Rik Emmett

Infobox musical artist

|
Name = Rik Emmett
| Background = solo_singer
Birth_name = Richard Gordon Emmett
Born = Birth date and age|1953|7|10|mf=y
in Toronto, Ontario Canada
Died =
Alias =
Genre = Hard rock, Rock, Classical, Flamenco, Jazz, Blues
Occupation = Guitarist, Songwriter, Producer
Instrument = Guitar
Associated_acts = Triumph
Label =
Years_active = 1975 - present
URL = http://www.rikemmett.com/
Notable_instruments = Yamaha Rik Emmett Signature model
Dean Rik Emmett Signature model V

Richard Gordon (Rik) 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 massive hit across North America thanks to the smash hits "When a Heart Breaks" and "Saved by Love". He is also a writer for "Guitar Player" magazine and teaches a music business course at Humber College.

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. [ [http://www.midwestbeat.com/ezine/february_2006/rik-emmett.htm Rik Emmett ] ] 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 [http://www.smoothjazznow.com/ 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, whilst 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.

Discography

ingles

Albums

* 1990 Absolutely
* 1992 Ipso Facto
* 1995 The Spiral Notebook
* 1997 Ten Invitations from the Mistress of Mr. E.
* 1997 Swing Shift
* 1999 Raw Quartet
* 2000 Rik Emmett LIVE at Berklee
* 2001 The Spirit of Christmas
* 2002 Peace on Earth
* 2002 The Best of Rik Emmett (compilation)
* 2002 Handiwork
* 2003 Good Faith
* 2006 "Strung-Out Troubadours" (with Dave Dunlop)
* 2007 Liberty Manifesto (Airtime w/Michael Shotton of Von Groove)

References

External links

* [http://www.rikemmett.com/ Official Rik Emmett Website]
* [http://www.rocksquad.net/rik_emmett__interview.htm 2005 Rocksquad Interview]
* [http://www.rocksquad.net/rik_emmett_2_interview.htm 2007 Rocksquad Interview]
* [http://www.rocksquad.net/airtime_emmett_interview.htm Airtime Interview]
* [http://www.maximumthreshold.net/index.php?option=com_weblinks&task=view&catid=13&id=258 Rik Emmett Interview on Maximum Threshold 2008 ]