Richard Gannaway
Encyclopedia
Richard Gannaway is a composer, producer, recording artist who founded the world
/new age
musical group
Aomusic
(also known as AO
). The group features Miriam Stockley
, the voice of Karl Jenkins
' "Adiemus
" project, whose recording credits include Tina Turner
, Chaka Khan
, George Michael
, Freddie Mercury
, Deniece Williams
, Mike Oldfield
, Brian May
and David Arkenstone
. Jazz keyboardist / producer, Jay Oliver
is also a member of the group, whose credits include Sheryl Crow
, The Eagles, Jimmy Buffett
, Wynona Judd, Glenn Frey
, Chick Corea
, Peabo Bryson
, Dave Weckl
and Maynard Ferguson
. Gannaway founded Aomusic
's indie label, AO Music/Arcturian Gate
and its non-profit affiliate AO Foundation International.
During the seventies and early eighties Gannaway toured in acoustic
ensembles as a 5-string banjo player. He moved to Los Angeles
in 1986 as a composer
and formed the rock group Tiger & the Helix
in 1990 with guitarist
Andy Georges and drummer
Mike Lawrence. The band released the album Peace Face
on Arcturian Gate
in 1994, which also featured Keyboardist
Jay Oliver
. Gannaway toured Helix throughout Western Europe
with backing musicians from Canada
for three years before retiring the project in 1997 while developing the sound for Aomusic
's debut release "Grow Wild
" with Jay Oliver
.
In 2001 Gannaway and Oliver
were invited to China
by CRC
(the China Record Corporation
) and introduced to the Beijing Olympic Committee, who asked them to compose theme music for the 2008 Summer Games. Ultimately, the Aomusic
song ("On Jai Ya
") was not selected as the 2008 Olympic theme. In 2009 the song was released on Aomusic
's second album "Twirl
", and chosen as soundtrack
music for the 2011 promotional trailer Project Peace on Earth
.
With the release of their third Aomusic
album "...and Love Rages on!
" in Feb. 2011, Gannaway formally aligned the group with one of the many charities under the FirstGiving / GlobalGiving
umbrellas. The FirstGiving / Aomusic
alliance is specifically organized to build sustainable villages for the children of Haiti
who were displaced by an earthquake
in 2010, and represents the first association of its kind for AO Foundation International.
World music
World music is a term with widely varying definitions, often encompassing music which is primarily identified as another genre. This is evidenced by world music definitions such as "all of the music in the world" or "somebody else's local music"...
/new age
New Age music
New Age music is music of various styles intended to create artistic inspiration, relaxation, and optimism. It is used by listeners for yoga, massage, meditation, and reading as a method of stress management or to create a peaceful atmosphere in their home or other environments, and is often...
musical group
Band (music)
In music, a musical ensemble or band is a group of musicians that works together to perform music. The following articles concern types of musical bands:* All-female band* Big band* Boy band* Christian band* Church band* Concert band* Cover band...
Aomusic
Aomusic
AOMUSIC, is a pan-cultural world/new age musical group, known for an exotic blend of ethnic texture, rhythmic energy and ambient harmony. Their compositions employ melodic refrains, sung by Miriam Stockley , and children’s choral ensembles from around the globe...
(also known as AO
Aomusic
AOMUSIC, is a pan-cultural world/new age musical group, known for an exotic blend of ethnic texture, rhythmic energy and ambient harmony. Their compositions employ melodic refrains, sung by Miriam Stockley , and children’s choral ensembles from around the globe...
). The group features Miriam Stockley
Miriam Stockley
Miriam Stockley is a British singer. She was born in Johannesburg, South Africa, and her work is influenced by the African music in her home country. Her unique vocalese style gained international acclaim when Karl Jenkins' launched the "Adiemus" project with "Songs of Sanctuary", featuring...
, the voice of Karl Jenkins
Karl Jenkins
-Other works:*Adiemus: Live — live versions of Adiemus music*Palladio *Eloise *Imagined Oceans *The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace...
' "Adiemus
Adiemus
-Concept:Each Adiemus album is a collection of song-length pieces featuring harmonised vocal melody against an orchestral background. There are no lyrics as such: instead the vocalists sing syllables and 'words' invented by Jenkins...
" project, whose recording credits include 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...
, Chaka Khan
Chaka Khan
Chaka Khan , frequently known as the Queen of Funk, is a 10-time Grammy Award winning American singer-songwriter who gained fame in the 1970s as the frontwoman and focal point of the funk band Rufus. While still a member of the group in 1978, Khan embarked on a successful solo career...
, George Michael
George Michael
George Michael is a British musician, singer, songwriter and record producer who rose to fame in the 1980s when he formed the pop duo Wham! with his school friend, Andrew Ridgeley...
, Freddie Mercury
Freddie Mercury
Freddie Mercury was a British musician, singer and songwriter, best known as the lead vocalist of the rock band Queen. As a performer, he was known for his flamboyant stage persona and powerful vocals over a four-octave range...
, Deniece Williams
Deniece Williams
June Deniece Chandler known by her stage name Deniece Williams is an American Grammy Award-winning singer, songwriter and record producer who achieved success in the 1970s and 1980s...
, Mike Oldfield
Mike Oldfield
Michael Gordon Oldfield is an English multi-instrumentalist musician and composer, working a style that blends progressive rock, folk, ethnic or world music, classical music, electronic music, New Age, and more recently, dance. His music is often elaborate and complex in nature...
, Brian May
Brian May
Brian Harold May, CBE is an English musician and astrophysicist most widely known as the guitarist and a songwriter of the rock band Queen...
and David Arkenstone
David Arkenstone
David Arkenstone is an American New Age musician. His music is primarily instrumental, with occasional vocalizations. He was born in Chicago, Illinois on July 1, 1952. He has three children—Quillon, Dashiell and Valinor—with his first wife, Julie...
. Jazz keyboardist / producer, Jay Oliver
Jay Oliver
Jay Oliver is an American jazz musician , composer, record producer, programmer & engineer; residing in Los Angeles. He began his professional music career at the age of 19 as the youngest member of Maynard Ferguson’s band...
is also a member of the group, whose credits include Sheryl Crow
Sheryl Crow
Sheryl Suzanne Crow is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, musician, and actress. Her music incorporates elements of rock, folk, hip hop, country and pop...
, The Eagles, Jimmy Buffett
Jimmy Buffett
James William "Jimmy" Buffett is a singer-songwriter, author, entrepreneur, and film producer. He is best known for his music, which often portrays an "island escapism" lifestyle. Together with his Coral Reefer Band, Buffett's musical hits include "Margaritaville" , and "Come Monday"...
, Wynona Judd, Glenn Frey
Glenn Frey
Glenn Lewis Frey is an American musician, singer, songwriter, and actor, best known as a founding member of the Eagles. Frey formed the Eagles after he met drummer Don Henley in 1970 and the two eventually joined Linda Ronstadt's backup band for her summer tour. The Eagles formed in 1971 and...
, Chick Corea
Chick Corea
Armando Anthony "Chick" Corea is an American jazz pianist, keyboardist, and composer.Many of his compositions are considered jazz standards. As a member of Miles Davis' band in the 1960s, he participated in the birth of the electric jazz fusion movement. In the 1970s he formed Return to Forever...
, Peabo Bryson
Peabo Bryson
Peabo Bryson is an American R&B and soul singer-songwriter, born in Greenville, South Carolina...
, Dave Weckl
Dave Weckl
Dave Weckl is a highly acclaimed jazz fusion drummer. Weckl attended Francis Howell High School in St. Charles, MO and graduated in 1978. He majored in jazz studies at the University of Bridgeport in Connecticut...
and Maynard Ferguson
Maynard Ferguson
Maynard Ferguson was a Canadian jazz musician and bandleader. He came to prominence playing in Stan Kenton's orchestra, before forming his own band in 1957...
. Gannaway founded Aomusic
Aomusic
AOMUSIC, is a pan-cultural world/new age musical group, known for an exotic blend of ethnic texture, rhythmic energy and ambient harmony. Their compositions employ melodic refrains, sung by Miriam Stockley , and children’s choral ensembles from around the globe...
's indie label, AO Music/Arcturian Gate
Arcturian Gate
Arcturian Gate is a record label founded in 1994 by AOMUSIC's Richard Gannaway under the LLC "AO Music". In addition to its function as an independent label, AO Music / Arcturian Gate is also the publishing entity for its artists...
and its non-profit affiliate AO Foundation International.
During the seventies and early eighties Gannaway toured in acoustic
Acoustic music
Acoustic music comprises music that solely or primarily uses instruments which produce sound through entirely acoustic means, as opposed to electric or electronic means...
ensembles as a 5-string banjo player. He moved 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...
in 1986 as a composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
and formed the rock group Tiger & the Helix
Tiger & the Helix
Tiger & the Helix was a Los Angeles based rock group that formed in the early nineties, fronted by Richard Gannaway, who later founded the acclaimed world music project Aomusic. The group also featured keyboardist, Jay Oliver, whose other credits include Sheryl Crow, The Eagles, Jimmy Buffett,...
in 1990 with guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
Andy Georges and drummer
Drummer
A drummer is a musician who is capable of playing drums, which includes but is not limited to a drum kit and accessory based hardware which includes an assortment of pedals and standing support mechanisms, marching percussion and/or any musical instrument that is struck within the context of a...
Mike Lawrence. The band released the album Peace Face
Peace Face
Peace Face is a studio album from Tiger & the Helix, released September 21, 1994, through Arcturian Gate.-Track listing:# "Love is the Only Way" - 3:57# "Unknown Worlds" - 4:25# "Moonfire" - 4:05# "Somewhere Blue" - 4:08# "Imaginary Fire" - 3:53...
on Arcturian Gate
Arcturian Gate
Arcturian Gate is a record label founded in 1994 by AOMUSIC's Richard Gannaway under the LLC "AO Music". In addition to its function as an independent label, AO Music / Arcturian Gate is also the publishing entity for its artists...
in 1994, which also featured Keyboardist
Keyboardist
A keyboardist is a musician who plays keyboard instruments. Until the early 1960s musicians who played keyboards were generally classified as either pianists or organists. Since the mid-1960s, a plethora of new musical instruments with keyboards have come into common usage, requiring a more...
Jay Oliver
Jay Oliver
Jay Oliver is an American jazz musician , composer, record producer, programmer & engineer; residing in Los Angeles. He began his professional music career at the age of 19 as the youngest member of Maynard Ferguson’s band...
. Gannaway toured Helix throughout Western Europe
Western Europe
Western Europe is a loose term for the collection of countries in the western most region of the European continents, though this definition is context-dependent and carries cultural and political connotations. One definition describes Western Europe as a geographic entity—the region lying in the...
with backing musicians from Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
for three years before retiring the project in 1997 while developing the sound for Aomusic
Aomusic
AOMUSIC, is a pan-cultural world/new age musical group, known for an exotic blend of ethnic texture, rhythmic energy and ambient harmony. Their compositions employ melodic refrains, sung by Miriam Stockley , and children’s choral ensembles from around the globe...
's debut release "Grow Wild
Grow Wild
Grow Wild is the debut album from Aomusic, released March 21, 2000, through AO Music / Arcturian Gate.-Track listing:# "AO" - 1:29# "Chameleon Makebelieve" - 5:22# "Haumea" - 5:35# "Grow Wild" - 2:12# "Helios" - 3:44# "Little Dove's Reel" - :17...
" with Jay Oliver
Jay Oliver
Jay Oliver is an American jazz musician , composer, record producer, programmer & engineer; residing in Los Angeles. He began his professional music career at the age of 19 as the youngest member of Maynard Ferguson’s band...
.
In 2001 Gannaway and Oliver
Jay Oliver
Jay Oliver is an American jazz musician , composer, record producer, programmer & engineer; residing in Los Angeles. He began his professional music career at the age of 19 as the youngest member of Maynard Ferguson’s band...
were invited to China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
by CRC
China Record Corporation
China Record Corporation is the Chinese government's oldest and largest record company. CRC's catalog of traditional Chinese ethnic, classical and folk music features over 60,000 releases spanning some 5,000 years of Chinese musical history, and includes the world-renowned Peking operas and a...
(the China Record Corporation
China Record Corporation
China Record Corporation is the Chinese government's oldest and largest record company. CRC's catalog of traditional Chinese ethnic, classical and folk music features over 60,000 releases spanning some 5,000 years of Chinese musical history, and includes the world-renowned Peking operas and a...
) and introduced to the Beijing Olympic Committee, who asked them to compose theme music for the 2008 Summer Games. Ultimately, the Aomusic
Aomusic
AOMUSIC, is a pan-cultural world/new age musical group, known for an exotic blend of ethnic texture, rhythmic energy and ambient harmony. Their compositions employ melodic refrains, sung by Miriam Stockley , and children’s choral ensembles from around the globe...
song ("On Jai Ya
On Jai Ya
"On Jai Ya" is a World music composition by Richard Gannaway, Jay Oliver and Miriam Stockley that appeared on the Aomusic album Twirl in 2009, featuring the CRC Children's Choir from Beijing. The piece was originally written as Olympic theme music at the request of the Beijing Olympic Committee for...
") was not selected as the 2008 Olympic theme. In 2009 the song was released on Aomusic
Aomusic
AOMUSIC, is a pan-cultural world/new age musical group, known for an exotic blend of ethnic texture, rhythmic energy and ambient harmony. Their compositions employ melodic refrains, sung by Miriam Stockley , and children’s choral ensembles from around the globe...
's second album "Twirl
Twirl (world music album)
Twirl is the second studio album from Aomusic, released Feb 17, 2009 through AO Music / Arcturian Gate.-Track listing:# "On Jai Ya" - 6:32# "Tayeh Kayoh" - 4:26# "Drops & Sparks" - 5:52# "Obayo" - 6:30# "Yei Ha" - 5:41# "Na Ha Ye" - 6:17...
", and chosen as soundtrack
Soundtrack
A soundtrack can be recorded music accompanying and synchronized to the images of a motion picture, book, television program or video game; a commercially released soundtrack album of music as featured in the soundtrack of a film or TV show; or the physical area of a film that contains the...
music for the 2011 promotional trailer Project Peace on Earth
Peace on Earth
Peace on Earth may refer to:*Peace on Earth, a phrase meaning the concept of world peace*The Biblical phrase "Peace on Earth, good will to men" used in the Annunciation to the shepherds...
.
With the release of their third Aomusic
Aomusic
AOMUSIC, is a pan-cultural world/new age musical group, known for an exotic blend of ethnic texture, rhythmic energy and ambient harmony. Their compositions employ melodic refrains, sung by Miriam Stockley , and children’s choral ensembles from around the globe...
album "...and Love Rages on!
...and Love Rages on!
...and Love Rages On! is the third studio album from Aomusic, released Feb 15, 2011 through AO Music / Arcturian Gate.-Track listing:# "Gaiya Lo Mane" – 5:52# "In Lake'ch" – 5:58# "Shen Deni" – 5:14# "Ena Na Lena" – 6:44...
" in Feb. 2011, Gannaway formally aligned the group with one of the many charities under the FirstGiving / GlobalGiving
GlobalGiving
GlobalGiving is an online marketplace that connects donors with grassroots projects in the developing world. Potential donors can browse and select from a wide offering of projects, organized by geography or by themes such as health care, the environment, and education...
umbrellas. The FirstGiving / Aomusic
Aomusic
AOMUSIC, is a pan-cultural world/new age musical group, known for an exotic blend of ethnic texture, rhythmic energy and ambient harmony. Their compositions employ melodic refrains, sung by Miriam Stockley , and children’s choral ensembles from around the globe...
alliance is specifically organized to build sustainable villages for the children of Haiti
Haiti
Haiti , officially the Republic of Haiti , is a Caribbean country. It occupies the western, smaller portion of the island of Hispaniola, in the Greater Antillean archipelago, which it shares with the Dominican Republic. Ayiti was the indigenous Taíno or Amerindian name for the island...
who were displaced by an earthquake
Earthquake
An earthquake is the result of a sudden release of energy in the Earth's crust that creates seismic waves. The seismicity, seismism or seismic activity of an area refers to the frequency, type and size of earthquakes experienced over a period of time...
in 2010, and represents the first association of its kind for AO Foundation International.
Discography
- Tiger & the HelixTiger & the HelixTiger & the Helix was a Los Angeles based rock group that formed in the early nineties, fronted by Richard Gannaway, who later founded the acclaimed world music project Aomusic. The group also featured keyboardist, Jay Oliver, whose other credits include Sheryl Crow, The Eagles, Jimmy Buffett,...
- "Peace FacePeace FacePeace Face is a studio album from Tiger & the Helix, released September 21, 1994, through Arcturian Gate.-Track listing:# "Love is the Only Way" - 3:57# "Unknown Worlds" - 4:25# "Moonfire" - 4:05# "Somewhere Blue" - 4:08# "Imaginary Fire" - 3:53...
" (1994) - AomusicAomusicAOMUSIC, is a pan-cultural world/new age musical group, known for an exotic blend of ethnic texture, rhythmic energy and ambient harmony. Their compositions employ melodic refrains, sung by Miriam Stockley , and children’s choral ensembles from around the globe...
- "Grow WildGrow WildGrow Wild is the debut album from Aomusic, released March 21, 2000, through AO Music / Arcturian Gate.-Track listing:# "AO" - 1:29# "Chameleon Makebelieve" - 5:22# "Haumea" - 5:35# "Grow Wild" - 2:12# "Helios" - 3:44# "Little Dove's Reel" - :17...
" (2000) - AomusicAomusicAOMUSIC, is a pan-cultural world/new age musical group, known for an exotic blend of ethnic texture, rhythmic energy and ambient harmony. Their compositions employ melodic refrains, sung by Miriam Stockley , and children’s choral ensembles from around the globe...
- "TwirlTwirl (world music album)Twirl is the second studio album from Aomusic, released Feb 17, 2009 through AO Music / Arcturian Gate.-Track listing:# "On Jai Ya" - 6:32# "Tayeh Kayoh" - 4:26# "Drops & Sparks" - 5:52# "Obayo" - 6:30# "Yei Ha" - 5:41# "Na Ha Ye" - 6:17...
" (2009) - AomusicAomusicAOMUSIC, is a pan-cultural world/new age musical group, known for an exotic blend of ethnic texture, rhythmic energy and ambient harmony. Their compositions employ melodic refrains, sung by Miriam Stockley , and children’s choral ensembles from around the globe...
- "...and Love Rages on!...and Love Rages on!...and Love Rages On! is the third studio album from Aomusic, released Feb 15, 2011 through AO Music / Arcturian Gate.-Track listing:# "Gaiya Lo Mane" – 5:52# "In Lake'ch" – 5:58# "Shen Deni" – 5:14# "Ena Na Lena" – 6:44...
" (2011)