John Trivers
Encyclopedia
John Trivers is an American
songwriter
and musician
, the recipient of gold and platinum records for his involvement with Blue Öyster Cult
and Tina Turner
, and the co-writer with his wife and partner Elizabeth Myers
of several popular themes for commercials, television programs, and film scores.
, the son of Julian Trivers, a marketing consultant, and Patricia Culver, a homemaker. The third of five children, he was educated at The Hill School
, an exclusive boarding school in Pennsylvania
from which he graduated in 1965, and Hobart College
, where he received a Bachelors Degree in music in 1969. While at Hobart, he played bass for the band "Lost and Found", fronted by Eric Bloom
, with whom he would later collaborate on songs for Bloom's band Blue Öyster Cult
.
From 1972 to 1979, he played for Broadway shows such as Grease
which is where in 1976 he met his future wife, fellow musician Elizabeth (Liz) Myers. In 1980, he went on to study Film and Television Post-Production at UCLA, In the early 1980s, he was also a member of the Vancouver-based band Prism
, signed with Capitol Records
. He has played with four Grammy award winners, Janis Ian, Mary Travers, Peter Allen and Tina Turner
with whom he recorded on "Private Dancer". His playing is featured in the Turner song "Total Control" from the "We Are the World
" record.
Trivers and his wife relocated to Los Angeles
and started a commercial music business, Trivers-Myers Music, which has written well-known themes such as that used on the CBS Evening News
, and the award-winning Apple Computer
Macintosh campaign which was directed by Ridley Scott
and Adrien Lyne. In 2004, they scored an animated commercial for United Airlines
which was first broadcast during the Academy Awards
and has since been displayed on exhibit at various art museums. The music was an arrangement of George Gershwin
's "Rhapsody in Blue" and was recorded at Capitol Records
with 40 members of the Los Angeles Philharmonic
orchestra.
In 2008, they composed the soundtracks for five United Airlines commercials created especially for the Beijing Games. "Heart" featured a two-piano composition performed by American jazz legend Herbie Hancock and Chinese classical superstar Lang Lang. The music was written and produced by John Trivers and Elizabeth Myers.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
and musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
, the recipient of gold and platinum records for his involvement with Blue Öyster Cult
Blue Öyster Cult
Blue Öyster Cult, often abbreviated BÖC, is an American rock band, most of whose members first came together in Long Island, NY in 1967 as the band Soft White Underbelly...
and Tina Turner
Tina Turner
Tina Turner is an American singer and actress whose career has spanned more than 50 years. She has won numerous awards and her achievements in the rock music genre have led many to call her the "Queen of Rock 'n' Roll".Turner started out her music career with husband Ike Turner as a member of the...
, and the co-writer with his wife and partner Elizabeth Myers
Liz Myers
Elizabeth Myers is an American musician, composer, pianist and singer. She co-wrote the Eddie Money song "Shakin'", but is best-known for her collaborations with her husband, John Trivers on the music for several award-winning commercials and films...
of several popular themes for commercials, television programs, and film scores.
Biography
Trivers was born in Buffalo, New YorkBuffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
, the son of Julian Trivers, a marketing consultant, and Patricia Culver, a homemaker. The third of five children, he was educated at The Hill School
The Hill School
The Hill School is a preparatory boarding school for boys and girls located in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, about 35 miles northwest of Philadelphia....
, an exclusive boarding school in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
from which he graduated in 1965, and Hobart College
Hobart and William Smith Colleges
Hobart and William Smith Colleges, located in Geneva, New York, are together a liberal arts college offering Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science and Master of Arts in Teaching degrees. In athletics, however, the two schools compete with separate teams, known as the Hobart Statesmen and the...
, where he received a Bachelors Degree in music in 1969. While at Hobart, he played bass for the band "Lost and Found", fronted by Eric Bloom
Eric Bloom
Eric Bloom is an American singer, songwriter and musician. He is best known as the main vocalist, and "stunt guitar" for the long-running band Blue Öyster Cult, with work on over 20 albums...
, with whom he would later collaborate on songs for Bloom's band Blue Öyster Cult
Blue Öyster Cult
Blue Öyster Cult, often abbreviated BÖC, is an American rock band, most of whose members first came together in Long Island, NY in 1967 as the band Soft White Underbelly...
.
From 1972 to 1979, he played for Broadway shows such as Grease
Grease (musical)
Grease is a 1971 musical by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey. The musical is named for the 1950s United States working-class youth subculture known as the greasers. The musical, set in 1959 at fictional Rydell High School , follows ten working-class teenagers as they navigate the complexities of love,...
which is where in 1976 he met his future wife, fellow musician Elizabeth (Liz) Myers. In 1980, he went on to study Film and Television Post-Production at UCLA, In the early 1980s, he was also a member of the Vancouver-based band Prism
Prism (band)
Prism is a Canadian rock band originally from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. They were active from 1977 to 1984 and are active again from 1988 to present. The band's sound is a mix of Album-Oriented Rock and pop rock. They have released a total of 13 albums to date...
, signed with Capitol Records
Capitol Records
Capitol Records is a major United States based record label, formerly located in Los Angeles, but operating in New York City as part of Capitol Music Group. Its former headquarters building, the Capitol Tower, is a major landmark near the corner of Hollywood and Vine...
. He has played with four Grammy award winners, Janis Ian, Mary Travers, Peter Allen and Tina Turner
Tina Turner
Tina Turner is an American singer and actress whose career has spanned more than 50 years. She has won numerous awards and her achievements in the rock music genre have led many to call her the "Queen of Rock 'n' Roll".Turner started out her music career with husband Ike Turner as a member of the...
with whom he recorded on "Private Dancer". His playing is featured in the Turner song "Total Control" from the "We Are the World
We Are the World
"We Are the World" is a song and charity single originally recorded by the supergroup USA for Africa in 1985. It was written by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie, and produced by Quincy Jones and Michael Omartian for the album We Are the World...
" record.
Trivers and his wife relocated to Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
and started a commercial music business, Trivers-Myers Music, which has written well-known themes such as that used on the CBS Evening News
CBS Evening News
CBS Evening News is the flagship nightly television news program of the American television network CBS. The network has broadcast this program since 1948, and has used the CBS Evening News title since 1963....
, and the award-winning Apple Computer
1984 (television commercial)
"1984" is an American television commercial which introduced the Apple Macintosh personal computer for the first time. It was conceived by Steve Hayden, Brent Thomas and Lee Clow at Chiat/Day, Venice, produced by New York production company Fairbanks Films, and directed by Ridley Scott. Anya Major...
Macintosh campaign which was directed by Ridley Scott
Ridley Scott
Sir Ridley Scott is an English film director and producer. His most famous films include The Duellists , Alien , Blade Runner , Legend , Thelma & Louise , G. I...
and Adrien Lyne. In 2004, they scored an animated commercial for United Airlines
United Airlines
United Air Lines, Inc., is the world's largest airline with 86,852 employees United Air Lines, Inc., is the world's largest airline with 86,852 employees United Air Lines, Inc., is the world's largest airline with 86,852 employees (which includes the entire holding company United Continental...
which was first broadcast during the Academy Awards
Academy Awards
An Academy Award, also known as an Oscar, is an accolade bestowed by the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to recognize excellence of professionals in the film industry, including directors, actors, and writers...
and has since been displayed on exhibit at various art museums. The music was an arrangement of George Gershwin
George Gershwin
George Gershwin was an American composer and pianist. Gershwin's compositions spanned both popular and classical genres, and his most popular melodies are widely known...
's "Rhapsody in Blue" and was recorded at Capitol Records
Capitol Records
Capitol Records is a major United States based record label, formerly located in Los Angeles, but operating in New York City as part of Capitol Music Group. Its former headquarters building, the Capitol Tower, is a major landmark near the corner of Hollywood and Vine...
with 40 members of the Los Angeles Philharmonic
Los Angeles Philharmonic
The Los Angeles Philharmonic is an American orchestra based in Los Angeles, California, United States. It has a regular season of concerts from October through June at the Walt Disney Concert Hall, and a summer season at the Hollywood Bowl from July through September...
orchestra.
In 2008, they composed the soundtracks for five United Airlines commercials created especially for the Beijing Games. "Heart" featured a two-piano composition performed by American jazz legend Herbie Hancock and Chinese classical superstar Lang Lang. The music was written and produced by John Trivers and Elizabeth Myers.
Awards
- 1998, Composer (with Liz MyersLiz MyersElizabeth Myers is an American musician, composer, pianist and singer. She co-wrote the Eddie Money song "Shakin'", but is best-known for her collaborations with her husband, John Trivers on the music for several award-winning commercials and films...
and Jim CoxJim CoxThe Honourable James Glennister "Jim" Cox is a former Tasmanian Labor politician and member of the Tasmanian House of Assembly in the electorate of Bass. He was first elected in the 1989 election...
) for Best Western International "Manhattan" commercial, Clio Award, Television/Cinema, Certificate - 1997, Composer (with Mark IshamMark IshamMark Isham is an American trumpeter, synthesist, and film composer. He works in a variety of genres, including jazz, electronic, and film.-Life and career:...
) for Saturn Corporation ads "The Lift", "Tourist Attraction", "Secret Car". Clio Award, Television/Cinema - 1996, Arranger/Composer (with Liz Myers), Blue Cross / Blue Shield "The Delivery", Clio Award, TV/Cinema
- 1988, Composer, Olympic Stain "Blueprint", U.S. Television/Cinema, Clio Winner
- 1986, Composer, SunkistSunkistSunkist may refer to:* Sunkist , a brand of carbonated soft drink made under license from Sunkist Growers, Inc.* Sunkist Growers, Incorporated, a citrus growers cooperative* Sunkist Kids, an American wrestling club...
"Stamp Factory", U.S. Television, Clio Winner
Works
- (playing bass) Private DancerPrivate DancerPrivate Dancer is the fifth solo album by Tina Turner, released on Capitol Records in 1984, which became her breakthrough solo album. Turner's success with the album came after several challenging years of going solo after a public divorce from husband and performing partner Ike Turner. It is her...
- Tina TurnerTina TurnerTina Turner is an American singer and actress whose career has spanned more than 50 years. She has won numerous awards and her achievements in the rock music genre have led many to call her the "Queen of Rock 'n' Roll".Turner started out her music career with husband Ike Turner as a member of the...
, 1982- "Rock'n Roll Widow", "When I Was Young"
- (playing bass) USA for AfricaUSA for AfricaUSA for Africa was the name under which forty-seven predominantly U.S. artists, led by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie, recorded the hit single "We Are the World" in 1985. The song was a US and UK Number One for the collective in April of that year...
- We Are the World- "Total Control" with Tina Turner
- (playing bass) "Dark Angel", 1972, with Donald Roeser (Buck Dharma)Buck DharmaDonald "Buck Dharma" Roeser is an American guitarist and songwriter, best known for being a member of Blue Öyster Cult since the group's formation in 1967...
, Albert BouchardAlbert BouchardAlbert Bouchard and grew up in Clayton, New York. He is a drummer, guitarist, singer and songwriter. He was a founding member of Blue Öyster Cult and a driving force through the band's first decade...
and Les Braunstein from "Soft White Underbelly" http://www.lesvegas.com/foolsgld.html
with Blue Öyster Cult
- Mirrors, 1979
- The Great Sun Jester (with Michael MoorcockMichael MoorcockMichael John Moorcock is an English writer, primarily of science fiction and fantasy, who has also published a number of literary novels....
and Eric BloomEric BloomEric Bloom is an American singer, songwriter and musician. He is best known as the main vocalist, and "stunt guitar" for the long-running band Blue Öyster Cult, with work on over 20 albums...
)
- The Great Sun Jester (with Michael Moorcock
- Cultosaurus ErectusCultösaurus ErectusCultösaurus Erectus is the seventh Blue Öyster Cult album released in 1980. Following the experiment with Mirrors, it was an attempt to return to the band's earlier hard-rock sound...
, 1980- Black Blade (with Michael MoorcockMichael MoorcockMichael John Moorcock is an English writer, primarily of science fiction and fantasy, who has also published a number of literary novels....
and Eric BloomEric BloomEric Bloom is an American singer, songwriter and musician. He is best known as the main vocalist, and "stunt guitar" for the long-running band Blue Öyster Cult, with work on over 20 albums...
)
- Black Blade (with Michael Moorcock
- Fire of Unknown OriginFire of Unknown OriginFire of Unknown Origin is the eighth album by Blue Öyster Cult, released in 1981. It was produced by Martin Birch.The album, which included the top 40 hit "Burnin' for You" represented a resurgence of the group's commercial standing after two albums with disappointing sales...
, 1981- Sole Survivor (with Eric Bloom and L. Myers)
- After Dark (with Eric Bloom and L. Myers)
- Curse of the Hidden MirrorCurse of the Hidden MirrorCurse of the Hidden Mirror is the twelfth studio album by the American hard rock band Blue Öyster Cult, released in 2001. The only single from the record was the poorly received "Pocket". Lackluster sales led to the band being dropped by their label, Sanctuary Records...
, 2003- Showtime (with Eric Bloom)
with Elizabeth Myers
- Score for the film Birch Street Gym, directed by Steven Kessler for Chanticleer Films and nominated for an Academy AwardAcademy AwardsAn Academy Award, also known as an Oscar, is an accolade bestowed by the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to recognize excellence of professionals in the film industry, including directors, actors, and writers...
in 1993 in the "Short Film" category - Theme for the "CBS Evening News with Dan Rather" (with Alan Pasqua)
- 1998, Score for Norma Jean, Jack & Me, directed by Cyrus NowrastehCyrus NowrastehCyrus Nowrasteh , born September 19, 1956, is an American screenwriter and director of theatrical films, television shows, and made-for-TV movies. He is best known for his involvement in the controversial docudrama The Path to 9/11.- Biography :...
for New Path Pictures - 2000, Score for Broke Even, directed by David FeldmanDavid FeldmanDavid Feldman may refer to:*David Feldman *David Feldman , author of the Imponderables series*David Feldman , Irish philatelist and chairman of Swiss philatelic auction company, David Feldman SA...
, which won the award for Best Drama at the 2000 New York Independent Film festival - 2001, Score for the Oliver StoneOliver StoneWilliam Oliver Stone is an American film director, producer and screenwriter. Stone became well known in the late 1980s and the early 1990s for directing a series of films about the Vietnam War, for which he had previously participated as an infantry soldier. His work frequently focuses on...
-produced TV movie The Day Reagan Was Shot