Bolton began recording in 1975. This first album was self-titled using his original surname, Bolotin. Early in his musical career he focused on hard rock, with his band Blackjack once opening for heavy metal artist Ozzy Osbourne on tour. In fact, in 1983 Bolton auditioned for the lead vocalist position with Osbourne’s former band, Black Sabbath.[4]
Michael gained his first major hit as a songwriter, co-writing “How Am I Supposed to Live Without You” for Laura Branigan, previously best known for singing the pop hit “Gloria”. Narrowly missing the Top 10 on the US pop chart, Branigan took the song to number one on the Adult Contemporary chart for three weeks in 1983. The two sought to work with each other again, and their next collaboration was when Bolton co-wrote “I Found Someone” for Branigan in 1985. Her version was only a minor hit, but two years later, Cher resurrected the song, and with it her own singing career. Bolton co-wrote several other songs for both singers.
Bolton would achieve his greatest success in the late 1980s and early 1990s as a singer on the adult contemporary/easy listening charts. One of his first major hits was his 1987 interpretation of the Otis Redding classic, “(Sittin’ On) the Dock of the Bay.” Always interested in soul and Motown classics, Bolton’s success with that song encouraged him to tackle the standard “Georgia On My Mind,” with which he had another hit. In 1991, Bolton released the album Time, Love & Tenderness which featured his Grammy Award winning cover version of “When a Man Loves a Woman”.[5]
As a singer, he has performed with other artists such as: Lucia Aliberti, Patti LaBelle, José Carreras, Tony Cetinski, Ray Charles, Céline Dion, Plácido Domingo, Renée Fleming, Wynonna Judd, BB King, The Lonely Island, Luciano Pavarotti, Percy Sledge, and Zucchero. As a songwriter, he has written and collaborated on several songs for other artists as well.
Bolton’s last Top 40 single in the US in his own right was the 1997 hit “Go the Distance” (featured in the Disney animated motion picture Hercules), which peaked at No. 1 on the US adult contemporary chart. He hired conductor Larry Baird (orchestral musical director/conductor/arranger for The Moody Blues, Three Dog Night, Al Jarreau, etc.) for his 2001 tour.
In 2006, Bolton and his then fiancee Nicollette Sheridan sang a duet, “The Second Time Around,” for the album Bolton Swings Sinatra. In March 2007, Bolton toured South Africa for the first time. He was the headline act at Jacaranda 94.2 FM’s two-day concert.
For Over the Rainbow, an album which was recorded in five days, Bolton recorded the song “New York, New York” (also on his Bolton Swings Sinatra album). This was for an episode of the TV series, Challenge Anneka. The proceeds from the album went to children’s hospices across the UK.
Bolton performed a duet entitled “Il Mio Amico” with the Italian singer Anna Tatangelo at the Sanremo Music Festival 2008. The song was originally sung by Tatangelo alone, but the duet version contained English lyrics as well. It is a song about the difficulties of being gay in Italy, written by Tatangelo’s partner, Gigi D’Alessio.[citation needed] Bolton at the 1990 Grammy Awards
Bolton’s album Only A Woman Like You was released in 2001. The title song was co-written by Shania Twain and with background vocals by Skyler Jett. Bolton released his album One World One Love in the UK on September 21, 2009. The first single, “Just One Love,” was released one week earlier.[6]
In 2011, Bolton was featured as a guest vocalist in The Lonely Island’s song “Jack Sparrow” on their Turtleneck & Chain album. His performance with the notorious comedic hip-hop trio focused on his (intentionally) off-topic chorus and miscommunication with the group, and the video featured him dressed in costumes as Jack Sparrow from Pirates of the Caribbean, Forrest Gump, Erin Brockovich, and Tony Montana from Scarface.[7]
Bolton is currently working on his new studio album. He has collaborated with Indian musician A. R. Rahman for a song which was recorded in February 2011 for Gems – The Duets Collection.[8]
In 2013 Bolton released the album Ain’t No Mountain High Enough – A Tribute to Hitsville USA featuring duets with Kelly Rowland, Melanie Fiona and Orianthi.[9]
In 2013 and 2014, Bolton appeared in Honda commercials in which he sings.
Acting
Bolton has made a number of cameo appearances in feature films and television, usually appearing as himself, such as in Meet Wally Sparks and The Nanny.[10] Although he has been rumored to have appeared as an extra in Dune as a “spice-eyed” drummer, Bolton has stated in interviews that it is not him.[11]
Bolton was a contestant on the eleventh season of Dancing with the Stars.[12] He and his dance partner Chelsie Hightower were the second couple to be eliminated, on September 28, 2010.
Legal troubles
On May 9, 2000, a US Court of Appeals affirmed a jury’s 1994 decision that Bolton’s 1991 pop hit, “Love Is a Wonderful Thing,” infringed on the copyright of the 1964 Isley Brothers song of the same name, and let stand the jury’s award of $5.4 million against the singer, his co-author, Andrew Goldmark, and their record company, Sony Music Entertainment.[13] This was the biggest payout in musical copyright infringement to date.
Personal life
Bolton was married to Maureen McGuire, but they divorced. They are the parents of three adult daughters: Isa, Holly, and Taryn.[14][15] Taryn gave birth to a daughter in October 2010.[16]
Bolton was introduced to actress Nicollette Sheridan in 1992 by adult contemporary/jazz saxophonist Kenny G.[14] Bolton and Sheridan dated until 1995, stopped dating, then reunited in 2005 and became engaged in March 2006;[14] however, it was confirmed in August 2008 that they had broken off their engagement.[17]
Michael Bolton is the third studio album by American recording artist Michael Bolton. It was Bolton’s first record to be released, in 1983, on Columbia Records. This was also the first time that Bolton recorded under his stage name; his previous releases, Michael Bolotin and Everyday of My Life, had been released under his given name, Michael Bolotin.
It features then future Kiss guitarist Bruce Kulick on lead guitar, rotating with Bolton himself. Future Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Savatage and Megadeth guitarist, Al Pitrelli replaced Kulick on the tour supporting the single, “Fool’s Game”, though the tour was cancelled after four shows.
In January 2013, Bolton published an autobiography, The Soul of It All: My Music, My Life.[18][19]
