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Nick Gilder (born December 21, 1951 in London, England) is an English-Canadian musician who first came to prominence as the frontman for the glam rock band Sweeney Todd. He later had a successful solo career as a singer as well as a songwriter, notably with the new wave band Scandal.^[1]

Biography

Born in London, Gilder was raised in Vancouver. He begin his career as frontman for the glam rock band Sweeney Todd, which later briefly featured a very young Bryan Adams.^[2] Sweeney Todd had a number one hit, "Roxy Roller", that held on to the top spot in the Canadian music charts for three weeks in 1975. It went on to win a Juno Award for "Best Selling Single" in 1977.

Feeling they had international scope, Gilder and fellow band member, guitarist and songwriting partner, James McCulloch left the band and signed a US record deal. In his second solo album, which spawned the hit "Hot Child in the City", Gilder also reached chart success in the United States. That song went to No.1 both in Canada and the US. It also earned him two more Juno Awards: "Single of the Year" and for "Most Promising Male Vocalist of the Year" in Canada as well as a People's Choice Award in the US. It stalled outside the Top 40 in the United Kingdom, though it was featured on Top of the Pops and also in a Hot Gossip dance routine on The Kenny Everett Video Show.

Gilder has also been successful as a songwriter for artists such as Patty Smyth, Bette Midler, Joe Cocker and Pat Benatar. In 1984, the band Scandal had a number one hit with "The Warrior," which was written by Gilder and Holly Knight, and it earned him a BMI Airplay Award.

Gilder's songs have been used in several movies such as Youngblood with Rob Lowe, The Wraith with Charlie Sheen, Barb Wire with Pamela Anderson, Scenes From the Goldmine, which includes a cameo appearance by Gilder, and in TV series like Sex and the City, That '70s Show, Ed (TV series), and most recently Nip/Tuck.

Armand Van Helden sampled "Rockaway" on his 2005 club hit, "When the Lights Go Down." The following year Nemesis recorded “Hot Child in the City” for their 2006 debut CD, Rise Up and Rocket recorded “Backstreet Noise” for their CD, Girls with Candy Hearts. Phoenix-based power pop band Sugar High recorded the song "Time After Time" for a proposed tribute album and have included the song in concert.

Gilder returned to Canada in the mid-1990s, where he continues to record and tour.

Discography

Solo

Albums:

• 1977: You Know Who You Are, Chrysalis Records
• 1978: City Nights, Chrysalis Records (# 13 Can)
• 1979: Frequency, Chrysalis Records (# 71 Can)
• 1980: Rock America, Casablanca Records
• 1981: Body Talk Muzik, Casablanca Records
• 1985: Nick Gilder, RCA Records
• 1997: Stairways, Spinner Music Group/Gilder Records
• 1999: Longtime Coming, Page Music/Oasis/Orchard
• 2001: The Best Of Nick Gilder, EMI- Capital Music/Razor & Tie Entertainment (The Chrysalis Years)
• 2007: City Nights/Frequency, Collectables Records

Singles:

• 1976: "She’s a Star (in Her Own Right)", Chrysalis Records (#71 Can)
• 1976: "Roxy Roller", Chrysalis Records
• 1977: "Runaways in the Night", Chrysalis Records
• 1977: "Rated X", Chrysalis Records
• 1978: "Hot Child in the City", Chrysalis Records (#1 Can & US)
• 1978: "Here Comes the Night", Chrysalis Records (#21 Can, #44 US)
• 1978: "(She’s) One of the Boys", Chrysalis Records
• 1978: "Got to Get Out", Chrysalis Records
• 1979: "(You Really) Rock Me", Chrysalis Records (#35 Can, #57US)
• 1979: "Electric Love", Chrysalis Records
• 1979: "Metro Jets", Chrysalis Records
• 1979: "Into the 80’s", Chrysalis Records
• 1980: "Wild Ones (Feeling Electric)", Casablanca Records (#22 Can)
• 1980: "Catch 22", Casablanca Records (#26 Can)
• 1980: "Rock America", Casablanca Records
• 1980: "I’ve Got Your Number", Casablanca Records
• 1981: "Prove It", Casablanca Records
• 1981: "She Talks (Body Talk)", Casablanca Records
• 1985: "Let Me In", RCA Records (#50 Can)
• 1985: "Footsteps", RCA Records (#95 Can)
• 1997: "Café Heaven", Spinner Music Group Inc./Gilder Records
• 1997: "You’re Everything (I Want to Do)", Spinner Music Group Inc./Gilder Records
• 2000: "Roxy Roller 2000", Page Music

With Sweeney Todd

Album:

• 1975: Sweeney Todd, London Records (#14 Can)

Singles:

• 1975: "Rock ‘N’ Roll Story", London Records
• 1975: "Sweeney Todd Folder", London Records (#36 Can)
• 1975: "Roxy Roller", London Records (#1 Can)

Songwriting contributions

ǂ Also provided background vocals on "Don't Walk Away" & "Cool Zero"
ǂǂ Not included in the soundtrack release

References

1. ^ Bush, John. "Nick Gilder". Allmusic.com. http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:a9ftxqy5ldfe. Retrieved October 29, 2009.  
2. ^ "Sweeney Todd". Allmusic.com. http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:ajfexqwgld6e~T1.  

External links

• Nick Gilder Online
• The Official Website.