ATHY, CO. KILDARE

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OVERVIEW Originally from Athy, Co. Kildare, Jack Lukeman spent his formative years experimenting with his voice. His apprenticeship as a mechanic and singer combined to allow him to perfect his vocal technique. After work he would sing out into the corners of the empty garages where he could fill the huge spaces with his haunting, soaring voice. This prompted him to write his own material and Jack went abroad to seek inspiration. A trip to Germany with art band Serious Women resulted in a drunken night with future members of the Black Romantics. A discussion led to a summer of madness and Jack cut an album with The Black Romantics entitled "Wax", based mainly on the works of Belgian singer Jacques Brel. It earned Jack glowing reviews and gave an indication of things to come. His voice, as one critic remarked, "is a mixture of all the great male singing voices of the 20th century". He has been compared to and inspired by Scott Walker, Frank Sinatra, Jim Morrison and Tom Waits. Jack's 1999 album "Metropolis Blue" has now achieved platinum status. Consisting entirely of original material written in conjunction with his "axe-man" David Constantine, the album was produced by Jack and is a fitting testimony to his consummate ability both as a singer and a songwriter. Hot Press called it "A timeless collection of fine songs, beautifully delivered from an artist as unique as Ireland has ever produced". Featured tracks included the anthemic Georgie Boy, Rooftop Lullaby and Ode To Ed Wood (Girls & Boys). The summer of 2000 was spent promoting Metropolis Blue in the US where it received both popular and critical success. Jack began work in December 2000 on his triumphant follow up "Universe". Collaborators included Greg Wells, world renowned for work with Aerosmith. Having spent most of 2001 locked up in a studio, the album was an instant hit on release, going straight into the top ten and spawning the hits So Far Gone and Don't Fall In Love. In February 2002, Jack embarked on an Irish acoustic tour that led to the development of "The Little Universe Show" that debuted in May of that year at Dublin's Gate Theatre. With the help of Raymond Keane of the Barabbas Theatre Company, the show was a theatrical presentation of Jack's music exploring the themes of Love, Life and Death. The show went on to be one of the talking points of The Edinburgh Festival in August where it was staged for nine nights to rave reviews. The show then returned to Dublin for a 6 night run at The Olympia in September before continuing at venues throughout Ireland. An album, "Songs From The Little Universe Show", was recorded to accompany the show and made available at www.jacklukeman.com and at the gigs. It featured new songs Siamese Souls, Spanish Town and the hugely popular cover of Kylie's "Can't Get You Out Of My Head" that had been a massive radio hit earlier in the year following a performance on The Ray D'Arcy Show on Today FM. Biography taken from the Official Jack Lukeman Website 1995 - Release of 'Wax' album 1996 - Release of 'Tremendous' single - Release of 'If We Only Have Love' single 1997 - Release of 'Acoustico' album 1998 - Release of 'Summer Wind' single 1999 - Release of 'Georgie Boy' single 2000 - Release of 'Metropolis Blue' album - Release of 'Rooftop Lullaby' single 2001 - Release of 'Universal' album - Release of 'So Far Gone' single 2002 - Release of 'Songs From The Little Universe' album 2006 - Release of 'Broken Songs' album [31 March] 2008 - Release of 'Burn On' album [03 October] 2009 - Release of 'Baltimore' single - Release of 'The Story So Far - The Essential Collection' album [16 October] 2012 - Release of 'The 27 Club' album [19 October]