Wesley Schultz
Schultz performing in 2012
Schultz performing in 2012
Background information
Birth nameWesley Keith Schultz
Born (1982-12-30) December 30, 1982
OriginRamsey, New Jersey, U.S.
Instrument(s)
  • Vocals
  • guitar
Years active2005–present
Websitethelumineers.com

Wesley Keith Schultz (born December 30, 1982)[1] is an American musician. He is the guitarist and lead vocalist for the folk rock band The Lumineers.

Life and career

Schultz in 2016

Schultz grew up in Ramsey, New Jersey,[2] the son of clinical psychologist Dr Michael J. Schultz (died 2007) and primary domestic Judy (née Kinyon),[3][4][5] and attended Ramsey High School[6] and the University of Richmond.[7][8] At the time The Lumineers released their first album, their press release highlighted the fact that Schultz, then age 9, had been quoted in a 1992 story in The New York Times.[2] In that story (a profile of Dennis Kobray, who since 1986 has performed the award-winning musical/ acting show "Meet the Musicians",[9] as part of which he tours elementary schools imitating classical composers as a way to introduce children to classical music), 9-year-old Schultz is quoted as saying: "I spend a lot of time on my drawings and it turns out good 'cause I've been practicing a lot."[10]

Growing up in Ramsey, Schultz's best friend was Josh Fraites.[11] Fraites died of a drug overdose in 2002, at the age of 19.[11] In the wake of Josh's death, Schultz connected with Josh's younger brother Jeremiah Fraites, a drummer, and the two "found solace in music, writing songs and playing gigs around New York City."[12] The two toured under various names including Wesley Jeremiah and Six Cheeks, and released a self-titled EP, including future The Lumineers songs, "Flowers In Your Hair" and "Darlene".

Frustrated by their band's limited success in New York, and struggling with the high cost of living, Schultz and Fraites decided to relocate to Denver, where they could dedicate more time to working on their music and touring.[2] Upon arriving in Denver, they placed a Craigslist ad for a classical cellist.[11][12] Neyla Pekarek responded to their ad and ultimately became the third member of The Lumineers.[11][12] The trio spent the next year playing gigs around Denver and touring nationally at their own expense.[11]

In 2012 The Lumineers released their first album, The Lumineers. Three songs from that album (all co-written by Schultz and Fraites) have charted: "Ho Hey", "Stubborn Love", and "Submarines".

In 2013 the band released a deluxe edition of their self-titled album. It included 5 bonus tracks, over 25 minutes of video footage, and a 28-page booklet.

In 2016 Schultz sang Honey Pie in Beat Bugs episode 12b.

In 2016 The Lumineers released the album Cleopatra. The songs were written in the four years after the first album, The Lumineers, was released.[13]

In 2019 The Lumineers released the album "III". This is their third album. The album title references that the album is presented in three chapters, each focusing on a different main character of the fictional Sparks family

On October 25, 2020 Schultz announced that a 10-song solo album containing covers entitled "Vignettes" would be released that Friday, October 30.[14] He defined the album as a love letter to the songs he played in bars and coffee shops at the beginning of his music career.[15]

Schultz had previously released a version of Eric Clapton's song "Bell Bottom Blues" on September 3, which was included on the album.[16]

Songwriting credits

YearArtistSongCo-written withU.S. peak
position		U.K. peak
position
2012The Lumineers"Ho Hey"Jeremiah Fraites3[17]8[18]
2012The Lumineers"Stubborn Love"Jeremiah Fraites70—

References

  1. ↑ Kent, Richard (December 24, 2012). "Celeb birthdays for the week of Dec. 30-Jan. 5 | wfaa.com Dallas – Fort Worth". Wfaa.com. Archived from the original on April 23, 2014. Retrieved April 21, 2014.
  2. 1 2 3 "The Lumineers: Chasing Big Dreams Out West", NPR, May 26, 2012. Accessed November 14, 2012
  3. ↑ "Dr. Michael J. Schultz Obituary (2007) The Record/Herald News". Legacy.com. Retrieved February 3, 2022.
  4. ↑ "Wesley Schultz is More Than Just The Lumineers". Coloradoavidgolfer.com. August 7, 2019. Retrieved February 3, 2022.
  5. ↑ Interviews, Danielle Sariyan. "An Interview With The Lumineers: Wesley Schultz Unveils The Stories Behind The Band's Intimate Lyrics And Irresistible Sing-A-Long Songs". Theaquarian.com. Retrieved February 3, 2022.
  6. ↑ Mazzola, Jessica. "Lumineers featured on The Colbert Report; Band talks about moving from Ramsey to Brooklyn to Colorado.", Ramsey Patch, July 31, 2013. Accessed October 19, 2017. "Wesley Schultz and Jeremiah Fraites, both Ramsey High School grads, answered questions on the show about how the band started out, and why they chose to move to Colorado."
  7. ↑ "Why The Lumineers Don't Eat At T.G.I. Friday's | Your Hub for Southern Culture". Thedailysouth.southernliving.com. October 24, 2012. Retrieved April 21, 2014.
  8. ↑ Aberback, Brian. "Ramsey's Lumineers Receive Grammy Nods; Acoustic Folk-Pop Band nominated for Best New Artist and Best Americana Album has roots in the borough", Ramsey Patch, December 21, 2012. Accessed October 19, 2017. "'As musicians, you can't concern yourselves with awards and things that are out of your control,' Schultz, a 2001 Ramsey High School grad said.... Schultz said he did not know Jeremiah Fraites well in high school but the two became good friends and songwriting partners after Schultz returned to Ramsey from college."
  9. ↑ "ABOUT". Meetthemusicians.us. Retrieved February 3, 2022.
  10. ↑ Cruice, Valerie (March 15, 1992). "On Tour With a Thoroughly Modern Beethoven". The New York Times.
  11. 1 2 3 4 5 McDermott, Maeve. "Meet roots rockers The Lumineers", USA Today, June 24, 2012.
  12. 1 2 3 "The Lumineers Biography from their website". Thelumineers.com. Archived from the original on November 25, 2012. Retrieved February 3, 2022.
  13. ↑ Wesley Schultz on Lumineers new album 'Cleopatra' (video). NME. April 29, 2016. Retrieved August 4, 2018.
  14. ↑ Schultz, Wesley [@wesleyschultz82] (October 26, 2020). ".@wesleyschultz82 here – My solo album of cover songs "VIGNETTES" comes out this Friday... the WHOLE album (All 10 tracks) will be released, not just one song. Be prepared... 🙏❤️🤘🏼 https://t.co/tASlsj0I3Y" (Tweet). Retrieved December 29, 2020 – via Twitter.
  15. ↑ Pingitore, Silvia (February 5, 2021). "The Lumineers interview: Wesley Schultz and Jeremiah Fraites from planetary success with Ho Hey to solo work". the-shortlisted.co.uk. Retrieved October 8, 2021.
  16. ↑ Schultz, Wesley [@wesleyschultz82] (September 3, 2020). "My first solo release – @ericclapton "Bell Bottom Blues" out NOW on spotify https://t.co/6ZghmDRNGU produced by @SimoneFelice and beautiful piano by @davidbaronmusic https://t.co/81tr9wWZu6" (Tweet). Retrieved December 29, 2020 – via Twitter.
  17. ↑ "Hot Rock & Alternative Songs". Billboard.com. January 2, 2013.
  18. ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top 100 | Official Charts Company". Officialcharts.com.
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