Rufus Wainwright Biography

The singer and songwriter Rufus Wainwright was born in 1973 in Rhinebeck, New York. As the child of two folk singers, it was no surprise that Wainwright would grow up to become a talented and dedicated musician who began his studies with the piano at the age of six. By the time Rufus was a teenager, he was touring with a folk group and within a few years, he’d already earned his first award nominations for his compositions.

Eventually, Rufus Wainwright recorded a series of demo tapes which garnered the attention of DreamWorks. Wainwright’s self-titled debut album was released shortly thereafter, in 1998, and received critical acclaim from nearly every industry reviewer, including Rolling Stone, which recognized the album as one of the best of the year. The album was not a commercial success, however, and so Wainwright returned to the studio to prepare for his second album. Poses (2001) did not fare much better, but beginning with Want One, in 2003, Rufus Wainwright began to experience a steady upswing in popularity which has made him one of the era’s most acclaimed composers.

Since Want One, Wainwright has gone on to release the albums: Want Two (2004), Release the Stars (2007), Milwaukee at Last!! (2009), All Days Are Nights: Songs for Lulu (2010), House of Rufus (2011), and Out of the Game (2012.) The albums have spawned a number of successful songs, most notably his cover of Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah,” for which Rufus Wainwright has become well-known. Wainwright has also appeared in a number of film roles, including Heights and The Aviator, although his film work is more frequently in the role of composer. Rufus has provided tracks for such blockbuster hits as Shrek, Brokeback Mountain, I am Sam, and Meet the Robinsons.

Rufus Wainwright continues to perform, record, and compose. He most recently released the album Vibrate: The Best of Rufus Wainwright, in 2014.