Stephen Lynch

Stephen Andrew Lynch (born July 28, 1971) is an American comedian, musician and actor who is known for his satirical songs mocking daily life and popular culture. Lynch has released four studio albums and four live albums along with a live DVD. This 2004 DVD, Live at the El Rey, was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

He has appeared in two Comedy Central Presents specials and starred in the Broadway adaptation of The Wedding Singer, earning multiple award nominations. Lynch released a double-disc album, Lion, in 2012, and a live concert video, Hello, Kalamazoo, in 2016. Like Lion, 2019's My Old Heart was half recorded in studio and half from a live concert. The A to Z Entertainment website has written, "His unique blend of musical based comedy has earned him fiercely loyal fans around the world who live to experience his sold-out live shows." His albums have sold hundreds of thousands of copies around the world, and he is touring again ("The Me Tour") in 2025.

Early life and education Lynch was born in Abington, Pennsylvania. His family later moved to Saginaw, Michigan. He has a younger brother, Andrew, known as Drew (not standup comic Drew Lynch, who is unrelated), who also became a stage actor. Their parents, Leo R. and Judith (Hayes) Lynch, were a former priest and a former nun. Both parents became teachers,

Lynch would perform in community theater and musical theater while attending Arthur Hill High School and the Center for the Arts and Sciences (now the Saginaw Arts and Sciences Academy), from which he graduated in 1988. to Western Michigan University, from which he graduated with a BA in drama in 1993. While attending Western Michigan University, he began to write comedic songs.

Considering himself a musician first and a comedian second, Lynch cites singer/songwriters Paul Simon and Joni Mitchell as his childhood inspirations, rather than comedians. The first song that he wrote, at age 15, was a country song titled "Beefy Burrito". In it, a cowboy breaks up with his girlfriend, then goes to a diner, where his entrée reminds him of his lost love. then working summers from 1993 to 1995 at The Barn Theatre in Augusta, Michigan, Lynch moved to New York City in 1996 Upon his arrival, a friend at the West Bank Cafe on 42nd Street suggested Lynch play, for an audience, some of the comic songs he had written while attending university. ), and became a regular on radio shows such as Opie and Anthony. In 2002's award-winning Pillowfighter, he played Chet Sheplynn, a folklorist/folksinger.

In 2004, Lynch recorded a concert at the El Rey Theatre in Los Angeles, joined by his brother Drew Lynch (not the identically named "stuttering stand-up comedian" Drew Lynch) and his friend Mark Teich as backup singers. It was released as the Live at the El Rey DVD. The DVD includes a commentary track, a clip from one of Lynch's earliest live performances (featuring "Jim Henson's Dead"), a clip of Lynch recording "Lullaby" in the studio for his first album, A Little Bit Special and a short film recorded by Lynch's wife, Erin Dwight, titled Lynch and Teich in Brooklyn.

In April 2006, Lynch starred as Robbie Hart in the Broadway musical The Wedding Singer, which ran on Broadway from April 27, 2006, through December 31, 2006, at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre. co-starred Tony winner Laura Benanti in the role of Julia Sullivan, played by Barrymore in the film. His performance has earned him nominations for Tony, Drama League, and Drama Desk awards.

Lynch starred in his second Comedy Central Presents special in January 2008. He also performed on his first European tours in 2008, headlining concerts in England, Sweden, Norway, Finland, the Netherlands, Ireland, Scotland, and Germany. His newfound European popularity resulted in appearances at six festivals in August and September 2008.

He returned to Europe in fall 2009, and toured the UK in March 2010, headlining London's Brixton Academy on March 5, 2010. Lynch's second studio album, 3 Balloons, was released on March 10, 2009.

The Lost Media Archive reports that Lynch announced, in February 2010, that a concert had been filmed in Portland, Oregon ("most likely on March 16, 2009 at the Aladdin Theater"). Lynch's website stated that the film, entitled An Evening with Stephen Lynch, would "air later this year, with a new DVD to follow." However, Lynch was unhappy with the material, his site was edited to delete the promise, and the project was quietly shelved.

In June 2011, Lynch performed at Chinateatern in Stockholm and at Kulturens Hus in Luleå, as well as venues in Gothenburg and Malmö, Sweden.

In 2016, Lynch recorded a live show at the Little Theatre in Kalamazoo, Michigan, called Hello, Kalamazoo, which was directed by Kevin Romeo of Rhino Media. On March 17, 2019, Lynch confirmed via Twitter that My Old Heart would be released on June 14, 2019.

As Lynch's repertoire of material includes duets and a few songs for three voices, close university pals and fellow comedians Mark Teich (of The Second City; he died in 2021) and Rod Cone (of The Rod Cone Situation) have been frequent guests on his tours. More recently, he toured with Courtney Jaye, his co-performer for Lion. He has also done shows with his brother Drew and with former Wedding Singer castmate David Josefsberg.

In 2021, Lynch began "The Time Machine Tour" across the US. His father's past included being part of a duo who sang at antiwar protests during the Vietnam War. Although he canceled several performances as a result, Lynch still performed at Central Michigan University on October 16.

Discography

Demo Album InformationHalf A Man Released: 1998 Label: – Chart Positions: – RIAA Certification: – Singles: Notes: A demo of Lynch's early material.

Studio albums Album InformationA Little Bit Special Released: October 3, 2000 (US) Label: HaHa & What Are Records? Chart Positions: Top Internet Albums – 7 RIAA Certification: – Singles: Notes: Debut Album3 Balloons Released: March 24, 2009 (US) Label: What Are Records? Chart Positions: Billboard 200 - 152 RIAA Certification: – Singles: Notes: 1st studio album since 2000Lion Released: November 13, 2012 (US) Label: What Are Records? Chart Positions: Top Internet Albums – RIAA Certification: – Singles: "Tattoo" Notes: Double album (Live & Studio)My Old Heart Released: July 19, 2019 (US) Label: 800 Pound Gorilla Records Chart Positions: - RIAA Certification: - Singles: - Notes: Double album (Studio & Live)

Live albums Album InformationSuperhero Released: January 14, 2003 (US) Label: What Are Records? Chart Positions: – RIAA Certification: – Singles: Notes: Appeared on Top Internet Albums Chart in 2003The Craig Machine Released: October 4, 2005 (US) Label: What Are Records? Chart Positions: Billboard 200 – 129 RIAA Certification: – Singles: Notes: Recorded in New York City in May 2005Lion Released: November 13, 2012 (US) Label: What Are Records? Chart Positions: Top Internet Albums – RIAA Certification: – Singles: "Tattoo" Notes: Double album (Live & Studio)My Old Heart Released: July 19, 2019 (US) Label: 800 Pound Gorilla Records Chart Positions: - RIAA Certification: - Singles: - Notes: Double album (Studio & Live)

Compilation Album InformationCleanest Hits Released: June 7, 2006 (US) Label: What Are Records? Chart Positions: – RIAA Certification: – Singles: Notes: A clean greatest hits album. Sold at Walmart and at showings of The Wedding Singer

Videography

Live Show Album InformationLive at the El Rey Released: September 28, 2004 (US) Label: Razor & Tie Chart Positions: – RIAA Certification: Gold (March 2006) Singles: Notes: DVD.Hello, Kalamazoo Released: March 21, 2016 Label: - Chart Positions: – Singles: Notes: Originally a Vimeo exclusive, no longer available on that platform.