Genius Loves Company
Encyclopedia
Genius Loves Company is the final studio album
by rhythm and blues
and soul
musician Ray Charles
, posthumously released August 31, 2004 on Concord Records
. Recording sessions for the album took place between June 2003 and March 2004. The album consists of R&B, country
, pop
and blues
standard
s performed by Charles and several guest musicians, such as Natalie Cole
, Elton John
, James Taylor
, Norah Jones
, B.B. King, Gladys Knight
, Diana Krall
, Van Morrison
, Willie Nelson
and Bonnie Raitt
. Genius Loves Company was the last album recorded and completed by Charles before his death in June 2004.
The album was produced as a collaboration of Concord Records and Hear Music
, the record label owned by the coffee chain Starbucks
. It served as the first original non-compilation release by Hear Music, as well as one of Ray Charles' most commercially successful albums. On February 2, 2005, Genius Loves Company was certified triple-platinum in sales by the Recording Industry Association of America
following sales of over three million copies in the United States. The album featured an iconic image by photographer Norman Seeff
on the cover.
. Genius Loves Company proved to be a comeback success, in terms of sales and critical response, quickly becoming Charles' first top-10 album in forty years and the best-selling record of his career. The release of Genius Loves Company served as Charles' two-hundred fiftieth of his recording career, as well as his last recorded effort before his death on June 10, 2004.
Within its first week of release, the album sold over 200,000 copies in the United States alone, while it debuted at #2 on the Billboard 200
chart, eventually ascending to #1 on March 05, 2005, becoming Charles' first #1 album since Modern Sounds In Country And Western Music
in 1962. Genius Loves Company also received a significant amount of airplay on jazz
, blues
, R&B
, urban contemporary
and country
radio stations, as well as critical praise from well-known publications and music outlets. By the first month of its release, the album had shipped over two million copies in the United States and shipped more than three million worldwide, receiving gold, silver and platinum certifications across North America, Europe and several other regions. The massive commercial success of the album (over 5.5 million copies were sold worldwide up to 2007) was attributed in part to it being distributed and promoted via Starbucks coffeehouses, as well as the distribution and marketing relationship between Concord Records
and the Starbucks Hear Music
label. The Starbucks Coffee Company proved to be singularly responsible for nearly thirty-percent of the total domestic sales of the album. Following several certifications of gold, platinum and multi-platinum in the United States during the fall of 2004, Genius Loves Company earned a triple-platinum sales certification by the Recording Industry Association of America
(RIAA) on February 2, 2005.
For the week ending September 18, 2004, Genius Loves Company sold 202,000 copies, ranking second on the Billboard 200
. This was Charles' highest charting album in over 40 years and represented an opening week record for a duets album (since Nielsen SoundScan
began tracking such statistics in 1991). Frank Sinatra
's 1993 Duets
sold 339,000 during the Christmas week, eight weeks after its 173,500-unit opening. The initial shipment of 733,000 units was an all-time record for the 31-year history of Concord Records
and the sales represented a Soundscan record for the company. In addition, the album placed at number five on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums
for Charles' highest placement since A Portrait of Ray
peaked at fifth in 1968. These albums sales occurred despite digital singles sales that saw 12 of the 13 tracks on the album make the Hot Digital Tracks Top 50 chart. The previous record for most tracks from the same album was 9 by Neil Young
& Crazy Horse
with their 2003 Greendale
album. "Here We Go Again
" was the download sales leader among the albums tracks, but the 12 tracks totaled 52,000 digital download
s.
nominations. At the 47th Grammy Awards on February 13, 2005, Genius Loves Company led the annual ceremony with a total of eight awards, including Album of the Year
, while its hit single "Here We Go Again" won a Grammy Award for Record of the Year
. Awards won are as listed below:
Studio album
A studio album is an album made up of tracks recorded in the controlled environment of a recording studio. A studio album contains newly written and recorded or previously unreleased or remixed material, distinguishing itself from a compilation or reissue album of previously recorded material, or...
by rhythm and blues
Rhythm and blues
Rhythm and blues, often abbreviated to R&B, is a genre of popular African American music that originated in the 1940s. The term was originally used by record companies to describe recordings marketed predominantly to urban African Americans, at a time when "urbane, rocking, jazz based music with a...
and soul
Soul music
Soul music is a music genre originating in the United States combining elements of gospel music and rhythm and blues. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, soul is "music that arose out of the black experience in America through the transmutation of gospel and rhythm & blues into a form of...
musician Ray Charles
Ray Charles
Ray Charles Robinson , known by his shortened stage name Ray Charles, was an American musician. He was a pioneer in the genre of soul music during the 1950s by fusing rhythm and blues, gospel, and blues styles into his early recordings with Atlantic Records...
, posthumously released August 31, 2004 on Concord Records
Concord Records
Concord Records is a U.S. record label now based in Beverly Hills, California. Originally known as Concord Jazz, it was established in 1972 as an off-shoot of the Concord Jazz Festival in Concord, California by festival founder Carl Jefferson, a local automobile dealer and jazz fan who sold his...
. Recording sessions for the album took place between June 2003 and March 2004. The album consists of R&B, country
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
, pop
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
and blues
Blues
Blues is the name given to both a musical form and a music genre that originated in African-American communities of primarily the "Deep South" of the United States at the end of the 19th century from spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts and chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads...
standard
Standard (music)
In music, a standard is a tune or song of established popularity.-See also:* Blues standard* Jazz standard* Pop standard* Great American Songbook-Further reading:* Greatest Rock Standards, published by Hal Leonard ISBN 0793588391...
s performed by Charles and several guest musicians, such as Natalie Cole
Natalie Cole
Natalie Maria Cole , is an American singer, songwriter and performer. The daughter of jazz legend Nat King Cole, Cole rode to musical success in the mid-1970s as an R&B artist with the hits "This Will Be ", "Inseparable" and "Our Love"...
, Elton John
Elton John
Sir Elton Hercules John, CBE, Hon DMus is an English rock singer-songwriter, composer, pianist and occasional actor...
, James Taylor
James Taylor
James Vernon Taylor is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist. A five-time Grammy Award winner, Taylor was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2000....
, Norah Jones
Norah Jones
Norah Jones is an American singer-songwriter and occasional actress.In 2002, she launched her solo music career with the release of the commercially successful and critically acclaimed album Come Away With Me, which was certified a diamond album in 2002, selling over 20 million copies...
, B.B. King, Gladys Knight
Gladys Knight
Gladys Maria Knight , known as the "Empress of Soul", is an American singer-songwriter, actress, businesswoman, humanitarian, and author...
, Diana Krall
Diana Krall
Diana Jean Krall, OC, OBC is a Canadian jazz pianist and singer, known for her contralto vocals. She has sold more than 6 million albums in the US and over 15 million worldwide; altogether, she has sold more albums than any other female jazz artist during the 1990s and 2000s...
, Van Morrison
Van Morrison
Van Morrison, OBE is a Northern Irish singer-songwriter and musician. His live performances at their best are regarded as transcendental and inspired; while some of his recordings, such as the studio albums Astral Weeks and Moondance, and the live album It's Too Late to Stop Now, are widely...
, Willie Nelson
Willie Nelson
Willie Hugh Nelson is an American country music singer-songwriter, as well as an author, poet, actor, and activist. The critical success of the album Shotgun Willie , combined with the critical and commercial success of Red Headed Stranger and Stardust , made Nelson one of the most recognized...
and Bonnie Raitt
Bonnie Raitt
Bonnie Lynn Raitt is an American blues singer-songwriter and a renowned slide guitar player. During the 1970s, Raitt released a series of acclaimed roots-influenced albums which incorporated elements of blues, rock, folk and country, but she is perhaps best known for her more commercially...
. Genius Loves Company was the last album recorded and completed by Charles before his death in June 2004.
The album was produced as a collaboration of Concord Records and Hear Music
Hear Music
Hear Music, also known as StarCon is the brand name of Starbucks' retail music concept and record label. Hear Music began as a catalog company in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in 1990 before being purchased by Starbucks in 1999.-Concept:...
, the record label owned by the coffee chain Starbucks
Starbucks
Starbucks Corporation is an international coffee and coffeehouse chain based in Seattle, Washington. Starbucks is the largest coffeehouse company in the world, with 17,009 stores in 55 countries, including over 11,000 in the United States, over 1,000 in Canada, over 700 in the United Kingdom, and...
. It served as the first original non-compilation release by Hear Music, as well as one of Ray Charles' most commercially successful albums. On February 2, 2005, Genius Loves Company was certified triple-platinum in sales by the Recording Industry Association of America
Recording Industry Association of America
The Recording Industry Association of America is a trade organization that represents the recording industry distributors in the United States...
following sales of over three million copies in the United States. The album featured an iconic image by photographer Norman Seeff
Norman Seeff
Norman Seeff was born March 5, 1939 in Johannesburg, South Africa. Since moving to the United States in 1969, his work as a photographer and filmmaker has been focused on the exploration of human creativity and the inner dynamics of the creative process....
on the cover.
Reception
Commercial performance
The release of Genius Loves Company was preceded by a period of mostly mediocre LP releases by Charles and critical slide after the massive success of his 1962 crossover opus Modern Sounds in Country and Western MusicModern Sounds in Country and Western Music
Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music is a studio album by American R&B and soul musician Ray Charles, released in April 1962 on ABC-Paramount Records. Recording sessions for the album took place in early to mid-February 1962 at Capitol Studios in New York City and at United Recording Studios...
. Genius Loves Company proved to be a comeback success, in terms of sales and critical response, quickly becoming Charles' first top-10 album in forty years and the best-selling record of his career. The release of Genius Loves Company served as Charles' two-hundred fiftieth of his recording career, as well as his last recorded effort before his death on June 10, 2004.
Within its first week of release, the album sold over 200,000 copies in the United States alone, while it debuted at #2 on the Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
chart, eventually ascending to #1 on March 05, 2005, becoming Charles' first #1 album since Modern Sounds In Country And Western Music
Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music
Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music is a studio album by American R&B and soul musician Ray Charles, released in April 1962 on ABC-Paramount Records. Recording sessions for the album took place in early to mid-February 1962 at Capitol Studios in New York City and at United Recording Studios...
in 1962. Genius Loves Company also received a significant amount of airplay on jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
, blues
Blues
Blues is the name given to both a musical form and a music genre that originated in African-American communities of primarily the "Deep South" of the United States at the end of the 19th century from spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts and chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads...
, R&B
Contemporary R&B
Contemporary R&B is a music genre that combines elements of hip hop, soul, R&B and funk.Although the abbreviation “R&B” originates from traditional rhythm and blues music, today the term R&B is most often used to describe a style of African American music originating after the demise of disco in...
, urban contemporary
Urban contemporary
Urban contemporary is a music radio format. The term was coined by the late New York DJ Frankie Crocker in the mid 1970s. Urban contemporary radio stations feature a playlist made up entirely of hip hop/rap, contemporary R&B, pop, electronica such as dubstep and drum and bass and Caribbean music...
and country
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
radio stations, as well as critical praise from well-known publications and music outlets. By the first month of its release, the album had shipped over two million copies in the United States and shipped more than three million worldwide, receiving gold, silver and platinum certifications across North America, Europe and several other regions. The massive commercial success of the album (over 5.5 million copies were sold worldwide up to 2007) was attributed in part to it being distributed and promoted via Starbucks coffeehouses, as well as the distribution and marketing relationship between Concord Records
Concord Records
Concord Records is a U.S. record label now based in Beverly Hills, California. Originally known as Concord Jazz, it was established in 1972 as an off-shoot of the Concord Jazz Festival in Concord, California by festival founder Carl Jefferson, a local automobile dealer and jazz fan who sold his...
and the Starbucks Hear Music
Hear Music
Hear Music, also known as StarCon is the brand name of Starbucks' retail music concept and record label. Hear Music began as a catalog company in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in 1990 before being purchased by Starbucks in 1999.-Concept:...
label. The Starbucks Coffee Company proved to be singularly responsible for nearly thirty-percent of the total domestic sales of the album. Following several certifications of gold, platinum and multi-platinum in the United States during the fall of 2004, Genius Loves Company earned a triple-platinum sales certification by the Recording Industry Association of America
Recording Industry Association of America
The Recording Industry Association of America is a trade organization that represents the recording industry distributors in the United States...
(RIAA) on February 2, 2005.
For the week ending September 18, 2004, Genius Loves Company sold 202,000 copies, ranking second on the Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
. This was Charles' highest charting album in over 40 years and represented an opening week record for a duets album (since Nielsen SoundScan
Nielsen SoundScan
Nielsen SoundScan is an information and sales tracking system created by Mike Fine and Mike Shalett. Soundscan is the official method of tracking sales of music and music video products throughout the United States and Canada...
began tracking such statistics in 1991). Frank Sinatra
Frank Sinatra
Francis Albert "Frank" Sinatra was an American singer and actor.Beginning his musical career in the swing era with Harry James and Tommy Dorsey, Sinatra became an unprecedentedly successful solo artist in the early to mid-1940s, after being signed to Columbia Records in 1943. Being the idol of the...
's 1993 Duets
Duets (Frank Sinatra album)
Duets is an album by American singer Frank Sinatra, released in 1993.Recorded near the end of Sinatra's career, it consists of duets between Sinatra and other guest star singers from various genres; Sinatra personally chose the performers...
sold 339,000 during the Christmas week, eight weeks after its 173,500-unit opening. The initial shipment of 733,000 units was an all-time record for the 31-year history of Concord Records
Concord Records
Concord Records is a U.S. record label now based in Beverly Hills, California. Originally known as Concord Jazz, it was established in 1972 as an off-shoot of the Concord Jazz Festival in Concord, California by festival founder Carl Jefferson, a local automobile dealer and jazz fan who sold his...
and the sales represented a Soundscan record for the company. In addition, the album placed at number five on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums
Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums
Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums is a chart published by Billboard magazine that ranks R&B and hip hop albums based on sales compiled by Nielsen SoundScan. The name of the chart was changed from Top R&B Albums in 1999...
for Charles' highest placement since A Portrait of Ray
A Portrait of Ray
- Track listing :# "Never Say Naw" – 3:06# "The Sun Died" – 3:58# "Am I Blue" – 4:13# "Yesterdays" – 4:40# "When I Stop Dreamin'" – 3:04# "I Won't Leave" – 3:32# "A Sweet Young Thing Like You" – 2:18...
peaked at fifth in 1968. These albums sales occurred despite digital singles sales that saw 12 of the 13 tracks on the album make the Hot Digital Tracks Top 50 chart. The previous record for most tracks from the same album was 9 by Neil Young
Neil Young
Neil Percival Young, OC, OM is a Canadian singer-songwriter who is widely regarded as one of the most influential musicians of his generation...
& Crazy Horse
Crazy Horse (band)
Crazy Horse is an American rock band best known for its association with Neil Young. It has been co-credited on a number of albums throughout Young's career and has released five albums of its own.-Early years:...
with their 2003 Greendale
Greendale (album)
Greendale is the name of an album, movie and graphic novel by Neil Young. As the twenty-seventh album by Neil Young, Young and Crazy Horse's Greendale, a 10-song rock opera, is set in a fictional California seaside town...
album. "Here We Go Again
Here We Go Again (Ray Charles song)
"Here We Go Again" is a country music standard written by Don Lanier and Red Steagall that first became notable as a rhythm and blues single by Ray Charles from his 1967 album Ray Charles Invites You to Listen. Its most notable cover version is the rhythm and blues music duet by Charles and Norah...
" was the download sales leader among the albums tracks, but the 12 tracks totaled 52,000 digital download
Music download
A music download is the transferral of music from an Internet-facing computer or website to a user's local computer. This term encompasses both legal downloads and downloads of copyright material without permission or payment...
s.
Grammy Awards
In December 2004, announcements were made that the album had earned ten Grammy AwardGrammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
nominations. At the 47th Grammy Awards on February 13, 2005, Genius Loves Company led the annual ceremony with a total of eight awards, including Album of the Year
Grammy Award for Album of the Year
The Grammy Award for Album of the Year is the most prestigious award category at the Grammys. It has been awarded since 1959 and though it was originally presented to the artist alone, the award is now presented to the artist, the producer, the engineer and/or mixer and the mastering engineer...
, while its hit single "Here We Go Again" won a Grammy Award for Record of the Year
Grammy Award for Record of the Year
The Record of the Year is one of the four most prestigious Grammy Awards presented annually. It has been awarded since 1959.-History:The honorees through its history have been:*1959-1965: Artist only.*1966-1998: Artist and producer....
. Awards won are as listed below:
- Record of the Year: John Burk (producer), Terry Howard, Al Schmitt (engineers/mixers), Ray Charles & Norah Jones for "Here We Go Again"
- Album of the Year: John Burk, Don Mizell, Phil Ramone, Herbert Waltl (producers), Terry Howard (producer & engineer/mixer), Robert Fernandez, John Harris, Pete Karam, Joel Moss, Seth Presant, Al Schmitt, Ed Thacker (engineers/mixers), Robert Hadley, Doug Sax (mastering engineers)
- Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist(s): Victor Vanacore (arranger) for "Over the Rainbow" performed by Ray Charles & Johnny Mathis
- Best Gospel Performance: Ray Charles & Gladys Knight for "Heaven Help Us All"
- Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals: Ray Charles and Norah Jones for "Here We Go Again"
- Best Pop Vocal Album: Ray Charles and various artists
- Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical: Robert Fernandez, John Harris, Terry Howard, Pete Karam, Joel Moss, Seth Presant, Al Schmitt & Ed Thacker (engineers)
- Best Surround Sound Album: Al Schmitt (surround mix engineer), Robert Hadley & Doug Sax (surround mastering)
Track listing
Album
| Chart (2004) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Billboard 200 Billboard 200 The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists... |
1 |
| Top Canadian Albums | 1 |
| Top Internet Albums | 1 |
| Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums is a chart published by Billboard magazine that ranks R&B and hip hop albums based on sales compiled by Nielsen SoundScan. The name of the chart was changed from Top R&B Albums in 1999... |
4 |
| UK Albums Chart UK Albums Chart The UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled every week by The Official Charts Company and broadcast on a Sunday on BBC Radio 1 , and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website .To qualify for the UK albums chart... |
18 |
Singles
| Single | Chart (2004) | Peak position |
|---|---|---|
| "You Don't Know Me" | U.S. Billboard Adult Contemporary | 21 |
| "Here We Go Again" | French Singles Chart | 51 |
| Austrian Singles Chart | 52 | |
Personnel
- John Acevedo - Viola
- John Acosta - Cello
- Sai Ly Acosta - Violin
- Tawatha Agee - Vocals, Singer
- Abbey Anna - Design, Design Consultant
- Miguel Atwood - Ferguson Viola
- Briana Bandy - Viola
- Rick Baptist - Trumpet
- Michael Bearden - Keyboards
- Leanne Becknell- Oboe
- Brian Benning - Violin
- Brian Bennison - Copyist
- Robert Berg - Viola
- Wayne Bergeron - Trumpet
- David Blumberg - Arranger, String Arrangements
- Charles Boito - Clarinet
- Reverend Dave Boruff - Saxophone
- Ray Brinker - Drums
- Leslie Brown - Violin
- John Burk - Producer, Liner Notes, Executive Producer
- James Chip Burney - Choir, Chorus
- Rosemary Butler - Choir, Chorus
- Kristy Cameron - Design
- Ray Charles - Piano, Keyboards, Vocals, Author
- Daphne Chen - Violin
- Elenore Choate - Harp
- Tim Christensen - Double Bass
- Ronald Clark - Violin
- Janey Clewer - Choir, Chorus
- Reginald Clews - Violin
- Natalie ColeNatalie ColeNatalie Maria Cole , is an American singer, songwriter and performer. The daughter of jazz legend Nat King Cole, Cole rode to musical success in the mid-1970s as an R&B artist with the hits "This Will Be ", "Inseparable" and "Our Love"...
- Author, Guest Appearance - Mark Converse - Percussion
- Larry Corbett - Cello
- Franklyn d'Antonio - Violin
- Charlie Davis - Trumpet
- Jill Dell'Abate - Production Coordination
- Greg Dennon - Assistant Engineer
- Joel Derouin - Violin
- Ken Desantis - Assistant Engineer
- Steve Deutsch - Digital Editing
- George Doering - Guitar
- Assa Dori - Concert Master
- Kevin Dorsey - Choir, Chorus
- Assa Drori - Concert Master
- DeAnte Duckett - Choir, Chorus
- Chris Dunn - A&R
- Clydene Jackson Edwards - Choir, Chorus
- Michael Eleopoulos - Assistant Engineer
- Alan Ellsworth - Violin
- Alicia Engley - Violin
- Charles Everett - Violin
- Dennis Farias - Trumpet
- Charles Fearing - Guitar
- Andrew Felluss - Assistant Engineer
- Robert Fernandez - Engineer
- Brandon FieldsBrandon Fields (musician)Brandon Fields is an alto saxophonist and session musician.He toured with George Benson in 1985, and recorded with Ray Charles, appearing on the posthumously-released album Genius Loves Company.He was a member of The Rippingtons.- References :...
- Baritone Saxophone - Kirstin Fife - Violin
- Stefanie Fife - Cello
- Mark Fleming - Engineer
- Ronald Folsom - Violin
- Samuel Formicola - Viola
- Bruce Fowler - Trombone
- Tom Fowler - Bass
- Walt Fowler - Trumpet
- James GadsonJames GadsonJames Gadson is an American drummer and session musician. Beginning his career in the late 1960s, Gadson has since become one of the most-recorded drummers in the history of R&B music....
- Drums - Armen Garabedian - Violin
- Berj Garabedian - Violin
- Steve Genewick - Assistant Engineer
- Jim GilstrapJim GilstrapJim Gilstrap is an American singer best known for his work as a session musician and his 1975 solo hit single "Swing Your Daddy", as well as singing co-lead to the theme from the TV series Good Times.-Career:...
- Choir, Chorus - Suzanna Giordono - Viola
- Gary Grant - Trumpet
- Nick Grant - Violin
- Keith Gretlein - Assistant Engineer
- Ken Gruberman - Copyist
- Amy Wickman Guerra - Violin
- Robert Hadley - Mastering
- Larry Hall - Trumpet
- Trevor Handy - Cello
- John Harris - Engineer
- David Hayes - Bass
- Xiao Niu He - Violin
- Trey Henry - Bass, Double Bass
- Scott Higgins - Timpani
- Gerry Hilera - Violin
- Mary Hogan - A&R
- Matt Holland - Trumpet
- Terry Howard - Producer, Engineer
- Greg Huckins - Flute
- Alexander Isles - Trombone
- Danny Jacob - Guitar
- John Jennings - Photography
- Elton JohnElton JohnSir Elton Hercules John, CBE, Hon DMus is an English rock singer-songwriter, composer, pianist and occasional actor...
- Author, Guest Appearance - Bashiri Johnson - Percussion
- Norah JonesNorah JonesNorah Jones is an American singer-songwriter and occasional actress.In 2002, she launched her solo music career with the release of the commercially successful and critically acclaimed album Come Away With Me, which was certified a diamond album in 2002, selling over 20 million copies...
- Piano, Author, Guest Appearance - Tony Kadleck - Trumpet
- Hardi Kamsani - Assistant Engineer
- Pete Karam - Engineer
- Suzie Katayama - Cello
- Leslie Brown Katz - Violin
- Bill Kaylor - Assistant Engineer
- Jim KeltnerJim KeltnerJames Lee "Jim" Keltner is an American drummer known primarily for his session work. He has contributed to the work of many well-known artists...
- Drums - Jaroslav Kettner - Violin
- Jeff Kievit - Trumpet
- David Kilbride - Violin
- B.B. King - Guitar, Author, Guest Appearance
- Gladys KnightGladys KnightGladys Maria Knight , known as the "Empress of Soul", is an American singer-songwriter, actress, businesswoman, humanitarian, and author...
- Author, Guest Appearance - Raymond Kobler - Violin
- Diana KrallDiana KrallDiana Jean Krall, OC, OBC is a Canadian jazz pianist and singer, known for her contralto vocals. She has sold more than 6 million albums in the US and over 15 million worldwide; altogether, she has sold more albums than any other female jazz artist during the 1990s and 2000s...
- Author, Guest Appearance - Irvin "Magic" Kramer - Rhythm Guitar
- Johana Krejci - Violin
- John Krovoza - Cello
- Armen Ksadjikian - Cello
- Steve Kujala - Flute
- Lisa Laarman - Creative Director
- Abraham LaborielAbraham LaborielAbraham Laboriel, Sr. is a Mexican bassist of Garifuna descent who has played on over 4,000 recordings and soundtracks. Guitar Player Magazine described him as "the most widely used session bassist of our time". Laboriel is the father of drummer Abe Laboriel Jr. and of producer, songwriter, and...
- Bass - Michael LandauMichael LandauMichael Landau is a prolific session musician and guitarist who has played on a large number of albums since the early 1980s with artists as varied as Seal, James Taylor, Helen Watson, Richard Marx, Steve Perry, Pink Floyd and Miles Davis...
- Guitar - Timothy Landauer - Cello
- Songa Lee - Violin
- Tricia Lee Violin
- David R. Legry - Liner Notes
- Martha Lippi - Cello
- Irene Madison - Choir, Chorus
- Paul Manaster - Violin
- Shawn Mann - Viola
- George Marinelli - Guitar, Photography
- Don Markese - Clarinet
- Edith Markman - Violin
- Michael Markman - Violin
- Andrew Martin - Trombone
- Fred Martin & the Levite Camp - Choir, Chorus
- Rob Mathes - Conductor
- Johnny "Country" Mathis - Author, Guest Appearance
- Robert Matsuda - Violin
- Bob McChesney - Trombone
- Clarence McDonald - Piano, Arranger
- Michael McDonaldMichael McDonald (singer)Michael McDonald is a five-time Grammy Award winning American singer and songwriter. McDonald is known for a soulful baritone singing style and a multi-octave range. He began his career singing back-up vocals with Steely Dan...
- Keyboards, Author, Guest Appearance - Joe Meyer - French Horn
- Alethea Mills - Choir, Chorus
- Jeff Mironov - Guitar
- John Mitchell - Bassoon
- Don Mizell - Producer
- Dennis Molchan - Violin
- Suzette Moriarty - French Horn
- Charlie Morillas - Trombone
- Horia Moroaica - Violin
- Chavonne Morris - Choir, Chorus
- Seven Morris - Choir, Chorus
- Van MorrisonVan MorrisonVan Morrison, OBE is a Northern Irish singer-songwriter and musician. His live performances at their best are regarded as transcendental and inspired; while some of his recordings, such as the studio albums Astral Weeks and Moondance, and the live album It's Too Late to Stop Now, are widely...
- Author, Guest Appearance - Joel Moss - Engineer
- Jennifer Munday - Violin
- Vitaliano Napolitano - Photography
- Willie NelsonWillie NelsonWillie Hugh Nelson is an American country music singer-songwriter, as well as an author, poet, actor, and activist. The critical success of the album Shotgun Willie , combined with the critical and commercial success of Red Headed Stranger and Stardust , made Nelson one of the most recognized...
- Guitar, Author, Guest Appearance - Maria Newman - Viola
- Aminah Ofumbi - Choir, Chorus
- Igor Pandurski - Violin
- Alan PasquaAlan PasquaAlan Pasqua is a jazz pianist, educator and composer who co-composed the CBS Evening News theme. He also has had an extensive career in pop and rock music, most notably as a founding member, keyboardist and songwriter of the 80s hard rock band, Giant. He studied at Indiana University and the New...
- Piano - Todor Pelev - Violin
- Shawn Pelton - Drums
- Edward Persi - Viola
- Robert Peterson - Concert Master
- Casey Phariss - Assistant Engineer
- Darryl Phinnessee - Choir, Chorus
- Andrew Picken - Viola
- Charles Pillow - Tenor Saxophone
- Vladimir Polimatidi - Violin
- Seth Presant - Digital Editing
- Billy PrestonBilly PrestonWilliam Everett "Billy" Preston was a musician who gained notoriety and fame, first as a session musician for the likes of Sam Cooke, Ray Charles and The Beatles, and later finding fame as a solo artist with hits such as "Space Race", "Will It Go Round in Circles" and "Nothing from...
- Hammond Organ - Bonnie RaittBonnie RaittBonnie Lynn Raitt is an American blues singer-songwriter and a renowned slide guitar player. During the 1970s, Raitt released a series of acclaimed roots-influenced albums which incorporated elements of blues, rock, folk and country, but she is perhaps best known for her more commercially...
- Slide Guitar, Author, Guest Appearance - Phil RamonePhil RamonePhil Ramone is a South-African violinist, composer, recording engineer, and record producer.-Biography:As a young child in South Africa, Ramone was a musical prodigy, beginning to play the violin at age three and performing for Queen Elizabeth II at age ten...
- Producer - Shanti Randall - Viola
- Michele Richards - Violin
- Steve Richards - Cello
- David Riddles - Bassoon
- Carolyn Riley - Viola
- Kathleen Robertson - Violin
- John "4 Daddman" Robinson - Drums
- Julie Rogers - Violin
- Anatoly Rosinsky - Violin
- Nancy Roth - Violin
- Robert Sanders - Trombone
- Tom Saviano - Saxophone
- Doug Sax - Mastering
- Kenny Scharf - Trumpet
- Al Schmitt - Engineer, Mixing, String Engineer
- Norman SeeffNorman SeeffNorman Seeff was born March 5, 1939 in Johannesburg, South Africa. Since moving to the United States in 1969, his work as a photographer and filmmaker has been focused on the exploration of human creativity and the inner dynamics of the creative process....
- Photography - Richard Shaw - Double Bass
- Bob Shepard - Saxophone
- Dennis Shirley - Photography
- Jaime Sickora - Assistant Engineer
- Joel Singer - Assistant Engineer
- Jamie Siskkora - Assistant Engineer
- Patricia Skye - French Horn
- Bill Airey Smith - Assistant
- Wally Snow - Percussion
- Kurt Snyder - French Horn
- Joe Soldo - Contractor
- Jay Spears - Assistant Engineer
- Edmund Stein- Violin
- Rudolph Stein - Cello
- David Stenske - Violin, Viola
- Dave Stone - Double Bass
- Joseph Stone - Horn (English), Oboe
- James "J.T." Taylor - Author, Guest Appearance
- Ed Thacker - Engineer
- Vaneese Thomas - Vocals, Singer
- Michael ThompsonMichael Thompson (guitarist)Michael Thompson is an American guitarist and songwriter.Thompson achieved enduring modest success with his 1989 melodic rock/AOR group Michael Thompson Band but is most noted for his work as a popular session guitarist on the recordings of some of the most popular musical artists of the 1980s,...
- Guitar - Fonzi ThorntonFonzi ThorntonFonzi Thornton, is an American singer, song writer/producer, stage performer and radio personality.Thornton has provided background vocals on albums by artists which include Aretha Franklin, Luther Vandross, Diana Ross, Ray Charles, Chic, Sheena Easton, Mariah Carey, David Bowie, Michael Jackson,...
- Vocals, Singer - Darrell Thorp - Assistant Engineer
- Raymond Tischer - Viola
- Richard Todd - French Horn
- Kevan Torfeh - Cello
- Mike Vaccaro - Contractor
- David Vanacore - Score Assistance
- Victor Vanacore - Arranger, Score Assistance
- Karl Vincent - Double Bass
- Irina Voloshina - Violin
- Randy Waldman - Piano, Arranger, Keyboards, Rhythm Arrangements
- David F. Walther - Viola
- Herbert Waltl - Producer
- Jennifer Walton - Violin
- Zheng Wang - Violin
- Clarissa Watkins - Choir, Chorus
- Dynell Weber - Violin
- John West - Choir, Chorus
- Ken Wild - Double Bass
- Martin Winning - Tenor Saxophone
- North Wood - Violin
- Terry Woods - Choir, Chorus
- Margaret Wooten - Violin
- Alwyn Wright - Violin
- Phil Yao - French Horn
- Ken Yerke - Violin
- Yang-Qin Zhao - Cello