Splender

Splender

Company type	Band
Industry	Music
Founded	1997
Founder	Waymon Boone, James Cruz
Defunct	2004
Headquarters	New York City , United States
Products	Music albums, singles

Splender was a New York City–based American alternative rock group, consisting of lead singer Waymon Boone, bassist James Cruz, drummer Marc Slutsky, and lead guitarist Jonathan Svec. The band produced two studio albums, Halfway Down The Sky and To Whom It May Concern, which included popular tracks such as "Yeah, Whatever" and "I Think God Can Explain" before their breakup in 2004.

Formation and early period

The band Splender was established in 1997 by Waymon Boone and James Cruz. Following several personnel changes, Marc Slutsky joined as the drummer after responding to an advertisement in the Village Voice, with Jonathan Svec completing the lineup as lead guitarist. Boone, whose mother was an R&B and Jazz vocalist, brought valuable experience from touring alongside her.

Originally called Hidden Persuaders, the group secured a development contract with independent publisher Hit & Run Music Publishing. Michelle De Vries and Dave Massey played crucial roles in expanding their presence across Europe by managing early festival and club performances in cities like Paris, London, and Brussels—where they opened for Primus. Their European tour also included supporting nu-metal act Korn, alongside extensive shows within New York City.

Signing with Columbia Records and Halfway Down The Sky (1999–2000)

After winning a Battle of the Bands contest, Splender earned a contract with Columbia Records. Their debut album, Halfway Down the Sky (1999), produced by Todd Rundgren, featured singles such as "Yeah, Whatever" and "I Think God Can Explain".

Transition to J Records and To Whom It May Concern (2001–2003)

In 2001, the band inked a deal with Clive Davis’s J Records and commenced work on their follow-up album. The lead single "Save It For Later" was released in June 2002 accompanied by a music video filmed in Los Angeles. By August 17, 2002, it climbed to number 34 on the Billboard Top 40 chart. The album To Whom It May Concern was launched on August 20, 2002, selling 16,000 copies and reaching number 24 on the Billboard Heatseekers Chart. The second single, "The Loneliest Person I Know," came out in November 2002 but failed to chart.

Breakup and attempted reunion

Following their second album’s release, Splender disbanded in 2004 to pursue individual endeavors. In 2009, Waymon Boone announced plans via Myspace for new recordings and touring; however, these efforts did not come to fruition. Later interviews with Boone revealed that talks of reuniting the band never fully progressed.

Band members

• Waymon Boone – lead vocals, rhythm guitar
• James Cruz – bass guitar, backing vocals
• Marc Slutsky – drums, percussion
• Jonathan Svec – lead guitar, backing vocals

Albums

• Halfway Down the Sky (1999)
• To Whom It May Concern (2002)

Singles

Year	Title	Peak chart positions					Album
		US	US Pop	US Alt	US Adult Pop	CAN
1999	"Yeah, Whatever"	—	46	24	26	—	Halfway Down the Sky
	"Monotone"	—	—	44	—	—
2000	"I Think God Can Explain"	62	19	—	12	82
2002	"Save It For Later"	—	—	—	34	—	To Whom It May Concern
	"Loneliest Person I Know"	—	—	—	—	—
"—" indicates singles that did not enter the charts.