paid honour to the quality of the song by recording and releasing their version.
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In 1989 Bad English made her appearance, comprising John Waite and some old friends from The Babys.
?xml:namespace> The name: "Bad English was derived from a snooker term.
?xml:namespace> According to critics Bad English was a characteristic Arena rock band - as were more bands in the American late eighties.
?xml:namespace> The first (self-titled) album of Bad English reached platinum status and with "When I See You Smile John Waite had
?xml:namespace> his second number one hit-single in the U.S. of America.
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The bands 2nd album - Backlash - produced two big hits: "Straight To Your Heart and: "Time Stood Still, despite
?xml:namespace> the lack of a supportive video-clip as Bad English had already disbanded. The latter song reached our national top ten in 1992, being an ex-Veronica Alarm-disc.
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John Waites short-lived collaboration with his Dutch friend Adje van den Berg didnt leave any musical expressions
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?xml:namespace> In 2001 John Waite and his former palls from Bad English (now being the super group Journey) were on tour through
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?xml:namespace> There was silent hope that he, together with Jonathan Cain, Neal Schon and Dean Castronova (all former members
?xml:namespace> of The Babys and Bad English) would ever record together again - certainly now they were hanging around friendly
?xml:namespace> again with each other.
?xml:namespace> However, John Waite prefers to proceed his successful career as solo artist.
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Anyway, with his 2008 glorious solo album Downtown Journey Of A Heart (Frontiers records) John Waite got back in
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the forefront - a position which he, considering his service record, fully deserved.
?xml:namespace> The album Downtown Journey Of A Heart (2008) includes a newly sung - breathtaking - performance of The
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Babys classic "Isnt It Time, a wonderful version of "Missing You - sung in duet with Alison Krauss - and a
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