Rik Waller

Richard "Rik" Waller (born 1981) is an English pop singer. After appearing as a contestant on the TV series Pop Idol, he had two UK Top 40 hits with cover versions of "I Will Always Love You" and "(Something Inside) So Strong".

Rik Waller
Born1981 (age 39–40)
Gillingham, Kent, England
GenresPop
Occupation(s)Musician
Years active2001–2007
LabelsEMI, Red Admiral, Coeur De Lion
Associated actsRik Waller's Mighty Soul Band/Rik Waller's Unfinished Business

Early life

Waller was born in Gillingham, Kent in 1981.

Career

Pop Idol

Waller was to be a finalist in the first series of the British ITV television series Pop Idol having initially made it into the last ten of the show, but then pulled out due to severe laryngitis, and his place was taken by Darius Danesh.[1]

EMI

Following the show, Waller signed a recording contract with EMI in a deal worth approximately £400,000.[2] His first single was a cover version of Dolly Parton's song "I Will Always Love You" which made No. 6 in the UK Singles Chart.[3] He followed this up with another top 40 hit, recorded originally by Labi Siffre, "(Something Inside) So Strong".[3] Both of these songs appear on Waller's album From Now.

Red Admiral Records

When he was dropped by EMI, Waller formed his own band to take his music out on the road. He then signed an album deal with Red Admiral Records.[4] Two months into Waller's Beyond Reality Tour 2004, three concerts were cancelled due to poor ticket sales. Among them was a show at the Princess Theatre in Torquay, Devon, for which only two tickets were sold.[5]

His second album Innocence was released in September 2005. The band was subsequently renamed 'Rik Waller's Mighty Soul Band', and then renamed again to 'Rik Waller's Unfinished Business'. On 28 February 2007, Waller appeared on Never Mind the Buzzcocks in the Identity Parade Round and briefly replaced captain Phill Jupitus when it became clear who was the real Rik Waller.

Personal life

He was educated at The Howard School, Rainham, Kent. After ending his singing career in 2007, he took up employment as an exam invigilator in Sittingbourne, Kent.[6]

Discography

Albums

Singles

Filmography
YearTitleRoleNotes
Pop Idol 2001 Self
Pop Idol Extra 2001 Self
Esther 2002 Self
Kelly 2002 Self
Top of the Pops 2002 Self
Celebrity Fit Club 2002 Self
The Weakest Link 2003 Self aka Weakest Link Champions' League (UK)
Back to Reality 2004 Self
Never Mind the Buzzcocks 2007 Self Mystery Guest

References
  1. "You'll NEVER Guess What Pop Idol's Rik Waller Does Now". 28 March 2013.
  2. "Rik faces Pop Idol legal threat". 2 February 2002 – via news.bbc.co.uk.
  3. Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 590. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  4. "Red Admiral Records LLP: Kent record label and publisher - A growing record label with some very special artists". Redadmiralrecords.com. 24 February 2014. Retrieved 6 August 2014.
  5. "Rik Waller sells two tickets". Music-News.com. Retrieved 6 August 2014.
  6. "Rik Waller Of 'Pop Idol' Fame Reveals He's Now An Exam Invigilator". Huffingtonpost.co.uk. 28 March 2013. Retrieved 6 August 2014.
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