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Steve Rawlins is an American musician, composer, arranger, musical director, and author. He has arranged music for a wide range of recording artists, including Smokey Robinson, Bette Midler, Chaka Khan, Anna Danes,[1] and Lainie Kazan. He produced the single Angelito (Angel Baby), recorded by Isela Sotelo on Motown Latino Records, which charted on Latin Billboard's Hot 100 in 1982.[2]
Steve Rawlins | |
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 Rawlins in Recording Studio, 2015 | |
| Born | Steven Jeffrey Rawitz September 5, 1954[citation needed] Mineola, New York, U.S.[citation needed] |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 1972–present |
| Spouses | Michele Delon
(m. 1993; div. 1994)Isela Sotelo
(m. 1978; div. 1989) |
| Children | 2 |
| Musical career | |
| Genres | |
| Instrument |
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| Labels |
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| Website | steverawlins |
He has arranged music for the Academy Awards and Emmy Award ceremonies, and for multiple television shows, including The Crazy Ones, 24, and Jeopardy!. Rawlins has performed throughout the U.S. and internationally including Carnegie Hall and the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and served as music director for such artists as John O'Hurley,[3] Lainie Kazan, Steve March-Tormé, Anna Danes,[4] Shea Arender,[5] and The Wonderful Wizard of Song-The Music of Harold Arlen.[6]
Early life
editSteve Rawlins (born September 5, 1954) was born in Mineola, New York to parents Gloria (née Gluck) and Herbert Rawitz. His father was an aerospace engineer that worked on NASA's Project Gemini. Rawlins is the second born of three siblings. He began taking piano lessons at six years old and began playing the trumpet at nine years old and played both instruments consistently throughout his childhood.
He and his family relocated to Los Angeles, California in 1965 when Rawlins was eleven years old. His parents frequented live CBS variety television show tapings as a part of the audience and sat next to the orchestra which influenced Rawlins in choosing a career as a professional musician. He attended University High School (Los Angeles) where the school's big band singer was Lorna Luft (daughter of Judy Garland) and Rawlins wrote some of his earliest arrangements for her to sing. His music teacher John Magruder, (who played baritone saxophone with Don Ellis) mentored him in music arranging and career direction. He graduated high school in 1972.
While attending CSUN, (California State University at Northridge) Rawlins saw a notice on a bulletin board that composer/arranger Sammy Nestico was teaching a big band and was looking for musicians at nearby Pierce College. Rawlins joined the band for the next two years learning much from Nestico in advanced composition and orchestration techniques.
Career
editIn 1974 Rawlins played keyboards with a top 40 band touring throughout Western Canada. Upon returning to Los Angeles in 1975 he began writing music for The Merv Griffin Show and was offered a position as a staff arranger and music librarian. Griffin's featured trumpet player, Jack Sheldon, introduced Rawlins to Benny Goodman to write arrangements that were featured in his 40th Anniversary Concert at Carnegie Hall.
In 1979, Rawlins was hired by John Davidson (entertainer) as an arranger at his John Davidson's Singer's Summer Camp (JDSSC) on Catalina Island then hired him to write for his show in Las Vegas and Rawlins went on to compose and arrange music for his The John Davidson Show, which aired for two years.
He continued to freelance as a musician, composer and arranger for various commercials, TV shows, and recording projects.
Isela Sotelo - Angelito (Angel Baby) - Motown Latino Records
editRawlins produced and arranged Isela Sotelo's radio charting single, Angelito (Angel Baby) released on Motown Latino Records which was earned a spot on the Billboard Hot 100 Latin music charts in 1982.[7][8]
Step Right Up
editBefore the release of his album Step Right Up (released on Sea Breeze Records) in 1985, Rawitz decided to legally change his last name to Rawlins for the sake of easier pronunciation and spelling.[9] The song, Laguna was played on radio stations throughout the U.S. and was in regular rotation on KTWV (94.7 The Wave) in Los Angeles in 1985.
Steve March-Tormé
editRawlins began working with Steve March-Tormé in 1996 as an arranger, composer, and pianist and continues to work with him. Rawlins co-wrote the title track, Swingin' at the Blue Moon Bar & Grille as well as arranged Straighten Up and Fly Right which March-Tormé recorded as a duet with his father, Mel Tormé.[10]
Discography
edit| Year | Album | Artist | Credit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | The King Symphonic | Shea Arender/Las Vegas Symphony Orchestra | Arranger, Conductor |
| The Romantic | Michael Tinholme | Arranger | |
| Lady Stardust | Michael Tinholme | Arranger | |
| August Afternoon | Claude Hall | Arranger, Piano | |
| 2017 | Blue Smoke | Mary Bogue | Producer, Composer, Arranger, Piano |
| One Night Of Sin | Mary Bogue | Producer, Arranger | |
| The Moonlight Sessions | Lyn Stanley | Arranger | |
| 2016 | Once Upon a Time | Winston Byrd | Piano |
| 2015 | Interludes | Lyn Stanley | Arranger |
| From The Start | Alistair Tober | Composer | |
| 2014 | Potions | Lyn Stanley | Arranger |
| 2013 | Lost in Romance | Lyn Stanley | Producer, Arranger |
| 2012 | Don't Go To Strangers | Mary Bogue | Producer, Arranger, Piano |
| That Old Feeling | Patrisha Thomson | Producer, Arranger, Piano | |
| 2011 | Kiss of Brazil | Bianca Rossini | Composer, Keyboards |
| 2009 | Inside Out | Steve March Tormé | Arranger, Piano |
| 2008 | Last Call | Al Timss | Arranger, Piano |
| 2007 | So Far | Steve March Tormé | Producer, Composer, Arranger, Piano |
| 2006 | Standard Scotch | Scotch Ellis Loring | Piano |
| 2005 | Benzali | Daniel Benzali | Arranger, Piano |
| 2003 | A Night For Romance | George Bugatti | Arranger, Piano |
| The Essence of Love | Steve March Tormé | Producer, Composer, Arranger, Piano | |
| 2001 | Sunday Drive | Robert Kaufman | Producer, Composer, Arranger, Keyboards |
| Queen of the Night | Ella Leya | Keyboards | |
| 2000 | Buy Me A Martini | Sara Laporte | Producer, Composer, Arranger, Piano |
| Live On the Strip | George Bugatti | Arranger | |
| The Night I Fell For You | Steve March Tormé | Producer, Composer, Arranger, Piano | |
| 1999 | Swingin’ At The Blue Moon Bar and Grille | Steve March Tormé | Producer, Composer, Arranger |
| 1998 | Oh, What a Night For Love | George Bugatti | Arranger, Piano |
| Hot Harmonica | Danny Welton | Arranger | |
| 1997 | Summer in San Francisco | Danny Welton | Arranger |
| 1992 | Bruce Eskovitz | Bruce Eskovitz | Trumpet |
| Time Will Tell | Grant Geissman | Composer | |
| 1991 | Flying Colors | Grant Geissman | Composer |
| 1988 | Three Gals, Three Guitars | The Del Rubio Triplets | Trumpet |
| 1986 | Musica Ranchera and Rock and Roll | Isela Sotelo | Producer, Composer, Arranger, Piano, Trumpet |
| 1985 | Step Right Up | Steve Rawlins | Producer, Composer, Arranger, Trumpet |
| 1983 | Flip Wilson | Flip Wilson | Arranger, Trumpet |
| 1982 | Angel Baby (Angelito) | Isela Sotelo | Producer, Arranger, Piano |
| 1978 | 40th Anniversary Concert (Live at Carnegie Hall) | Benny Goodman | Arranger |
| 1977 | Come Softly | Brenton Wood | Trumpet |
Film and television
edit| Year | Film/TV | Credit | Studio/Production Company |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | The Crazy Ones | Arranger | CBS |
| 2012 | Carol Channing: Larger than Life | Arranger | Dramatic Forces |
| 2010 | Arrested Development | Piano | Fox |
| 2009 | 24 (TV Series) | Arranger, Piano | Fox Television |
| 2000 | Star Trek Voyager | On-Camera Musician, Piano Coach | Paramount |
| 1998 | All Dogs Go to Heaven: The Series | Arranger | MGM Television |
| 1997 | Family Matters | On-Camera Musician | CBS |
| 1996 | Phil Hartman NewsRadio | Arranger | NBC |
| 1993 | Jeopardy! College Championship | Arranger | King World Productions |
| 1992 | Class of the 20th Century | Arranger | A & E |
| 1991 | World War II- A Personal Journey | Arranger | Disney Channel |
| 1988 | "Viva" | Composer, Arranger | Syndicated Talk Show Theme |
| 1987 | This Is Your Life | Arranger | Ralph Edwards Productions |
| 1983 | Post | Composer, Arranger | Newsweek Television |
| Superbowl | Trumpet, Arranger | NBC | |
| 1982 | Yes, Georgio | On-Camera Musician | MGM |
| My Favorite Year | On-Camera Musician | MGM | |
| 1980-1982 | The John Davidson Show | Composer, Arranger | Syndicated |
| 1979 | Real Life | On-Camera Musician | Paramount |
| Los Angeles Film Critic's Awards | Music Director, Arranger | Metromedia | |
| 1978 | Charlies Angels | Trumpet | ABC/Aaron Spelling Productions |
| 1975-1978 | The Merv Griffin Show | Staff Music Arranger, Music Librarian | Syndicated |
| 1971 | Pretty Maids All in a Row | On-Camera Musician | MGM |
Author
editIn 1995 while attending the NAMM Show Rawlins met John Haag, who was the president of Creative Concepts Publishing. Haag published Rawlins' How To Get Real With A Fake Book[12] Shortly thereafter Hal Leonard LLC bought out Creative Concepts Publishing and hired Haag as a consultant who oversaw the rest of Rawlins' Hal Leonard releases.[13][14]
| Year | Book | Topic | Publisher | Credit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | $2,000 Singers Resource Book | 69 Custom Arrangements For Female Singers | Hal Leonard | Author |
| 2006 | Ready Tonight - Volume 1 | Performance-Ready Female Vocals in Original Keys | Hal Leonard | Author |
| Ready Tonight - Volume 2 | Performance-Ready Female Vocals in Original Keys | Hal Leonard | Author | |
| Entertaining Easy Classics Volume 1 (Book/CD) | Easy Piano With Chord Symbols | Hal Leonard | Author | |
| Entertaining Easy Classics Volume 2 | Easy Piano With Chord Symbols | Hal Leonard | Author | |
| 2004 | Pro Charts in Original Keys: Volume 2 | For Female Singers | Hal Leonard | Author |
| Pro Charts in Original Keys: Volume 1 | For Female Singers | Hal Leonard | Author | |
| 2003 | Jazz Tracks for Singers | Men's Edition: Book/Audio with Jazz Trio Tracks [15] | Hal Leonard | Author |
| Jazz Tracks for Singers | Women's Edition: Book/Audio with Jazz Trio Tracks | Hal Leonard | Author | |
| Jazz Ballads for Singers | Men's Edition: 15 Classic Standards in Custom Vocal Arrangements | Hal Leonard | Author | |
| Jazz Ballads for Singers | Women's Edition: 15 Classic Standards in Custom Vocal Arrangements | Hal Leonard | Author | |
| 2002 | The Singer's Book of Jazz Standards | Women's Edition (Vocal Collection) | Hal Leonard | Author |
| The Singer's Book of Jazz Standards | Men's Edition (Vocal Collection) | Hal Leonard | Author | |
| 2001 | 21 Bebop Exercises | For Vocalists and Instrumentalists | Hal Leonard | Author |
| 1996 | How to Get Real with a Fake Book:A Guide for the Piano Arranger | A Guide for the Piano Arranger | Hal Leonard | Author |
References
edit- ^ "Anna Danes, Steve Rawlins, Lucie Hill host Ilona Europa interviewed singer songwriter Anna Danes and her music director, composer, arranger Steve Rawlins".
- ^ "Global Voice - Before He Was Old Enough To Drink, STEVE RAWLINS was working with MORT LINDSEY - Cabarabia Podcast - Published on Nov 18, 2014". YouTube.
- ^ "Broadway World - Photo Coverage: John O'Hurley Plays Cafe Carlyle by Stephen Sorokoff Mar. 30, 2017".
- ^ "KPBS Radio - An Evening With Anna Danes - Music Director Steve Rawlins".
- ^ "Las Vegas Symphony - The King Symphonic - Steve Rawlins - Arranger, Conductor".
- ^ "Wonderful Wizard of Song - The Music of Harold Arlen - Music Director Steve Rawlins - December 1, 2018". 15 December 2023.
- ^ "American Radio History - Billboard Magazine - Latin Radio charts - Isela Sotelo - 7/10/1882" (PDF).
- ^ "Discogs - Angelito - Isela Sotelo - 1982". Discogs.
- ^ "All Music - Step Up - Steve Rawlins". AllMusic.
- ^ "New Haven Register - Steve March-Tormé may not make you think of his dad, but he sure can sing - musical director and piano player, Steve Rawlins - November 2, 2013". 2 November 2013.
- ^ "IMDB - Steve Rawlins". IMDb.
- ^ "Barnes and Noble - How To Get Real With A Fake Book - Steve Rawlins".
- ^ "Sheet Music Plus - Steve Rawlins Arrangements".
- ^ Amazon - 21 Bebop Exercises for Vocalists - Steve Rawlins. ISBN 0634033905.
- ^ "Hal Leonard Publishing - Steve Rawlins - Jazz Tracks for Singers – Men's Edition - Book/Audio with Jazz Trio Tracks".