Ivan Wilzig

Ivan L. Wilzig
Born	(1956-01-06) January 6, 1956 Clifton, New Jersey, U.S.
Occupation(s)	Singer, songwriter, banker, lawyer
Years active	2001–present
Known for	Pop-dance reinterpretations of peace anthems; appearances on reality TV

Ivan L. Wilzig (born January 6, 1956) is an American singer and songwriter recognized for his pop-dance reinterpretations of peace anthems from the 1960s and early 1970s.

He established The Peaceman Foundation, a charitable organization dedicated to fighting hatred, violence, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). In the United States, Wilzig has made appearances on reality television programs such as Who Wants to Be a Superhero? on Syfy, Epic Castle on Destination America, VH1’s The Fabulous Life of the Hamptons, Bravo’s Chef Roble & Co., and 3Net’s Super Heroes in 3D TV.

Early life and banking career

Wilzig was born in 1956 and grew up in Clifton, New Jersey, where he attended Clifton High School. His father, Siggi Wilzig (1926–2003), a Holocaust survivor originally from Germany, held the roles of chairman, president, and CEO at Wilshire Oil Company of Texas (listed on the NYSE) as well as The Trust Company of New Jersey (listed on NASDAQ). His mother, Naomi Wilzig (1934–2015), was known for her art collection.

He earned a Bachelor of Arts in European intellectual history from the University of Pennsylvania in 1977 and obtained a Juris Doctor degree from Yeshiva University’s Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law in 1980. Rather than pursuing a legal career, Wilzig joined his father in overseeing operations at The Trust Company of New Jersey, a full-service commercial bank established in 1896. During his tenure, the bank facilitated agreements to launch 50 small branches inside A&P, Pathmark, and ShopRite supermarkets located within wealthy counties across New Jersey.

Music career

Starting voice training at age ten, Wilzig sang in synagogue choirs during his youth. His early professional engagements included performances at Kutsher's Country Club in the Catskills and serving as a soloist with the Samuel Sterner Choir at Town Hall in New York City. He also participated in musicals throughout high school and college. Despite his enthusiasm for music, his father Siggi encouraged him to pursue a more stable profession.

In 2001, Wilzig connected with Dave Jurman of Columbia Records who introduced him to Grammy-nominated producer Ernie Lake. Lake produced Wilzig’s electronic dance rendition of John Lennon’s "Imagine," which Tommy Boy Records released on September 4, 2001. This single sold 10,000 vinyl copies within three months and reached the Top-40 on the Billboard Club Play Chart—marking the first EDM adaptation of a Beatles or Lennon composition.

His subsequent single "San Francisco," released through Jellybean Recordings, climbed to #7 on the Billboard Singles Sales Chart. Wilzig’s debut original composition "Peace on Earth," distributed by Artemis Records, charted on Billboard and attained the #2 position on the UK DMC World Chart.

Reality TV

In 2006, Wilzig tried out for Season One of Who Wants to Be a Superhero? portraying Peaceman but missed the deadline. For Season Two, he secured participation but declined to surrender trademark rights for Peaceman; consequently, he created a new persona named Mr. Mitzvah for the competition. He was eliminated after the third episode by Stan Lee.

Other

Since 2000, Wilzig has appeared on numerous lifestyle and reality television programs including Travel Channel’s Manhattan on the Beach (2000), WE network's Single in the Hamptons (2002), VH1’s Hopelessly Rich (2003), and VH1’s The Fabulous Life of the Hamptons (2007). In 2012 he was featured on Bravo’s Chef Roble & Co., followed by an appearance on 3Net’s 3D series Super Heroes in 2013.

After the events of September 11, Wilzig spoke about "Imagine" on Germany’s ProSieben network. He later appeared alongside Naomi Campbell, Paul Oakenfold, and Venus Williams on ProSieben’s series Lifestyle of a Billionaire. In 2006 he was also featured in ProSieben’s documentary Die Maedchen und der Milliardaer. During the late 1990s, Wilzig and Alan Wilzig constructed a medieval-style castle covering 15,000 square feet in Water Mill, Long Island—commonly referred to as "Sir Ivan's Castle."

Discography

Singles

• "Imagine" (2001, Peaceman Music)
• "San Francisco (Be Sure to Wear Flowers in Your Hair)" (2004, Peaceman Music)
• "Peace on Earth" (2004, Peaceman Music)
• "For What It's Worth" Remix (2008, Peaceman Music)
• "Kumbaya" (2009, Peaceman Music)
• "Hare Krishna" Remix (2010, Peaceman Music)
• "Live For Today" (2011, Peaceman Music)
• "La La Land" (2012, Peaceman Music)
• "Here Comes The Sun" (2014, Peaceman Music)
• "Kiss All The Bullies Goodbye" (2015, Peaceman Music)
• "Imagine 2016" (2016, Peaceman Music)
• "I Am Peaceman" (2017, Peaceman Music)
• "Get Together" (The Remixes) (2018, Peaceman Music)
• "Turn! Turn! Turn!" featuring Markus Schulz (2024, Coldharbour Recordings)

Albums

• For What It's Worth (2008, Peaceman Music)
• Kumbaya (2009, Peaceman Music)
• Hare Krishna (2010, Peaceman Music)
• Live For Today (2011, Peaceman Music)
• I Am Peaceman (2010, Peaceman Music)
• I Am Peaceman (2012, Peaceman Music/Worldwide Records) – India release
• Here Comes The Sun (2013, Peaceman Music)
• Kiss All The Bullies Goodbye (2015, Peaceman Music)
• Peaceman Shines 2016 (2016, Peaceman Music)

Further reading

• Rich Dude's Bellybutton Flips Inside Out and Nearly Kills