Chris Cornell online playbill

Blumenthal Performing Arts presents

Chris Cornell

With special guest Bhi Bhiman

Dec. 2, 2013 Knight Theater at Levine Center for the Arts

C

CHRIS CORNELL

hris Cornell is a rock icon who thrives on contradictions. An innovator who resists genre labels, he was nonetheless the chief architect of the ’90s grunge movement. Ranked as "one of the best voices in music history," he has successfully maintained his own unique identity over more than two decades as a multi-Grammy Awardwinning musician, Golden Globe nominee and universally acclaimed singer, songwriter and lyricist.

Seattle trailblazer group Soundgarden was a law to itself – edgy, dark and deeply individual. Its savage soundscapes, coupled with Cornell’s incisive lyrics and predatory roar, seduced audiences hungry for musical depth and complexity while leading trends in street fashion and iconic design. In 1989, Soundgarden became the first Seattle band to sign to a major label. The group’s sound continued to change and evolve over the course of five pioneering albums.

Celebrated side project Temple of the Dog had already shown Cornell’s more soulful side and introduced future Pearl Jam front man Eddie Vedder to the world. Later, Cornell shocked the business once again with his richly melodic, critically acclaimed solo album “Euphoria Morning,” swiftly recognized for its alienation and despair.

As the millennium turned, he joined with three other musical pioneers from Rage Against the Machine to create Audioslave, a multiplatinum, multi-Grammy nominated supergroup. On May 6, 2005, Audioslave played a free show in Havana, Cuba, for more than 50,000

people, becoming the first American rock group to perform an open-air concert in the socialist republic of Castro's Cuba. Rather than making a political statement, the trip was conceived as a musical cultural exchange with the joint authorization of the United States Department of Treasury and the Cuban Institute of Music. Cornell commented: “Hopefully, this concert will help to open the musical borders between our two countries.”

Over three solo studio albums, Cornell has continuously redefined his sound and vision to encompass new music, new collaborations and new activities.

Having contributed solo songs to movie soundtracks for “Singles,” “Great Expectations” and “Mission Impossible II,” he became the first, and to date, the only American male artist to be commissioned to write, record and perform the theme song for the James Bond franchise with “Casino Royale.” At the royal reception and premiere in London, Cornell was presented to Queen Elizabeth II. He has also had the honor to perform at the Kennedy Center Honors Gala in Washington, as well as in front of three United States presidents.

Soundgarden made a historic return to the live stage in 2010.

The band has since released the retrospective albums “Telephantasm” and “Live on I5,” taken from archive recordings of its 1996 U.S. tour, as well as a new studio album, “King Animal,” which was released on Nov. 13, 2012, to rave reviews.

CHRIS CORNELL

In January 2011, Cornell announced his solo acoustic Songbook tour, following a series of acclaimed solo acoustic shows in Los Angeles. The soldout tour of the U.S., Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South America received universally positive reviews. As Jim Farber of The New York Daily News observed: “Sometimes you don’t recognize the full power of a voice until you strip everything away from it.” Performances from the tour are included on Cornell’s 2011 live album, “Songbook.”

As an innovator, Cornell forged the first multimedia partnership between an artist and a commercial airline, Virgin America. As he has continued to evolve as an artist, Cornell has also evolved as a humanitarian through his passion for philanthropy and community, saying: “I’m in a fortunate position to use music to support important causes that help foster change.” Cornell has been an active supporter of the Make a Wish Foundation, Stuart House and MusiCares.

In 2010, Cornell became closely involved with the Fulfillment Fund, a college-access and mentoring organization, and he and his wife have helped draw a whole new generation of mentors and donors to this cause. Chris’ Dream benefit concert was successful in raising much-needed funds, and the new Chris and Vicky Cornell Scholarship Fund will enable a qualified student

to be selected annually for a special educational award.

In August 2011, Cornell helped raise awareness for Sam Childers’ Angels of East Africa children’s charity with his song “The Keeper,” written for the Marc Forster directed film “Machine Gun Preacher.” For the first 24 hours of release, the song was exclusively available as part of the “Donate to Download” campaign, and a portion of the proceeds continue to go to the charity. The song is also the lead track on the film’s soundtrack album and was nominated for a Golden Globe in January 2012.

In 2012, Cornell and his wife created the Chris and Vicky Cornell Foundation, which fights to protect the most vulnerable children. The Foundation is currently developing projects and programs working with leading charitable organizations and partners to raise awareness and mobilize support for children facing tough challenges, including homelessness, poverty, abuse or neglect. For information, please email foundation@chriscornell.com.

Only the most confident would claim to predict exactly what comes next for Cornell. Only one thing’s for sure – he’ll continue to break rules, make history and challenge expectations.

For information, visit www.chriscornell.com.

Backstage employees are represented by the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (or I.A.T.S.E.) Local 322.

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CONCERT CALENDAR

BLUMENTHAL PERFORMING ARTS PRESENTS The Colors of Christmas Dec. 20 & 21 • Knight Theater At Levine Center for the Arts

B.B. King Jan. 12 • Knight Theater At Levine Center for the Arts Jon Batiste & Stay Human Feb. 13 • McGlohon Theater At Spirit Square

BLUMENTHAL PERFORMING ARTS, MAXXMUSIC & THE VISULITE THEATRE PRESENT Clairy Browne & The Bangin' Rackettes with special guests Alex Kastanas and Grown Up Avenger Stuff Dec. 4 • McGlohon Theater At Spirit Square Chris Isaak Holiday Tour Dec. 16 • Knight Theater At Levine Center for the Arts Angelique Kidjo Feb. 8 • McGlohon Theater At Spirit Square Pat Metheny Unity Group Feb. 14 • Knight Theater At Levine Center for the Arts For a complete list of our upcoming concerts, visit BlumenthalArts.org and click on Category under the Search box. Then, in the Search box, select Music to see all the great concerts coming to our theaters. Or call 704-372-1000.