Chris Merritt (songwriter)

Infobox musical artist
Name = Chris Merritt


Img_capt =Chris Merritt in American Fork, Utah
on May 3, 2007
Img_size = 180px
Landscape =
Background = solo_singer
Birth_name =
Alias =
Born = November 20, 1982
Died =
Origin = Upperville, Virginia - USA
Instrument =
Genre = piano rock, alternative rock, pop rock
Occupation = songwriter, pianist, vocalist
Years_active = 2000-present
Label = self-released, Takeover Records
Associated_acts = Paperface, Upperville
URL = http://www.chrismerrittmusic.com
Current_members = Dustin Hofheins (bass), Tim Fellow (drums)
Past_members = Roland Osborne, Jacob Thro, Tristan Siple, Andrew Merritt, Brian Mayfield, Chris Walvoord, Dave Fujinami
Notable_instruments =

Chris Merritt (born November 20, 1982) is an American songwriter, pianist and singer from Upperville, Virginia. Merritt was the creative force behind the now-defunct bands Paperface and Upperville. Since 2006, Merritt has recorded and performed under his own name. He currently resides in Utah.cite web | url=http://www.provopodcast.com/shows/PPC-41.mp3 | title=Provo Podcast #41: Chris Merritt | publisher=provopodcast.com | accessdate=2008-05-24] cite web | url=http://chrismerrittmusic.com/transcripts/pctv1.txt |title=Park City Television interview transcript with Chris Merritt | date=March 11 2008 | publisher=chrismerrittmusic.com | accessdate=2008-07-01]

Biography

Paperface/Upperville (2000-2006)

Chris Merritt founded the band Paperface in 2000 while still a student at Loudoun Valley High School in Purcellville, Virginia and continued with the band through his 4 years at Shenandoah University in Winchester, Virginia. Paperface signed with Takeover Records in 2005.cite web |url=http://www.takeoverdigital.com/ArtistDetails.aspx?UserGuid=3f362e06-5234-4edd-9cbb-5a745784c5e0 |title=Takeover Records artist: Paperface |publisher=takeoverdigital.com|accessdate=2008-05-18] Soon after, Merritt and Paperface relocated to Southern California.cite web | url=http://www.machinepiano.com/mp3/maniatv.txt |title=maniaTV interview transcript with Paperface | date=August 16 2005 | publisher=machinepiano.com|accessdate=2008-07-01]

Paperface's only release on Takeover, "The Legend of Harley Knowles," was picked as one of the top ten albums of 2005 by former Yellowcard bassist, Peter Mosely, in Billboard magazine's "2005 Artists' Choice" feature.cite news | title=2005 Artists' Choice | date=December 24 2005 | url=http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/yearend/2005/top10/artist_3.jsp | work=Billboard | accessdate=2008-05-18]

Paperface dissolved in early 2006 and Merritt joined with former bandmate, Roland Osborne, to form the group, Upperville. Merritt left Upperville later that year and began performing under his own name.cite web | url=http://linesthroughlines.blogspot.com/2007/02/chris-merrittpaperface.html |title=Chris Merritt/Paperface | date=February 18 2007 | publisher=linesthroughlines.com|accessdate=2008-06-30]

Solo career (2006-present)

Merritt recorded his debut solo album, "Hello, Little Captain" in late 2006 with Chris Walvoord (drums) and Dave Fujinami (bass).cite web |url=http://allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:gjfuxzqhld6e~T0 |title=Chris Merritt: Hello, Little Captain |publisher=allmusic.com|accessdate=2008-05-18] Merritt relocated to Utah early the following year to form a new trio with childhood friend, Tim Fellow (drums) and Utah native, Dustin Hofheins (bass).cite news | first=Michelle | last=Lizon | title=Merritt System | date=October 18 2007 | url=http://www.heraldextra.com/content/view/240545 | work=Daily Herald | accessdate=2008-05-08] cite news | first=Roger L | last=Hardy | title=Band builds fan base in Utah and the West | date=October 25 2007 | url=http://www.deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,695220901,00.html | work=Deseret News | accessdate=2008-05-08] cite news | first=Jessica | last=Craves | title=Chris Merritt: There's a new sound in town | date=September 1 2007 | url=http://www.thesquarelife.com/articles/chris-merritt | work=Square Magazine | accessdate=2008-05-08] cite web |url=http://www.soundcrank.com/files/podcasts/chris_merritt_podcast.mp3 |title=Soundcrank Artist Podcast: Chris Merritt | date=October 02 2007|publisher=soundcrank.com|accessdate=2008-05-24] Merritt released "Hello, Little Captain" shortly after his arrival to Utah.cite web | url=http://www.the-mag.me.uk/Articles/Chris-Merritt-Hello,-Little-Captain-LP/ |title=Chris Merritt - Hello, Little Captain LP | date=April 18 2008 | publisher=the-mag.me.uk | accessdate=2008-06-30]

In 2007, Merritt was chosen by editors at Billboard magazine as one of the top six independent artists in the Western United States as part of the Independent Music World Series.cite web |url=http://www.discmakers.com/imws/gallery.asp |title=Independent Music World Series 2007 Finalist: Chris Merritt |publisher=discmakers.com/imws|accessdate=2008-05-15]

On April 23, 2008, Merritt opened for Ben Folds at Saltair in Salt Lake City, Utahcite news | title=Daily Calendar: April | date=April 1 2008 | url=http://www.slugmag.com/calendar.php?issue=232 | work=Slug Magazine | accessdate=2008-05-18] and in May and June, Merritt headlined his first international tour playing 10 shows in Japan.cite news | first=Brooke | last=Brown | title=Back in the USA Fresh off tour of Japan, Chris Merritt band returns to Velour stage | date=June 19 2008 | url=http://www.heraldextra.com/content/view/270509/137/ | work=Daily Herald | accessdate=2008-06-19] Also in June, two-time Grammy-winning member of Bela Fleck and the Flecktones, Jeff Coffin, performed with Merritt on stage in Park City, Utah.cite web |url=http://www.chrismerrittmusic.com/tourhistory.html |title=Chris Merritt Tour History |publisher=chrismerrittmusic.com|accessdate=2008-06-15]

Merritt released his latest effort, a double album entitled, "Pixie and the Bear", on June 21, 2008.cite news | first=Roger L | last=Hardy | title=Top independent band releasing album | date=June 18 2008 | url=http://deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,700235597,00.html | work=Deseret News | accessdate=2008-06-18] cite web |url=http://linesthroughlines.blogspot.com/2008/06/chris-merritt-and-fabric-of-reality.html | title=Chris Merritt and the Fabric of Reality | date=June 21 2008 | publisher=linesthroughlines.com|accessdate=2008-06-30]

Merritt has a small but growing fanbase in the United Kingdom, focused on two "Chris Merritt In The UK" groups on Facebook and Myspace. These are officially endorsed by Merritt and his band members, who are members of the Facebook iteration of the group.

Musical style

multi-listen item
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title=Chris Merritt "Virginia" (2007)
description=30 second sample from Chris Merritt's "Virginia"
format=Oggmulti-listen item
filename=Chrismerrittbleachoggsample30.ogg
title=Chris Merritt "Bleach" (2008)
description=30 second sample from Chris Merritt's "Bleach" employing the use of 8-bit composed sounds as well as other acoustic and electronic instruments
format=Ogg

Merritt's musical style is most commonly described as "piano-driven rock" or "piano rock".cite news | first=Brooke | last=Brown | title=Back in the USA Fresh off tour of Japan, Chris Merritt band returns to Velour stage | date=June 19 2008 | url=http://www.heraldextra.com/content/view/270509/137/ | work=Daily Herald | accessdate=2008-06-19] cite news | first=Roger L | last=Hardy | title=Top independent band releasing album | date=June 18 2008 | url=http://deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,700235597,00.html | work=Deseret News | accessdate=2008-06-18] cite web | url=http://www.the-mag.me.uk/Articles/Chris-Merritt-Hello,-Little-Captain-LP/ |title=Chris Merritt - Hello, Little Captain LP | date=April 18 2008 | publisher=the-mag.me.uk | accessdate=2008-06-30] However, apart from the use of the piano as his primary instrument in performance and recording, Merritt's compositions are stylistically diverse ranging from classically inspired ballads to 8-bit produced dance music.cite web |url=http://linesthroughlines.blogspot.com/2008/06/chris-merritt-and-fabric-of-reality.html | title=Chris Merritt and the Fabric of Reality | date=June 21 2008 | publisher=linesthroughlines.com|accessdate=2008-06-30]

Discography

Paperface

* "Thawed For Your Convenience" (2000 self release)
* "Jimmy's Bad Day With Chicken" (2001 no official release)
* "Rock, Scissors" (2003 self release)cite web |url=http://allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:jvfqxqusldte |title=Paperface: Rock, Scissors |publisher=allmusic.com|accessdate=2008-05-18]
* "The Legend of Harley Knowles" (2004 self release)cite web |url=http://allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:kvfqxqusldte |title=Paperface: The Legend of Harley Knowles |publisher=allmusic.com|accessdate=2008-05-18]
* "The Legend of Harley Knowles" (2005 Takeover Records release)cite web |url=http://allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:kvfqxqusldte |title=Paperface: The Legend of Harley Knowles |publisher=allmusic.com|accessdate=2008-05-18]

Upperville

* "Upperville EP" (2006 self release)

Solo

* "Hello, Little Captain" (2007 self release)cite web |url=http://allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:gjfuxzqhld6e~T0 |title=Chris Merritt: Hello, Little Captain |publisher=allmusic.com|accessdate=2008-05-18]
* "Pixie and the Bear" (2008 self release)

References

External links

* [http://www.chrismerrittmusic.com/ Official Chris Merritt website]
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* [http://www.purevolume.com/chrismerritt Chris Merritt] at PureVolume
* [http://www.last.fm/music/Chris+Merritt Chris Merritt] at Last.fm
* [http://www.thesixtyone.com/#/chrismerritt/ Chris Merritt] at thesixtyone
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* [http://www.purevolume.com/paperface Paperface] at PureVolume
* [http://www.chrismerrittmusic.com/ Official Upperville website]