Rik Emmett
Encyclopedia
Richard Gordon Emmett (born July 10, 1953 in Toronto, Ontario) is a vocalist, guitarist
, and founding member of the Canadian
rock band Triumph
. Emmett left Triumph in 1988 to pursue a solo career. His first solo album, Absolutely
, was released in 1990 and became a moderate hit across North America thanks to the hits "When a Heart Breaks" and "Saved by Love". He is also a writer for Guitar Player
magazine and teaches songwriting and music business at Humber College
in Toronto.
For a time during the 1980s, Rik Emmett also contributed cartoons satirizing the music industry to Hit Parader
magazine.
Due to a production error in spelling his name correctly by Gil Moore and Mike Levine on Triumph's first album, Rick Emmett changed the spelling of his name to Rik rather than have the album recalled or cause confusion with fans.
Among his peers, Rik Emmett is widely considered to be one of the most proficient and versatile guitarists of all time. Although he is best known as a premier rock guitarist, his playing style incorporates rock, blues, jazz, classical, bluegrass and flamenco techniques. Similarly, his songwriting and discography demonstrate his ability to employ and blend multiple genres. In April 2005, Emmett was lauded with the Canadian Smooth Jazz Award for Guitarist of the Year.
He is also a skilled vocalist with a wide vocal range. He was the primary singer for most Triumph
songs during his time with them, though drummer Gil Moore
also wrote and sang many songs. However, most of the songs garnering radio play were Emmett's as he tended to write and sing in a more "commercial" style, while Moore's songwriting and singing were in more of a heavy metal style.
In 2007, Rik Emmett joined former Triumph bandmates Gil Moore and Mike Levine for their induction into the Canadian Music Industry Hall of Fame. And, on Sunday April 6, 2008 at The 2008 JUNO Awards, Triumph was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame by the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS).
As of 2008 Rik Emmett, Mike Levine and Gil Moore have agreed to play a rock festival in Sweden in the summer under the Triumph moniker. The group has said that more dates will follow.
As a result of very positive audience response to their dual guitar work in Rik's live shows, Rik and fellow guitarist Dave Dunlop
formed the mostly-acoustic duo Strung-Out Troubadours
, with two albums so far. In 2007, Strung-Out Troubadours won "Album of the Year" and "Group/Duo of the Year" at the Canadian Smooth Jazz Awards, where they were the most heavily-nominated act. Both Rik & Dave were also nominated for "Best Guitarist". Emmett and Dunlop are scheduled to release another Strung-Out Troubadours release in 2009 titled Push & Pull.
Throughout his career, Emmett has been associated with guitars from Framus, Gibson, Dean and Yamaha, particularly as an endorser of the latter two.
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
, and founding member of the Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
rock band Triumph
Triumph (band)
Triumph is a Canadian hard rock power trio that was popular in the late 1970s through the 1980s. Eight of the band's albums were certified gold or higher, and Triumph was nominated for multiple Juno Awards, including Group of the Year Award in 1979, 1985, 1986 and 1987.Like their fellow Canadians...
. Emmett left Triumph in 1988 to pursue a solo career. His first solo album, Absolutely
Absolutely (Rik Emmett album)
Absolutely is the debut solo album by the Canadian rock guitarist Rik Emmett, released in 1990, after leaving the heavy metal band Triumph. The album was released in 1990 and went gold in Canada and the US immediately. The album eventually reached platinum in both countries...
, was released in 1990 and became a moderate hit across North America thanks to the hits "When a Heart Breaks" and "Saved by Love". He is also a writer for Guitar Player
Guitar Player
Guitar Player is a popular magazine for guitarists founded in 1967. It contains articles, interviews, reviews and lessons of an eclectic collection of artists, genres and products. It has been in print since the late 1960s and during the 1980s, under editor Tom Wheeler, the publication was...
magazine and teaches songwriting and music business at Humber College
Humber College
Humber College Institute of Technology & Advanced Learning is a polytechnic college in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Humber offers more than 150 programs including: bachelor’s degree, diploma, certificate, post-graduate certificate and apprenticeship programs, across 40 fields of study. Humber serves...
in Toronto.
For a time during the 1980s, Rik Emmett also contributed cartoons satirizing the music industry to Hit Parader
Hit Parader
Hit Parader is an American music magazine focusing on the genres of hard rock, pop, and heavy metal.The magazine was originally started as a pop song lyric magazine by Charlton Publications in 1942. Charlton sold off the magazine before the company went under in 1991...
magazine.
Due to a production error in spelling his name correctly by Gil Moore and Mike Levine on Triumph's first album, Rick Emmett changed the spelling of his name to Rik rather than have the album recalled or cause confusion with fans.
Among his peers, Rik Emmett is widely considered to be one of the most proficient and versatile guitarists of all time. Although he is best known as a premier rock guitarist, his playing style incorporates rock, blues, jazz, classical, bluegrass and flamenco techniques. Similarly, his songwriting and discography demonstrate his ability to employ and blend multiple genres. In April 2005, Emmett was lauded with the Canadian Smooth Jazz Award for Guitarist of the Year.
He is also a skilled vocalist with a wide vocal range. He was the primary singer for most Triumph
Triumph (band)
Triumph is a Canadian hard rock power trio that was popular in the late 1970s through the 1980s. Eight of the band's albums were certified gold or higher, and Triumph was nominated for multiple Juno Awards, including Group of the Year Award in 1979, 1985, 1986 and 1987.Like their fellow Canadians...
songs during his time with them, though drummer Gil Moore
Gil Moore
Gil Moore is most famous for being the drummer and vocalist of the Canadian power trio, Triumph...
also wrote and sang many songs. However, most of the songs garnering radio play were Emmett's as he tended to write and sing in a more "commercial" style, while Moore's songwriting and singing were in more of a heavy metal style.
In 2007, Rik Emmett joined former Triumph bandmates Gil Moore and Mike Levine for their induction into the Canadian Music Industry Hall of Fame. And, on Sunday April 6, 2008 at The 2008 JUNO Awards, Triumph was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame by the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS).
As of 2008 Rik Emmett, Mike Levine and Gil Moore have agreed to play a rock festival in Sweden in the summer under the Triumph moniker. The group has said that more dates will follow.
As a result of very positive audience response to their dual guitar work in Rik's live shows, Rik and fellow guitarist Dave Dunlop
Dave Dunlop
John David “Dave” Dunlop John David “Dave” Dunlop John David “Dave” Dunlop (born September 18, 1965 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada is a guitarist, composer, producer, recording engineer, and vocalist. Dunlop was a member/writer/guitarist/back-up singer in Canadian rock band The Full Nine (Disney’s...
formed the mostly-acoustic duo Strung-Out Troubadours
Strung-Out Troubadours
Strung-Out Troubadours is the musical duo of Rik Emmett and Dave Dunlop. Emmett and Dunlop have played together since they met while both teaching at the in 1990. They have released two albums and regularly perform live shows together...
, with two albums so far. In 2007, Strung-Out Troubadours won "Album of the Year" and "Group/Duo of the Year" at the Canadian Smooth Jazz Awards, where they were the most heavily-nominated act. Both Rik & Dave were also nominated for "Best Guitarist". Emmett and Dunlop are scheduled to release another Strung-Out Troubadours release in 2009 titled Push & Pull.
Throughout his career, Emmett has been associated with guitars from Framus, Gibson, Dean and Yamaha, particularly as an endorser of the latter two.
Singles
| Year | Song | CAN Canadian Singles Chart The Canadian Singles Chart is currently compiled by the U.S.-based music sales tracking company, Nielsen SoundScan . The chart is compiled every Wednesday, and is published by Jam! Canoe on Thursdays.... |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | "Big Lie" | 47 |
| "When a Heart Breaks" | 14 | |
| 1991 | "Saved by Love" | 17 |
| "World of Wonder" | 22 | |
| "The Way That You Love Me" | 76 | |
| 1992 | "Bang On" | 48 |
| "Dig a Little Deeper" | 66 | |
| 1993 | "Heaven in Your Heart" | 44 |
| 1995 | "Let Me be the One" | 31 |
Albums
- 1990 - AbsolutelyAbsolutely (Rik Emmett album)Absolutely is the debut solo album by the Canadian rock guitarist Rik Emmett, released in 1990, after leaving the heavy metal band Triumph. The album was released in 1990 and went gold in Canada and the US immediately. The album eventually reached platinum in both countries...
- 1992 - Ipso FactoIpso FactoIpso Facto is a studio album by the Canadian rock guitarist Rik Emmett, released in 1992. It was Emmett's second solo studio album.The album was certified gold in the US by the RIAA, with sales of over 500,000 copies, on April 24, 1993 and Platinum, with sales of over one million copies, on July...
- 1995 - The Spiral NotebookThe Spiral NotebookThe Spiral Notebook is the third solo album by Canadian rock guitarist Rik Emmett, released in 1995.-Track listing:All Songs written by Rik Emmett# "Anything You Say" – 4:07# "Raise High" – 5:43# "The Longing" – 5:21...
- 1997 - Ten Invitations from the Mistress of Mr. E.Ten InvitationsTen Invitations From The Mistress Of Mr. E is the fourth studio album by the Canadian guitarist Rik Emmett, released in 1997. It is the first installment in a guitar trilogy, otherwise known as the Open House Collection released merely six months before Swing Shift, which is meant to cover the...
- 1997 - Swing ShiftSwing Shift (album)Swing Shift is the fifth studio album by the Canadian guitarist Rik Emmett, released in 1997. It is the second instalment in the guitar trilogy, released merely six months after Ten Invitations From The Mistress Of Mr...
- 1999 - Raw Quartet
- 1999 - The Spirit of Christmas (with Sam Reid of Glass TigerGlass TigerGlass Tiger is a Canadian rock band formed in 1983, in Newmarket, Ontario.-Biography:Originally named 'Tokyo', the band produced several hit singles in Canada and placed two songs on Billboard magazine's top 10: "Don't Forget Me " and "Someday," both of which came from their debut album, The Thin...
) - 2000 - Rik Emmett LIVE at Berklee
- 2002 - The Best of Rik Emmett (20th Century Masters compilation)
- 2002 - Handiwork
- 2003 - Good FaithGood Faith (Rik Emmett album)Good Faith is the eighth studio album by the Canadian guitarist Rik Emmett, released in 2003.The album touches on different musucal styles including; reggae, smooth jazz, swing music, folk, classical music and country music.-Track listing:...
- 2005 - One Night in Cinci DVD
- 2005 - Live at 10 Gigs DVD
- 2006 - Strung-Out TroubadoursStrung-Out TroubadoursStrung-Out Troubadours is the musical duo of Rik Emmett and Dave Dunlop. Emmett and Dunlop have played together since they met while both teaching at the in 1990. They have released two albums and regularly perform live shows together...
(with Dave DunlopDave DunlopJohn David “Dave” Dunlop John David “Dave” Dunlop John David “Dave” Dunlop (born September 18, 1965 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada is a guitarist, composer, producer, recording engineer, and vocalist. Dunlop was a member/writer/guitarist/back-up singer in Canadian rock band The Full Nine (Disney’s...
) - 2007 - Strung-Out Troubadours - Live at Hugh's Room (with Dave DunlopDave DunlopJohn David “Dave” Dunlop John David “Dave” Dunlop John David “Dave” Dunlop (born September 18, 1965 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada is a guitarist, composer, producer, recording engineer, and vocalist. Dunlop was a member/writer/guitarist/back-up singer in Canadian rock band The Full Nine (Disney’s...
) - 2007 - Airtime - Liberty ManifestoLiberty ManifestoLiberty Manifesto is the debut studio album by the Canadian hard rock band Airtime, a collaboration between guitarist Rik Emmett and Von Groove percussionist Mike Shotton, released in 2007.-Track listing:# "Edge of Your Mind" - 4:24...
(with Michael Shotton of Von Groove) - 2009 - Strung-Out Troubadours - Push & Pull (with Dave DunlopDave DunlopJohn David “Dave” Dunlop John David “Dave” Dunlop John David “Dave” Dunlop (born September 18, 1965 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada is a guitarist, composer, producer, recording engineer, and vocalist. Dunlop was a member/writer/guitarist/back-up singer in Canadian rock band The Full Nine (Disney’s...
) - 2009 - P.R.O. - "Trifecta" (with Pavlo & Oscar Lopez)