Glen Burtnik

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 spelled with "two N's, 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 highly regarded Beatles cover band Liverpool. This band are regular performers at the Fest for Beatles Fans, annually held in the Metroplitan New York City area, Las Vegas and Chicago.

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. He has also put together the annual [http://www.xmasxtravaganza.org Glen Burtnik's Xmas Xtravaganza] for 17 years (as of 2007).

While solo success has been relatively elusive, he did score a minor hit in 1987 with "Follow You," a soaring track off his " Heroes and Zeroes" album. Unfortunately, follow-up releases have been less successful.

One of his songs, "Face In The Mirror" was used in a series of TV commercials for Philishave electric shavers in the 1990s. [http://www.discogs.com/release/751124] Burtnik officially left Styx in 2003 due to him wanting to be closer to home and three years later, Dennis DeYoung asked him to be a part of his band for selected shows to help promote his newest CD "One Hundred Years From Now" which is to be released in Fall 2008. Glen performs with Dennis 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 some "Lost Treasures" which are some songs that were written for Styx on "Edge of the Century II" which never got recorded due to the fact that Styx at that time didn't have a recording contract with a record company in 1992.

Burtnik and his family were featured on the October 16, 2006 season premier episode of the Discovery Channel show, "It Takes a Thief". During the second season of this show, Glen and his family were the "victims" of a staged robbery.

Since 2006, Burtnik has made appearances with ex-Styx bandmate Dennis DeYoung that the pair have sometimes dubbed the "Dennie and Glennie Show".

Discography

(Excludes soundtracks and guest appearances/contributions)

olo albums

*"Talking in Code" (1986)
*"Heroes & Zeros" (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)

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 Hammer)
*"Helmet Boy" (1980) (with Helmet Boy)
*"Edge of the Century" (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)
*"" (with Styx and REO Speedwagon)
*"Styxworld" (with Styx)
*"" (with Styx)
*"Jersey Jams Jersey Cares" (various artists)
*"Cyclorama" (with Styx)

Discography reference

* [http://www.styxnet.com/styxlyrics/burtnik/gb.htm Glen Burtnik Lyrics site]

External links

* [http://www.glenburtnik.com Official website]