Vocalist with THE BABYS, John Charles Waite, born July 4th 1952 in Lancashire, saw the band through a series of five albums and numerous hit singles in America including 'Every Time I Think Of You' and 'Isn't It Time?' before they folded in the early eighties. The singer's formative years, diverting from studies at Lancaster Art College, had been spent fronting acts such as acts such as GRAF SPEE, CHALK FARM and ENGLAND. Although reaching bona fide 'star' status, THE BABYS never toured the UK, forging their reputation in the USA. THE BABYS ground to a halt, internal friction being capped by keyboard player JONATHON CAIN's defection to JOURNEY and John Waite suffering an injury to his knee after having taken a tumble onstage in Cincinnati on December 9th 1980, necessitating an operation.

Waite relocated to New York in 1981 to craft his opening solo album 'Ignition'. Produced by PAT BENATAR guitarist Neil Geraldo the record, which saw Patty Smyth of SCANDAL aiding on backing vocals, was a moderate commercial success, peaking at no. 68 on the Billboard album charts. However, believing Chrysalis had failed in their commitment to marketing the record Waite announced he was to quit the music business altogether.

Coaxed out of retirement by a new management team and a new label, EMI America, Waite returned to the USA to pen new material with guitarist Gary Myrick. For Waite's second album 'No Brakes' the singer employed Myrick, bass player Curly Smith, keyboardists Donnie Nossov and Bruce Brody with Steve Scales handling percussion. He duly assembled a touring band comprising of guitarists Ivan Kral and Tim Pierce, bassist Donnie Nossov and drummer Frankie LaRocka. The flawless single 'Missing You', reaching no. 1 in the USA in September 1984, was a huge international hit, so successful in fact that Waite struggled from then on to escape its shadow.

Such was the scale of Waite's success that Chrysalis promptly re-issued the antecedent album 'Ignition', clad in all new artwork. The track 'Change' would be lifted for inclusion on the 'Vision Quest' movie soundtrack and scored a further radio hit. JOHN WAITE's 1984 world tour band, supporting SCANDAL in the USA, comprised of guitarist EARL SLICK and bassist Carmine Rojas (both ex-DAVID BOWIE), former DIRE STRAITS keyboard player Tommy Mandell and drummer Alan Childs.

Third outing 'Mask Of Smiles' surfaced in September of 1985, given a boost by the media success of single 'Every Step Of The Way'. A non-album song, 'If Anybody Had A Heart', gained inclusion in the soundtrack of the film 'About Last Night.' His 1985 touring band consisted of ex-CYNDI LAUPER band guitarist John McCurry, ex-BILLY IDOL bassist Joey Vasta, keyboardist Tommy Mandell and drummer Frankie LaRocka, which toured America in the Summer supported by SURGIN. Waite also returned to his homeland briefly, putting in three shows at the Marquee Club in London in January 1986, returning once again in August to play the 'Reading Rock' festival and put in another stint at the Marquee. Kral and LaRocka subsequently created EASTERN BLOC for a self titled 1987 album. LaRocka later joined COMPANY OF WOLVES.

The singer commenced work on a new album, 'Rovers Return', titled after the 'Coronation Street' soap public house, in August 1986 at Right Track Studios New Work with co-producer Frank Fillipetti. However, after a mammoth eleven month recording process Waite was unsatisfied with the results and set about re-recording the album. 'Rovers Return' emerged in mid 1987 but despite lead in single 'These Times Are Hard for Lovers' given prominent media exposure a projected US tour with BRYAN ADAMS was cancelled.

Waite knocked his solo career on the head in 1989 when he formed BAD ENGLISH with JOURNEY guitarist NEAL SCHON, Ricky Phillips and his former THE BABYS colleague Jonathan Cain. This unit achieved massive success with their debut album. BAD ENGLISH scored an American number 1 single with the ballad 'When I See You Smile'. BAD ENGLISH toured the USA successfully, backed by further hit singles, but the poor reception given to 1991's follow up 'Backlash' album spelt the demise of the band.

The singer hooked up with Dutch guitarist Adrian Vandenberg, a veteran of VANDENBERG and WHITESNAKE, in November 1991. Although the project was booked to debut on the European 'Countdown' TV programme in January of 1992 the collaboration faltered and stalled.

Returning to a solo career Waite united once more with A&R man Terry Ellis, responsible for signing THE BABYS and Waite as a solo artist to Chrysalis. Now ensconced at Imago Records the renewed alliance produced the 'Temple Bar' album. Waite's first signs of activity would be the 1993 single, 'In Dreams', featured on the soundtrack of the film 'True Romance'. 'Temple Bar', recorded in Manhattan, notably included a crop of cover versions, Waite paying homage to BILL WITHERS, VAN MORRISON and HANK WILLIAMS. With the album's release in February 1995, Waite came to the fore once more as a solo artist when he scored another American top twenty hit with 'How Can I Get By Without You'. TINA TURNER covered 'Missing You' for her 1996 album lending the song renewed exposure. Unfortunately, Imago folded just as it seemed Waite's career was back on track. For touring to back the 'Falling Backwards' album Waite employed the services of former OZZY OSBOURNE and BEGGARS & THIEVES bassist PHIL SOUSSAN.

In 1997 Waite signed to Mercury Records for the September release ''When You Were Mine'. The album included a BOB DYLAN cover version, 'Just Like A Woman'. A short acoustic tour of the USA, together with guitarist Shane Fontayne, would prove the only promotion for the record and the deal with Mercury was duly relinquished.

Waite found time to put down backing vocals on the 1999 album from PAXTON. John would return with his August 2001 'Figure In The Landscape' record. Once again, PHIL SOUSSAN featured in the band line-up. The same year the 'Rare & Live' compilation saw the light of day. This collection compiled five unreleased studio tracks including a version of CYNDI LAUPER's hit 'I Drove All Night' as well as seven live cuts from the 'Mask Of Smiles' tour.

In the wake of the September 11th tragedies Waite forged an alliance with other AOR heavyweights such as REO SPEEDWAGON, STYX, BAD COMPANY, JOURNEY, MARK FARNER, SURVIVOR, KANSAS, EDDIE MONEY, PETER FRAMPTON and EDGAR WINTER for a brace of fund raising events, the VFA "Volunteers for America", having been organised by STYX frontman Tommy Shaw. The two shows, hosted by comedian Drew Carey, occurred on October 20th and 21st at the Smirnoff Music Center in Dallas, Texas and Hi Fi Buys Amphitheatre in Atlanta, Georgia raising a quite staggering $1 million dollars for victims of the disasters.

In early 2002 Waite would donate his songwriting skills to the comeback album for Pop Rock veterans STARSHIP. The singer, acting as a bassist, would team up with RINGO STARR's touring band for a North American tour. These shows would see Waite stepping up to the microphone to sing his solo blockbuster 'Missing You' and BAD ENGLISH's 'When I See You Smile'.

Waite donated guest lead vocals to the track 'Wild World' on the 2003 MR. BIG album 'Influences And Connections'. North American in February saw an alliance with STYX and KANSAS. A 2004 album release, entitled 'The Hard Way', would comprise tracks from the previously released 'Figure In A Landscape' outing alongside four new recordings. These included an acoustic re-take on 'Missing You' and a rendition of BOB DYLAN's 'Girl From The North Country'.

Although out of the public eye in the media, Waite's touring schedule maintained a regular pace across North America throughout 2005 and 2006. A brand new album finally emerged on the Italian Frontiers label that July, dubbed 'Downtown Journey Of A Heart', this set comprised re-recordings of Waite's hits plus two new tracks 'St. Patrick's Day' and a version of BOB DYLAN's 'Highway 61'.

John Waite announced European tour dates for February and March 2010.