Warren Wiebe

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = Warren Wiebe

| image = Warren Wiebe.jpg

| caption =

| image_size =

| background = solo_singer

| birth_name = Warren Ray Wiebe

| alias =

| birth_date = {{Birth date|1953|7|18}}

| death_date = {{death date and age|1998|10|25|1953|7|18}}

| origin = San Diego, California, US

| instrument = Vocals, bass guitar

| genre = Adult contemporary

| occupation = Singer

| years_active = 1968–1998

| label =

| associated_acts = Celine Dion, David Foster, Jay Graydon, Burt Bacharach, Quincy Jones, Gloria Estefan, Bill Champlin, Zosia Karbowiak

| website = [http://www.warrenwiebe.com/ WarrenWiebe.com]

| current_members =

| past_members =

| death_place = Glendale, California, US

}}

Warren Ray Wiebe (July 18, 1953 – October 25, 1998) was an American vocalist and session musician best known for his work with David Foster, Jay Graydon, Celine Dion, Quincy Jones, his recordings on soundtracks and his performances of the national anthem before Los Angeles Kings games.

Early life and education

Warren Wiebe was born in San Diego, California, on July 18, 1953, to Ruby and Abraham Wiebe. He attended Crawford High School, during which time he formed his own band, calling it Mankind. He sang and played bass.{{Cite web |last=Kbremer |title=Warren Wiebe |url=https://www.westcoast.dk/artists/w/warren-wiebe/ |access-date=2023-11-29 |website=Blue Desert |language=da-DK}}

Career

In 1980, Wiebe got his first break when Bobbie Gentry invited him to Las Vegas to sing in her band. {{Cite news |date=1994-07-14 |title=Versatile Loews singer Wiebe puts new spin on hotel music By Liz Finch |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-argonaut-versatile-loews-singer-wieb/175508007/ |access-date=2025-06-30 |work=The Argonaut |pages=20}}

Wiebe contributed bass and vocals to several San Diego area bands and performed five nights a week in venues such as The Wranglers Roost and with Bud Martin & Sound Advice at The Abeline, one of the showroom venues at the Town & Country Hotel in Hotel Circle, and participated in the San Diego Jazz Party.{{Cite web |last=Sutro |first=Dirk |date=1989-02-02 |title=Top Jazz Stars to Perform at Big 3-Day Jam Session |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-02-02-ca-2711-story.html |access-date=2023-11-29 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}

Wiebe was discovered by David Foster{{Cite book |last=Nunziata |first=Susan |title=Foster-ing A Hit Career: 'Unforgettable' |date=14 Mar 1992 |pages=73}} and Burt Bacharach in Los Angeles in 1987. He was one of the lead vocalists contributing to the 1991 charity record "Voices That Care".{{Cite web|url=http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1991-05-17/features/9102270121_1_voices-san-diego-video|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151028193922/http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1991-05-17/features/9102270121_1_voices-san-diego-video|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 28, 2015|title=Voices That Care|website=Sun-Sentinel|access-date=October 11, 2023}}{{Cite news |date=1991-02-26 |title="Voices" will ring out in stores March 5 By Edna Gundersen USA TODAY |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/usa-today-voices-will-ring-out-in-stor/175508658/ |access-date=2025-06-30 |work=USA Today |pages=7}}{{Cite news |date=1991-05-27 |title=Strong new voice discovered among 'Voices That Care' |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-flint-journal-strong-new-voice-disco/175508759/ |access-date=2025-06-30 |work=The Flint Journal |pages=17}} Wiebe was introduced by David Foster as "his hot new discovery" at Foster’s benefit concert at Victoria General Hospital, where he performed “America The Beautiful” and was described by Adrian Chamberlain for the Times Colonist as having "a finely controlled, versatile voice tinged with soul inflections".{{Cite news |date=1990-08-01 |title=Impromptu benefit a crowd-pleaser By Adrian Chamberlain |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/times-colonist-impromptu-benefit-a-crowd/175511133/ |access-date=2025-06-30 |work=Times Colonist |pages=35}} In 1991, "If Not for Love" (written by Foster & Linda Thompson) was part of the One Good Cop soundtrack that featured Michael Keaton and Rene Russo.

Wiebe sang the duet "Listen to Me" with Celine Dion for the Listen to Me soundtrack.{{Cite news |date=1993-08-22 |title=Foster fundraising with famous friends By Vlado Forgac |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-morning-star-foster-fundraising-with/175508396/ |access-date=2025-06-30 |work=The Morning Star |pages=22}}{{Cite web |title=Warren Wiebe - History - San Diego |url=https://www.warrenwiebe.com/pages/h_san_diego.htm |access-date=2023-05-07 |website=Warrenwiebe.com}}He performed “Safe Back In Your Arms” written by Darin Scheff, Tony Smith and Roxanne Seeman, appearing over the end-credits of the 1991 thriller Under Crystal Lake.{{cite AV media |title=Under Crystal Lake |type=Film |date=1990 |author=Kris Kertenian |language=English |location=United States |others=End credit song: "Safe Back in Your Arms", performed by Warren Wiebe, written by Roxanne Seeman, Darin Scheff, Tony Smith}}{{Cite web |title=Warren Wiebe - History - Los Angeles |url=https://www.warrenwiebe.com/pages/h_los_angeles.htm |access-date=2025-06-30 |website=www.warrenwiebe.com}} Warren performed "Goodbye" as part of the television soundtrack One Life to Live: The Best of Love in 1994.{{Cite news |date=1994-02-12 |title='The Best of Love' is soap for the ears By Carl Hoover |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/waco-tribune-herald-the-best-of-love-i/175508909/ |access-date=2025-06-30 |work=Waco Tribune-Herald |pages=13}}

Wiebe performed the song "Human Touch", a ballad which was used as one of the ending theme songs for the 1996 anime After War Gundam X.{{Cite web|url=https://www.warrenwiebe.com/pages/h_los_angeles2.htm|title=Warren Wiebe - History - Los Angeles|website=Warrenwiebe.com}} The song was one of a very small number of anime theme songs that not only was performed with English lyrics but was composed by non-Japanese songwriters. An avid ice hockey fan, he was also known for his stirring performances of the US and Canadian national anthems and "America the Beautiful" before Los Angeles Kings games, especially during the time Wayne Gretzky played there.{{Cite web |last=Dodds |first=Tracy |date=1989-04-23 |title=STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS : Flames Move Closer to a Blowout : Calgary Takes 3-0 Series Lead With 5-2 Victory |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-04-23-sp-1851-story.html |access-date=2023-11-29 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Hodges |first=Jim |date=1998-10-31 |title=Rest Is History for Lacroix |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1998-oct-31-sp-37996-story.html |access-date=2023-11-29 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Murphy |first=Dean E. |date=1993-05-31 |title=COLUMN ONE : Fans Come In From the Cold : After suffering through a quarter-century of agony and abuse, Kings backers are being rewarded with a trip to the Stanley Cup finals. Even the Melrose crowd and the Reagans have joined the frenzy. |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1993-05-31-mn-41952-story.html |access-date=2023-11-29 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}

He sang many demos for David Foster including "When I Fall in Love" for the film Sleepless in Seattle and when Celine Dion heard his singing she wanted him instead of Clive Griffin to sing on the track.{{Cite web|url=https://www.celinedionweb.com/en,music,the-colour-of-my-love.html/|title=Celine Dion |website=Celinedionweb.com|access-date=October 11, 2023}} In addition, he sang on the All-4-One hit "I Swear" and did backing vocals for many artists. He was also featured on Foster's 1990 release River of Love;{{Citation |title=David Foster - River of Love Album Reviews, Songs & More {{!}} AllMusic |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/river-of-love-mw0000690960 |access-date=2023-11-29 |language=en}} his vocals were on the title track "River of Love", "Walk Away", "Is There a Chance", "Living for the Moment", "This Must Be Love" and his 1994 subsequent release Love Lights the World performing vocals on the track "Is There a Chance".

For Celine Dion's wedding, Wiebe was flown in to Montreal to perform "The Colour of My Love" with a thirty-piece orchestra conducted by David Foster.{{Cite book |last=Germain |first=Georges-Hébert |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EvYnMhGsUWkC&dq=%22warren+wiebe%22+++celine+dion&pg=PA360 |title=Céline: The Authorized Biography of Céline Dion |publisher=Dundurn |date=Sep 1998 |isbn=978-1-55002-318-3 |language=en}}

In 1991, "If Not for Love" (written by Foster & Linda Thompson) was part of the One Good Cop soundtrack that featured Michael Keaton and Rene Russo.{{Cite web|title=AFI{{!}}Catalog|url=https://catalog.afi.com/Person/334123-Warren-Wiebe?sid=8b0979ea-26b5-4576-bed1-4e63c99d30c9&sr=11.740955&cp=1&pos=0&isMiscCredit=false|access-date=2022-01-17|website=catalog.afi.com}}

On Jay Graydon's Airplay for the Planet, originally released in 1993 by Inside Out Records in Japan, Wiebe would perform two songs: "Roxann" (written by Bill Cantos, Jay Graydon, Valerie Hobel) and "You're Not Alone" (written by Bruce Gaitsch, Janea Chadwick, Janey Clewer, Jay Graydon).{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/Jay-Graydon-Airplay-For-The-Planet/release/1105620|title=Jay Graydon – Airplay For The Planet (1993, CD)|website=Discogs.com|date=November 13, 1993 }}

Warren performed "Goodbye" as part of the television soundtrack One Life to Live: The Best of Love in 1994.{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/one-life-to-live-the-best-of-love-mw0000110598|title=One Life to Live: The Best of Love - Original TV Soundtrack |website=AllMusic}}

He was referred to by Quincy Jones as the "Soulful Rain Man" and was part of Jones' release Q's Jook Joint in 1995 performing a duet with Gloria Estefan on "Is It Love That We're Missing".{{Cite web |title=Warren Wiebe |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/warren-wiebe-mn0000197850 |access-date=2023-11-29 |website=AllMusic |language=en}}

The Burt Bacharach collection release, Applause...The Look of Love included Wiebe's duet with Lalah Hathaway called "On My Own".{{Cite web|url=http://www.warrenwiebe.com/pages/h_los_angeles2.htm|title=Warren Wiebe - History - Los Angeles|website=Warrenwiebe.com}}

Wiebe was the singing voice of Dean Martin in the film The Rat Pack, released in 1998.{{Cite news |last=Williams |first=Jack |date=29 Oct 1998 |title=Warren Wiebe, 44; had long credit list as singer |pages=B-9 |work=The San Diego Tribune |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/271620099 |access-date=29 Nov 2023|id={{ProQuest|271620099}} }}

Death

Wiebe committed suicide on October 25, 1998, after battling depression due to the deaths of his mother and a former high school friend. His body was found in his Glendale apartment. He was 45.{{Cite web|date=2021-03-12|title=We Are The War: 30 Years Ago "Voices That Care" Nearly Killed The All-Star Charity Single|url=https://www.stereogum.com/2119813/voices-that-care-desert-storm-song/columns/sounding-board/|access-date=2022-01-14|website=Stereogum|language=en}}

Posthumous discography

=Compilation and soundtrack album appearances=

The Real Me – Urs Wiesendanger (White Sail Records, 1998; Fast Peak Recordings, 2002; Pink Dogg Records, 2005) – "Another Chance for Love" (duet with Jerrie Lynn){{Cite web|url=https://www.westcoast.dk/artists/w/urs-wiesendanger/|title=Urs Wiesendanger|website=Westcoast.dk|access-date=October 11, 2023}}
Highest Calling, Visionary (Mt. Tamalpais Records, 1999) – "Anything for You", duet with Bill Champlin
Light Mellow AOR-Groovin' & Breezin (Cool Sound Edition, 2000) – "Heart Don't Change My Mind"
Camp soundtrack (Decca Records, 2003) – "I Believe in Us"{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/camp-music-from-the-motion-picture--mw0000599405|title=Various Artists - Camp [Music from the Motion Picture] Album Reviews, Songs & More |website=AllMusic|access-date=October 11, 2023}}
Steve Dorff Original Demos – Warren Wiebe (Contante & Sonante, 2004) – featured Wiebe's vocals on all tracks "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", "Every Time 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" and "Somewhere in Time"{{Cite web|url=https://noted.blogs.com/westcoastmusic/2004/10/steve_dorff_ori.html|title=Steve Dorff Original Demos feat. Warren Wiebe|website=Noted.blogs.com}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.contanteysonante.com/stevedorff-originaldemos|title=STEVE DORFF|website=Contanteysonante.com}}
Somebody New – Urs Wiesendanger (Contante & Sonante, 2005) – Wiebe was featured on the title track "Somebody New" with Courtney Blooding and on "Hold Me"{{Cite web|url=https://www.contanteysonante.com/urs-somebodynew|title=URS WIESENDANGER|website=Contanteysonante.com}}
Snapshots – Hank Easton (Easton, 2007) – Wiebe featured on "Show Me a Sign"{{Cite web|url=https://labibledelawestcoast.blogspot.com/2013/08/hank-easton-snapshots-2007.html|title=La Bible de la Westcoast Music - Cool Night -: Hank Easton "Snapshots" (2007) - Westcoast Rock|website=Labibledelawestcoast.blogspot.com|date=August 19, 2013}}
E35 Let's Sing J-Pop In English (Avex Entertainment, 2008) - Wiebe featured on disc 2, track 12 "True Love"
E35-II Let's Sing J-Pop in English (Avex Entertainment, 2008) - Wiebe featured on disc 3, track 11 "Midsummer Fruit" (真夏の果実)
Fly Away – David Foster (Contante & Sonante, 2009) – Wiebe's vocals on "Live Each Day"{{Cite web|url=https://www.contanteysonante.com/flyaway-cd|title=FLY AWAY (CD)|website=Contanteysonante.com}}
Highlights & Rarities (Contante & Sonante, 2011) – "A Little Thing Called Life", "Kindred Spirits", "Somewhere in Time" and "My Angel's Voice"{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/Various-Contante-Sonante-Highlights-Rarities/release/5169634|title=Contante & Sonante: Highlights & Rarities (2011, CD)|website=Discogs.com}}
Original Demos – Tom Snow featuring Warren Wiebe (Contante & Sonante, 2013) – lead vocals by Wiebe on "Beauty Outside Beauty Within", "It's Not the End of the World", "Time to Be Lovers", "Town of Dreams", "You're Welcome in My Life", "I Must Have Been Blind", "I Can See Forever", "That's What Love Can Do", "We're All in This Together", "Ronnie-O", "Love Has a Mind of Its Own" and "Bridges of the Heart"{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/Tom-Snow-featuring-Warren-Wiebe-Original-Demos/release/5170664|title=Tom Snow featuring Warren Wiebe – Original Demos (2013, CD)|website=Discogs.com}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.contanteysonante.com/tomsnow-originaldemos|title=TOM SNOW|website=Contanteysonante.com}}
Velvet soundtrack (2013–2016) – "For Your Love" and "Carrie"
A Passion For Music - Diane Warren (Realsongs, 1997) - Wiebe featured on tracks 8 "I Can't change The Way You Don't Feel" & 9 "I Don't Want To Be Alone For Christmas" of disc 5 and track 11 "Why Goodbye" of Disc 6
Original Demos – Gardner & Fuller featuring Warren Wiebe (Contante & Sonante, 2016) – Wiebe's lead vocals on 4 tracks: "17 Years", "Slip Away", "Nothing That I Wouldn't Do" and "This Blue Tattoo"{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/Gardner-Fuller-featuring-Warren-Wiebe-Original-Demos/release/9345542|title=Gardner & Fuller featuring Warren Wiebe – Original Demos (2016, CD)|website=Discogs.com}}
Original Demos – Burt Bacharach & Tonio K (Contante & Sonante, 2017) – one track featuring Wiebe, "Never Take That Chance Again"{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/Burt-Bacharach-Tonio-K-Original-Demos/release/10216892|title=Burt Bacharach & Tonio K. – Original Demos (2017, CD)|website=Discogs.com}}
Walkin' on Air – Tomi Malm (Contante & Sonante, 2017) – "Show Me a Sign" (written by Hank Easton), Wiebe performed a virtual duet with Zosia Karbowiak{{Cite web|url=https://zosiakarbowiak.com/|title=Home|website=zosiakarbowiak.com}} with Malm on keyboards;{{Cite web|url=https://www.contanteysonante.com/tomimalm|title=TOMI MALM|website=Contanteysonante.com}} other players included Lars-Erik Dahle, Lars Daugaard, Bernt Rune Stray and Eric Marienthal{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/Tomi-Malm-Walkin-On-Air/release/10867444|title=Tomi Malm – Walkin' On Air (2017, CD)|website=Discogs.com}}
Original Demos - Warren Wiebe (Contante & Sonante, 2018) - compilation featuring Wiebe's vocals on all tracks: "The Colour Of My Love", "Live Each Day", Never Take That Chance Again", "Love Made Me Wait", "A Little Thing Called Life", "The Echo Of Your Whisper", "You're Welcome In My Life", "Spend A Little Time With You", "17 Years", "Nothing That I Wouldn't Do", "The Day I First Saw You", ""Lorelei", "Don't Tell My Heart", "Make A Wish"{{Cite web |title=ORIGINAL DEMOS FT WARREN WIEBE |url=https://www.contanteysonante.com/warrenwiebe-originaldemos |access-date=2022-09-02 |website=Contanteysonante.com |language=es}}
Featuring Warren Wiebe Originals – Roxanne Seeman, Darin Scheff and Tony Smith: "Safe Back In Your Arms" from Under Crystal Lake, "After So Much Love" {{Citation |title=Safe, Back In Your Arms by Warren Wiebe on Apple Music |date=2023-11-28 |url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/featuring-warren-wiebe-originals-single/1718642496 |access-date=2025-06-30 |language=en-US}}{{Citation |title=After So Much Love by Warren Wiebe on Apple Music |date=2023-11-28 |url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/featuring-warren-wiebe-originals-single/1718642496 |access-date=2025-06-30 |language=en-US}}