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"Gold takes the listener to fresh places." "Ari writes from the heart." "steeped in sticky pop melodies, sing-along hooks, and butt-shakin' funk rhythms...solid radio-ready material!" "Gold's musicianship is flawless." "a pop sensation [and] smash success!" "A pioneer…unflinching…unapologetic." Award-Winning Independent Recording Artist Ari Gold, is turning the music scene on its head, rewriting the rules, and trailblazing a storm of political pop. With music that is as catchy as it is controversial, Ari Gold has not only been out from the beginning of his career, he has also never shied away from creating songs that come from his unique perspective as an openly gay man--something that is unprecedented in R&B/Pop music. Ari has been seen and heard on TV and Radio on VH-1, MTV Europe, Radio 1, IFC, HBO Zone, Here!TV, BBC, FOX News, WOR, Sirius, XM, NPR and was the first independent artist to debut at #1 on MTV Network's LOGO. He has received critical acclaim from People Magazine, trade publications Billboard and HITS, and has appeared as a style icon in VIBE, W and V. He is the Grand Prize Winner (and 1st place in the Pop Category) of the 12th Annual USA Songwriting Competition, an Independent Music Award Winner and 2x Outmusic Award Winner. Having graced the covers of countless magazines around the world, Ari has also been honored as one of Metro Source’s “25 People That Make Us Proud,” one of Genre’s “Men We Love” and OUT Magazine's OUT100 honoree of the 100 People That Influence Gay Culture. With his tour de force live shows, Ari has toured Europe (France, Italy, UK, Switzerland, Belgium), Canada, and has played in over 40 cities in the U.S, alongside Cyndi Lauper, RuPaul, Martha Wash and Chaka Khan. In his native NYC, Ari has sold out shows at Joe’s Pub and headlined Lincoln Center and BAM (Brooklyn Academy Of Music) as well as dance clubs Avalon, Pacha, Splash and Touch. With 3 critically acclaimed studio albums and a coffee table book and remix CD released in over 25 countries under his gold belt, the press has already coined Ari an international sex symbol and gay icon. Born and raised in an orthodox Jewish household in the Bronx, Ari Gold was discovered while singing at his brother's bar-mitzvah at the tender age of five. It was then that Ari landed his earliest job as a professional singer, performing the lead role on the CBS Children's recording Pot Belly Bear: Songs and Stories. The album went platinum and led to his prolific career as a child vocalist singing on over 400 jingles, providing various voices for Cabbage Patch Kids, cult-favorite Jem and the Holograms, and singing with Diana Ross on her Swept Away album. Ari recorded his first demo at age 12 and began writing his own songs at age 14. After graduating Yeshiva high school in Manhattan, Ari studied music and cultural studies at Yale University and got his Bachelor of Arts from New York University. For his third studio album, Transport Systems, Ari assembled a stellar cast of collaborators such as Steve Skinner (Akon, Jewel, Diana Ross), Grammy Award Winning Producer Joe Hogue and 2x Grammy Winning mixer/producer Bob Rosa, as well as guest appearances by Sasha Allen (VH-1’s Born To Diva), hip-hop artist Mr. Man and multi-platinum selling Grammy nominated Capitol Records Artist Dave Koz. Transport Systems is funky, sexy, smart and soulful--with topics ranging from the down low phenomenon, gay relationships, crystal meth addiction, gender identity and spirituality--all set behind infectious grooves, thick harmonies, and melodic hooks. The lead single, “Where The Music Takes You” is #1 on Sirius Radio, a Top 40 HOT AC hit, and a Top 40 Billboard Dance Hit. The accompanying animated video directed by Joe Phillips was the #1 Video of the Year on LOGO. The TransporTour 2008 has already reached over 25 cities and will continue throughout 2009. After playing in nearly every club in his hometown of NYC, Ari released his first studio album of original material in 2000. The self titled debut garnered critical attention from both the mainstream press and gay press for being the first R&B/Pop album of its kind to include male pronouns in its love songs. The album eventually took home the 2002 Outmusic Award for Outstanding Debut. His critically acclaimed sophomore album, Space Under Sun, released on his own label GOLD18 Records in 2004, further solidified Ari’s place in the music scene and took home the 2005 Outmusic Award for Album of The Year. Ari’s first video single “Wave Of You,” premiered during the launch of MTV’s new network LOGO, was named one of the “Best Videos of 2005,” was voted the #2 Ultimate Queer Video and the #3 “Ultimate Sexiest Videos” in a list that included superstars Madonna, Mariah, Janet and Christina Aguilera. In 2005 Ari released Ari Gold: The Photobook w/ The Remixes which included contributions by Boy George, Rupaul, Duane Cramer, James Houston and illustrator Joe Phillips. The Remixes was named the #2 Best Indie Release of 2005 by the Advocate and spawned the Billboard Top 40 Dance/Club hit, “Love Will Take Over” which became an iTunes Pride Essential, received heavy airplay on Sirius Radio, and on the nationally syndicated radio show, Radio With a Twist which is licensed to over 6 U.S mainstream markets along with AOL radio. The song has also appeared on various compilations including Global Groove and Gay Games IV where Ari performed at Wrigley Field in Chicago for 30,000 people at the closing ceremonies. The accompanying video debuted at #1 on LOGO’s “The Click List,” bumping Madonna out of the top spot and remaining in the top 10 for over 21 weeks. Ari wrote the single, “I’m All About You” (released on Island Universal) with hitmaker Desmond Child and performed the song with UK two-set heavyweights DJ Luck and MC Neat. The video was a mainstay on MTV Europe and Ari performed the song on virtually every major UK music outlet like Radio 1’s Big Sunday and the legendary Top Of The Pops. Ari has contributed his songwriting and production skills to various artists including Kevin Aviance’s “You Got The Groove” produced by Grammy nominated producer Tony Moran and “I’ll Be Here” for Nashom remixed by Grammy Award winning producer David Morales (Mariah Carey). Ari’s music can also be heard in hit independent films Boy Culture, Boys Shorts 4 (the “Wave Of You video is a DVD extra), Slutty Summer and John Cameron Mitchell’s Shortbus which premiered at Cannes. Ari served as music supervisor for the IFC’s documentary Fabulous! The Story of Queer Cinema and also on Latin Boys Go To Hell in which he performs his song, “See Through Me.” As an artist and activist Ari has remained at the forefront of the fight for human rights. His song "Home" can be heard on the Human Rights Campaign's benefit album Love Rocks along with music by Melissa Etheridge, Christina Aguilera, Dolly Parton, and Carole King. He contributed "Bashert (Meant To Be)" to the American Civil Liberties Union's (ACLU) benefit CD Marry Me, released in an effort to secure the rights of same sex couples. Ari has also worked with charitable organizations to help LGBT youth, and for AIDS research and awareness. Ari looks forward to continuing this work and to bringing his music and message to fans around the globe. |
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