Glen Burtnik
Encyclopedia
Glen Burtnik is a singer, songwriter, entertainer and multi-instrumentalist, best known as a former member of Styx
.
The spelling of his name has changed a few times over the years (born Glenn Burtnick, then changed to Glen Burtnick, and finally Glen Burtnik, spelled with one N, no C).
Burtnik appeared in the Broadway
production of Beatlemania
as Paul McCartney
, alongside Marshall Crenshaw
, who played John Lennon
. He continues his love of The Beatles
to this day, with the tribute band
Liverpool. This band are regular performers at the Fest for Beatles Fans, annually held in the Metropolitan New York City
area and Chicago with occasional stops elsewhere.
He has written chart-topping hits such as "Sometimes Love Just Ain't Enough
" for Patty Smyth
and Don Henley
, "Spirit Of A Boy, Wisdom Of A Man", and "Delicious Surprise", hosted the School of Rock radio show on The Hawk - 105.7 FM, and recorded/toured/collaborated with well-known artists. As a member of Styx, he was heavily featured on the hit album Edge of the Century
and co-wrote (with lead singer Dennis DeYoung) the last Billboard Top 40 hit for the band "Love At First Sight" (#25, 1991).
He was a member of LaBamba and The Hubcaps led by New Jersey shore favorite Richie 'LaBamba' Rosenberg before leaving to start his solo career in 1986. One of the Hubcaps' popular songs was the Burtnik-written "Here Comes Sally" which later appeared on Burtnik's 1987 solo LP Heroes and Zeroes.
While solo success has been relatively elusive, he did score a minor hit in 1987 with "Follow You," a track off his Heroes and Zeroes album, which peaked at #65 on the Billboard Hot 100
. Follow-up releases have been less successful.
In 1989, Burtnik performed the song "Not So Far Away", for the film Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure
.
One of his songs, "Face in the Mirror" was used in a series of TV commercials for Philishave
electric shavers in the 1990s. Burtnik officially left Styx in 2003 because he wanted to be closer to home.
In 2006, Dennis DeYoung
asked him to be a part of his band for selected shows to help promote his CD One Hundred Years From Now
, which was released in Canada in 2007 and in the USA in 2009. Burtnik performed with DeYoung some of the material he wrote with Styx during the Edge of The Century album including "Love Is The Ritual", "Edge of the Century", and "Lost Treasures", which are some of the songs that were written for Styx on Edge of the Century II which never got recorded because Styx at that time did not have a recording contract with a record company in 1992.
Burtnik and his family were featured on the October 16, 2006, season premiere episode of the Discovery Channel
show, It Takes a Thief
. During the second season of this show, Burtnik and his family were the "victims" of a staged robbery.
In April 2009 he performed in Europe and the USA with The Orchestra replacing the late Kelly Groucutt
on bass.
Glen Burtnik's Xmas Xtravaganza is an annual holiday concert which benefits area food banks and other worthwhile charities. The show has grown larger each year, evolving into a New York-New Jersey area tradition not to be missed. It features a colorful cast of characters which changes from year to year, but in the past has included such luminaries as Patty Smyth, John McEnroe, Phoebe Snow, Marshall Crenshaw, The Patti Smith Band, Fred Schneider (B-52's), Jill Sobule, Idina Menzel, Jeffrey Gaines, Freedy Johnston, Dan Bern, John Waite, Curtis Stigers, Styx, Mary Lee Kortes, and Willie Nile, among others. The 2010 show was staged at the Count Basie Theater in Red Bank, NJ, and featured over 100 performers. Originally started in 1989, the show has been held every year except 1990-1991, making the 2010 Xmas Xtravanganza the 20th Anniversary of this event.
Styx (band)
Styx is an American rock band that became famous for its albums from the late 1970s and early 1980s. The Chicago band is known for melding the style of prog-rock with the power of hard rock guitar, strong ballads, and elements of American musical theater....
.
The spelling of his name has changed a few times over the years (born Glenn Burtnick, then changed to Glen Burtnick, and finally Glen Burtnik, spelled with one N, no C).
Burtnik appeared in the Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
production of Beatlemania
Beatlemania (musical)
Beatlemania was a Broadway musical revue focused on the music of The Beatles as it related to the events and changing attitudes of the tumultuous Sixties...
as Paul McCartney
Paul McCartney
Sir James Paul McCartney, MBE, Hon RAM, FRCM is an English musician, singer-songwriter and composer. Formerly of The Beatles and Wings , McCartney is listed in Guinness World Records as the "most successful musician and composer in popular music history", with 60 gold discs and sales of 100...
, alongside Marshall Crenshaw
Marshall Crenshaw
Marshall Crenshaw is an American singer, songwriter and guitarist best known for his song "Someday, Someway".-Biography:...
, who played John Lennon
John Lennon
John Winston Lennon, MBE was an English musician and singer-songwriter who rose to worldwide fame as one of the founding members of The Beatles, one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music...
. He continues his love of The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
to this day, with the tribute band
Tribute band
A tribute act is a music group, singer, or musician who specifically plays the music of a well-known music act - sometimes one which has disbanded, ceased touring or is deceased. Probably the largest class of tributes acts are Elvis impersonators, individual performers who mimic the songs and style...
Liverpool. This band are regular performers at the Fest for Beatles Fans, annually held in the Metropolitan New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
area and Chicago with occasional stops elsewhere.
He has written chart-topping hits such as "Sometimes Love Just Ain't Enough
Sometimes Love Just Ain't Enough
"Sometimes Love Just Ain't Enough" is the title of a 1992 rock ballad performed as a duet by the American singers Patty Smyth and Don Henley.-History:...
" for Patty Smyth
Patty Smyth
Patty Smyth is an American rock and roll musician. She first enjoyed mainstream success in 1982 as lead singer of the band Scandal and later scored a solo #2 hit with her song "Sometimes Love Just Ain't Enough"...
and Don Henley
Don Henley
Donald Hugh "Don" Henley is an American singer, songwriter and drummer, best known as a founding member of the Eagles before launching a successful solo career. Henley was the drummer and lead vocalist for the Eagles from 1971–1980, when the band broke up...
, "Spirit Of A Boy, Wisdom Of A Man", and "Delicious Surprise", hosted the School of Rock radio show on The Hawk - 105.7 FM, and recorded/toured/collaborated with well-known artists. As a member of Styx, he was heavily featured on the hit album Edge of the Century
Edge of the Century
Edge of the Century is the twelfth studio album by Styx, released in 1990. It was the first Styx album featuring A&M solo artist Glen Burtnik, the only album to feature the Dennis DeYoung/James Young/Glen Burtnik/Chuck Panozzo/John Panozzo lineup, and the last album to feature John Panozzo on drums...
and co-wrote (with lead singer Dennis DeYoung) the last Billboard Top 40 hit for the band "Love At First Sight" (#25, 1991).
He was a member of LaBamba and The Hubcaps led by New Jersey shore favorite Richie 'LaBamba' Rosenberg before leaving to start his solo career in 1986. One of the Hubcaps' popular songs was the Burtnik-written "Here Comes Sally" which later appeared on Burtnik's 1987 solo LP Heroes and Zeroes.
While solo success has been relatively elusive, he did score a minor hit in 1987 with "Follow You," a track off his Heroes and Zeroes album, which peaked at #65 on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
. Follow-up releases have been less successful.
In 1989, Burtnik performed the song "Not So Far Away", for the film Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure
Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure
Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure is a 1989 American science fiction–comedy buddy film and the first film in the Bill & Ted franchise in which two metalhead slackers travel through time to assemble a menagerie of historical figures for their high school history presentation.The film was written by...
.
One of his songs, "Face in the Mirror" was used in a series of TV commercials for Philishave
Philishave
Philishave was the brand name for the electric shavers manufactured by the Philips Domestic Appliances and Personal Care unit of Philips . In recent years, Philips had extended the Philishave brand to include hair clippers, beard trimmers and beard shapers...
electric shavers in the 1990s. Burtnik officially left Styx in 2003 because he wanted to be closer to home.
In 2006, Dennis DeYoung
Dennis DeYoung
Dennis DeYoung is an American singer, songwriter, musician and producer best known for being a founding member of the rock band Styx, a tenure that lasted from 1970 to 1999.-Early life:...
asked him to be a part of his band for selected shows to help promote his CD One Hundred Years From Now
One Hundred Years from Now (album)
One Hundred Years from Now is the fifth studio album from Dennis DeYoung.The album was initially released in Canada in 2007, with the first single being the title track, which is a duet in French and English with Éric Lapointe....
, which was released in Canada in 2007 and in the USA in 2009. Burtnik performed with DeYoung some of the material he wrote with Styx during the Edge of The Century album including "Love Is The Ritual", "Edge of the Century", and "Lost Treasures", which are some of the songs that were written for Styx on Edge of the Century II which never got recorded because Styx at that time did not have a recording contract with a record company in 1992.
Burtnik and his family were featured on the October 16, 2006, season premiere episode of the Discovery Channel
Discovery Channel
Discovery Channel is an American satellite and cable specialty channel , founded by John Hendricks and distributed by Discovery Communications. It is a publicly traded company run by CEO David Zaslav...
show, It Takes a Thief
It Takes a Thief (2005 TV series)
It Takes a Thief is an American reality television series that originally aired on the Discovery Channel from February 2, 2005 to April 13, 2007...
. During the second season of this show, Burtnik and his family were the "victims" of a staged robbery.
In April 2009 he performed in Europe and the USA with The Orchestra replacing the late Kelly Groucutt
Kelly Groucutt
Kelly Groucutt , born Michael William Groucutt, was an English musician who was best known for being the bass player for the band Electric Light Orchestra , between 1974 and 1983. He was born in Coseley, West Midlands.-Early career:Groucutt began his musical career at 15 as Rikki Storm of Rikki...
on bass.
Glen Burtnik's Xmas Xtravaganza is an annual holiday concert which benefits area food banks and other worthwhile charities. The show has grown larger each year, evolving into a New York-New Jersey area tradition not to be missed. It features a colorful cast of characters which changes from year to year, but in the past has included such luminaries as Patty Smyth, John McEnroe, Phoebe Snow, Marshall Crenshaw, The Patti Smith Band, Fred Schneider (B-52's), Jill Sobule, Idina Menzel, Jeffrey Gaines, Freedy Johnston, Dan Bern, John Waite, Curtis Stigers, Styx, Mary Lee Kortes, and Willie Nile, among others. The 2010 show was staged at the Count Basie Theater in Red Bank, NJ, and featured over 100 performers. Originally started in 1989, the show has been held every year except 1990-1991, making the 2010 Xmas Xtravanganza the 20th Anniversary of this event.
Solo albums
- Talking in Code (1986)
- Heroes & Zeroes (1987)
- Slaves of New Brunswick (1991) (credited to "Slaves of New Brunswick")
- technically a "Glen Burtnik and Friends" release, featuring Glen Burtnik and 60 of his friends
- Palookaville (1996)
- Retrospectacle (1996)
- Welcome To Hollywood (2004)
- Solo (You Can Hardly Hear) (2005)
- The Welcome To Hollywood Demos Vol. 1 (2005)
As a member of other bands, etc.
- "I Hate Disco Music" b/w "Ooga Sha La Bango" (single) (1978) (with The Sides)
- Hammer (1979) (with Jan HammerJan HammerJan Hammer is a composer, pianist and keyboardist. He first gained his most visible audience while playing keyboards with the Mahavishnu Orchestra in the early 1970s, as well as his film scores for television and film including "Miami Vice Theme" and "Crockett's Theme", from the popular 1980s...
) - Helmet Boy (1980) (with Helmet Boy)
- Edge of the CenturyEdge of the CenturyEdge of the Century is the twelfth studio album by Styx, released in 1990. It was the first Styx album featuring A&M solo artist Glen Burtnik, the only album to feature the Dennis DeYoung/James Young/Glen Burtnik/Chuck Panozzo/John Panozzo lineup, and the last album to feature John Panozzo on drums...
(1990) (with Styx) - A Live Christmas Extravaganza (1994) (various artists)
- Stiff Competition: A Tribute to Cheap Trick (various artists)
- Spirit Of Asbury Park (various artists)
- Arch Allies: Live at RiverportArch Allies: Live at RiverportArch Allies is a live album recorded by REO Speedwagon and Styx at Riverport Amphitheatre in Maryland Heights, Missouri, a suburb of St. Louis....
(with Styx and REO SpeedwagonREO SpeedwagonREO Speedwagon is an American rock band. Formed in 1967, the band grew in popularity during the 1970s and peaked in the early 1980s. Hi Infidelity is the group's most commercially successful album, selling over ten million copies and charting four Top 40 hits in the US...
) - Styxworld (with Styx)
- At the River's Edge: Live in St. LouisAt the River's Edge: Live in St. LouisAt the River's Edge, by the rock band Styx is a single-disc version of Arch Allies: Live at Riverport, featuring only the Styx set, and including live versions of the tracks "Everything Is Cool" and "Lorelei" in place of the Jam versions of "Blue Collar Man" and "Roll with the Changes" that Styx...
(with Styx) - Jersey Jams Jersey Cares (various artists)
- CycloramaCyclorama (album)Cyclorama is the fourteenth studio album by Styx, released in. This was the first studio album with Lawrence Gowan, following the departure of group co-founder Dennis DeYoung in 1999. It was also the only album released by the Lawrence Gowan/Tommy Shaw/James Young/Glen Burtnik/Todd Sucherman...
(with Styx)