Splender
Encyclopedia
Splender is a melodic rock
band.
Guitarist
/vocalist/songwriter
Waymon Boone and bassist
James Cruz
formed the alternative pop/rock quartet Splender in 1997. The New York based group went through various incarnations, eventually choosing drummer
Marc Slutsky after he responded to an advertisement in the Village Voice and lead guitarist
Jonathan Svec.
Boone is the son of an R&B singer, and toured with his mother in his youth.
The group's first shows were on a European festival tour opening for nu-metal group Korn
, as well as playing various shows around New York City
.
The band was signed to Columbia Records
after winning a Battle of bands
. Todd Rundgren
produced their 1999 debut album, Halfway Down the Sky
. The album spawned two hits in "Yeah, Whatever" and "I Think God Can Explain." In 2001, the band signed to Clive Davis
' J Records
. A year later, To Whom it May Concern
was released which spawned the single "Save It For Later."
Shortly following their second release, the group disbanded. Waymon Boone recently announced via myspace that the band is starting to record its new album in and is going on a tour on 2009.
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
band.
Guitarist
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...
/vocalist/songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
Waymon Boone and bassist
Bassist
A bass player, or bassist is a musician who plays a bass instrument such as a double bass, bass guitar, keyboard bass or a low brass instrument such as a tuba or sousaphone. Different musical genres tend to be associated with one or more of these instruments...
James Cruz
James Cruz
James Cruz is a Grammy Award winning audio mastering engineer and owner of Zeitgeist Sound Studios in Long Island City, New York.-Biography:...
formed the alternative pop/rock quartet Splender in 1997. The New York based group went through various incarnations, eventually choosing drummer
Drummer
A drummer is a musician who is capable of playing drums, which includes but is not limited to a drum kit and accessory based hardware which includes an assortment of pedals and standing support mechanisms, marching percussion and/or any musical instrument that is struck within the context of a...
Marc Slutsky after he responded to an advertisement in the Village Voice and lead guitarist
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...
Jonathan Svec.
Boone is the son of an R&B singer, and toured with his mother in his youth.
The group's first shows were on a European festival tour opening for nu-metal group Korn
Korn
Korn is an American nu metal band from Bakersfield, California, formed in 1993. The current band line up includes four members: Jonathan Davis, James "Munky" Shaffer, Reginald "Fieldy" Arvizu, and Ray Luzier. The band was formed as an expansion of L.A.P.D.The band released their first demo album,...
, as well as playing various shows around 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...
.
The band was signed to Columbia Records
Columbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
after winning a Battle of bands
Battle of Bands
Battle of Bauds was a battle fought in 962 in an area known as the Bauds, south of Findochty and West of Cullen, Scotland between Scotland under king Indulf, and Danish pirates. The Danes had been raiding and burning through Scotland, and had won numerous victorious skirmishes against the Scots,...
. Todd Rundgren
Todd Rundgren
Todd Harry Rundgren is an American multi-instrumentalist, songwriter and record producer. Hailed in the early stage of his career as a new pop-wunderkind, supported by the certified gold solo double LP Something/Anything? in 1972, Todd Rundgren's career has produced a diverse range of recordings...
produced their 1999 debut album, Halfway Down the Sky
Halfway Down the Sky
-Track listing:#"I Don't Understand" - 4:01#"Yeah, Whatever" - 3.42#"Monotone" - 3:03#"Spaceboy" - 3:39#"Special" - 3:11#"I Think God Can Explain" - 3:55#"Supernatural" - 4:07#"Irresponsible" - 3:08#"I Apologize" - 3:21#"Spin" - 3:41#"Cigarette" - 4:01...
. The album spawned two hits in "Yeah, Whatever" and "I Think God Can Explain." In 2001, the band signed to Clive Davis
Clive Davis
Clive Davis is an American record producer and music industry executive. He has won five Grammy Awards and is a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a non-performer. From 1967 to 1973 he was the President of Columbia Records. He was the founder and president of Arista Records from 1975...
' J Records
J Records
J Records was an American record label, owned and operated by Sony Music Entertainment, and was distributed through the RCA Music Group.-Company history:...
. A year later, To Whom it May Concern
To Whom It May Concern (Splender album)
To Whom It May Concern is the second studio album from Splender.-Track listing:#"Happier This Way" - 2:56#"High" - 3:35#"But, Anyway" - 3:06#"Loneliest Person I Know" - 4:04#"Save It For Later" - 4:00#"Maybe Someday" - 3:51...
was released which spawned the single "Save It For Later."
Shortly following their second release, the group disbanded. Waymon Boone recently announced via myspace that the band is starting to record its new album in and is going on a tour on 2009.
Members
- Waymon Boone - Guitarist/Vocalist/Songwriter
- James Cruz - Bassist
- Marc Slutsky - Drummer
- Jonathan Svec - Lead guitarist
Discography
- Halfway Down the SkyHalfway Down the Sky-Track listing:#"I Don't Understand" - 4:01#"Yeah, Whatever" - 3.42#"Monotone" - 3:03#"Spaceboy" - 3:39#"Special" - 3:11#"I Think God Can Explain" - 3:55#"Supernatural" - 4:07#"Irresponsible" - 3:08#"I Apologize" - 3:21#"Spin" - 3:41#"Cigarette" - 4:01...
- 1999 - To Whom it May ConcernTo Whom It May Concern (Splender album)To Whom It May Concern is the second studio album from Splender.-Track listing:#"Happier This Way" - 2:56#"High" - 3:35#"But, Anyway" - 3:06#"Loneliest Person I Know" - 4:04#"Save It For Later" - 4:00#"Maybe Someday" - 3:51...
- 2002 - The Human Condition - TBA
Singles
- "Yeah, Whatever" - 1999, #24 Modern Rock TracksModern Rock TracksAlternative Songs is a music chart in the United States that has appeared in Billboard magazine since September 10, 1988. It lists the 40 most-played songs on modern rock radio stations, most of which are alternative rock songs...
, # 38 US Top 40 Mainstream http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/retrieve_chart_history.do?model.vnuArtistId=338999&model.vnuAlbumId=543175 - "I Think God Can Explain" - 2000 #62 Billboard Hot 100Billboard Hot 100The 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...
, #19 US Top 40 Mainstream http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/retrieve_chart_history.do?model.vnuArtistId=338999&model.vnuAlbumId=543175 - "Save it for Later" - 2002
Other contributions
- Currently, Boone has formed a production company and label with mixer Mike Shipley (Maroon 5,Shania Twain, Nickelback, Greenday, Splender)
- Jonathan Svec is now playing with the New York based rock group, Edisun http://www.edison.am. The band has completed several USO tours including an extensive tour of Iraq in the summer of 2005. James Cruz joined Edisun in 2010.
- In 2000, Splender contributed "Yeah Whatever" to the live performance, charity album Live in the X Lounge IIILive in the X LoungeLive in the X Lounge is a series of albums released by Birmingham, Alabama's former alternative rock radio station, WRAX.Though the station can no longer be found on the air, this series of live performances was produced while the station was known as 107.7 The X...
which was released to benefit the Birmingham, AlabamaBirmingham, AlabamaBirmingham is the largest city in Alabama. The city is the county seat of Jefferson County. According to the 2010 United States Census, Birmingham had a population of 212,237. The Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Area, in estimate by the U.S...
charity, United Cerebral Palsy of Greater Birmingham.
- Marc Slutsky is a studio session touring drummer in New York City. Some of the artists he's worked with include Gavin DeGraw, Pink, Ben Jelen and Lana WolfLana WolfLana Wolf sang with many international artists, among which are The Trammps, George McCrae, Londonbeat, Frans Bauer, René Froger, Gerard Cox and Linda, Roos and Jessica as well as with the Metropole Orchestra....
. Currently, Marc is in the studio recording with Alexa Ray Joel. In 2007, he performed live at the Bonnaroo festival and the New Orleans Jazz festival with Ms. Joel.
- An Italian version of "I Think God Can Explain" written by songwriter Samuel J. Morris and titled "Si Tratta Di Noi",(translated "It's All About Us") has been released in 2010 on Samuel J. Morris debut album "Mischievous".