Canadian-born singer-songwriter, Bryan Adams, was given his first guitar at age 10, bought his first electric guitar at age 11 and at age 14, moved to Vancouver and started auditioning as a guitarist. He left school at age 15, joined a band as a singer and went on the road. He met drummer Jim Vallance in 1977 and the two began collaborating as songwriters, and before long their material was being covered by many artists.
A & M Records was sent demo tapes and signed Adams to a recording contract at age 18.
Adams rose to popularity in 1983 with the release of his third album, "Cuts Like A Knife." He became popular throughout the United States, however, it was his fourth album, "Reckless," which is referred to as one of the best albums of the eighties and which made him an international superstar and garnered him his first Grammy nomination. It also sold 4 million copies at the time.
In 1987, he released "Into the Fire," a more social conscious album. The album yielded a top ten hit, "Heat Of The Night," another Grammy nomination and another platinum album to his name. In 1991, he released the album "Waking Up The Neighbours" which included the single "(Everything I Do) I Do It For You." The song sold more than three million copies in the U.S. becoming the second best-selling single, second only to "We Are The World." It was also Adams' first Academy Award nomination and Golden Globe nomination as the song was written for the film Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves. "Waking Up The Neighbours" sold 4 million albums in the U.S. and garnered him six Grammy nominations (a record for a Canadian).
Adams released a greatest hits album, titled "So Far So Good," which spawned a #1 hit, "Please Forgive Me," in 1993. In 1995, Adams released the single "Have You Ever Really Loved A Woman?" from the movie Don Juan DeMarco, which became his fourth #1 hit and his second Academy Award nomination. In 1996, he released the album "18 Til I Die," which has garnered him another two Grammy nominations. Later that year, he sang and wrote the single, "I Finally Found Someone," a duet with Barbra Streisand for her movie, The Mirror Has Two Faces. The song became a top ten hit and won Adams his third Academy Award nomination. He has released numerous albums since then, including "MTV Unplugged" in 1997, "On A Day Like Today" in 1998 and all of the songs for the Dreamworks animated film Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron in which Adams got his second Golden Globe nomination for "Best Song."
Adams was recently honored to perform at the Opening Ceremony of the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, performing a duet with Nelly Furtado. That same year, he was the recipient of the Allan Waters Humanitarian Award by the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, a tribute to his fundraising
and charitable efforts. A week later he received the prestigious Governor General's Performing Arts Award for Lifetime Achievement. Adams has been awarded the Order of British Columbia and is a companion of the Order of Canada; he has received an award for "Artist of the Decade" and was recently inducted into the Juno Hall of Fame. He also has a star on Canada's Walkway of Fame, a Star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame and his handprint is at Wembley's Square of Fame in celebration of his 25th show at the famed stadium.
Bryan Adams' live performances have benefited His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales Prince's Trust, Live Aid, Live 8, The Concert for Freedom for Nelson Mandela, Greenpeace, Amnesty International, Net Aid, The Canadian Avalanche Foundation and Breast Cancer, as well as campaigns that have saved the
rainforests, provided food and comfort for the needy and created whale sanctuaries. Through his namesake foundation Bryan has also helped build schools in areas of Southeast Asia and Pakistan and supported programs for disadvantaged children around the world.
Adams has sold more than 65 million albums worldwide, garnered 21 top ten hits, earned nominations for three Academy Awards and five Golden Globes, received 18 Juno Awards, an American Music Award and five ASCAP Film and Television Music Awards for Most Performed Song from a Motion Picture (his music has appeared on more than 40 movie soundtracks).
Adams' outstanding live concerts have established him as one of the world's best rock singers of our time, performing over 120 concerts a year as he works to spread his message of music and environmental awareness to an audience of millions around the globe.
Bryan is currently touring the world with his critically acclaimed "Bare Bones" acoustic show, interspersing
these special performances with full band stadium concerts.
For additional information about this performance or other performances within the 2011-2012 Luhrs Center series, call the Luhrs Center Box Office at 717.477.SHOW (7469) or visit the Luhrs Center website at luhrscenter.com.
About the H. Ric Luhrs Performing Arts Center at Shippensburg University
The mission of the H. Ric Luhrs Performing Arts Center at Shippensburg University is to support and enhance the University's role in academic and cultural enrichment for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The Luhrs Center's 1,500-seat state-of-the-art Grove Theatre is where programs to educate, enlighten and entertain are presented. Benefits of the Center to the region include expanding opportunities to participate in
a wide range of cultural programming including full-scale Broadway companies, musical groups, symphonies, dance troupes and internationally known speakers. In addition, it adds options for professional training programs, youth programs and senior citizen programs; attracts regional and national business conferences, professional meetings and planning sessions; and additional visitors to the area which will result in a positive impact on the local and regional economy.
