Marilyn Harris

Member Since: 2004 | Location: Tucson | Page Views: 4,331

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About Me

After studying composition with Hale Smith at UConn and film scoring with Ray Wright and Manny Albam at Eastman School of Music, Marilyn worked extensively with jazz arranger Gil Evans and studied piano with Richard Tee and Rodgers Grant in NYC. Over the years she worked with a wide variety of other artists including co-writing a gold record with Jim Brickman, doing arrangements for Bette Midler, Lola Falana and Donna McKechnie, and some of her songs have been covered by jazz vocalists Anne Marie Moss, Jackie Paris, Judi Silvano, Diane Hubka, Bobbe Norris and Sharon McNight. After college Marilyn worked as a music editor and copyist in New York City and in the world of advertising music where she sang, arranged and produced music for commercials (Amoco, McDonald's, Kraft, Kellogg's, United Airlines, etc.) in New York and Chicago. After moving to Los Angeles, she co-composed, performed and produced over 200 music cues for ABC-TV's “General Hospital”, scored episodes of the animated ”Flintstone Kids”, and provided original music scores and themes for such diverse projects as BBC-5's hit radio drama “Milford-Haven, U.S.A.” (Great Britain), “Yogurt Variations” for the New Britain Symphony Orchestra, the theatrical plays “Sea Marks” and “An American Odyssey”, as well as the audio book music scores to “The Hidden Legacy”, “Stickeen”, and “Travels In Alaska”. She's placed her original songs in the Hallmark Hall of Fame presentation of “My Sister's Keeper”, Sesame Street, and the award-winning short feature film “T for Terrorist”. Marilyn's first CD release on Wrightwood Records, the jazz-pop ”Between the Lines” (WRCD-1508) featured world-renowned musicians such as percussionist/drummer Mark Walker (Paquito D'Rivera & Oregon), guitarist Georg Wadenius (Blood, Sweat & Tears), bassist Steve Rodby (Pat Metheny Group), jazz trumpeters Orbert Davis, Bobby Lewis and Ron Friedman, saxophonist Steve Eisen (Styx), and Sinatra band members Mike Smith and Ron Kolber. In 1998 Marilyn joined Philip Ingram in the vocal duet of her original song ”Like Love” on BMG's release of Jim Brickman's “Visions of Love”. Marilyn collaborated on 4 CDs of meditation/relaxation music for Wrightwood Records: ”Koto Keys” (WRCD-1516) & “A Koto Keys Christmas” (WRCD-1525) with kotoist Mara Purl, ”Unicorn's Journey” with harpist Stephanie Bennett and “Winds on Ivory” (WRCD-1521) with exotic woodwind specialist Phil Feather. Marilyn's 2004 release “Future Street” (WRCD-1580) features 11 more original songs and wonderful instrumental solos by Wayne Bergeron, Warren Luening, Pete Christlieb, Dan Higgins, Bill Liston, Andy Martin, Bob Leatherbarrow, as well as a special vocal duet with co-writer on 5 of the songs, Mark Winkler. Liner notes are by jazz songwriting legend Bob Dorough. Marilyn's newest release “Round Trip” (WRCD-1569) reached the Top 25 on JazzWeek's chart and features 10 great new original songs (and 2 fabulous covers) - backed by the L. A. Jazz All-Stars Big Band led by producer/arranger Mark Wolfram. More terrific instrumental solos by Bill Watrous, Pete Christlieb, Jim Fox, Dan Higgins, Warren Luening, Andy Martin, Don Shelton, as well as a special vocal duet with the ever-wonderful Bob Dorough. Liner notes are by jazz DJ and journalist Neil Tesser. Marilyn has given service to many music industry organizations over the years (Board of Governors @ N.A.R.A.S., Songwriters Guild, L.A.Women In Music and the Jazz Vocal Coalition. In 2004 she moderated a songwriting panel @ IAJE entitled BEYOND THE GREAT AMERICAN SONGBOOK, and has performed at Birdland, Don't Tell Mama, Danny's and Cornelia St. Cafe (NYC), and The Jazz Bakery, Spazio and The Catalina Bar & Grill (Los Angeles), among many other venues.