Omartian, Michael (26th November 1945-Present)

He is a keyboardist, singer-songwriter and producer born in Evanston, Illinois, who began playing the piano when he was four year old. By the time he was sixteen he was writing and arranging his own compositions and from the early 1970s he has worked regularly as a session musician.

In 1974 he also released his debut album as a solo artist, White Horse, which concentrated on the contemporary Christian music genre. His solo recordings carried on throughout the next two decades and at the same time he was making his name known as a producer.

In 1975 he became a co-founder of the group Rhythm Heritage who had a No. 1 with “Baretta’s Theme (Keep Your Eye on the Sparrow)” from the TV series S.W.A.T. and 1977 saw him as producer of Alan O’Day’s No. 1 hit “Undercover Angel”.

Also under this guise he was a co-producer of the successful chart-topping “We Are the World” with Quincy Jones and a 3-time Grammy Award Winner in 1981 for Christopher Cross’ self titled debut album.

To date he is one of the few producers that has worked on No. 1 chart hits over three decades consecutively.

As a songwriter his many works include “Boogie Down” by Al Jarreau, “Hollywood” by Boz Scaggs, “She Works Hard For the Money” by Donna Summer and “Unconditional Love” by Musical Youth & Donna Summer.�

Throughout the course of his career he has worked with countless acts as a producer, arranger or session musician and they include Alabama, Hoyt Axton, Burt Bacharach, Stephen Bishop, Clint Black, Colin Blunstone, Michael Bolton, Debby Boone, Peter Cetera, Michael Crawford, Dion, Randy Edelman, Yvonne Elliman, Donald Fagen, David Foster, The Four Tops, Kinky Friedman, Jerry Garcia, Dan Hill, Thelma Houston, Whitney Houston, The Imperials, Alan Jackson, Jermaine Jackson, The Jacksons, B.B. King, Nicolette Larson, Gordon Lightfoot, Kenny Loggins, Lulu, The Manhattan Transfer, Richard Marx, Reba McEntire, Barry McGuire, Maria Muldaur, Tony Orlando & Dawn, Dolly Parton, Player, The Righteous Brothers, LeAnn Rimes, Johnny Rivers, Smokey Robinson, Kenny Rogers, Jennifer Rush, Evie Sands, Earl Scruggs, Seals & Crofts, John Sebastian, Dusty Springfield, George Strait, Tavares, Jim Weatherley and Trisha Yearwood amongst many others.

The albums he has worked on in one guise or another are far too numerous to mention, but a few of them include his own Adam Again, Contemporary Mozart, Conversations and The Race, with his wife, the author Stormie Omartian, he has released The Builder, Mainstream, Seasons of the Soul and Together Live and with other artists he has either produced, arranged and/or performed on George Benson Collection by George Benson, Rhinestone Cowboy by Glen Campbell, Behind the Sun by Eric Clapton, Rock Solid by The Commodores, Another Page by Christopher Cross, Heartlight by Neil Diamond, Ultimate 5^th Dimension by The 5^th Dimension, Oasis by Robert Flack, Angel Clare by Art Garfunkel, Heart in Motion by Amy Grant, This Time by Al Jarreau, Piano Man by Billy Joel, Q: The Musical Biography of Quincy Jones by Quincy Jones, Knight Time by Gladys Knight & The Pips, Hundred Miles or More: A Collection by Alison Krauss, Sweet Salvation by Jim Krueger, Sittin’ In by Loggins & Messina, Summer of ’78 by Barry Manilow, Cliff at Christmas by Cliff Richard, Greatest Hits by Diana Ross & The Supremes, Endless Flight by Leo Sayer, Down Two Then Left by Boz Scaggs, Summer Breeze by Seals & Crofts, Pretzel Logic by Steely Dan, Camouflage by Rod Stewart, She Works Hard For the Moneyby Donna Summer, Come On Over by Shania Twain, Love, Pain & The Whole Crazy Thing by Keith Urban and Love at First Sight by Dionne Warwick.

Recognised for his contribution to music he has been nominated for a Grammy Award 10 times, with three wins.

He produces records from his studio in Nashville, Tennessee, and is also on the board of NARAS.

Sources:

Omartian, Michael (26th November 1945-Present)

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