Stephen Lynch (musician) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Stephen Lynch |
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Lynch in 2008
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| Born | July 28, 1971 Abington Township, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Medium | Musician, comedy, television, theater |
| Nationality | American |
| Years active | 1996–present |
| Genres | Musical theatre, Stand-up comedy, Comedy rock, Country |
| Spouse | Erin Dwight (September 2003–present) |
| Relative(s) | Drew Lynch (brother) |
| Musical career | |
| Instruments | Vocals, guitar |
| Labels | What Are Records? |
Stephen Andrew Lynch, born on July 28, 1971, is an American comedian, musician, and actor. He is famous for his funny songs that make fun of everyday life and popular trends. Stephen Lynch has released several studio and live albums, plus a live DVD. He has also been featured on TV shows like Comedy Central Presents. He even starred in the Broadway musical The Wedding Singer. His double album, Lion, came out in 2012. Later, he released a concert video called Hello Kalamazoo in 2016 and his album My Old Heart in 2019.
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Stephen Lynch's Early Life and Education
Stephen Lynch was born in Abington, Pennsylvania. His family later moved to Saginaw, Michigan. When he was younger, Stephen performed in local plays and musicals. He attended Arthur Hill High School and The Center for Arts and Sciences.
He earned a scholarship to study theater at The Catholic University of America. In 1990, he moved to Western Michigan University. He graduated in 1993 with a degree in drama. While at Western Michigan University, he started writing funny songs.
Stephen Lynch sees himself as a musician first and a comedian second. He was inspired by singers like Paul Simon and Joni Mitchell when he was a kid. He decided to go into show business after watching the movie This is Spinal Tap. The first song he ever wrote was a country song called "Beefy Burrito."
Stephen Lynch's Career Journey
Starting Out in New York City
After college, Stephen Lynch moved to New York City in 1996. He wanted to become an actor. A friend suggested he perform some of the funny songs he wrote in college. He quickly became popular in comedy clubs around the city. He also appeared regularly on radio shows like Opie and Anthony.
In his early years in New York, he worked temporary jobs. He stopped these jobs when he signed with What Are Records? in 2000. He then signed with Vision International in 2002.
Over the next few years, he toured many colleges and nightclubs. He often avoided traditional comedy clubs. He also returned to Michigan sometimes to perform in summer plays. Stephen Lynch's first band was called Steel Toast.
Becoming a National Star
Stephen Lynch often performed in places known for music, not just comedy. These included famous venues like the House of Blues and Carnegie Hall. He became well-known across the country after his Comedy Central Presents special in 2000. He also appeared on other Comedy Central shows. He was on Last Call with Carson Daly four times. He also performed at the Just for Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal, Canada.
He has opened shows for many famous comedians. These include Jay Mohr, Jeff Foxworthy, and Lewis Black. In 2004, he toured with Mitch Hedberg. This tour was very successful and continued into 2005. It was Mitch Hedberg's last tour before he passed away.
Stephen Lynch also acted in five short films. These included The Love Seat (1999) and The Confetti Brothers (2001). The Confetti Brothers was shown at the 2001 Cannes Film Festival.
Broadway Debut in The Wedding Singer
In April 2006, Stephen Lynch starred as Robbie Hart in the Broadway musical The Wedding Singer. The show ran from April to December 2006. This musical was based on the 1998 movie of the same name. In the musical, he starred alongside Laura Benanti.
His performance earned him nominations for several awards. These included the Tony Award, Drama League Award, and Drama Desk Award. After the show, he said that rehearsing for the musical made him forget most of his own songs!
Touring and New Albums
In 2007, Stephen Lynch went on tour again. He performed with comedians like Bob Saget and Louis C.K.. He also starred in his second Comedy Central Presents special in January 2008.
Lynch went on his first European tours in 2008. He performed in England, Sweden, Norway, and other countries. Most of his shows sold out, even though he had never played in many of those places before. He believes YouTube helped him become popular there.
His success in Europe led to appearances at six festivals in 2008. He played at the Reading and Leeds Festivals in the UK. He also performed at the Lowlands Festival in the Netherlands. He returned to Europe in 2009 and toured the UK in 2010. His second studio album, 3 Balloons, was released in March 2009.
In June 2011, he performed in Sweden. On March 6, 2011, he announced on Twitter that he was working on a new CD. He said he was thinking of making it a studio album. His double live/studio album, Lion, came out on November 13, 2012. It received good reviews.
Stephen Lynch started the My Old Heart Tour in January 2017. He used this tour to show off new songs for his upcoming album. On February 21, 2018, he announced the album was finished. He recorded a live album to go with it in Kalamazoo, Michigan. On March 17, 2019, he confirmed that My Old Heart would be released on June 14, 2019.
Stephen Lynch's Personal Life
Stephen Lynch married Erin Dwight in September 2003. They got married on a private beach in Lake Michigan. Erin is usually the first person to hear his new song ideas. If she doesn't laugh, he often gives up on the idea.
Erin made a short film called Lynch and Teich in Brooklyn when Stephen was touring. She wanted to show him that she missed him. This film was included on his 2004 concert DVD, Live at the El Rey. She also helped create the cover for his album, The Craig Machine.
Stephen has a younger brother named Drew. Sometimes, Stephen and his brother tour together. Their parents were both teachers. Stephen's father was a priest and his mother was a nun before they became teachers. Stephen has said that religion was not forced on him as he grew up. He was raised Roman Catholic but no longer goes to church.
His family also taught him about being open-minded. His father was part of a singing group that went to many peace rallies during the Vietnam War. Stephen's father was also a stage actor and singer. Musical talent runs in their family. Stephen's first acting experiences were with his father in local plays when he was a child. The first musical he ever saw was Man of La Mancha. His father played the role of the Padre in that play.
Stephen Lynch often performs duets and songs for three voices. His friends and fellow comedians, Mark Teich and Rod Cone, often join him on tour. He rarely tours alone. He has also performed with David Josefsberg, who was in The Wedding Singer with him.
As of July 2008, Stephen Lynch lives in Kalamazoo, Michigan. He lives there with his wife, children, and pets.
Stephen's father, Leo, passed away on October 9, 2009. Stephen canceled some shows but still performed at Central Michigan University on October 16.
He appeared on The Opie and Anthony Show in October 2009. He said he had returned to his New York apartment after living in Michigan for a year. In 2013, he said he had moved back to Michigan.
Stephen Lynch's Music Albums
Demo Album
- Half A Man (1998): This was an early demo of his songs.
Studio Albums
- A Little Bit Special (2000): This was his first official album.
- 3 Balloons (2009): His first studio album since 2000.
- Lion (2012): A double album with both live and studio songs.
- My Old Heart (2019): Another double album with studio and live tracks.
Live Albums
- Superhero (2003)
- The Craig Machine (2005): Recorded in New York City.
- Lion (2012): This album also includes live songs.
- My Old Heart (2019): This album also includes live songs.
Compilation Album
- Cleanest Hits (2006): A collection of his "clean" songs. It was sold at Walmart and at The Wedding Singer shows.
Stephen Lynch's Videos
Live Show Videos
- Live at the El Rey (2004): This was a DVD of his live performance.
- Hello, Kalamazoo (2016): A concert video.
