Michael Sean "Fitz" Fitzpatrick (born 21 July 1970), known professionally as FITZ, is a French-American musician, singer and songwriter, who is the lead vocalist of the indie pop/neo-soul band Fitz and the Tantrums.
Michael Fitzpatrick | |
|---|---|
 Fitzpatrick performing at The Filmore Detroit in 2014 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Michael Sean Fitzpatrick |
| Also known as | Fitz |
| Born | 21 July 1970 Montluçon, France |
| Origin | Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Genres | Indie pop, neo soul |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, singer, songwriter |
| Instrument(s) | Vocals, piano, keyboards |
| Years active | 2007–present |
| Labels | Dangerbird |
| Spouse | |
Fitz and the Tantrums were picked as a "band to watch" in an April 2011 profile in Rolling Stone.[1] Their 2010 debut full-length album Pickin' Up the Pieces received critical acclaim and reached #1 on the Billboard Heatseekers chart.[2] In May 2021, Fitzpatrick released his debut solo album, Head Up High.
Biography
editBorn in Montluçon in Allier, France,[3][4] Fitzpatrick grew up in Los Angeles. His father, Robert Fitzpatrick, is Irish American and his mother, Sylvie, is French. Michael attended the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts, studying vocal music and then experimental film at the California Institute of the Arts in Santa Clarita,[5] where he met fellow band member James King.
Although Michael Fitzpatrick composes primarily on the piano and organ, he only took formal piano training later in life. He said, "I'd always been a decent singer, but I got frustrated by my inability to play piano by anything more than by ear. I took piano lessons when I was 32, and it opened up a whole new vocabulary for me."[6] He grew up mostly listening to classical music and opera, as he was discouraged from listening to other genres at home. One concession, however, was being allowed to listen to a local oldies radio station in the car driving to and from school.[7]
After college, he worked for many years behind the scenes as a sound engineer for producer Mickey Petralia who produced Beck, Ladytron, Flight of the Conchords, and The Dandy Warhols.[8]
In late 2008, Fitzpatrick received a call from an ex-girlfriend to tell him about a neighbor who needed to unload or sell a church organ for $50.[1] He told her to pay the neighbor $50 and arranged to have the organ moved to his apartment the same day. That evening, inspired by the organ, he wrote the song "Breakin' the Chains of Love". He said, "I immediately knew it was the best song I'd written. I could astral plane out and hear myself, like, 'wow!' Not bad!".[1] Fitzpatrick decided to form a band, and contacted friend and saxophonist James King. During phone calls they began assembling the band with King recommending singer Noelle Scaggs and drummer John Wicks, and Wicks in turn bringing in bassist Ethan Phillips and keyboardist Jeremy Ruzumna.[6] The band met for its first rehearsal a week later and things instantly clicked. In interviews, Fitzpatrick has emphasized his eclectic musical tastes saying, "We [the band] all have a love affair with soul and funk music. For me, it's obviously Otis Redding, Marvin Gaye, the Supremes, all that stuff. My musical taste runs the gamut from Radiohead to Zeppelin to Major Lazer. My older brother was really into '80s new wave, so a lot of the first records I got to borrow and steal were his."[9]
Personal life
editIn May 2013, it was announced that Fitzpatrick was expecting a child with then-girlfriend actress Kaylee DeFer.[10] DeFer had their son in September 2013.[11] Fitzpatrick and DeFer married on 25 July 2015[12] and their second son was born in April 2017.[13] A third son was born in May 2019.[14]
Discography
editAlbums
editSolo
edit- Head Up High
- Summer of Us
With Band of Merrymakers
editSingles
editAs solo artist
edit| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Adult [15] | |||||||||
| "Head Up High"[16] | 2020 | 17 | Head Up High | ||||||
| "Congratulations"[17] (solo or with Bryce Vine) |
2021 | – | |||||||
| "Life's Too Short"[18] (with Two Friends) |
– | Non-album single | |||||||
| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. | |||||||||
As featured artist
edit| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US AAA [19] |
US Dance [20] | ||||||||
| "Broken Drum" (Cash Cash featuring Fitz) |
2016 | — | 44 | Blood, Sweat & 3 Years | |||||
| "Domino" (ZZ Ward featuring Fitz) |
2017 | 24 | — | The Storm | |||||
| "Big Dreams" (The Score featuring Fitz) |
2021 | 24 | — | Metamorph | |||||
| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. | |||||||||
Guest appearances
edit| Title | Year | Album | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "Not Leaving You Tonight" (LL Cool J featuring Eddie Van Halen and Fitz) |
2013 | Authentic | |||||||
| "That's What I Like" (Flo Rida featuring Fitz) |
2015 | My House | |||||||
| "Jacked Up" (Remix) (Weezer featuring Nadya of Pussy Riot and Fitz) |
2016 | Weezer | |||||||
| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory. | |||||||||
References
edit- ^ a b c Greenwald, Andy (12 Apr 2011). "Band to Watch: Fitz and the Tantrums Put a Modern Spin on Motown". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 22 Jun 2011.
- ^ Fitz and the Tantrums at Billboard
- ^ Fitz & The Tantrums [@FitzAndTantrums] (21 July 2010). "Its Fitz's Birthday Today! Send him your Happys !" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ Stovin, Jack (July 29, 2011). "File-O-Facts: Michael Fitzpatrick of Fitz And The Tantrums". AltSounds. Archived from the original on 3 January 2013. Retrieved 13 April 2013.
- ^ Forman, Bill (2 Jun 2011). "Method of modern love - Deconstructing the soul-fueled fervor for Fitz & the Tantrums". Colorado Springs Independent. Archived from the original on Jul 26, 2011. Retrieved 22 Jun 2011.
- ^ a b Bronson, Kevin (17 Jun 2010). "Fitz & the Tantrums: Finding plenty of soul mates". Buzz Bands. Los Angeles. Retrieved 22 Jun 2011.
- ^ DJGladIZ (6 Dec 2009). "Fitz and The Tantrums Interview With UTARadio.com". YouTube. Retrieved 22 Jun 2011.
- ^ Korina Lopez (February 13, 2011). "On the verge: Fitz & the Tantrums channel the Motown spirit". USA Today. Retrieved 22 Jun 2011.
- ^ Brindle, Kate (22 Jun 2011). ""Fitz and the Tantrums' Music Draws a Lot from Motown." - Interview". Zoiks! Online. Archived from the original on Mar 12, 2012. Retrieved 22 Jun 2011.
- ^ Eggenberger, Nicole (May 8, 2013). "Kaylee DeFer Pregnant: Gossip Girl Actress, 26, Expecting First Child With Boyfriend Michael Fitzpatrick, 42". Us Weekly. Retrieved September 21, 2013.
- ^ Takeda, Allison (September 21, 2013). "Kaylee DeFer Gives Birth to Baby Boy With Boyfriend Michael Fitzpatrick!". Us Weekly. Retrieved September 21, 2013.
- ^ fitz (July 26, 2016). "One year ago today I got to marry this incredible woman. I love you @kayleedefer I'm the luckiest guy in the world". Instagram. Archived from the original on 2021-12-25.
- ^ fitz (April 12, 2017). "Sebastian Danger Fitzpatrick Born April 11th at 2:27pm. 7pounds 15 ounces. Mama @kayleedefer and her boy squad!". Instagram. Archived from the original on 2021-12-25.
- ^ DeFer, Kaylee (May 27, 2019). "We did it! He came in like a wild fire. Welcome Rémy Lincoln Fitzpatrick. Born May 26th. 8 LBS 5.9 Oz. 20 inches long. I barely made it to the hospital at 5:50pm and had him in my arms at 6:20pm. We're both happy and healthy and can't wait for Michael to get home from Seoul. Thank you for all the well wishes and love. We hear it and feel it immensely. So grateful for my tribe and my parents for hustling to be there for us while Michael's been away. I'm overwhelmed with love and appreciation for the giant hearts in my life. #babyfitz3 #brothersfitz #❤️ #welcomeearthside". Instagram.
- ^ "Fitz Chart History – Adult Pop Songs". Billboard. Retrieved December 21, 2020.
- ^ "Head Up High - Single by FITZ". Apple Music. Archived from the original on Nov 7, 2020. Retrieved March 26, 2021.
- ^ Congratulations (feat. Bryce Vine) by FITZ & Fitz and The Tantrums on Apple Music, 2021-03-19, retrieved 2024-06-29
- ^ "Life's Too Short - Single by Two Friends & Fitz". Apple Music. 3 December 2021. Retrieved February 1, 2022.
- ^ "Fitz & the Tantrums Chart History – Adult Alternative Songs". Billboard. Retrieved December 22, 2020.
- ^ "Fitz & the Tantrums Chart History – Hot Dance/Electronic Songs". Billboard. Retrieved December 22, 2020.