Congrats to our associate in Phoenix, Jaime Reynolds, who made a great placement in this video for a fantastic cause, it was played at a dinner of the New York Academy of Medicine and is online. Great Music by Timothy Drury & David Hoffman
“Going The Distance” Timothy Drury — Viramore Music BMI
“A Soft And Embered Face” David Hoffman — David Hoffman BMI
How did you feel when you heard your music in The Last Song?
TRACEY: It was unbelievable! This is true — about 10 years ago we were at Disneyland watching the Main Street Parade. The song “When You Wish Upon A Star” was played, and I said to Vance, “Wow! That would be so cool to have a song in a Disney movie someday. That’s my wish.” It really was a dream come true. (more…)
How did you feel when you heard your music in The Blindside?
It is always a blast to hear your music on TV or in a film, especially in a theater. The Blind Side was just starting it’s run, and had attracted some attention fairly quickly. The theater was full, and I didn’t know when the music would be in the film. Trying to find your music in a film can be a challenge. In this particular instance, the music is very much in the background, setting the atmosphere amongst the crowd noise of a football game. With surround sound, music can be coming from anywhere, so your ears really have to be listening. This placement was about 15 seconds, so it comes and goes quick. When you are in a theater and hear your music in the middle of a crowd, it is a very unique feeling. No one around you knows your wrote the music. It is surreal. When your credits go by, it is very thrilling as well. I did pick up the DVD recently, and found the music again. It’s great to start a collection of films and shows your music is in. Your reel can become very impressive quickly, especially when the movie does well. In this case, the film has won many awards, including an Oscar (making for a interesting experience watching the Oscars!). It has done very well in theaters and even overseas (royalties!), considering it is a very American style film. When the film gets on TV, it will likely be on multiple networks over time. I have had the experience of having songs on different channels on TV, at the same time. That is a true kick in the pants. (more…)
“My Oregon” features Reunion composed by Rebecca Oswald
“My Oregon,” directed by David Winston for the Oregon Cultural Trust.
The Kristin Mainhart and Khromozomes song “Chomping At The Bit” is featured in the Lifetime Television feature film “Flirting With Forty”, starring Heather Locklear, Robert Buckley and Vanessa Williams. The movie was rated as #1 on TV Guide’s TV Hot List. The movie drew in over 4 million viewers on its original air date, December 6, 2008, ranking it as one of Lifetime Television’s four most-watched movies in 2008. Based on the novel by Jane Porter. (more…)
Steve Porcaro
Steve Porcaro was born into a musical family, so it’s no surprise that he started piano lessons at the age of four. Throughout his school years he played in various bands with his brothers, Jeff and Mike. At age 17 Steve joined Gary Wright’s “Dreamweaver” tour and went on to tour with Boz Scaggs in support of Scaggs’ “Silk Degrees” album. The core of that band became the genesis of Toto, of which Steve was a founding member and contributing songwriter.
In 1982, Steve and Toto won Grammy Awards for Album, Producer and Record of the Year. After Toto, Steve continued to be one of the most sought-after keyboard session players in Los Angeles. While working with such artists as Michael Jackson, Don Henley, Barbra Streisand and Elton John, Steve was twice recognized by Keyboard Magazine as “Session Player of The Year.” During that time, Steve also co-wrote “Human Nature” for Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” album.
Steve worked with composer James Newton Howard on a number of scores, including The Fugitive, Outbreak, and Waterworld. Steve also composed the underscore to Paramount’s series The Sentinel and scored Caravan’s feature film Metro, directed by Thomas Carter.Steve’s other scoring work includes TNT’s original feature film Hope, directed by Goldie Hawn, and Phoenician Film’s feature film The Murder of Crows starring Cuba Gooding Jr., Tom Berringer & Eric Stoltz, and directed by Rowdy Harrington.
How has your record songwriting and producing influenced your work in film/tv?
For me, it’s the other way around. I find my pop stuff imbued with more of a film quality than ever before. Pop music is where I come from. And yes, sometimes for film, especially a romantic scene, my pop sensibility is going to affect the fabric of the score.
If you think about Toto’s music, our bridges, our orchestral elements had a filmic quality. We were trying to tell grander stories. It may have come off as pretentious to some. But in Toto, David (Paich) and I were huge fans of movie music, especially composers like Jerry Goldsmith and John Williams.
Tell us about your collaboration with James Newton Howard.
I wouldn’t have any kind of film/TV scoring career if it weren’t for James. He turned to me one day and said, “Do you want to do this?” Frankly, I didn’t know if I could. The best lesson he ever taught me — be the guy who solves problems.
Joel Evans wrote the music and Adryan Russ penned the lyrics to their song “Is It Me?,” which was recently placed by MusicSupervisor.com in the acclaimed film Doubt starring Meryl Streep and Phillip Seymour Hoffman. Joel’s San Francisco-based company Cinemasters has music placed in over 250 television episodes and over 60 films including Wedding Crashers. Cinemasters’ library of custom music spotlights swing, jazz and big band. Adryan conceived and wrote music and lyrics for Inside Out, an award-winning off-Broadway musical, co-written with playwright Doug Haverty. The show has played in New York and around the world. She also has had many covers including Barry White’s recording of her song, “The Better Love Is, the Worse It Is When It’s Over.”
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