LEAD SINGER AND SONGWRITER OF POP GROUP “FUN”
∗ Born February 26, 1982 in Iowa City, Iowa
∗ Moved to Glendale in 1986; grew up in a music-loving family; uncle John Ruess was a Broadway singer; formed bands NeverGonnaScore and This Past Year while in high school; graduated from Deer Valley High School in 2000
∗ Formed band The Format in 2001 with Sam Means, who was also in his two previous bands; released locally an EP titled EP; signed with Elektra Records in 2002 and released first album, Interventions + Lullabies, which produced local hit “The First Single”; released second EP, Snails, in 2005; released second album Dog Problems on their own label; appeared on MTV’s My Super Sweet 16 in 2006
∗ Moved to New York City and formed the band Fun in 2008 with Jack Antonoff of Steel Train and Andrew Dost of Anathallo; released Aim and Ignite album, with disappointing sales despite generally positive reviews; peaked at #71 on the Billboard 200
∗ Released second album with Fun in 2012, Some Nights, which eventually sold more than three million copies; first single, “We Are Young” featuring Janelle Monae, was #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for six weeks, was performed on NBC-TV’s Glee series and was featured in a Chevrolet commercial during the Super Bowl
∗ Released two subsequent singles, “Some Nights,” which peaked at #3, and the top 20 hit “Carry On”
∗ Played with Fun for President Obama at a ball following his second inauguration in 2013
∗ Earned Grammy Awards in 2013 for Song of the Year (“We Are Young”) and Best New Artist; also nominated for Record of the Year, Album of the Year, Best Pop Vocal Album and Best Pop Duo or Group Performance
∗ Performed or had songs featured on various TV series, including Girls, Dancing On Ice, American Dad!, Dancing With the Stars, Young Hearts, The Office, Covert Affairs, Chuck, Gossip Girl, Grey’s Anatomy, Vinyl, The X Factor
∗ Was featured vocalist on Pink’s global #1 hit, “Just Give Me A Reason,” in 2013; sang “I Want To Know What Love Is” with Foreigner on ABC-TV series Greatest Hits in 2016; featured on songs by Eminen (“Headlights”) and Steel Train (“Kill Monsters In The Rain”), among others
∗ Announced in 2015 that Fun has not broken up, but is on hiatus
∗ Released first solo album, Grand Romantic, in 2015, which featured hit “Nothing Without Love”; performed in concert with his Grand Romantic Band
∗ Made multiple appearances as a guest advisor on NBC-TV’s The Voice in 2015
∗ Headlined (with Imagine Dragons) the “All In One Orlando Unity Concert” to benefit the OneOrlando Fund to assist victims and survivors of the June 2016 nightclub mass shooting
∗ Became a father February 17, 2017 with the birth of son with his girlfriend, fashion designer Charlotte Ronson; currently lives in Manhattan