Rick Springfield Then: After a string of Australian hits with the band Zoot, a Saturday morning cartoon called Mission: Magic, guest spots on several hit American television shows (The Incredible Hulk, Battlestar Gallactica, The Rockford Files, Six Million Dollar Man, Nancy Drew...) and several solo albums (Beginnings in 1972, Comic Book Heroes in 1973, Mission Magic in 1974 and Wait for Night in 1976) that were suspiciously kept from airplay; Rick Springfield entered the 80's without a recording contract. With his recording career on hold, Springfield's acting career hit a high stride with the role of Noah Drake on General Hospital. Springfield wrote and recorded demos in his home, playing all of the instruments himself. On the strength of these demos, RCA produced the 1981 album Working Class Dog, which included Springfield's first American #1 song, "Jessie's Girl." " Jessie's Girl" earned Springfield a Grammy in 1982. Working Class Dog was quickly followed by Success Hasn't Spoiled Me Yet (1982), Living In Oz (1983) and the soundtrack to 1984's Hard To Hold (a film starring Springfield), all of which went platinum. During this period, Wait for Night was re-released (1982) and Mercury/Polygram put out Beautiful Feelings (1984), a collection of unreleased songs recorded by Springfield in 1978. With seventeen top forty songs to his credit, Springfield went on to record Tao (1985) and Rock of Life (1988), both of which included some musical changes for Springfield, along with deeper themes. An ATV accident shortly before the Rock of Life tour was scheduled to begin kept Springfield from ever touring that album. The accident left him unable to hold a guitar for more than a year. Now: Springfield went back to acting during the early 90's with a few short lived television programs. In 1997, Springfield teamed up with Tim Pierce and Bob Marlette to release Sahara Snow, his first original release in nine years. This release was followed in short order by a VH1 Behind the Music special devoted to Springfield, a national tour that lasted for more than two years and included an appearance on the Today Show's Summer Concert Series, and Springfield's first solo release since Rock of Life (Karma, 1999). During this same time period, Springfield has made numerous television appearances, including VH1's Behind the Music Anniversary Special, Rock & Roll Fantasy, Martial Law, and Don't Forget Your Toothbrush. Springfield has developed a reputation as a premier live performer with his high-energy, interactive shows. This interaction isn't limited to the stage, either. Springfield is remarkably accessible to fans. During shows, he spends considerable time in the audience, playing from within the crowd, interacting, and signing posters, t-shirts, and old album covers. Offstage, he makes time to speak personally to every fan he encounters. A Limited Edition Greatest Hits Alive CD (available only on Springfield's official website, www.rickspringfield.com) was released in late 2000 with a regular version of the CD will be released in January, 2001. In December of 2000, Springfield accepted the lead role in EFX at the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas for which he is writing new music. A&E Biography has filmed an episode on Springfield which should be aired during the early part of 2001. Also, Rick has been working on a new CD with a late 2001 tentative release date. Tiffany L. Sanders