Gary Hughes

For the American baseball executive, see Gary Hughes (baseball).
Gary Hughes

Gary Hughes in 2011
Background information
Birth name Gary Hughes
Born (1967-07-05) 5 July 1967
Origin Manchester, England
Genres Hard rock
Occupation(s) Singer, songwriter, musician
Instruments guitars, electric bass, piano, keyboards, programming
Years active 1989 – present
Labels
Associated acts Ten, Bob Catley, Magnum, Ayreon, Vinny Burns, Serpentine
Website TEN Official Website

Gary Hughes (born 5 July 1967, Manchester, England) is an English hard rock singer, songwriter and musician. Apart from his work as a solo artist, Gary Hughes is the front man and main songwriter of Hard Rock/Melodic Rock band Ten. He has also worked as a producer and songwriter for Bob Catley's first three solo albums and more recently on Serpentine's third studio album Circle Of Knives. He has also produced Hugo's first album and has appeared on Vinny Burns' The Journey solo album and on the Ayreonauts Only album by the band Ayreon.

Biography

Gary Hughes started playing guitar when he was 9 years old and as he progressed he earned a scholarship to the Royal Northern College of Music.[1]

His musical career started in 1989 when Hughes released his first album, Big Bad Wolf (renamed and re-released with extra tracks in 1992 as Strength of Heart) through the Polygram Oslo label in Germany and Norway.

In 1992 Hughes signed with the then newly formed Now & Then Records and his forthcoming self titled album was the first one released on that label.[1]

In 1995, Hughes and former Dare members Vinny Burns on guitar and Greg Morgan on drums begun working on what were to be his 3rd and 4th solo albums. The sessions lead to the formation of the melodic Hard Rock band Ten.[2]

Between The Robe and Spellbound albums, Gary Hughes released his third solo album named Precious Ones. Precious Ones met with critical acclaim especially in Japan. In 2002 he undertook his most ambitious project yet; the two-album wide Rock Opera named "Once And Future King" that was based on King Arthur's myths and legends. The albums were released six months apart from each other and featured the vocals of Bob Catley, Lana Lane, Doogie White, Danny Vaughn, Sean Harris and others.

Gary Hughes wrote and produced Bob Catley's first three solo albums, as well as Hugo's first solo release. Though he has been leading a band for over a decade, he continues to release solo albums as well as working as a songwriter, producer and musician for other artists. His latest release was the 2007 solo album named Veritas which saw a return to his AOR/Melodic Rock roots, following the Once And Future King project.

In September 2012 Gary Hughes announced on his personal Facebook page that he will be producing and co-writing the new studio album of the band Serpentine.[3] The follow-up album to the highly acclaimed Albion, Isla De Muerta, was released on the 20th of May via Rocktopia Records, with the band's first EP in 16 years entitled The Dragon And Saint George, following on the 4th of September. On March 2016, it was announced that his band Ten had signed a new contract with Frontiers, for a multi-album deal, starting with the release of a new (yet untitled) studio album and a reissue of the band's back catalogue (all 14 studio releases under the name "Opera Omnia").[4] Gary Hughes is also currently working on a new Rock Opera project, in the vein of 2003's Once And Future King albums.

Discography

Solo albums

Compilation albums

Studio albums

Live albums

Compilation albums

EPs

Hugo

Bob Catley

Vinny Burns

Johnny Lima

Ayreon

Serpentine

References

External links

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