Jim Brickman

Jim Brickman (born 1961) is an American songwriter and pianist. He has been named the most charted male Adult Contemporary artist to date, title=Foste’s Daily Democrat with six of his albums receiving Gold and Platinum status. He is known for his solo piano compositions, pop-style instrumentals, and vocal collaborations with artists such as Michael W. Smith, Martina McBride, Donny Osmond, Olivia Newton-John, Lady Antebellum, and others. title=Ultimate Disney Interview with Jim Brickman He earned a Grammy nomination in 2003, SESAC "Songwriter of the Year" award, Canadian Country Music Award for "Best Vocal/ Instrumental Collaboration", and a Dove Award presented by the Gospel Music Association.

Since 1997, he has hosted his own radio show called Your Weekend with Jim Brickman, which is carried on radio stations throughout the United States. title=Around Hawaii Brickman has also released three PBS specials, and hosts an annual fan cruise. He is founder of Brickhouse Direct, a company that provides strategic marketing and e-commerce solutions for clients in a variety of industries.

History

Early years

Brickman was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio. He began playing piano at the age of five. Later he studied composition and performance at the Cleveland Institute of Music while taking business classes at Case Western Reserve University. title=Cleveland Woman In 1980, Brickman founded his own advertising music company called The Brickman Arrangement, title=Company profile at Manta.com writing commercial jingles for many companies across the country such as McDonalds, Pontiac, City of Cleveland, Ohio Lottery, and Isuzu. title=CNN Saturday Morning News

Musical career

Brickman signed to Windham Hill Records in 1994 and released his first album, No Words, featuring the song, "Rocket to the Moon", which became his first solo instrumental to be ranked on the Billboard charts. title=The Tennessee Tribune The songs "Angel Eyes" and "If You Believe" gained radio airplay from Brickman's second release, By Heart, on the Windham Hill label in 1995

. The following year, the CD's title tune, "By Heart", became his first top 20 adult contemporary (AC) hit. In 1997 Brickman released the album, Picture This, adding a vocal performance, "Valentine", sung by Martina McBride. title=North County Times This song charted on both country and AC stations with the album selling platinum. By the end of the year, Brickman issued the first of many Christmas CDs, The Gift, with the title song featuring Collin Raye and Susan Ashton, topping three different charts for which Brickman received a Dove Award from the Gospel Music Association. He has produced several other Christmas-themed albums, Peace (2003), Christmas Romance (2006), Homecoming (2007), and The Hymns and Carols of Christmas (2008); title=All Music Guide (Review) and his two albums Grace (2005) and Faith (2008) concentrate on arrangements of well-known Christian music. title=All Music Guide - Review

During his career, Valentine went platinum selling over one million records and four others have sold over 500,000 copies; By Heart (1995), Picture This (1997), The Gift (1997), and Destiny (1999), qualifying them as gold records in the United States. title=A Secrets Music Review In November 2005, three of Brickman's albums, The Disney Songbook (2004), Grace (2005), and Greatest Hits (2004), held the top three spots on Billboard's new age chart. title=Foste’s Daily Democrat He also received a Grammy nomination in 2003, an SESAC "Songwriter of the Year" award, and a Canadian Country Music Award for "Best Vocal/Instrumental Collaboration".

Brickman writes a variety of music. Besides his piano compositions and love songs, he has also created arrangements of existing songs and several of his albums feature arrangements of children's music. He has collaborated with artists from all genres with songs like "Love of My Life" with Michael W. Smith, "You" with Jane Krakowski, "Never Alone" with country group Lady Antebellum, "After All These Years" with Anne Cochran, "Never Far Away" with Christian contemporary group Rush of Fools, among others.

His music is sometimes classified in the new age genre, although the diversity of his music makes Brickman skeptical of this classification. title=PBG Lifestyle Magazine

In 2008 Brickman teamed up with American Greetings lending his music to some of their eCards.

PBS specials

Jim Brickman has filmed and released the PBS specials, My Romance: An Evening with Jim Brickman, title=East Valley Tribune Love Songs & Lullabies, title=The Topeka Capital-Hournal and The Disney Songbook. title=The Disney Songbook DVD Review In June 2009, Brickman will come back to PBS with Beautiful World, being filmed at the Niagara Fallsview Casino Resort. Sharing the stage will be Jon Secada, Melinda Doolittle, Órla Fallon, Arthur Hanlon, David Klinkenberg, Mark Masri, plus Anne Cochran and Tracy Silverman.

Radio show

Making its debut in January 1997, Your Weekend with Jim Brickman is a three-hour radio show that has been heard across the US featuring adult contemporary music blended with celebrity interviews, lifestyle features, and entertainment reports. Brickman is also joined by entertainment reporter Kym Douglas who is the Fashion and Beauty contributor for The Ellen Show and the lifestyle expert for Good Day L.A.
In June 2009, Brickman will switch syndicating companies from WestStar to Impact Radio Network with more stations to be added.

Annual fan cruise

Since 2006, Brickman has been joined at sea with his fans for a week of activities including Q&A with Jim Brickman, concerts at sea, and "Brick-aoke" where fans sing Brickman songs. In 2006 and 2007, Brickman and fans set sail to the Eastern Caribbean, followed by a cruise to the Mexican Riviera in 2008, and traveling the Southern Caribbean in 2009. In July 2010, a cruise is scheduled to Alaska on "The Ultimate Cruise" leaving out of Seattle, WA.

Brickhouse Direct

Brickman founded Brickhouse Direct (BHD) in 2003, a company that provides strategic marketing and e-commerce solutions for clients in a variety of industries. Brickhouse Direct has done work for a wide range of clients over the years including Universal Music, Concord Music Group, Carly Simon, Michael W. Smith, Amy Grant, Sandi Patty, Casey Kasem, Dave Koz, Chris Sligh, Lenz Entertainment, Anita Renfroe and many others.

Discography

Albums

Singles

^A "Valentine" was originally only released to Adult Contemporary, but charted on the country charts as an album cut. It was remixed and released to country radio the following year. It also peaked at #50 on the Billboard Hot 100.
^B "Your Love" also peaked at #42 on the RPM Top Singles chart.
^C "Sending You a Little Christmas" also peaked at #15 on Hot Christian Songs.
^D "Escape" peaked at #17 on Hot Contemporary Jazz Songs.

Signed Music Artists