Gregory Darling

Gregory Darling is an American singer and composer.

Early life Darling was born in San Diego, California but moved to Los Angeles at the age of 4. By the age of 10, he had passed the audition for the Mitchell Boys Choir (founded by Bob Mitchell) in Hollywood, California where he studied music theory from 1974 to 1981. In 1977, whilst still attending the Mitchell Boys, he performed vocals on composer Ennio Morricone's Exorcist II: The Heretic soundtrack, as well as contributing to the made for TV American movie The Possessed, directed by Jerry Thorpe. In 1981 he performed and appeared in the Universal film All Night Long starring Barbra Streisand and Gene Hackman During this period, Darling also performed in La bohème at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles.

Musical career In 1985, Darling formed his first band Antix. The band signed to Enigma Records and released the mini-album Get Up, Get Happy. In 1987, Darling met Guns N' Roses, Poison and Mötley Crüe manager Vicky Hamilton who introduced him to producer Bob Rose and American glam metal/glam punk band Faster Pussycat, whom she also managed. Darling subsequently played piano and provided backing vocals for the band's 1987 self-titled debut album. In 1988 Darling recorded demos with his new band, Darling Cruel, and was offered a record contract by George Michael who had recently set up his own Mika Records imprint via Polygram. Soon after this Polygram signed Darling Cruel directly and, later that year, the band recorded their debut album Passion Crimes at Rockfield Studios in Monmouth, Wales. A year later Darling Cruel signed to George Michael's management company, Lippmann/Kahane.