Ernest Kohl, recording artist and multi-talented performer, has become a celebrated force within the music industry with an impressive body of international hits. With 17 consecutive “Top Ten” smash singles, six of which soared to the Number One position in Dance Music Authority (DMA), Billboard, Street Sound and Dance Music Report’s (DMR) Top Fifty charts, and Dance Radio charts, it’s no wonder Kohl received DMA’s “Best Male Vocalist” Award in 1990. In 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995 and 1996 he received nominations for “Song of The Year,” “Best Producer/Arranger” and “Best Live Performer” as well as “Best Male Vocalist.” In just a few short years, Ernest has also established himself as an accomplished producer, musical arranger, writer, choreographer, and chairman of his own independent production company.
His crowd-thrilling performances have made his concerts a favorite in major venues throughout the world. Ernest’s boundless energy has earned him the reputation as being one of the hardest working and most exciting live performers in the recording industry. New York City Music Critic Zecca recently praised Kohl as “…showing us all why he won the “Best Male Vocalist” Award…his extraordinary voice, looks, and performance coupled with complex choreography left the others in the “dust.”
Ernest has been singing, dancing, and acting professionally since childhood. His formal training began at The American Musical and Dramatic Academy in New York City. A protégé of famed vocal teacher Katie Agresta, Ernest credits her for helping him develop his critically acclaimed vocal talents. He has studied dance with the American Ballet Theater and the respected choreographer’s Chuck Kelly and Drew Packolyk. Kohl’s interest in contemporary dance then led him to a successful collaboration with choreographer A.C. Ciulla (choreographer of Broadway’s dance music sensation “Footloose” and a former member of the Grammy-nominated C&C Music Factory). This creative alliance has produced a new, even more, energetic dimension to Kohl’s live “The Explosive Tour, The Tornado Tour” his production “The Importance Tour/Tour De Importance”, and his last production “The Make You Weak Tour” as well as his video performances. Ernest now even delves deeper into his passion for contemporary dance, teaming with some of New York City’s hottest new choreographers, launching into Ernest’s newest Concert and Media endeavor ” THE ERNEST KOHL “HITS!” TOUR”/”ERNEST KOHL LIVE.”
In addition to his respected recorded catalog, Ernest Kohl’s media appeal is igniting worldwide. Released via video format, Ernest has six highly-rated chartbusters currently in distribution: “Don’t You Want My Love?/Stomp”, “Follow Your Heart,” “Our Love Is Here To Stay” and “Sooner or Later” (the original version). Ernest also released “Sooner or Later ’96”, a brand new production of his previous smash hit which enjoyed renewed popularity on radio and club play, and the video smash “Don’t Let Me Down Again” on ZYX Records. Ernest’s last video hit was the worldwide smash “Only You” which received audience raves, as well as critical praise for its enthralling new combination of music and visuals that showcase the magnetic imagery of Ernest Kohl.
Ernest has managed to bridge the gap between touring dates and his own production chores. Recently, his production, arranging, and writing talents have contributed to the worldwide successes of such artists as: Phoebe Snow, Cappella, Jeanie Tracy, Linda Imperial, Vicki Shepard, and most recently, Ms. Pepper MaShay.
The acting credits of Ernest Kohl are as varied as the vehicles in which he’s appeared. His stage work has included roles in musicals such as “Cabaret,” “Carousel”, “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat,” and “The Rocky Horror Show.” His film debut as a pimp in Euro-London Film’s “Night People” is a stark contrast to his portrayal of Anthony Brent, a radical college student in Warner Bros.’ “The World According to Garp.”
Ernest has enjoyed a successful modeling career that has landed him in the pages of GQ, Vogue, and Newsweek. Currently working with consummate photographer Jack Pedota (“Batman Returns”), Kohl is featured as the Smalto Man in Smalto Cologne’s “You Make Me Weak” advertising campaign.
Ernest’s critically applauded full-length studio album/CD “The Importance of Being” produced the import-hit singles “This is the Moment” and “Moment to Moment” (Overture to Ernest)”, “Live It Up” and the massive smash single and video hit “Only You”, that has already taken the world by storm. “The Importance of Being” album/CD was produced by Ernest Kohl along with legendary producers Tom Moulton (Grace Jones, The Trammps, Gloria Gaynor,) Steve Skinner (arranger of Bette Midler’s Grammy Award-winning “From A Distance,” producer/arranger of “To Deserve You,” and co-producer/musical arranger of the Pulitzer Prize-winning, Grammy-nominated musical and original cast recording “Rent” which won four Tony Awards, including “Best Musical”), Eric Beall (Martha Wash), David Freiberg (Jefferson Starship). In addition to the album “The Importance of Being,” Mr. Kohl has also released the first two of a series in his anthology collections entitled “The Portrait of Ernest Kohl – Vol. I. and Vol. II.”
Ernest’s recent number one release entitled, “You Make Me Weak” (The Remixes) is available on Wide Angle/EMG Records. The original version of “You Make Me Weak” appears on Ernest’s “The Importance of Being” album. This new release is a CD maxi-single with a dazzling array of turbocharged remixes that are destined to make this a major crossover hit for radio and clubs. Also featured on this new maxi-single is a special new holiday song “Happy New Year! with a special guest cameo appearance by diva du jour, Ms. Pepper MaShay, “Happy New Year!” is so catchy it’s bound to become a holiday classic, and sure to make you ring out the old and bang in the new!! “Happy New Year!” is also featured on the special benefit album/CD “Carols Across America”, a CD benefiting Aids and Women’s Breast Cancer. Mr. Kohl is proud and honored to be a part of this great project.
ERNEST KOHL’S last number one smash release entitled “ALL I KNOW”, a cover of the Jimmy Webb evergreen, originally recorded by Art Garfunkel in 1973. Ernest’s new update took him on a quest to England to get the “NEW” sound he wanted to create. This is a sizzling hot new update of the song, pioneering the genre of progressive crossover dance. Ernest’s new “ALL I KNOW” features an array of intense and slamming mixes by Mike Coppock and Tony Spalding, Julian Marsh, Stephen l. Freeman, and Robert Oleysyck. The reviews were nothing short of sensational. It topped many prime DJs’ charts and record pool charts, two weeks before its retail release!
Now Ernest has introduced a new take on one of his previous hits,”Only You” this time completely updating it into a scorching progressive trance/pop crossover masterpiece entitled “ONLY YOU 2005″(available on CD maxi -single and vinyl) which also features an enticing video. This new interruption of the classic is the follow-up to Ernest Kohl’s back-to-back number one smash hit “ALL I KNOW” and “YOU MAKE ME WEAK” from his new album/CD ERNEST KOHL “HITS!”.
ERNEST KOHL’S new album/CD “HITS!” is a brand new collection of his smash hits from his enormous catalog over the past three decades. This is a special collection celebrating his 20th year in the music industry, in which each year he has scored a “Top Ten” record every year somewhere on the globe since 1985. The new album/CD also contains some special new remixes of his classic hits! Slated for release early 2005 on Waako/ REDdance/ Benz Street/ ZYX/ EMG MUSIC.
Ernest is currently performing his new 2005/2006 World Wide “The ERNEST KOHL “HITS!” TOUR”,/”ERNEST KOHL LIVE” playing to sell-out crowds and receiving rave reviews along with dividing his time doing press and media promotion for the new single and his new album/CD. The new musical direction of Ernest Kohl promises to mark his arrival as pop music’s leading man.
