David Bryan Rashbaum (born February 7, 1962) is an American musician and songwriter, best known as the

keyboard Keyboard may refer to: Text input * Keyboard, part of a typewriter * Computer keyboard ** Keyboard layout, the software control of computer keyboards and their mapping ** Keyboard technology, computer keyboard hardware and firmware Music * Musi ...

player for the

rock Rock most often refers to: * Rock (geology), a naturally occurring solid aggregate of minerals or mineraloids * Rock music, a genre of popular music Rock or Rocks may also refer to: Places United Kingdom * Rock, Caerphilly, a location in Wales ...

band

Bon Jovi Bon Jovi is an American Rock music, rock band formed in 1983 in Sayreville, New Jersey. It consists of singer Jon Bon Jovi, keyboardist David Bryan, drummer Tico Torres, guitarist Phil X, and bassist Hugh McDonald (American musician), Hugh McD ...

, with which he also co-wrote songs and performed backing vocals. In 2018, Bryan was inducted into the

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (RRHOF), sometimes simply referred to as the Rock Hall, is a museum A museum ( ; plural museums or, rarely, musea) is a building or institution that cares for and displays a collection of artifacts and othe ...

as a member of Bon Jovi. He is also known for writing the music and co-writing the lyrics with

Joe DiPietro Joe DiPietro (born 1961) is an American playwright, lyricist and author. He is best known for the Tony Award-winning musical ''Memphis'', for which he won the Tony Awards for Best Book of a Musical and Best Original Score as well as for writi ...

for the musical

Memphis Memphis most commonly refers to: * Memphis, Egypt, a former capital of ancient Egypt * Memphis, Tennessee, a major American city Memphis may also refer to: Places United States * Memphis, Alabama * Memphis, Florida * Memphis, Indiana * Memp ...

, for which he won the

Tony Award The Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Broadway Theatre, more commonly known as the Tony Award, recognizes excellence in live Broadway theatre. The awards are presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League at an annual cer ...

for Best Original Score.

Early life

David Bryan Rashbaum was born on February 7, 1962, in

Perth Amboy, New Jersey Perth Amboy is a city (New Jersey), city in Middlesex County, New Jersey, Middlesex County, New Jersey. Perth Amboy is part of the New York metropolitan area. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 U.S. census, the city's population was 55,4 ...

and raised in Edison, New Jersey. His father, Eddie Rashbaum, played the trumpet. Bryan was raised

Jew Jews ( he, יְהוּדִים, , ) or Jewish people are an ethnoreligious group and nation originating from the Israelites Israelite origins and kingdom: "The first act in the long drama of Jewish history is the age of the Israelites""Th ...

ish. He attended elementary school at Clara Barton, where he played many instruments including violin, viola, trumpet and clarinet. He also attended Herbert Hoover Middle School, then

J. P. Stevens High School John P. Stevens High School (abbr. JP or JPS) is a four-year comprehensive high school, comprehensive state school, public Secondary education in the United States, high school that serves students in ninth grade, ninth through twelfth grades fr ...

, from which he graduated. Bryan began to learn piano at age seven and played keyboards for a band called ''Transition'' with bass player Steve Sileo and lead singer Mike Ziegel. He studied with Emery Hack, a professor at

Juilliard The Juilliard School ( ) is a private performing arts conservatory in New York City. Established in 1905, the school trains about 850 undergraduate and graduate students in dance, drama, and music. It is widely regarded as one of the most elit ...

, for thirteen years. Bryan briefly attended

Rutgers University Rutgers University (; RU), officially Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, is a Public university, public land-grant research university consisting of four campuses in New Jersey. Chartered in 1766, Rutgers was originally called Queen's ...

, but dropped out to attend Juilliard.

Career

With Bon Jovi

Bryan was the first Bon Jovi member to receive a call when Jon Bon Jovi learned that he had received a

recording contract A recording contract (commonly called a record contract or record deal) is a legal agreement between a record label and a recording artist (or group), where the artist makes a record (or series of records) for the label to sell and promote. Artists ...

, and agreed to join the band. He chose his stage name when he grew tired of continually having to spell out his entire name. At the time, Bryan was attending

and was studying Pre-Med with a 4.0 GPA. Bryan has played keyboards and sung on all of Bon Jovi's albums, as well as some of the solo albums of Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora. Bryan has co-written the songs "Love Lies" and "Breakout" on Bon Jovi's self-titled first album; "

Only Lonely Only may refer to: Music Albums * ''Only'' (album), by Tommy Emmanuel, 2000 * ''The Only'', an EP by Dua Lipa, 2017 Songs * "Only" (Anthrax song), 1993 * "Only" (Nine Inch Nails song), 2005 * "Only" (Nicki Minaj song), 2014 * "The Only", by S ...

," "

The Hardest Part Is the Night "The Hardest Part Is the Night" is a single by American rock band Bon Jovi released exclusively in the UK. It is taken from their second album, ''7800° Fahrenheit''. It is notable for being the first Bon Jovi single to reach the top 100 in the ...

," and "To the Fire" on

7800° Fahrenheit ''7800° Fahrenheit'' is the second studio album by American rock band Bon Jovi. It was released on March 27, 1985, through Mercury Records. The album's title is a reference to the supposed melting point of rock, which is equivalent to 4313° ...

; the hit "

In These Arms "In These Arms" is a song by American rock band Bon Jovi. The song was written by Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora and David Bryan. It was released on May 3, 1993, as the third single from the band's fifth studio album, ''Keep the Faith'' (1992). ...

" on

Keep the Faith ''Keep the Faith'' is the fifth studio album by American rock band Bon Jovi, released on November 3, 1992, by Mercury Records. It is Bon Jovi's last studio album to feature all five original band members as bass guitarist Alec John Such was dis ...

; and "Last Cigarette" on

Have a Nice Day Have a nice day is a commonly spoken expression used to conclude a conversation (whether brief or extensive), or end a message by hoping the person to whom it is addressed experiences a pleasant day. Since it is often uttered by service employee ...

(including the international bonus track "Unbreakable") .

Musical theater

Bryan and

wrote the music for the musical ''

'', for which the duo won the

for Best Original Score The musical had its off-Broadway debut in 2002. In 2008, ''Memphis'' was performed at the

La Jolla Playhouse La Jolla Playhouse is a not-for-profit, professional theatre on the campus of the University of California, San Diego. History La Jolla Playhouse was founded in 1947 by Gregory Peck, Dorothy McGuire, and Mel Ferrer. In 1983, it was revived under ...

in San Diego. The show was also performed in January 2009 in

Seattle, Washington Seattle ( ) is a port, seaport city on the West Coast of the United States. It is the county seat, seat of King County, Washington, King County, Washington (state), Washington. With a 2020 population of 737,015, it is the largest city in bo ...

, at the 5th Avenue Theatre, prior to moving to Broadway later in 2009. Memphis, which ran on Broadway from October 18, 2009 to August 5, 2012, was nominated for 8 Tony awards for the 2010 season and won 4 including Best Musical and Best Original Score. Bryan also co-wrote the musical '' The Toxic Avenger'', again collaborating with Joe DiPietro. The musical made its off-Broadway premiere at New World Stages on April 6, 2009. He has worked on a musical with DiPietro titled ''Chasing the Song'', which chronicles American songwriters from 1962 to 1964 who worked in the

Brill Building The Brill Building is an office building at 1619 Broadway on 49th Street in the New York City borough of Manhattan, just north of Times Square and further uptown from the historic musical Tin Pan Alley neighborhood. It was built in 1931 as t ...

. Bryan describes it as "It's a fictional story about factual America." Director Christopher Ashley and choreographer Sergio Trujillo are also involved. According to ''Playbill'', "A fall or early winter workshop of the musical is currently being planned. Broadway is the goal." Their musical '' Diana'', about

Princess Diana Diana, Princess of Wales (born Diana Frances Spencer; 1 July 1961 – 31 August 1997) was a member of the British royal family. She was the first wife of King Charles III (then Prince of Wales) and mother of Princes William and Harry. Her ac ...

, began previews on Broadway on March 2, 2020 with an anticipated opening date of March 31, following a tryout production at the

in San Diego, CA the previous year. The Broadway opening was delayed until December 16, 2021 due to the

COVID-19 pandemic The COVID-19 pandemic, also known as the coronavirus pandemic, is an ongoing global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The novel virus was first identif ...

closing of all Broadway theaters. The musical was then filmed that summer with no audience at the Longacre Theater, with the

film A film also called a movie, motion picture, moving picture, picture, photoplay or (slang) flick is a work of visual art that simulates experiences and otherwise communicates ideas, stories, perceptions, feelings, beauty, or atmosphere ...

being released on

Netflix Netflix, Inc. is an American subscription video on-demand over-the-top streaming service and production company based in Los Gatos, California. Founded in 1997 by Reed Hastings and Marc Randolph in Scotts Valley, California, it offers a fil ...

on October 1, 2021.

Personal life

Bryan married his high school sweetheart April McLean on August 25, 1990, but they divorced in 2004. They have three children. Bryan married Lexi Quaas on August 7, 2010, in Colts Neck, New Jersey. In the late 1990s, prior to Bon Jovi coming together to record '' Crush'', Bryan nearly severed his finger in a home accident involving a circular saw. After a year of

rehabilitation Rehabilitation or Rehab may refer to: Health * Rehabilitation (neuropsychology), therapy to regain or improve neurocognitive function that has been lost or diminished * Rehabilitation (wildlife), treatment of injured wildlife so they can be retur ...

, Bryan regained use of his finger and returned to playing the keyboard. In 1991, before he helped Bon Jovi guitarist Richie Sambora in his solo album

Stranger in This Town ''Stranger in This Town'' is the first solo studio album by Richie Sambora, the guitarist from the New Jersey band Bon Jovi. The album was released in 1991, while Bon Jovi was on a 17-month hiatus. Jon Bon Jovi also released a solo album, '' Blaz ...

and record a soundtrack in the horror movie ''Netherworld'', Bryan was suffering from a South American parasite, caught during a tour with the band. Bryan was hospitalized. He described his condition: "It ate out my stomach lining, my intestines, and attacked my nerve endings. It was in my bloodstream; I was poisoned. I was 145 pounds, and I was really ill in the hospital for two weeks... then bedridden at home, for a month". On March 21, 2020, Bryan announced that he had tested positive for

COVID-19 Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a contagious disease caused by a virus, the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The first known case was COVID-19 pandemic in Hubei, identified in Wuhan, China, in December ...

amidst the

. On April 19, 2020, a month after the diagnosis, Bryan announced that he recovered from

Charity work

Bryan is very active in

VH-1 VH1 (originally an initialism of Video Hits One) is an American basic cable television network based in New York City and owned by Paramount Global. It was created by Warner-Amex Satellite Entertainment, at the time a division of Warner Communi ...

's ''Save the Music'' program, as well a
Only Make Believe
He also wrote the anthem for Only Make Believe, "Rockin' All Over the World", with Dena Hammerstein. He is an honorary Board member for Only Make Believe, a non-profit organization that brings interactive theatre to chronically ill and disabled children in hospitals and care facilities. He is also a board member of Damon Marks' Traveling Guitar Foundation. The band has built several homes for victims of

Hurricane Katrina Hurricane Katrina was a destructive Category 5 Atlantic hurricane that caused over 1,800 fatalities and $125 billion in damage in late August 2005, especially in the city of New Orleans and the surrounding areas. It was at the time the cost ...

. The video for the

hit Hit means to strike someone or something. Hit or HIT may also refer to: Arts, entertainment and media Fictional entities * Hit, a fictional character from '' Dragon Ball Super'' * Homicide International Trust, or HIT, a fictional organization ...

song "Who Says You Can't Go Home" is a documentary of the making of these homes. The band also gave

Oprah Winfrey Oprah Gail Winfrey (; born Orpah Gail Winfrey; January 29, 1954), or simply Oprah, is an American talk show host, television producer, actress, author, and philanthropist. She is best known for her talk show, ''The Oprah Winfrey Show'', br ...

's Angel Network one million dollars. With this, she created Bon Jovi Boulevard in

Louisiana Louisiana , group=pronunciation (French: ''La Louisiane'') is a state in the Deep South and South Central regions of the United States. It is the 20th-smallest by area and the 25th most populous of the 50 U.S. states. Louisiana is borde ...

. Bon Jovi was welcomed back, one year later, to see Bon Jovi Boulevard, and to unveil it to its future residents.

Discography

Solo

* ''

Netherworld Netherworld (''nether'', ″beneath, lower″) may refer to: *Underworld, a region thought to be beneath the surface of the world in many religions and mythologies Film and television * ''Netherworld'' (film), a 1992 American horror film *''Nethe ...

'' soundtrack (1992) * ''

On a Full Moon ''On a Full Moon'' is the solo debut album by David Bryan from the band Bon Jovi. It is an instrumental CD released on September 5, 1995. Track listing References {{Authority control 1995 debut albums David Bryan albums ...

'' (1995) * ''

Lunar Eclipse A lunar eclipse occurs when the Moon moves into the Earth's shadow. Such alignment occurs during an eclipse season, approximately every six months, during the full moon phase, when the Moon's orbital plane is closest to the plane of the Earth ...

'' (2000)

With Bon Jovi

Studio albums *''

'' (1984) *''

'' (1985) *''

Slippery When Wet ''Slippery When Wet'' is the third studio album by American rock band Bon Jovi. It was released on August 18, 1986, by Mercury Records in North America and Vertigo Records internationally. It was produced by Bruce Fairbairn, with recording sess ...

'' (1986) *''

New Jersey New Jersey is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York; on the east, southeast, and south by the Atlantic Ocean; on the west by the Delaware ...

'' (1988) *''

'' (1992) *''

These Days These Days may refer to: Music Albums * ''These Days'' (Bon Jovi album), and the title song (see below) ** These Days Tour, a 1995–1996 tour by Bon Jovi in support of the above album * ''These Days'' (Crystal Gayle album), 1980 * ''These ...

'' (1995) *'' Crush'' (2000) *''

Bounce Bounce or The Bounce may refer to: * Deflection (physics), the event where an object Collision, collides with and bounces against a plane surface Books * Mr. Bounce, a character from the Mr. Men series of children's books Broadcasting, film and ...

'' (2002) *''

'' (2005) *'' Lost Highway'' (2007) *'' The Circle'' (2009) *'' What About Now'' (2013) *'' Burning Bridges'' (2015) *'' This House Is Not for Sale'' (2016) *''

2020 2020 was heavily defined by the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to global Social impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, social and Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, economic disruption, mass cancellations and postponements of events, COVID- ...

'' (2020) Compilation albums *'' Hard & Hot'' (1991) *'' Cross Road'' (1994) *'' Tokyo Road: Best of Bon Jovi'' (2001) *''

This Left Feels Right ''This Left Feels Right'' is an album featuring new versions of Bon Jovi songs from previous albums. It was released in 2003 and charted at No. 14 on The Billboard 200. It's a "trip down memory lane" as Jon Bon Jovi described the album. It feat ...

'' (2003) *''

Greatest Hits A greatest hits album or best-of album is a type of compilation album that collects popular and commercially successful songs by a particular artist or band. While greatest hits albums are typically supported by the artist, they can also be crea ...

'' (2010) Live albums *''

One Wild Night Live 1985-2001 1 (one, unit, unity) is a number representing a single or the only entity. 1 is also a numerical digit and represents a single unit of counting or measurement. For example, a line segment of ''unit length'' is a line segment of length 1. I ...

'' (2001) *'' Inside Out'' (2012) *'' This House Is Not for Sale – Live from the London Palladium'' (2016) Box sets *'' 100,000,000 Bon Jovi Fans Can't Be Wrong'' (2004)

Contributions

*''

'' (1991) – songwriter, keyboards, string arrangements *'' Netherworld Soundtrack'' (1992) – original score *''Time Was'' –

Curtis Stigers Curtis Stigers (born October 18, 1965) is an American jazz singer. He achieved a number of hits in the early 1990s, most notably the international hit " I Wonder Why" (1991), which reached No. 5 in the UK and No. 9 in the US. Career S ...

(1995) – wrote "This Time" *''

Destination Anywhere ''Destination Anywhere'' is Jon Bon Jovi's second solo studio album released June 16, 1997 and features music from the film ''Destination Anywhere'' released in the same year. It follows his successful 1990 soundtrack '' Blaze of Glory'', from ...

'' (1997) – accordion, piano *''

Undiscovered Soul ''Undiscovered Soul'' is the second solo studio album from Richie Sambora the guitarist from New Jersey band Bon Jovi. The album was released on February 23, 1998 and is more experimental than his earlier release '' Stranger in This Town''. The ...

'' (1998) – songwriter *''The Toxic Avenger'' (2009) – musical soundtrack *'' Memphis: A New Musical'' (2009) – musical soundtrack *'' Memphis: The Musical'' (2015) – musical soundtrack * ''My Everything Is You – Brotherhood'' (studio album), Matt O'Ree Band – (2016) – songwriter, performer * ''My Everything Is You – Live at the Stone Pony!'' (live album), Matt O'Ree Band – (2018) – songwriter, performer *'' Diana: The Musical'' (2019) ''–'' musical soundtrack

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Bryan, David 1962 births 20th-century American keyboardists 21st-century American keyboardists 21st-century organists American heavy metal keyboardists American male organists American male pianists American rock keyboardists American rock pianists Bon Jovi members Broadway composers and lyricists J. P. Stevens High School alumni Jersey Shore musicians Jewish American musicians Jewish American songwriters Jewish heavy metal musicians Juilliard School alumni Living people Musicians from Edison, New Jersey People from Edison, New Jersey People from Perth Amboy, New Jersey Rutgers University alumni Songwriters from New Jersey Tony Award winners

Early life

Career

With Bon Jovi

Musical theater

Personal life

Charity work

Discography

Solo

With Bon Jovi

Contributions

Further reading

References

External links