1996 Animation Best Collection

Biography

Born to the union of Abraham and Ruby Wiebe in San Diego, Warren Wiebe was a child who soon discovered a great love of music. At the age of 14 he formed his first band, Mankind, while enrolled at San Diego's Crawford High School, a place that turned out an inordinate amount of talented performers, such as Nathan East, Carl Evans Jr, Hollis Gentry, and Kathy Najimy. Warren just loved to sing. He could do a perfect Stevie Wonder, Al Jarreau, James Brown, Paul Rodgers, or Garth Brooks. And all this...

Born to the union of Abraham and Ruby Wiebe in San Diego, Warren Wiebe was a child who soon discovered a great love of music. At the age of 14 he formed his first band, Mankind, while enrolled at San Diego's Crawford High School, a place that turned out an inordinate amount of talented performers, such as Nathan East, Carl Evans Jr, Hollis Gentry, and Kathy Najimy. Warren just loved to sing. He could do a perfect Stevie Wonder, Al Jarreau, James Brown, Paul Rodgers, or Garth Brooks. And all this without a single vocal lesson in his life. He never practiced or studied music. He had the uncanny ability to learn a song perfectly in one pass and then be ready to roll tape and lay it down.

Warren started his musical journey in San Diego doing trio gigs as a bass player with one of his best friends, Brian Price, and culminated his career in Los Angeles by singing with the best of the best, under the guidance of David Foster (taken in by Foster under his own wing.)

Quick Card:
Name: Warren R. Wiebe
Date of Birth: July 18th, 1953
Place of Birth: San Diego, California
Astrological signs: Cancer (Snake in Chinese horoscope)
Qualities: Professionalism and discipline
Favorite singer: Stevie Wonder
Favorite food: Tacos
Musical instrument: Bass

Over the years, he surrounded himself with all kinds of people, and he never lost sight that he considered himself in the group of the many, instead of the group of the few. Although he certainly belonged in the group of the few, he never acted it. He always remained down to earth and approachable. His ego was unique in that he never criticized any person or situation. In any given week, he could have been found performing in front of thousands with Celine Dion, recording with David Foster, and performing at a low-key unknown wedding in San Diego; but he never gave the impression that any one gig was better than another.

He touched many hearts with his ministry of music ...and he touched many hearts with his passing. Warren left us on October 25, 1998. A day that many of his best friends hated to think about, but also the day that they feared that would someday come to pass. In his own special way, he touched the lives of everyone. His talent was only surpassed by his caring, kindness, and generosity towards others. He always put his family, friends, and others before himself. He was and extraordinary human being and he always kept his considerable inner suffering to himself. His selflessness never waived. His plan in life was simple: To perform the very best he could, and that is just what he always did. God graced him with the kind of sweet humility we all should aspire to, and he gave him the most perfect singing voice that I think we’ll ever hear.
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