| Casey Stratton | |
|---|---|
Photo by Terry Johnston. Publicity photo 2009 |
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Casey Patrick Stratton |
| Born | October 16, 1976 Lansing, Michigan, United States |
| Genres | Rock |
| Occupations | Musician, songwriter, producer |
| Instruments | Piano, Guitar, Violin, Cello, vocals |
| Years active | 1990–present (solo career) |
| Labels | Sleeping Pill Music |
| Website | [1] [2] |
Casey Stratton (born 1976) is a male Pop/Rock singer/songwriter/musician.
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Casey Stratton was born in Lansing, Michigan in 1976. He has lived in Los Angeles, California, Chicago, Illinois and New York City, New York. Stratton currently resides in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Beginning violin lessons at the age of 8, Stratton followed quickly with cello lessons at 10, the piano at 11, and guitar at 16. It was through the piano that Stratton discovered a passion for writing and performing songs. After graduating from Michigan's Interlochen Arts Academy, Stratton moved to Los Angeles to pursue his career. His first album release on a major label, "Standing at the Edge" for Sony Music Entertainment received positive reviews in magazines like People and Billboard.
Casey Stratton's biggest influence is Tori Amos. Other influences include Sarah McLachlan, Peter Gabriel, Radiohead, Björk, Paula Cole and Joni Mitchell. His musical inspirations are found in classical composers such as Debussy, Ravel, Copland and Barber. Moreover, his lyrics are inspired by the works of T. S. Eliot and Joseph Campbell.
Stratton interacts with fans on a regular basis at venues and through his online blog.
Casey began writing songs at the age of 11. He first performed his own songs live while attending Interlochen Arts Academy at the age of 16. The response lead Casey to begin contemplating becoming a professional singer/songwriter. It was also during this time period that he began performing in Coffeehouses in Michigan.
After moving to Los Angeles in 1995, Casey quickly signed an independent recording contract with Magic Records. Work then began on the recordings that would eventually become his first full length release, The Giver and the Grave Digger, which was released in 1996. In late 1995 Magic Records released Driving to the Moon EP which garnered considerable critical acclaim and exposure in the Los Angeles music scene. This led to a string of live performances at the now defunct Luna Park venue.
In 1997, after deciding not to renew his contract with Magic Records, Casey began his first self-produced album, Lily Sleeps. This project marked an experimental phase for Casey. Over 90 tracks were written and recorded during this time. While the album was never released in CD format, it is now available in the DIGITAL MUSIC STORE at www.caseystratton.com.
The songs from Lily Sleeps gained some industry attention and Casey signed a publishing contract with Rondor Music Publishing in 1997. It was during this time that Casey began recording Whirlwind Medusa. This is also when the first recordings of future favorites Hollow and House of Jupiter were completed. In 1999 Casey was informed that his contract with Rondor Music Publishing would not be renewed. This led to a dark period in the performer's life. In the summer of 2000 Stratton moved to Chicago where he began a nearly two year hiatus from the record industry. He immersed himself in writing and recorded an independent album called The Winter Children. Many of these tracks would be re-recorded later and included on his Sony release Standing at the Edge.
Casey returned to the recording industry in 2002. Shortly after moving to New York City, Stratton inked a deal with Sony Music. in January 2003 he flew to Los Angeles to begin recording Standing at the Edge with legendary producer Patrick Leonard. Originally intended for an August 2003 release, Standing at the Edge was initially delayed until October 2003. Eventually the album would be delayed yet again and ultimately released in on January 20, 2004.
After Standing at the Edge, Stratton gained further success when the Junior Vasquez remix of "House Of Jupiter" went to #1 on the Billboard Dance chart and remained there for 20 weeks in 2005. This was followed by Vazquez's remix of "Blood". Casey left Sony Music in December 2004. Stratton's 6th studio album, "DIVIDE", was released in October 2005 on Stratton's independent label, Sleeping Pill Music (ASCAP). Casey also launched a comprehensive digital music store on his website that would include all of his early albums, various holiday recordings, EPs and live shows as well as his current release DIVIDE. In March 2006 Casey recorded and released an album of traditional folk songs, The Sun is Burning, including 3 new songs where Casey set 3 W.B Yeats poems to music.
The DIVIDE tour started on March 18, 2006 in Chicago, IL and completed all the East Coast dates with a performance in Atlanta. The West Coast portion of the tour began on April 27, 2006 in Los Angeles, California, ending in Portland, Oregon on May 6, 2006. A summer tour began on July 18, 2006 in Cleveland, OH and ended in Savannah, GA on July 28, 2006.
Stratton's album, The Crossing, was released in April 2007. A tour was being planned but was eventually scrapped due to financial concerns. Casey frequently discusses the strains of being an independent musician in these times and is in strong opposition to music piracy.
Casey's album, Orbit, was digitally released on February 5, 2008. This was followed by Signs of Life which was digitally released in August 2008 and physically released on CD in November. Messages Sending digitally released in April 2009. No plans are in place for a CD release at this time.
Casey started a Podcast in May 2008 in which he discusses his career and life in addition to live performances.
Memories and Photographs was released in September 2009, followed by A Winter Moon, an album of holiday music, in December 2009. Casey's next project, Myth & Stars, largely based on Greek Mythology, was released on September 21, 2010. A live DVD, Live at the Wealthy Theatre, was released in 2010 as well.