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Chris Isaak

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Chris Isaak

Chris Isaak (born Christopher Joseph Isaak June 26, 1956 in Stockton, California) is an American indie rock, pop, and rock and roll singer, songwriter, and occasional actor.

Isaak's music can be described as a blend of country, blues, rock and roll, pop and surf rock.

He signed a contract to Warner Brothers Records in 1984 for his first album Silvertone. Isaak's contract was renewed in 1988 when Warner Brothers moved him to their Reprise Records label.

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Chris Isaak's best-known song is Wicked Game

His best-known song is "Wicked Game". Though released on the 1989 album Heart Shaped World, an instrumental version of the song was later featured in the David Lynch film Wild at Heart (and also years later in the 2000 film The Family Man). An Atlanta radio station DJ began playing the full version and it quickly became a nation-wide top ten hit. The music video for the song was directed by Herb Ritts and was a big MTV and VH1 hit; shot in black and white, it starred Isaak and model Helena Christensen rolling on the beach, embracing and whispering in each others' ears.

In 1999, Isaak's "Baby Did A Bad, Bad Thing" was featured in Stanley Kubrick's final film, Eyes Wide Shut, starring Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman.

In 2001, Chris Isaak starred in his own television show, The Chris Isaak Show. It aired from March 2001 to March 2004 in the United States on the cable television network Showtime. The show featured Chris Isaak and his band playing themselves with the episode plots based on fictional accounts of the backstage world of Chris Isaak - the rock star next door.

Isaak has also appeared in numerous films, mostly playing minor cameo roles, though he starred with Keanu Reeves and Bridget Fonda in the 1993 Bernardo Bertolucci-directed Little Buddha. Other motion pictures include Married to the Mob (1988), The Silence of the Lambs (1991), Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me (1992), That Thing You Do! (1996), and A Dirty Shame (2004). He also guest-starred on the Superbowl Sunday (1996) edition of the television sitcom Friends and on the HBO miniseries, From the Earth to the Moon.

Issak is said to be far more down to earth than many of his musical contemporaries. For instance, after a show, he will often meet his fans out in the foyers.

Discography

Isaak also composed the theme song for The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn.

Isaak's longtime producer, Erik Jacobsen, was instrumental in his sound for 15 years. Jacobsen is known for his production work with The Lovin' Spoonful, and solo albums from Spoonful's John Sebastian and Jerry Yester. Isaak ceased working with Jacobsen on his 2001 album, Always Got Tonight.

Singles

Year Title Chart positions Album
US Hot 100 US Modern Rock Mainstream Rock UK
1989 "Don't Make Me Dream About You" - #18 - - Heart Shaped World
1991 "Wicked Game" - #2 - - Heart Shaped World
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