Bolton brings soft jazz and old classics to Korea

Features

Published: 30 Mar. 2006, 20:54

Bolton brings soft jazz and old classics to Korea

Michael Bolton, the American singer and songwriter known best for his soft rock ballad “How Am I Supposed to Live Without You” and his cover of Percy Sledge’s “When a Man Loves a Woman,” is performing for the first time in Seoul today and tomorrow at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Seoul and in Daegu on April 4 in Kyungpook National University.
Bolton had a long career in music before his breakthrough third album, “The Hunger,” released in 1987. The singer was the vocalist for a heavy metal band called Blackjack during the late 1970s and early 1980s under his real name, Michael Bolotin.
In 1983, he changed his name to Michael Bolton and signed with Columbia Records, a move that turned his career around as a solo vocalist, focusing less on his former hard rock roots and instead building on a soul sensibility reminiscent of Motown classics, with melodic, ballad -style compositions and vocals.
After venturing into his new style, he gained a widespread following and won a Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance for his own compositions, “How Am I Supposed to Live Without You” in 1991, followed by another Grammy in the same category for “When a Man Loves a Woman.”
Some critics have pointed out Bolton’s tendency to boost his popularity by doing watered-down cover songs, but he has met undeniable commercial success with his “Timeless (The Classics)” album from 1992 (which also featured cover songs) that went to the top of the charts, not to mention singles like “(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay,” originally by Otis Redding.
His Korean concerts in 2006 will include the singer’s hits from the 1980s and 1990s, as well as songs from his 2004 album “Vintage,” which features Bolton’s renditions of pop songs from the 1940s to the 1960s, such as “A Kiss to Build a Dream On” and “Summertime.”

by Cho Jae-eun

Michael Bolton’s “Romantic Night” concerts are today at 8 p.m. and tomorrow at 7 p.m. in Seoul and next Tuesday at 8 p.m. in Daegu. Ticket prices range from 88,000 won ($90) to 198,000 won. The Sejong Center is located near Gwanghwamun station, line No. 5, exits 1 or 8. For more information, call (02) 518-7343 or visit www.sejongpac.or.kr. Kyungbook National University is located in Sankyuk-dong, Daegu. For more information call (053) 950-6091~2 or visit www.knu.ac.kr. Tickets can be purchased through www.interpark.com or 1544-1555.