Glen Burtnik

Glen Burtnik (born 8 April 1955) is a singer, songwriter, entertainer and multi-instrumentalist, best known as a former member of Styx.

The spelling of his name has changed a few times over the years (born Glenn Burtnick, then changed to Glen Burtnick, and finally Glen Burtnik, spelled with one N, no C).

Burtnik appeared in the Broadway production of Beatlemania as Paul McCartney, alongside Marshall Crenshaw, who played John Lennon. He continues his love of The Beatles to this day, with the cover band Liverpool. This band are regular performers at the Fest for Beatles Fans, annually held in the Metropolitan New York City area and Chicago with occasional stops elsewhere.

He has written chart-topping hits such as "Sometimes Love Just Ain't Enough" for Patty Smyth and Don Henley, "Spirit Of A Boy, Wisdom Of A Man", and "Delicious Surprise", hosted the "School Of Rock" radio show on The Hawk - 105.7 FM, and recorded/toured/collaborated with well-known artists. He has also put together the annual Glen Burtnik's Xmas Xtravaganza since 1989 (skipping 1990 and 1991), making 2009 the 19th year (December 19, 2009 at the Count Basie Theatre in Red Bank, NJ).

While solo success has been relatively elusive, he did score a minor hit in 1987 with "Follow You," a soaring track off his Heroes and Zeroes album. Unfortunately, follow-up releases have been less successful.

One of his songs, "Face In The Mirror" was used in a series of TV commercials for Philishave electric shavers in the 1990s.[1] Burtnik officially left Styx in 2003 due to his wanting to be closer to home.

In 2006, Dennis DeYoung asked him to be a part of his band for selected shows to help promote his newest CD "One Hundred Years From Now" which was released in Canada in 2007 and in the USA in 2009. Burtnik performs with DeYoung some of the material he wrote with Styx during the Edge of The Century album including "Love Is The Ritual", "Edge of the Century" and some "Lost Treasures" which are some songs that were written for Styx on Edge of the Century II which never got recorded because Styx at that time didn't have a recording contract with a record company in 1992.

Burtnik and his family were featured on the October 16, 2006 season premiere episode of the Discovery Channel show, It Takes a Thief. During the second season of this show, Burtnik and his family were the "victims" of a staged robbery.

In April 2009 he accepted an offer to tour with The Orchestra in Europe, replacing the late Kelly Groucutt on bass.

Discography

(Excludes soundtracks and guest appearances/contributions)

Solo albums

• Talking in Code (1986)
• Heroes & Zeroes (1987)
• Slaves of New Brunswick (1991) (credited to "Slaves of New Brunswick")
  • technically a "Glen Burtnik and Friends" release, featuring Glen Burtnik and 60 of his friends
• Palookaville (1996)
• Retrospectacle (1996)
• Welcome To Hollywood (2004)

As a member of other bands, etc.

• "I Hate Disco Music" b/w "Ooga Sha La Bango" (single) (1978) (with The Sides)
• Hammer (1979) (with Jan Hammer)
• Helmet Boy (1980) (with Helmet Boy)
• Edge of the Century (1990) (with Styx)
• A Live Christmas Extravaganza (1994) (various artists)
• Stiff Competition: A Tribute to Cheap Trick (various artists)
• Spirit Of Asbury Park (various artists)
• Arch Allies: Live at Riverport (with Styx and REO Speedwagon)
• Styxworld (with Styx)
• At the River's Edge: Live in St. Louis (with Styx)
• Jersey Jams Jersey Cares (various artists)
• Cyclorama (with Styx)

Discography reference

• Glen Burtnik Lyrics site

External links

• Official website