Mr. Mister
| Company type | Rock band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1982 in Phoenix, Arizona, United States |
| Defunct | 1990 |
| Headquarters | Los Angeles, California , United States |
| Products | Music albums and singles |
Mr. Mister was a rock ensemble originating from Phoenix, Arizona, active between 1982 and 1990. The group consisted of Richard Page handling lead vocals and bass, Steve George on keyboards and backing vocals, Pat Mastelotto on drums and percussion, and on guitars with backing vocals. This band developed out of the earlier project Pages, which Page and George led from 1978 until 1981. Their most notable achievement came with the 1985 album Welcome to the Real World, which reached number one on US charts and delivered three Top 10 singles in the United States: "Broken Wings", "Kyrie", and "Is It Love", with the first two singles attaining the top position.
Early work
Although Mr. Mister was formed in Phoenix, Arizona, their base of operations was in Los Angeles, California.Richard Page brought considerable experience as a session musician, having worked with high-profile artists such as Quincy Jones, Michael Jackson, and Kenny Loggins.
In 1978, Page and his childhood companion Steve George created Pages, a pop fusion ensemble that featured various session players. Despite receiving critical acclaim and enjoying modest success with the track "I Do Believe in You," Pages did not achieve significant commercial traction and dissolved in 1981. Following this, Page and George shifted their focus to songwriting and studio collaborations for performers including Laura Branigan and Village People.
By 1982, they formed a new band with a stronger pop orientation, solidifying the lineup with drummer Pat Mastelotto and guitarist Steve Farris, both seasoned session musicians. Although initially considering adding a bassist, the group remained a quartet when Page assumed bass responsibilities alongside his role as lead vocalist.[1]
Mainstream success
Upon releasing their debut album I Wear the Face through RCA Records in 1984, Page turned down opportunities to replace frontmen in bands like Toto and Chicago.
Their follow-up album in 1985, Welcome to the Real World, featuring lyrics penned by Page's cousin John Lang, became their commercial breakthrough. Each of its three singles entered the top 10 charts, with "Broken Wings" and "Kyrie" both reaching number one on U.S. pop charts. The inspiration for "Broken Wings" came from Kahlil Gibran's book sharing the same title. In 1986, the band received two Grammy Award nominations, including one for Best Pop Band.
During their peak, Mr. Mister toured alongside prominent artists such as Don Henley, The Bangles, Eurythmics, Tina Turner, and Heart. Their third studio effort, Go On..., saw limited commercial success, producing only one U.S. top 40 single.
Throughout the 1980s, they contributed tracks to films including Stand and Deliver, Stakeout, and A Fine Mess, as well as sharing concert stages with acts like The Bangles.
Guitarist Steve Farris left the band in 1988. The remaining members collaborated with Christian musician Paul Clark on his independent release Awakening from the Western Dream. Subsequently, they recorded a fourth album titled Pull, enlisting session guitarists such as Buzz Feiten and Trevor Rabin. Although completed in 1990, RCA Records chose not to release it at that time, leading to the group's dissolution. One track from Pull surfaced on their 2001 greatest hits compilation. The fully remastered version of the album was eventually issued on November 23, 2010, through Richard Page's Little Dume Recordings in collaboration with Sony Music.
Years after disbanding, Mr. Mister was mentioned in Train's hit "Hey, Soul Sister" with the lyric "Ain't that Mr. Mister on the radio, stereo?".
On May 16, 2023—coinciding with Richard Page’s 70th birthday—all four original members reunited to perform "Broken Wings" live for the first time in over three decades.[2]
Band members
- Richard Page – lead vocals and bass guitar (1982–1990, 2023), guitar (1988–1990)
- Steve George – keyboards, saxophone, and backing vocals (1982–1990, 2023)
- Pat Mastelotto – drums and percussion (1982–1990, 2023)
- Steve Farris – guitar and backing vocals (1982–1988, 2023)
Collaborations
- John Lang – primary lyricist for the majority of albums; Richard Page's cousin
Studio albums
- I Wear the Face (1984)
- Welcome to the Real World (1985)
- Go On... (1987)
- Pull (2010)
Awards and nominations
| Year | Award | Category | Work | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | Grammy Awards | Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal | "Broken Wings" | Nominated |
| 1987 | Best Gospel Performance | "Healing Waters" | Nominated |
External links
- Articles with short description
- 1982 establishments in Arizona
- American new wave musical groups
- American pop rock music groups
- Musical groups established in 1982
- Musical groups disestablished in 1990
- Musical groups from California
- Musical groups from Phoenix, Arizona
- RCA Records artists
- Pages with reference errors
- Pages with script errors