Rik Waller

Infobox Musical artist
Name = Rik Waller


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Background = solo_singer
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Born = 1981 Gillingham, Kent, England
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Genre = Pop
Occupation = Musician
Years_active = 2001-present
Label = EMI, Red Admiral, Coeur De Leon
Associated_acts = Rik Waller's Mighty Soul Band/Rik Waller's Unfinished Business
URL = http://www.rikwaller.co.uk/
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Rik Waller (b.1981 in Gillingham, Kent, England) is an English singer.

Career

Pop Idol

He is best known for being a finalist in the first series of the British ITV television series "Pop Idol". He made it into the final ten of the show but was forced to pull out due to severe laryngitis leading to torn vocal cords as a result of overuse and his place in the final 10 was taken by Darius Danesh.

EMI

Following the show, Rik signed a recording contract with EMI in a deal worth approximately £200,000. His first single was a cover of Dolly Parton's song "I Will Always Love You" which made Number 6 in the UK singles chart. Rik followed this up with another top 40 hit, recorded originally by Labi Siffre, "Something Inside So Strong". Both of these songs appear on Waller's chart album "From Now".

Celebrity Fit Club

Rik has suffered from weight problems all of his life, and appeared on Celebrity Fit Club.

Red Admiral Records

When he was dropped by EMI, Rik formed his own band to take his music out on the road. Rik then signed an album deal with Red Admiral Records. [ [http://www.redadmiralrecords.com Red Admiral Records - Wim Hautekiet - The Silent Kingdom - Peter Dinsley - Hardly Mozart - Rik Waller - Rhythm Of Blues - The Sharpees] redadmiralrecords.com] In October 2004 it was reported in the media that the Devon concert of Rik and his band's UK tour was cancelled because only two tickets were sold. [ [http://www.masterliness.com/a/Rik.Waller.htm Home > Rik Waller] masterliness.com]

His second album "Innocence" was released in September 2005. The band was re-named Rik Waller's Mighty Soul Band, but has been renamed yet again (on the advice of new management) the band is now known as Rik Waller's Unfinished Business, as reported on Rik's official website. On February 28 2007, Waller appeared on "Never Mind the Buzzcocks" as part of the identity parade.

Rik is currently working on new material, writing scripts, singing, acting and generally branching out with his new project being "The Full Circle Project" which primarily will be touring the UK looking for new talent, the idea being that he will be spotting the talent himself and passing them on to pro talent scouts, management companies and record companies as part of a TV documentary that is set to start filming early 2008.

Coeur De Leon

Rik has also set up his own recording company "Coeur De Leon" or CDL for short. Recently Rik has also been seen at the Royal Albert Hall for the part of Frofa. [ [http://www.rikwaller.com Rikwaller.com - The Official Home of Rik Waller and Rik Waller's "Unfinished Business"] rikwaller.com]

Personal life

He was educated at The Howard School, Rainham.

In 2007 Waller married Pagan Kelly Bliss. [ [http://www.metro.co.uk/news/article.html?in_article_id=74637&in_page_id=34 Pop Idol's Rik silenced by pagan wife] metro.co.uk]

Discography

Albums

*"From Now..." (July 2002)
*"Innocence" (July 2005)

ingles

*"I Will Always Love You" (March 2002)
*"Something Inside So Strong" (June 2002)

Filmography

References

External links

* [http://www.redadmiralrecords.com Red Admiral Records] redadmiralrecords.com