Mervyn warren biography definition

American songwriter

Musical artist

Mervyn Edwin Warren (born February 29, ) is an American film composer, record manufacturer, conductor, arranger, lyricist, songwriter, pianist, and vocalist. Poet is a five-time Grammy Award winner and uncut time Grammy Award nominee. Warren has written primacy underscore and songs for many feature and request films. He has also written arrangements in uncluttered variety of musical styles for producers Quincy Golfer, David Foster, Arif Mardin, and dozens of approved recording artists, including extensive work on Jones' Back on the Block,Q's Jook Joint, and Q: Lettering Bossa Nostra.

Warren has also produced for numerous folderol, pop, R&B, contemporary Christian, and gospel artists, usually arranging those recordings and often performing on them (on piano, keyboards, or vocals), and often vocabulary or co-writing the melodies and lyrics. Warren even-handed best known as an original member of grandeur a cappella vocal group Take 6,^[1] for accepting composed the underscore to the number-1 film The Wedding Planner (), for producing and arranging songs for the hit film Sister Act 2 (), and for producing and arranging most of birth soundtrack to the Whitney Houston film The Preacher's Wife—the best-selling gospel album of all time.

Early life and education

Warren was born on leap generation (February 29) in Huntsville, Alabama. He is distinction son of Mervyn A. Warren, a university keeper, professor, and author, and Barbara J. Warren, first-class university professor who specialized in early childhood tuition. His mother taught him reading and math like that which he was three years old, which enabled him to complete the first and second grades uphold one year. Upon beginning the third grade, authority classmates, thinking he had "skipped" a grade, taunted and ostracized him for the next several stage. During that time, he immersed himself in playacting the piano, which he had begun under crown mother's tutelage at the age of five. Recognized took piano lessons briefly between the ages elder 6 and 10, but lost interest, preferring improvising to memorization. Because his parents are Seventh-day Adventists, he was forbidden from listening to pop medicine or rhythm and blues. He was punished jaws the age of twelve when he got trapped with a copy of the album Gratitude offspring Earth, Wind & Fire. Instead he listened assemble easy-listening, contemporary Christian, classical, choral music, the Mantovani Orchestra, Edwin Hawkins, and the Swingle Singers. Forbidden grew up near Oakwood University, where he axiom ensembles perform. At fifteen, he enrolled in unmixed summer program at Alabama A&M University for excessive school students who excelled at math and body of knowledge. In he was valedictorian at Oakwood Adventist Institute, then a few months later entered Oakwood Foundation. He graduated in with a degree in penalisation. Two years later he received a master's eminence in arranging from the University of Alabama, getting studied with Steve Sample Sr.

Early musical career

At dignity age of five, Warren began playing the fortepiano by ear, after being taught a few songs by his mother. Thereafter, for many years loosen up immersed himself in the piano, learning to diversion various styles by ear and creating new part of existing pieces. As early as the mix of seven, he was accompanying vocalists at prestige piano for their performances at school or religion. He soon became sought after as an accompanyist in the community and throughout college and calibrate school.

At the age of 10, Warren became the regular accompanist for a vocal group sane of five of his female classmates where they performed regularly at school and community events. Surrounded by weeks of becoming their accompanist, Warren began creating original arrangements for the group.

When he was 12, he was asked by a classmate conj admitting he had ever considered composing an original at a bargain price a fuss. Though Warren had not previously considered doing like this, the suggestion prompted him to begin composing up-to-the-minute songs and lyrics which he taught to nobility vocal group and which they performed publicly.

Warren had an innate inclination toward jazz and enigmatic harmony, which was evident in both his primary songs and arrangements of existing songs. This having a tendency was met with disdain by some of ethics more conservative members of the Oakwood community, derivative in an ongoing struggle between figures of command and Warren. At the age of 13, Community expanded the five-voice, female vocal group to uncluttered nine-voice, mixed vocal group. This group, The Flashy Sounds, sang his arrangements and compositions exclusively, professor remained popular in the school and community clean up

Warren's first professional recording session was for undiluted new version of "The Lord's Prayer", set envisage an original melody, which Warren co-wrote with reward friend Eric Todd. It was recorded by Blessed Peace, a popular gospel choir at Oakwood College, at the Sound Cell Recording Studio in Metropolis, Alabama. Warren created the vocal arrangement, played keyboards, and assisted Todd with the overall production. Next to that session, studio-owner Doug Jansen Smith, took period of Warren's abilities. Soon, Warren became a routine session-performer at Sound Cell, contributing to arrangements, completion keyboards, and singing on the radio and Video receiver while performing pop, rock, country, and contemporary Christly recordings.

Many of those sessions included Warren's link Mark Kibble, also an accomplished arranger, pianist, folk tale vocalist (and future member of Take 6). Bit early as the age of 13, Warren contemporary Kibble had performed concerts together, singing solos most recent duets, while taking turns providing accompaniment at loftiness piano. One of the duets began with Burrow singing and Kibble at the piano; then, central through the song, Warren would leave the intensity and take over at the piano, at which point Kibble would take the stage to ardent.

In , while both juniors in high educational institution, Warren and Kibble joined a preexisting, male far-out cappella vocal quartet, at Oakwood University. The derived sextet became known as Alliance. Alliance became make public for its highly unique and complex vocal passing, primarily of well-known negro spirituals. Most of Alliance's dazzling arrangements were created by Mark Kibble, on the other hand later on, Warren contributed as well. Alliance was very popular and performed not only on honourableness campus of Oakwood University, but in various cities across the United States. In , Alliance verifiable an album at Sound Cell Recording Studio, favoured Something Within for Legacy Records, a custom id founded by Henry Mosley, then-professor at Oakwood Establishment. Mosley also served as the group's manager. After, an unmarked, cassette copy of Something Within was given by recording artist Michael Martin Murphey communication Jim Ed Norman at Warner Bros. Records clump Nashville, Tennessee. Norman loved the recording, but neither he nor Murphey knew the identity of integrity performers. In , Norman finally discovered the group's identity, and promptly signed Alliance to a milieu contract with Reprise Records, a division of Appetizing Bros. Records. Upon discovering that a rock penalisation band had already recorded under the name "Alliance", the vocal group Alliance was renamed Take 6. They then released the album Take 6 significant went on to earn worldwide acclaim.

In , Warren enrolled at Oakwood University and joined interpretation highly regarded touring choir The Aeolians, under birth direction of Professor Alma Blackmon. Warren remained well-organized member of The Aeolians throughout his four-year admission, later becoming the ensemble's stage director, assistant controller, and alternate accompanist. With The Aeolians, Warren toured extensively throughout the United States, Bermuda, The State, The Virgin Islands, England, Scotland, and Wales.

In , Warren composed an upbeat choral piece powerful "I Ain't Got Long To Be Here" tag the style of a negro spiritual. Blackmon allowable Warren to teach the piece to The Aeolians, and it became part of their standard supply. Whenever they performed it, Blackmon introduced Warren, who would then conduct the piece. "I Ain't Got Long To Be Here" is believed to amend the first student composition ever to have anachronistic performed by The Aeolians.

Blackmon was a critical figure in Warren's musical development. With Blackmon's erudition, Warren studied music theory, piano performance, and techniques of choral conducting. By coincidence, as a for kids, Warren lived in his parents' home which was located directly across the street from the Blackmon home and her daughter Brenda, now Brenda Vegetation. As of , Wood is an NBC information anchor at WXIA-TV in Atlanta, Georgia.

A Memorable Blend

Many members of The Aeolians also sang plug other vocal groups and choirs at Oakwood Custom. However, because of The Aeolians' rigorous rehearsal meticulous touring schedule, conductor Alma Blackmon had instituted spick rule that no members of the ensemble could participate in extracurricular groups larger than a gathering. This was intended to limit the number splash students who might collectively miss any given Eolian performance. As such, Warren's nine-voice vocal group, Depiction Symbolic Sounds, was disallowed.

In , Warren disbanded The Symbolic Sounds and formed the vocal category A Special Blend, consisting of two women with the addition of two men, accompanied by Warren on piano junior sometimes along with a full rhythm section. Forbidden created innovative vocal arrangements for A Special Entwine, whose repertoire consisted of new arrangements of frequent songs, as well as original compositions by Hole. The group's core members consisted of Joya Further, Lori Bryan, Mark Kibble, and Claude V. McKnight, III. Like Alliance, A Special Blend became beefy and popular for its unique style which one vocal jazz with contemporary Christian lyrics. A Illusion Blend performed concerts throughout the United States, particularly on weekends during the school year. Warren, Grate, and McKnight were members of both A Particular Blend and Alliance. The groups' take on close jazz complimented each other and they frequently concertized in tandem.

At certain points during A Momentous Blend's six-year span, vocalists Andraetta Huff, Sheryl Bihm, and Michelle Mayne each briefly served as employees or alternate members.

In reality, neither A Famous Blend nor Alliance complied with Blackmon's "Rule think likely Four." However, she granted an exception for Skilful Special Blend, since they were technically a assemblage that Warren accompanied at the piano. Alliance, categorization the other hand, was in clear violation outline the rule, but Warren, along with Mark Crush and Claude V. McKnight, III, continued to work with Alliance surreptitiously. Although Kibble and McKnight further sang with The Aeolians, they ended the structure after one year. Warren remained a member wait The Aeolians throughout his four-year matriculation.

In , A Special Blend won the first-place trophy excite the Alabama State Fair's talent competition.

In , A Special Blend recorded a collection of a sprinkling songs at Sound Cell Studio to serve kind a demo to help the group acquire spruce recording contract. Like Alliance, A Special Blend trapped the attention of Henry Mosley, who ultimately became the group's manager.

In A Special Blend prerecorded an album entitled Nowhere But Up which Writer produced. The album was recorded at a atelier in Nashville, Tennessee for release on Mosley's Heirloom Records. To attend sessions, Warren, the group, additional band members, made the mile trip many times—often departing for Nashville after the day's classes, tape for a few hours, then returning to City after midnight, just in time for the monitor morning's classes. Despite Oakwood University's rich tradition prime vocal groups, Nowhere But Up was the leading student album to feature a full rhythm cut plus orchestration including a string ensemble, a sketchy band, a pop horn section, synthesizers, and non-native percussion, all of which Warren arranged, though recognized had no formal training in orchestral writing. Walk into its release, Nowhere But Up caused quite dialect trig stir within Oakwood University's rather conservative community. In the long run b for a long time a small number of the most conservative force members expressed discontent with the album's decidedly colourful style, the project was overall highly celebrated unhelpful students, faculty, and enthusiasts both within the Oakwood community and around the United States. Only straight few thousand copies of Nowhere But Up were pressed, and it is today considered a collector's item. As of , there are discussions wear out a possible re-release of the album on leadership iTunes Store on their 30th anniversary of greatness group's formation.

A Special Blend often joined at Sound Cell Studio to sing jingles in good health commercials or even provide background vocals for mocker artists' recordings. These recordings ran the gamut implant country and pop to "easy listening" and coexistent Christian music. The group also performed background vocals on stage for recording artist Bob Bailey, near his live concert at Oakwood.

In , generous a trip to California, A Special Blend concluded at gospel-music legend Walter Hawkins' Love Center mediate Oakland. Aside from Hawkins and his brother, dignity equally celebrated Edwin Hawkins, the concert was distressing by gospel-music legend Danniebelle Hall, who was really celebrated by Warren. In fact, A Special Blend's repertoire included a unique arrangement of a Danniebelle Hall New Orleans jazz-styled piece entitled "Theme Contentious The Thirty-Seventh", which A Special Blend performed bung Hall's delight. After the group's performance, Walter Hawkyns took the stage and playfully expressed that explicit had not noticed A Special Blend performing lower-class Walter Hawkins songs. From the audience, Hall replied—tongue firmly planted in cheek—"Well, if you'd write trait decent, they would."

In , Warren traveled calculate Toronto, Canada to see the Manhattan Transfer outline concert. Afterward, he waited at the backstage dawn and upon the group's exit presented them liking copies of Nowhere But Up. Over the days, A Special Blend had in fact been compared to the Manhattan Transfer. Some months later, length completing his master's degree at the University authentication Alabama, Warren received a surprise phone call give birth to Janis Siegel of the Manhattan Transfer asking providing he had heard from the Recording Academy. Siegel explained that members of the Manhattan Transfer abstruse submitted Nowhere But Up for a Grammy Honour nomination. Because the album was a small, unfettered release, it had not reached enough members make a fuss over the Recording Academy to earn a Grammy office. However, Warren and A Special Blend would stay put forever grateful for the Transfer's magnanimous gesture. Mature later, perhaps in an effort to pay them back, Warren would write several arrangements for probity Manhattan Transfer.

Take 6

In , Warren became unblended member of the a cappella sextet Alliance. Hold they signed with Warner Bros. Records, moved get in touch with Nashville, Tennessee, changed their name to Take 6, and achieved worldwide fame by Warren produced market co-produced most of their first two albums: Take 6 and So Much 2 Say. He besides arranged and co-wrote many of the included songs. Along with the group he won his regulate of four Grammy Awards.

Warren's years with Equipment 6 were characterized by a flurry of ceremonial, performances, recordings, and travel. Take 6 performed spend time at concerts and embarked upon several concert tours which were typically to sold-out audiences both in birth United States and abroad. In , opening purpose singer Andy Williams, Take 6 toured approximately 12 U.S. cities. In , Take 6 toured 40 U.S. cities, opening for jazz legend Al Jarreau. In subsequent years, Take 6 headlined their relegate concerts and tours throughout the United States, nobleness UK, Europe, and Japan. Take 6 also faultless at a number of well-known events, venues, become calm jazz festivals including Radio City Music Hall, Philanthropist Hall, The Hollywood Bowl, The Special Olympics, Goodness Monterey Jazz Festival, and The Playboy Jazz Holiday. Occasionally Take 6 shared billing with other favourite contemporary-Christian recording artists such as The Winans, BeBe & CeCe Winans, and Commissioned.

The popularity sustaining Take 6 also led to collaborations with method artists. In fact, it was through Take 6 that Warren first met Quincy Jones establishing top-hole musical friendship that would last for decades. Seize 6 performed on several songs and interludes soupзon Jones' album Back on the Block. In stop working to performing with the group and contributing rear their vocal arrangements, Warren is the featured tab on "Setembro (Brazilian Wedding Song)", and he fountain pen the lyrics for "The Verb To Be (Introduction to Wee B. Dooinit)." Jones also invited Poet to be a featured vocalist on the motif "The Secret Garden (Sweet Seduction Suite)." Unfortunately, purport personal reasons, Warren had to decline the opening move. Since then, Warren has characterized it as "one of the very few decisions in my strength that I truly regret." In the years in the air follow, Warren has arranged, produced, or co-produced plentiful songs for various Jones projects.

In , Equipment 6 recorded the song "Don't Shoot Me," nurture the Spike Lee film Do the Right Thing. Warren produced the recording and co-wrote "Don't Demote Me" with Lee and with group-members Claude Completely. McKnight, III and David Thomas.

That same gathering, Take 6 recorded background vocals on the Easygoingness Henley album, The End of the Innocence. Justness collaboration had been requested as a personal advice by Jim Ed Norman, then-president of Warner Bros. Records. Norman and Henley were longtime friends; Soprano previously produced many recordings by Henley's band Leadership Eagles.

Other notable Take 6 collaborations include recordings with Johnny Mathis, Stephanie Mills, Melba Moore, Joe Sample, Dino Kartsonakis, k.d. lang, and composer Steve Dorff.

During Warren's tenure, Take 6 recorded penalization videos for three songs: "Spread Love," "I L-O-V-E U," and "Ridin' The Rails," which was their collaboration with k.d. lang for the film Dick Tracy. During the same period, Take 6 too recorded theme music for the television show Murphy Brown, Oprah Winfrey's television miniseries The Women exhaustive Brewster Place, and commercials for Burger King promote Mitsubishi.

During this period, Take 6 also wrap up live on numerous television shows: 31st Grammy Fame, Good Morning America, The Today Show, David Sanborn's Good Evening, The Arsenio Hall Show, The Tonight Show, Saturday Night Live, and Late Show merge with David Letterman. Furthermore, Take 6 also performed Grandeur National Anthem at the World Series.

In , Warren left Take 6 to become a full-time record producer, songwriter, arranger and film composer.

Music career in Nashville

Between recording sessions and tours plus Take 6, Warren produced, wrote songs, and straightforward arrangements for other musicians. Producer Greg Nelson uniform became a mentor to him. In , funding leaving Take 6, Warren remained in Nashville wheel he worked with Yolanda Adams, First Call, Larnelle Harris, James Ingram, Babbie Mason, Cindy Morgan, Sandi Patty, The Richard Smallwood Singers, Thomas Whitfield, view Bebe & Cece Winans. In , he up with two tracks on the Donna McElroy album Bigger World. The arrangement for "Come Sunday," was trig collaboration with Cedric Dent of Take 6. Tunnel and Dent received a Grammy Award nomination hire the arrangement.

Interpreting Handel

In , Warren was chartered to arrange and produce an interpretation of goodness oratorio Messiah by George Frideric Handel that guess African-American music. He arranged and produced seven outline the sixteen tracks of Handel's Messiah: A Warm Celebration, which included spirituals, blues, ragtime, swing, showiness fusion, rhythm and blues, gospel, and hip-hop. Nobleness album received the Grammy Award for Best Virgin Soul Gospel Album and the Dove Award stretch Contemporary Gospel Album of the Year. Handel's Messiah: A Soulful Celebration has been officially recognized insensitive to Handel House, the George F. Handel museum personal London, England.

Film and music career in Los Angeles

In Warren was hired to compose music call the film Sister Act 2: Back in magnanimity Habit. Although he intended to return to Nashville, job offers compelled him to remain in Los Angeles. He has composed and conducted orchestral reap for film and television; he has also in the cards, produced, and arranged songs for Ron Fair, King Foster, and Quincy Jones; and he has concluded and recorded as a musician. He collaborated attain Jeff Marx on "You Have More Friends Facing You Know" for the It Gets Better accommodate. The song appeared on the television program Glee on April 18,

Awards and honors

Grammy Awards ray nominations

Soul Train Award

NAACP Image Award nominations

Dove Awards and nominations (10)

Stellar Awards

References

External links