Chris Merritt (songwriter)

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Chris Merritt
Chris Merritt in American Fork, Utah on May 3, 2007
Chris Merritt in American Fork, Utah
on May 3, 2007
Background information
Born November 20, 1982
Origin Upperville, Virginia - USA
Genre(s) alternative rock
Occupation(s) songwriter, pianist, vocalist
Years active 2000-present
Label(s) self-released, Takeover Records
Associated acts Paperface, Upperville
Website http://www.chrismerrittmusic.com
Members
Dustin Hofheins (bass), Tim Fellow (drums)
Former members
Roland Osborne, Jacob Thro, Tristan Siple, Andrew Merritt, Brian Mayfield, Chris Walvoord, Dave Fujinami

Chris Merritt (born November 20, 1982) is an American songwriter/pianist 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.[1]

Contents

[edit] Career

[edit] 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.[2] Soon after, Merritt and Paperface relocated to Anaheim, California.

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.[3]

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.

[edit] Solo career (2006-present)

Merritt recorded his first solo album, "Hello, Little Captain" in late 2006 with Chris Walvoord (drums) and Dave Fujinami (bass).[4] Merritt then relocated to Utah in the Spring of 2007. He released the album upon his arrival. Merritt's current band consists of Tim Fellow (drums) and Dustin Hofheins (bass).[5][6][7][8]

In July of 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.[9] Merritt is also currently listed as one of the top ten artists on the music discovery site thesixtyone.com.[10]

On April 23, 2008, Merritt opened for Ben Folds at Saltair in Salt Lake City, Utah.[11]

Chris Merritt is set to self release his latest album, Pixie and the Bear, on June 21, 2008.

[edit] Discography

[edit] Paperface

  • Thawed For Your Convenience (2000 self release)
  • Jimmy's Bad Day With Chicken (2001 no official release)
  • Rock, Scissors (2003 self release)[12]
  • The Legend of Harley Knowles (2004 self release)[13]
  • The Legend of Harley Knowles (2005 Takeover Records release)[13]

[edit] Upperville

  • Upperville EP (2006 self release)

[edit] Solo

  • Hello, Little Captain (2007 self release)[4]
  • Pixie and the Bear (2008 self release)

[edit] References

  1. ^ Provo Podcast #41: Chris Merritt. provopodcast.com. Retrieved on 2008-05-24.
  2. ^ Takeover Records artist: Paperface. takeoverdigital.com. Retrieved on 2008-05-18.
  3. ^ "2005 Artists' Choice", Billboard, December 24, 2005. Retrieved on 2008-05-18. 
  4. ^ a b Chris Merritt: Hello, Little Captain. allmusic.com. Retrieved on 2008-05-18.
  5. ^ Lizon, Michelle. "Merritt System", Daily Herald, October 18, 2007. Retrieved on 2008-05-08. 
  6. ^ Hardy, Roger L. "Band builds fan base in Utah and the West", Deseret News, October 25, 2007. Retrieved on 2008-05-08. 
  7. ^ Craves, Jessica. "Chris Merritt: There's a new sound in town", Square Magazine, September 1, 2007. Retrieved on 2008-05-08. 
  8. ^ Soundcrank Artist Podcast: Chris Merritt. soundcrank.com (October 02, 2007). Retrieved on 2008-05-24.
  9. ^ Independent Music World Series 2007 Finalist: Chris Merritt. discmakers.com/imws. Retrieved on 2008-05-15.
  10. ^ thesixtyone: Artist Leaderboard. thesixtyone.com. Retrieved on 2008-05-25.
  11. ^ "Daily Calendar: April", Slug Magazine, April 1, 2008. Retrieved on 2008-05-18. 
  12. ^ Paperface: Rock, Scissors. allmusic.com. Retrieved on 2008-05-18.
  13. ^ a b Paperface: The Legend of Harley Knowles. allmusic.com. Retrieved on 2008-05-18.

[edit] External links