Mike Melvoin was an American jazz pianist, composer, and arranger.
10 Facts About Mike Melvoin
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Mike Melvoin served as chairman and president of The Recording Academy and worked as a prolific studio musician, recording with Frank Sinatra, John Lennon, The Jackson 5, Natalie Cole, and The Beach Boys.
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Mike Melvoin was born in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, and began playing the piano at the age of three.
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Mike Melvoin studied English at Dartmouth College, where he was a member of Sigma Nu.
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Mike Melvoin released his debut album as a bandleader, Keys to Your Mind, in 1966 on Liberty Records.
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Mike Melvoin played in clubs in Los Angeles, and accompanied singer Bill Henderson and played with Herb Ellis and Plas Johnson on Concord Jazz releases.
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Mike Melvoin worked extensively as a studio musician and was part of The Wrecking Crew, performing on the Beach Boys' Pet Sounds, Frank Sinatra's That's Life, the Jackson 5's ABC, John Lennon's "Stand by Me", Tom Waits' Nighthawks at the Diner, and Barbra Streisand's "Evergreen ".
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Mike Melvoin worked in the early 1970s as a music director on The Partridge Family recordings, often playing keyboard, and began composing for film and television including contributing scores to Fame and MacGyver.
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Mike Melvoin was the first active musician to serve as the head of NARAS.
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Mike Melvoin died in Burbank, California, on February 22,2012, of cancer, at age 74.