A tribute to Warren Wiebe
Born to the union of Abraham and Ruby Wiebe in San Diego, Warren Wiebe was a child who soon discovered a great love of music. At the age of 14 he formed his first band, Mankind, while enrolled at San Diego's Crawford High School, a place that turned out an inordinate amount of talented performers, such as Nathan East, Carl Evans Jr, Hollis Gentry, and Kathy Najimy. Warren just loved to sing. He could do a perfect Stevie Wonder, Al Jarreau, James Brown, Paul Rodgers, or Garth Brooks. And all this without a single vocal lesson in his life. He never practiced or studied music. He had the uncanny ability to learn a song perfectly in one pass and then be ready to roll tape and lay it down.
Warren started his musical journey in San Diego doing trio gigs as a bass player with one of his best friends, Brian Price, and culminated his career in Los Angeles by singing with the best of the best, under the guidance of David Foster (taken in by Foster under his own wing.)
Quick Card:
Name: Warren R. Wiebe
Date of Birth: July 18th, 1953
Place of Birth: San Diego, California
Astrological signs: Cancer (Snake in Chinese horoscope)
Qualities: Professionalism and discipline
Favorite singer: Stevie Wonder
Favorite food: Tacos
Musical instrument: Bass
Over the years, he surrounded himself with all kinds of people, and he never lost sight that he considered himself in the group of the many, instead of the group of the few. Although he certainly belonged in the group of the few, he never acted it. He always remained down to earth and approachable. His ego was unique in that he never criticized any person or situation. In any given week, he could have been found performing in front of thousands with Celine Dion, recording with David Foster, and performing at a low-key unknown wedding in San Diego; but he never gave the impression that any one gig was better than another.
He touched many hearts with his ministry of music ...and he touched many hearts with his passing. Warren left us on October 25, 1998. A day that many of his best friends hated to think about, but also the day that they feared that would someday come to pass. In his own special way, he touched the lives of everyone. His talent was only surpassed by his caring, kindness, and generosity towards others. He always put his family, friends, and others before himself. He was and extraordinary human being and he always kept his considerable inner suffering to himself. His selflessness never waived. His plan in life was simple: To perform the very best he could, and that is just what he always did. God graced him with the kind of sweet humility we all should aspire to, and he gave him the most perfect singing voice that I think we’ll ever hear.
His two sisters, Jeanne (Vernon) Johnson and Ranee (Jerry) Guill, his 6 nieces and nephews Shawn, Jeremy, Michael, Marla, Tracy and Troy, and his many, many friends in the places he lived: San Diego and Los Angeles, will honor him always. He was preceded in passing by his father Abraham H. Wiebe, his brother William Wiebe and his best friend, his mother Ruby Wiebe Goodrich, a native of Oklahoma and a resident of San Diego for 50 years. She passed away in February 1997 at the age of 84.
It is my deepest regret that Warren has passed on to a new journey in time. But I’m sure God will grant him a place of comfort, light, and peace. My love for you, Warren, shall remain eternal. You will forever be in my heart, my friend... I love you, I miss you, and God knows that I will honor you for the rest of time.
Gabriel Raya
Please have a look at the Warren Wiebe Official website. Here you can read much more about Warren and his work, see a lot of pictures, hear soundclips etc. This website is a very informative about Warren Wiebe, a tribute to the singer that gave us a lot of great moments.Warren Wiebe Official Website
All these pics are authorized to appear at Blue Desert by www.warrenwiebe.comOther interesting sites about Warren Wiebe an his work can be seen here:
http://profile.myspace.com/warrenwiebe
http://www.perigord.com/westcoast/focus/warrenwiebe.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warren_Wiebe
http://www.bekkoame.ne.jp/~takeito/wiebe.html
http://www.westcoast-music.com/tribute_warren_wiebe.htm
http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=75863061&blogID=309472986
http://www.myspace.com/scottgrossmusic
http://www.myspace.com/songwritermichaelhaddad
http://www.contanteysonante.com/en/
Some of the recording highlights of Warren Wiebe:
Steve Dorff -
Original Demos
"A collection of songs featuring Warren Wiebe"
The Tracks are: A Little Thing Called Life, And Still Run Out Of Time, I Never Stopped Loving You, True Love At Last, Kindred Spirits, The Echo Of Your Whisper, Everytime You Cross My Mind, Love's The Silver Lining, The Wait Was Worth The Angel, In Love's Name, I Just Fall In Love Again, Before We Kiss Tonight Goodbye & Somewhere In Time.
Musicians on the Original Demos album: Steve Dorff & Warren Wiebe.
Available from Contante & Sonante/Original release year: 2004
Hank Easton -
Snapshot
"A collection of vocal songs"
The Tracks are: When You Tell Me I Love You, Show Me A Sign, On My Way, Peace Or Pain, This Song, When He Smiles, Will You Stay, Cravin´To Satisfy, Whenever You Need A Friend, Ain´t Doin´Right, Little On & Show Me A Sign (Unplugged).
Musicians on the Snapshot album: Hank Easton, Leonard Tucker, Anthony Smith, Allan Phillips, Richard Sellers, Warren Wiebe, Tommy Arros, Kevin Hennessy, Chris Jones, Bruve Babad, Duncan Moore, John Toomey, Kamau Kenyatta, Gary Taylor, Tony Davis, Kenu Yarbro, Mark Moorhead, Larry Grano & Dave Curtis.
Available from Bun Full Of Honey Music/Original release year: 2007
David Foster -
River Of Love
"Introducing Warren Wiebe"
The Tracks are: River Of Love, Walkaway, This Must Be Love, Is There A Chance, Grown-up Christmas List, You´re The Voice, Living For The Moment, All I Ever Needed, One Step Closer & Inside You.
Musicians on the River Of Love album: David Foster, Warren Wiebe, Bryan Adams, Hamish Stuart, Rick Hahn, James Harrah, Paul Jackson Jr, Claude Gaudette, Charlie Olins, Paulinho Da Costa, David Palmer, Mike Reno, Bill Champlin, Tamara Champlin, Portia Griffin, Vesta Williams, Alex Brown, Rio, Michael Landau, Tom Keane, Tony Smith, Dave Reitzas, Steve Gadd, Raphael Padilla, Jeff Pescetto, Greg Philingaines, Bill Meyers, Nathan East, Dean Parks, Steve Lukather, Simon Franglen, Timothy B. Schmit, Natalie Cole, Michael Boddicker, Mitchell Forman, Vinnie Colaiuta, Humberto Gatica, Keith Thomas, Nigel Olsson & Bruce Hornsby.
Available from Atlantic Recording/Original release year: 1990
Jay Graydon -
Airplay For The Planet - The Album
"West coast music reference album"
The Tracks are: Walk The Wire, She Just Can't Make Up Her Mind, History, After The Love Is Gone, Holdin' On To Love, One Way Or Another, Roxann, Show Me The Magic, You're Not Alone, When You Look In My Eyes, Ever After Love & After The Love Is Gone (instrumental).
Musicians on the Airplay For The Planet - The Album album: Jay Graydon, Joseph Williams, Bill Champlin, Sherwood Ball , Warren Wiebe, Bill Cantos, David Foster, Bruce Gaitsch, Janey Clewer, Abe Laboriel, John Von Tongeren, Mark Portmann, Kenji Sano, Jerry Hey, Jay Oliver, Jon Gilutin & Brett Raymond.
Available from Inside Out/Toshiba-EMI, Japan/Original release year: 1993
Urs Wiesendanger -
Somebody New
"Urs and friends"
The Tracks are: Somebody New, Your Love Was Special, Tell Me Where The Days Have Gone, The Final Reason Why, If Only For A Day, After We Make Love, Morning Light, I Remember, If You Still Care For Me, Hold Me & Somebody New (Jazzy Version).
Musicians on the Somebody New album: Urs Wiesendanger, Courtney Blooding, Warren Wiebe, James Harrah, Jay Graydon, Michael Sembello, Michael Landau, Chris Muzik, Rafael Padilla, Skyler Jett, Wolfgang Drechsler, Thierry Condor, Daniel Stern, Daniel Kuffer, Sabina Stokes, Bill Cantos, Robbie Buchanan, Frank Adahl, Porty, John Robinson, Jeff Pescetto, Claudio Cervino, Tomi Malm & Janne Lehikoinen.
Available from Contante & Sonante/Original release year: 2005
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