Rufus Wainwright

Rufus Wainwright
“Release the Stars”
Dream Works/2007
www.rufuswainwright.com
www.myspace.com/rufuswainwright

Being born to a French Canadian mother and a Scottish-Irish American folk singing father wasn't enough for Rufus McGarrigle Wainwright, the young talented musician came out to perform with family members mom, Aunt Ann McGarrigle, and sister Martha at age 13. He came out as gay shortly there after and lives as a very successful openly gay musician.

Rufus began collecting awards and nominations at age 14. Since then he has recorded several albums and been a part of the musical soundtracks for several movies including the Oscar winning “Brokeback Mountain” and singing the only French song in the movie “Moulin Rouge”.

Recently Rufus re-created Judy Garland's 1961 performance in Carnegie Hall and he is planning on doing the same with Garland's 1961 performance at the Hollywood Bowl exactly 46 years after the original event on September 23.

Along with his numerous other projects including a commission from the New York Metropolitan Opera to compose an original work, Rufus Wainwright has released a new album “Release the Stars”. Rufus dedicated the 12 song album to his mother Kate McGarrigle. The album which was recorded in Berlin was originally designed to be a stripped down bare bones affair; instead it is a massive production of polyphonic music comparable to those written by the classical music composers of the twentieth century. Among the musicians that spear on “Release the Stars” are sister Martha, Neil Tennent of The Pet Shop Boys, and Sian Phillips of “I, Claudius” fame who contributes a spoken word piece on “Between My Legs”.

Wainwright composed the first single from the album “Going to a Town” in about five minutes while waiting for a dinner guest to arrive.