Artists

Performing the songs

Chris Cornell

Chris Cornell

Chris Cornell is a modern innovator who transcends genre.  He was the chief architect of the 90s grunge movement and remains one of the best rock voices of all time.  Achieving multi-platinum success with three legendary bands - selling over 30 million records worldwide - he has forged his own unique identity over three decades as a Grammy award-winning, Golden Globe nominated singer, songwriter, guitarist, composer and lyricist. 

His career began with Seattle trailblazers Soundgarden, whose wild soundscapes combined visceral punk attitude with artistic depth. Powerfully original, they were the first of their generation of Seattle bands to sign to a major label in 1989 and their work continued to evolve over the course of seven groundbreaking albums. Soundgarden made a historic return to the live stage in 2010 and have since toured the world, releasing the all-new studio album, KING ANIMALto widespread acclaim. 

Cornell has continually redefined his sound and vision.  In 1990, side project Temple of the Dog saw him experiment with a more soulful style alongside the future members of Pearl Jam. Later in the decade, his critically acclaimed solo album EUPHORIA MORNING combined lush melody and instrumentation with lyrics which spoke of alienation and despair. And as the millennium turned, he joined with three other musical pioneers from Rage Against the Machine to create supergroup Audioslave. The multi-platinum band released three albums and toured stadiums around the world, becoming the first American rock group to perform a massive free concert in Castro's Cuba.  Cornell has also collaborated with many different artists, most recently the Zac Brown Band on their single “Heavy Is The Head”, which peaked at #1 on rock radio in the US.

His soundtrack work has spanned both big budget and independent cinema. He was the first male American artist to write and perform the theme song for a James Bond movie (“You Know My Name” for Casino Royale).  He wrote the end title song "Live to Rise" for The Avengers, the third highest grossing film of all time.He duetted with Joy Williams on his song “Misery Chain” which appeared on the soundtrack of the Oscar-winning 12 Years A Slave and his song “The Keeper” from Marc Forster’s Machine Gun Preacher was nominated for a Golden Globe in 2012. 

Cornell’s recent solo acoustic ‘Songbook’ tour attracted sellout crowds and critical acclaim worldwide.  Jim Farber of the New York Daily News observed, “sometimes you don't recognize the full power of a voice until you strip everything away from it.”  The tour’s reinterpretations of classic Cornell songs are featured on his 2011 live album of the same name.

Cornell has also become involved in philanthropy, using music to support causes that help foster change.  The Chris and Vicky Cornell Foundation is currently raising funds and partnering with charitable organizations to mobilize support for children facing tough challenges, including homelessness, poverty, abuse and neglect.  

He has recently released HIGHER TRUTH, his fifth solo album to date, which reflects an expressive intimacy similar to that of SONGBOOK, while also displaying his evolution and growth as a master craftsman songwriter. 

 

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