culture

Wave

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Wave was a Canadian pop rock duo composed of Dave Thomson and Paul Gigliotti. They formed in 1999 in Niagara Falls, Ontario and are best known for their 2001 single, California, which reached number-one in Canada.

Dave Thomson and Paul Gigliotti were both born and raised in Niagara Falls, in 1979 and 1980 respectively. They were in their early 20s when they were signed by Warner Music Canada in 2000, and a year later they released their debut album, Nothing as It Seems, a collection of pop songs which reached Gold certification in Canada. They became stars with the radio single California, which quickly reached number-one on the Canadian pop charts.  Wave received a Juno Nomination for Best New Group and California received a nomination for Best Single. The group toured Canada twice, selling out arenas from coast to coast with their Nothing as it Seems tour in 2001 and State of Mind in 2002-2003. Their second album, State of Mind, sold a respectable 30,000 copies and gave them the top 20 hits, Think It Over and Don't Say Sarah. Top 40 hits included That's How It Feels and Sleepless.

Wave was awarded the Canadian Italian Business & Improvement Award by then Ontario Premier Mike Harris, the City of Niagara Falls Excellence in Arts and Creativity Award, and the Award for Outstanding Achievement in the Music and Entertainment Field from the City of Niagara Falls Arts & Culture Commission. 

The band Wave folded in 2003. Gigliotti remains in Niagara Falls as a busy producer/songwriter and member of The Madhatters. Thomson relocated to Nashville, where he writes for Sony/ATV Music Publishing.