Marion Meadows
Encyclopedia
Marion Meadows is an American tenor saxophonist, soprano saxophonist, composer, and smooth jazz
recording artist of Native American
, African American
and Caucasian
descent. Meadows has released a total of 9 albums to date.
and grew up in Stamford, Connecticut
. He began playing the clarinet and studying classical music at the age of eight. In high school, Meadows began to play the soprano saxophone and played tenor through most of his college years. His passion for music led him to appreciate the work of many jazz musicians such as Stevie Wonder
and Duke Ellington
. After studying jazz with Anthony Truglia, Meadows attended Berklee College of Music
, where he majored in arranging and composition. He later went to the SUNY Purchase School for the Arts, where he studied under Ron Herder.
who was working with Bob James
at the time introduced himself and later signed Marion to his record label, TappanZee. Although Meadows’ first recording went unreleased, the experience of recording with Bob James put him on the road to his eventual success.
Meadows collaborated up with numerous artists and musicians in the 80s, recording or performing over the years with Brook Benton
, Eartha Kitt
, Phyllis Hyman
, Jean Carne
, The Temptations
, Michael Bolton
, Angela Bofill
, Will Downing
and Native American flute player Douglas Spotted Eagle
, among others.
Other albums
Smooth jazz
Smooth jazz is a genre of music that grew out of jazz fusion and is influenced by R&B, funk, rock, and pop music styles ....
recording artist of Native American
Indigenous peoples of the Americas
The indigenous peoples of the Americas are the pre-Columbian inhabitants of North and South America, their descendants and other ethnic groups who are identified with those peoples. Indigenous peoples are known in Canada as Aboriginal peoples, and in the United States as Native Americans...
, African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
and Caucasian
Caucasian race
The term Caucasian race has been used to denote the general physical type of some or all of the populations of Europe, North Africa, the Horn of Africa, Western Asia , Central Asia and South Asia...
descent. Meadows has released a total of 9 albums to date.
Upbringing
Meadows was born in West VirginiaWest Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
and grew up in Stamford, Connecticut
Stamford, Connecticut
Stamford is a city in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. According to the 2010 census, the population of the city is 122,643, making it the fourth largest city in the state and the eighth largest city in New England...
. He began playing the clarinet and studying classical music at the age of eight. In high school, Meadows began to play the soprano saxophone and played tenor through most of his college years. His passion for music led him to appreciate the work of many jazz musicians such as Stevie Wonder
Stevie Wonder
Stevland Hardaway Morris , better known by his stage name Stevie Wonder, is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer and activist...
and Duke Ellington
Duke Ellington
Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington was an American composer, pianist, and big band leader. Ellington wrote over 1,000 compositions...
. After studying jazz with Anthony Truglia, Meadows attended Berklee College of Music
Berklee College of Music
Berklee College of Music, located in Boston, Massachusetts, is the largest independent college of contemporary music in the world. Known primarily as a school for jazz, rock and popular music, it also offers college-level courses in a wide range of contemporary and historic styles, including hip...
, where he majored in arranging and composition. He later went to the SUNY Purchase School for the Arts, where he studied under Ron Herder.
Career with TappanZee Records
During college, Meadows was with a band called the Aboriginal Music Society. Meadows was playing in Grand Central Station and Jay ChattawayJay Chattaway
Jay Chattaway is an American composer of film and television scores. He is mainly known for his work as score composer for several Star Trek television series: Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Star Trek: Voyager, and Star Trek: Enterprise...
who was working with Bob James
Bob James (musician)
Robert McElhiney James is a jazz keyboardist, arranger and producer.-Biography:During the 1970s, Bob James played a major role in establishing the smooth jazz genre. "Angela", the instrumental theme from the sitcom Taxi, is probably Bob James' most well-known work to date...
at the time introduced himself and later signed Marion to his record label, TappanZee. Although Meadows’ first recording went unreleased, the experience of recording with Bob James put him on the road to his eventual success.
Meadows collaborated up with numerous artists and musicians in the 80s, recording or performing over the years with Brook Benton
Brook Benton
Brook Benton was an American singer and songwriter who was popular with rock and roll, rhythm and blues, and pop music audiences during the late 1950s and early 1960s, when he scored hits such as "It's Just A Matter Of Time" and "Endlessly", many of which he co-wrote.He made a comeback in 1970...
, Eartha Kitt
Eartha Kitt
Eartha Mae Kitt was an American singer, actress, and cabaret star. She was perhaps best known for her highly distinctive singing style and her 1953 hit recordings of "C'est Si Bon" and the enduring Christmas novelty smash "Santa Baby." Orson Welles once called her the "most exciting woman in the...
, Phyllis Hyman
Phyllis Hyman
Phyllis Linda Hyman was an American soul singer and actress.-Early years:Phyllis Hyman was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and grew up in the St. Clair Village, the South Hills section of Pittsburgh...
, Jean Carne
Jean Carne
Jean Carn is an American jazz and pop singer known for her unique vocalising and her impressive interpretative and improvisational skills...
, The Temptations
The Temptations
The Temptations is an American vocal group having achieved fame as one of the most successful acts to record for Motown Records. The group's repertoire has included, at various times during its five-decade career, R&B, doo-wop, funk, disco, soul, and adult contemporary music.Formed in Detroit,...
, Michael Bolton
Michael Bolton
Michael Bolton is an American singer and songwriter. Bolton originally performed in the hard rock and heavy metal genres from the mid 1970s to the mid 1980s, both on his early solo albums and those recorded as the frontman of the band Blackjack...
, Angela Bofill
Angela Bofill
Angela Bofill is an American R&B vocalist and songwriter.Bofill was born to a Cuban father and a Puerto Rican mother; one of the first Latina singers to find success in the R&B market.She performed with Ricardo Marrero & the Group and Dance Theater of Harlem chorus prior to her 1978 debut album,...
, Will Downing
Will Downing
Will Downing , is an American singer-songwriter and producer. Downing is known in the contemporary jazz and R&B music genres for his rich baritone vocals, and his interpretations of R&B and pop classics that stretch back to the early 1980s...
and Native American flute player Douglas Spotted Eagle
Douglas Spotted Eagle
Douglas Spotted Eagle, is a Grammy-winning musician, noted for his live and recorded performances on the traditional Native American flute, sometimes accompanied by either traditional Navajo singers and instrumentalists or a modern band...
, among others.
Discography
- For Lovers OnlyFor Lovers Only (Marion Meadows album)For Lovers Only is the debut album by Marion Meadows, released in 1990.-Track listing:#"I Found a New Love" - 5:22 #"Forbidden Love" - 5:45#"Sleepless Nights" - 5:18 #"For Lovers Only" -3:30 #"The Real Thing" - 5:08...
(1990) - Keep It Right HereKeep It Right Here-Track listing:#"Wishing" - 5:13#"In Effect" - 3:49#"Love Was Never" - 5:04#"Morocco" - 4:57#"Come Back to Me" - 5:35#"Color of Love" - 5:03#"Keep It Right There" -5:02#"Oh Yes" - 4:47#"Heaven" - 1:17#"Good Lovin'" - 5:14#"When Will I Know" - 5:31...
(1992) - Forbidden FruitForbidden Fruit (Marion Meadows album)Forbidden Fruit is an album by Marion Meadows, released in 1994.-Track listing:#"Red Light" - 5:12#"You're Always on My Mind" Morgan - 4:52#"Asha" - 5:56#"Forbidden Fruit" - 5:47#"Whenever Your Heart Wants to Sing" - 4:41...
(1994) - Body Rhythm (1995)
- Pleasure (1997)
- Another Side of Midnight (1999)
- Next To YouNext to You"Next to You" is a song written by Sting and recorded by The Police as the opening track on their debut album Outlandos d'Amour in 1978.The song was performed regularly on the early Police tours, and Sting later included it during his 'Broken Music' tour in 2005–2006. It was the song performed for...
(2000) - In Deep (2002)
- Player's Club (2004)
- Dressed To Chill (2006)
- Secrets (2009)
Other albums
- Merry Arizona 97: Desert Stars Shine at ChristmasMerry Arizona 97: Desert Stars Shine at ChristmasAdditional notes* "O Come All Ye Faithful" was previously released by Eddie M on MoJazz Records* "The Little Drummer Boy" was previously released by The Phoenix Boys Choir on New Haven Records-Credits and personnel:* Otto D'Agnolo - producer, arranger, engineer...
(1997)
External links
- Official Page
- [ All Music Profile]