What is Dennis DeYoung’s Net Worth?
Dennis DeYoung is a musician, singer, songwriter, and record producer with a net worth of $25 million. He co-founded the rock band Styx and served as their lead vocalist and keyboardist. DeYoung wrote more of Styx’s hit songs than any other member and penned seven of the eight singles that reached the top ten of the Billboard Hot 100, including “Lady” and “Babe.”
Besides his work with Styx, DeYoung has also had success as a solo artist.
Dennis DeYoung’s Early Music Career
Dennis DeYoung was born on February 18, 1947 in Chicago, Illinois to Loraine and Maurice. At the age of 15, he became an accordionist in Chicago and started his career in the music industry.
Dennis DeYoung’s Early Music Career
DeYoung began his music career as an accordionist and formed a trio called the Tradewinds with his 13-year-old neighbors John and Chuck Panozzo. The group later added guitarist Tom Nardin and was renamed TW4. In 1970, guitarist James Young joined the band. Prior to his success as a musician, DeYoung worked as a music teacher in Chicago’s District 143 and performed with TW4 at various schools and small venues.
Dennis DeYoung’s Career with Styx
In 1972, TW4 signed its first record contract and changed its name to Styx. DeYoung became the band’s lead vocalist, accordion player, and keyboardist, and also served as a songwriter and producer. The band released its self-titled debut album in 1972.
Starting with Styx’s breakthrough single, 1973’s “Lady,” DeYoung emerged as the driving creative force behind the majority of the band’s biggest hits. He went on to write and contribute lead vocals to seven of the band’s eight Billboard top-ten hits, including “Come Sail Away,” “Don’t Let it End,” “The Best of Times,” “Show Me the Way,” “Mr. Roboto,” and “Babe.”
The lattermost song, released in 1979 as the lead single of the album “Cornerstone,” stands as Styx’s only number-one hit on the Billboard Hot 100. On top of his renowned singing and songwriting skills with Styx, DeYoung was known for being a master keyboardist. He earned particular acclaim for his synthesizer solos using the Oberheim 4 voice synthesizer.
DeYoung released 15 albums with Styx during his tenure from 1972 to 1999. Among the most notable early releases were “Equinox,” “Crystal Ball,” and “The Grand Illusion,” the lattermost of which launched Styx to international fame.
Other prominent albums were “Pieces of Eight”; the Grammy-nominated “Cornerstone”; the concept album “Paradise Theatre,” which became Styx’s most commercially successful album after making it to number one on the Billboard 200; and another concept album, “Kilroy Was Here,” released in 1983.
When guitarist Tommy Shaw left the band in 1984, Styx was thrown into limbo. The band eventually reunited in 1990 and released the album “Edge of the Century.” Six years later, after the passing of John Panozzo, Styx embarked on its successful “Return to Paradise” tour, which resulted in an eponymous 1997 live album produced by DeYoung. In 1999, Styx released “Brave New World,” the final album featuring DeYoung.
DeYoung’s Solo Career
In 1984, during Styx’s hiatus, DeYoung launched his solo career with “Desert Moon,” which peaked at number 24 on the Billboard 200. The album produced two successful singles, “Desert Moon” and “Don’t Wait for Heroes.” DeYoung followed this up with the solo albums “Back to the World” and “Boomchild” in 1986 and 1989, respectively. The former featured the singles “Call Me” and “This is the Time.”
In 1994, DeYoung released “10 on Broadway,” a collection of Broadway standards. He then wrote the book and score for a stage musical adaptation of “The Hunchback of Notre Dame,” which premiered in Nashville in 1997. DeYoung didn’t release another solo album until 2007’s “One Hundred Years from Now.” He took another long break before releasing “26 East, Vol. 1” in 2020. The following year, he put out “26 East, Vol. 2,” which he has said will be his final album. The title is a reference to the address of DeYoung’s childhood home in Chicago.
Dennis DeYoung Sues Styx Band Mates Over Flu-Related Tour Departure
In 1998, Dennis DeYoung fell ill with a severe flu while recording with Styx. Despite requesting a six-month break to recover, the band chose to replace him with Lawrence Gowan for their upcoming tour. DeYoung was not compensated during the tour and subsequently sued his bandmates. The lawsuit was settled in 2001, two years after DeYoung officially left the band.
Career Endeavors of Dennis DeYoung
Aside from his music career, DeYoung also ventured into other fields such as acting and reality television. He played the role of Pontius Pilate in the 20th-anniversary revival tour of “Jesus Christ Superstar” and made his feature film debut in the romcom “The Perfect Man.” He also appeared on “Canadian Idol” and “Celebrity Duets.”
In 2010, DeYoung created a new band that focuses on playing Styx songs.
Family Life of Dennis DeYoung
Dennis DeYoung married his high school sweetheart Suzanne Feusi in 1970. Together, they have two children named Carrie Ann and Matthew.
Dennis DeYoung’s Boca Raton Waterfront Mansion
In 2016, Dennis DeYoung purchased a waterfront mansion in Boca Raton, Florida, for $1.1 million. The property is now up for sale and is listed at $2.8 million. The home is located in a prestigious, guarded gated community that features a 25,000 square foot community center complete with a gym, pool, tennis courts, restaurant, and spa.
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