Rubini, Michel (3 December 1942-Present)

Composer and multi-instrumentalist from Los Angeles, California, who started out on piano at three years of age. One of his first “gigs” was accompanying his father, violinist Jan Rubini.

In spite of his classical training, Michel was drawn to rock and roll. He toured with Loggins & Messina and Seals & Crofts, as well as recording with a host of other artists and groups.

His composing acumen garnered the interest of Hollywood directors and he soon became a double threat as a composer and player of many instruments.

A good example of this was 1976’s Diggin’ It, an album he co-wrote and recorded with Don Dunn, on which he played clavinet, electric piano, harpsichord, organ, piano, and synthesizer.

They were joined by singer Chuck Smith on their next album, 1978’s Round One, on which they billed themselves as Friendly Enemies.

In the 1980s, Michel was busy on the small screen, performing in the house band on Face the Music and Name That Tune, and scoring TV shows such as Capitol, The Hitchhiker, and Tales from the Crypt.

His solo album in 1988, Secret Dreams, was somewhat experimental, as all of the material was completely improvised.

This was succeeded by Band is Tight Tonight in the ‘90s.

He even scored an audio book in 1992, Merlin & the Dragons by Jane Yolen, which was narrated by Kevin Kline.

Other recordings on which he appears include Bad by Michael Jackson, Closeup by Frankie Valli, Foxy Lady by Cher, I Believe: The Gospel Masters by Elvis Presley, Look at Us by Sonny & Cher, Strangers in the Night by Frank Sinatra, That’s What Friends Are For by Johnny Mathis & Deniece Williams, and Too by Carole Bayer Sager.

His filmography is a mixed bag of films he either scored or performed on, or in some cases, both. It includes Abducted, Band of the Hand (on which he played shakuhachi), Head, Hollywood Homicide, The Hunger, Indecent Behavior II, Manhunter, Nemesis, The New Kids, Panic, Racquet, and What Waits Below.

Johnny Mathis & Deniece Williams recordings
Emotion (Barry Gibb/Robin Gibb)
S CBS 6164B (UK 45)

Sources:

Rubini, Michel (3 December 1942-Present)

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