Gary Hughes

Gary Hughes
Birth name	Gary Mark Hughes
Born	5 July 1967 (1967-07-05)
Origin	Manchester, England
Genres	Hard rock
Occupations	Singer, songwriter, musician
Instruments	guitars, piano, keyboards
Years active	1989 – present
Labels	Frontiers Now and Then Avalon
Associated acts	Ten
Website	Gary Hughes website

Gary Hughes (born 5 July 1967, Manchester) is an English hard rock singer, songwriter and musician. Apart from his work as a solo artist, Gary Hughes is the front man and main songwriter of Hard Rock/Melodic Rock band Ten. He has also worked as a producer and songwriter for Bob Catley's first three solo albums, as well as Hugo's first album and has appeared on Vinny Burns' The Journey solo album and on the Ayreonauts Only album by the band Ayreon.

Biography

Gary Hughes began playing guitar at 9 years old and as he progressed he earned a scholarship to the Royal Northern College of Music.

His solo musical career started in 1989 when Hughes released his first album, Big Bad Wolf (later renamed and re-released with extra tracks as Strength of Heart) through the Polygram Oslo label in Germany and Norway. In 1992 Hughes signed with the then newly formed Now & Then Records and his forthcoming self titled album was the first one released on that label.

In 1996, Hughes, joined by former Dare members Vinny Burns on guitar and Greg Morgan on drums begun working on what were to be his 3rd and 4th solo albums. The sessions quickly turned into more of a band situation and Ten was formed.

Between The Robe and Spellbound albums, Gary Hughes released his third solo album named Precious Ones. His third solo album showed a mellower side to the singer/songwriter's already multidimensional musical personality and met with critical acclaim especially in Japan. In 2002 he undertook his most ambitious project yet; the two-album wide Rock Opera named "Once And Future King" that was based on King Arthur's myths and legends. The albums were released within six months of each other and featured the vocal talents of many well-known musicians like Bob Catley, Lana Lane, Doogie White, Danny Vaughn and Sean Harris, among many others.

Despite his obligations for his band and his solo career, Gary Hughes wrote and produced Bob Catley's first three solo albums, as well as Hugo's first solo release. Though he has been leading a band for over a decade, he continues to release solo albums as well as working as a songwriter, producer and musician for other artists. His latest release was the 2007 solo album named Veritas which saw a return to the vocalist's AOR/Melodic Rock roots, following the Once And Future King project.

Gary Hughes is currently in preparation with his band Ten for the subsequent tour in support of the new Ten album named Stormwarning.

Alongside the preparations for the upcoming tour with his band Ten, he is in talks to write and produce an unknown female singer's solo album and a new rock opera.

Discography

Solo albums

• Big Bad Wolf (1989)
• Strength of Heart (1992)
• Gary Hughes (1992)
• Precious Ones (1998)
• Once and Future King Part I (2003)
• Once and Future King Part II (2003)
• Veritas (2007)

Compilation albums

• The Reissues (2000) (Re-Issue of Gary Hughes and Precious Ones)

Ten

Studio albums and EP's

• Ten (1996)
• The Name of the Rose (1996)
• The Name of the Rose EP (1996)
• The Robe (1997)
• The Robe EP (1997)
• You're In My Heart EP (1997)
• Spellbound (1999)
• Fear the Force EP (1999)
• Babylon (2000)
• Far Beyond the World (2001)
• Return to Evermore 2004)
• The Essential Collection 1995-2005 (2005)
• The Twilight Chronicles (2006)
• Stormwarning (2011)

Live albums

• Never Say Goodbye (1998)

Compilation albums

• Ten/The Name of the Rose (1999)
• The Robe/Bonus Collection (1999)
• The Best of Ten 1996-1999 (1999)

Hugo

• Hugo (1997)

Bob Catley

• The Tower (1998)
• Legends (1999)
• Middle Earth (2001)

Vinny Burns

• The Journey (1999)

Johnny Lima

• Shine On (1999)

Ayreon

• Ayreonauts Only (2000)

External links

• Gary Hughes website
• Ten website
• Heavy Harmonies page