Wesley Schultz

File:The Lumineers 2016.jpg

Schultz grew up in Ramsey, New Jersey,[http://www.wbur.org/npr/153706601/the-lumineers-chasing-big-dreams-out-west "The Lumineers: Chasing Big Dreams Out West"], NPR, May 26, 2012. Accessed November 14, 2012 the son of clinical psychologist Dr Michael J. Schultz (died 2007) and Judy (née Kinyon),{{Cite web|url=https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/northjersey/name/michael-schultz-obituary?id=27734295|title=Dr. Michael J. Schultz Obituary (2007) The Record/Herald News|website=Legacy.com|access-date=February 3, 2022}}{{Cite web|url=https://coloradoavidgolfer.com/wesley-schultz-is-more-than-the-leader-of-the-lumineers/|title=Wesley Schultz is More Than Just The Lumineers|website=Coloradoavidgolfer.com|date=August 7, 2019|access-date=February 3, 2022}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.theaquarian.com/2016/07/27/an-interview-with-the-lumineers-wesley-schultz-unveils-the-stories-behind-the-bands-intimate-lyrics-and-irresistible-sing-a-long-songs/|title=An Interview With The Lumineers: Wesley Schultz Unveils The Stories Behind The Band's Intimate Lyrics And Irresistible Sing-A-Long Songs|first=Danielle Sariyan|last=Interviews|website=Theaquarian.com|access-date=February 3, 2022}} and attended Ramsey High SchoolMazzola, Jessica. [https://patch.com/new-jersey/ramsey-nj/lumineers-featured-on-the-colbert-report "Lumineers featured on The Colbert Report; Band talks about moving from Ramsey to Brooklyn to Colorado."], Ramsey Patch, July 31, 2013. Accessed October 19, 2017. "Wesley Schultz and Jeremiah Fraites, both Ramsey High School grads, answered questions on the show about how the band started out, and why they chose to move to Colorado." and the University of Richmond.{{cite web|url=http://thedailysouth.southernliving.com/2012/10/24/thelumineers/ |title=Why The Lumineers Don't Eat At T.G.I. Friday's | Your Hub for Southern Culture |website=Thedailysouth.southernliving.com |date=October 24, 2012 |access-date=2014-04-21}}Aberback, Brian. [https://patch.com/new-jersey/ramsey-nj/ramseys-lumineers-recive-grammy-nods "Ramsey's Lumineers Receive Grammy Nods; Acoustic Folk-Pop Band nominated for Best New Artist and Best Americana Album has roots in the borough"], Ramsey Patch, December 21, 2012. Accessed October 19, 2017. "'As musicians, you can't concern yourselves with awards and things that are out of your control,' Schultz, a 2001 Ramsey High School grad said.... Schultz said he did not know Jeremiah Fraites well in high school but the two became good friends and songwriting partners after Schultz returned to Ramsey from college." At the time The Lumineers released their first album, their press release highlighted the fact that Schultz, then age 9, had been quoted in a 1992 story in The New York Times. In that story (a profile of Dennis Kobray, who since 1986 has performed the award-winning musical/ acting show "Meet the Musicians",{{Cite web|url=https://www.meetthemusicians.us/about|title=ABOUT|website=Meetthemusicians.us|access-date=February 3, 2022}} as part of which he tours elementary schools imitating classical composers as a way to introduce children to classical music), 9-year-old Schultz is quoted as saying: "I spend a lot of time on my drawings and it turns out good 'cause I've been practicing a lot."{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1992/03/15/nyregion/on-tour-with-a-thoroughly-modern-beethoven.html?scp=2&sq=%22Wesley+Schultz%22&st=nyt|title=On Tour With a Thoroughly Modern Beethoven|work=The New York Times|date=March 15, 1992|last=Cruice|first=Valerie}}

Growing up in Ramsey, Schultz's best friend was Josh Fraites.McDermott, Maeve. [http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/music/ontheverge/story/2012-06-17/the-lumineers-on-the-verge/55761514/1 "Meet roots rockers The Lumineers"], USA Today, June 24, 2012. Fraites died of a drug overdose in 2002, at the age of 19. In the wake of Josh's death, Schultz connected with Josh's younger brother Jeremiah Fraites, a drummer, and the two "found solace in music, writing songs and playing gigs around New York City."{{Cite web|url=http://thelumineers.com/the-lumineers-bio/|title=The Lumineers Biography from their website|website=Thelumineers.com|access-date=February 3, 2022|archive-date=November 25, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121125102310/http://thelumineers.com/the-lumineers-bio/|url-status=dead}} The two toured under various names including Wesley Jeremiah and Six Cheeks, and released a self-titled EP, including future The Lumineers songs, "Flowers In Your Hair" and "Darlene".

Frustrated by their band's limited success in New York, and struggling with the high cost of living, Schultz and Fraites decided to relocate to Denver, where they could dedicate more time to working on their music and touring. Upon arriving in Denver, they placed a Craigslist ad for a classical cellist. Neyla Pekarek responded to their ad and ultimately became the third member of The Lumineers. The trio spent the next year playing gigs around Denver and touring nationally at their own expense.

In 2012 The Lumineers released their first album, The Lumineers. Three songs from that album (all co-written by Schultz and Fraites) have charted: "Ho Hey", "Stubborn Love", and "Submarines".

In 2013 the band released a deluxe edition of their self-titled album. It included 5 bonus tracks, over 25 minutes of video footage, and a 28-page booklet.

In 2016 Schultz sang Honey Pie in Beat Bugs episode 12b.

In 2016 The Lumineers released the album Cleopatra. The songs were written in the four years after the first album, The Lumineers, was released.{{cite AV media|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZSGAmEiQgs&t=117s|publisher=NME|date=April 29, 2016|title=Wesley Schultz on Lumineers new album 'Cleopatra'|type=video|access-date=August 4, 2018}}

In 2019 The Lumineers released the album "III". This is their third album. The album title references that the album is presented in three chapters, each focusing on a different main character of the fictional Sparks family

On October 25, 2020 Schultz announced that a 10-song solo album containing covers entitled "Vignettes" would be released that Friday, October 30.{{cite tweet |last=Schultz |first=Wesley |user=wesleyschultz82 |number=1320515488452104197 |date=October 25, 2020 |title=.@wesleyschultz82 here – My solo album of cover songs “VIGNETTES” comes out this Friday... the WHOLE album (All 10 tracks) will be released, not just one song. Be prepared... 🙏❤️🤘🏼 https://t.co/tASlsj0I3Y |language=en |access-date=December 29, 2020}} He defined the album as a love letter to the songs he played in bars and coffee shops at the beginning of his music career.{{Cite web |last=Pingitore |first=Silvia |date=February 5, 2021 |title=The Lumineers interview: Wesley Schultz and Jeremiah Fraites from planetary success with Ho Hey to solo work |url=https://the-shortlisted.co.uk/the-lumineers-interview-wesley-schultz-jeremiah-fraites/ |access-date=2021-10-08 |website=the-shortlisted.co.uk |language=en-GB}}

Schultz had previously released a version of Eric Clapton's song "Bell Bottom Blues" on September 3, which was included on the album.{{cite tweet |last=Schultz |first=Wesley |user=wesleyschultz82 |number=1301575252569399299 |date=September 3, 2020 |title=My first solo release – @ericclapton “Bell Bottom Blues” out NOW on spotify https://t.co/6ZghmDRNGU produced by @SimoneFelice and beautiful piano by @davidbaronmusic https://t.co/81tr9wWZu6 |language=en |access-date=December 29, 2020}}

In December 2024, he participated on a single by the Uruguayan artist [https://www.instagram.com/zeballos17/?hl=en Zeballos]. The song, "AIRPORT RISOTTO", garnered mild attention because this was the first time the Uruguayan artist participated with one from the United States.

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Category:Living people

Category:1982 births

Category:People from Ramsey, New Jersey

Category:Ramsey High School (New Jersey) alumni

Category:American folk rock musicians

Category:Songwriters from New Jersey

Category:American people of German descent

Category:The Lumineers members

Category:Musicians from Bergen County, New Jersey