Guitarist from Cleveland, Ohio, who began playing at nine years of age and studied with William Fowler, Howard Roberts and Johnny Smith. Roberts encouraged him to move to Los Angeles, which he did in 1974. He hooked up with Louie Belson and started networking with other music professionals. By the mid-seventies, he was so busy in the recording studios, he had no time left for live performing.
Here is but a sampling of his discography: As Time Goes By, By Request, 40/40, From the Top, Lovelines, Made in America, Reflections, Voice of the Heart and Yesterday Once More by the Carpenters; Beyond and Rise by Herb Alpert; Black & White, So Excited! and Special Things by the Pointer Sisters; Can’t Slow Down, Dancing on the Ceiling and Louder Than Words by Lionel Richie; Children of the World by Stan Getz; Christmas Fantasy by Anita Baker; Emperors of Soulby the Temptations; House of Love by Candi Staton; Let’s Get Serious by Jermaine Jackson; A Merry Little Christmas by Linda Ronstadt; More Than You Know by Toni Tennille; Near Perfectby Martin Mull; No One Home by Lalo Schifrin; Redeye by Michael Melvoin; Rescue Me by Tom Jones; Rising Sun… Plus by Alan Price; Sometimes Late at Night by Carole Bayer Sager; Still on the Road and White Christmas by Rosemary Clooney; That’s What Friends Are For by Johnny Mathis & Deniece Williams; To Love Again by Diana Ross; The Wanderer by Donna Summer; and, We’ve Got Tonight by Kenny Rogers.
Soundtracks on which he appears include Back to the Future, Bringing Down the House, Brother Bear, Cat People, The Cincinnati Kid, The Dead Pool, Eight Crazy Nights, For the Love of the Game, Grease, Just Between Friends, Life, The Long Walk Home, Monte Carlo, Stripes, Throw Momma from the Train, and White Palace.
On the small screen, his guitar stylings have been heard on American Idol, Family Guy, Friends, King of the Hill, Lonesome Dove, and The Simpsons.
In 1998, he released his solo debut, One Piece of the Big Picture. This was followed by Trio in 2004.
Johnny Mathis & Deniece Williams recordings
Emotion (Barry Gibb/Robin Gibb)
S CBS 6164B (UK 45)
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