Geoff Levin

Last updated

Geoff Levin
Geoff Levin.jpg
Background information
Born (1945-09-14) September 14, 1945 (age 78)
San Francisco, California United States
OriginUnited States
Genres Rock, blues, film score, country, pop
Occupation(s) Composer, songwriter, producer, guitarist
Instruments Guitar, banjo, keyboards
Years active1964–present
Website geofflevin.com

Geoff Levin (born September 14, 1945) is an American rock musician, film/television composer and songwriter. Performing as part of the Black Mountain Boys with Jerry Garcia in the early years of his career, in 1968 his own group, People!, scored a hit record "I Love You" on Capital Records. [1] [2] Together with Geoffrey Lewis in 1970, he created Celestial Navigations, a storytelling group, that produced 8 albums, several made the Billboard (New Age) charts. He co-composed and co-produced "The Janitor", an Academy Award-nominated animated short based on a story by Geoffrey Lewis from the album Celestial Navigations . [3] [4] [5] Levin has scored over 40 full-length films and has created music used in many TV shows including The Sopranos , Chicago Fire , The Good Wife , Friends , Bloodline , SNL , Game of Thrones , Friday Night Lights , CSI , and Weeds . He co-wrote the theme song for Jakers , an Emmy and BAFTA Award-winning PBS animated series. In addition, he composed music for James Cameron's deep sea documentary, Last Mysteries of the Titanic. [6] In 2007, as part of People!, Levin was inducted into San Jose's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. [7] [8] [9]

Contents

Biography

Levin was born in San Francisco, California, to Manny Levin and Esther Bloom. Levin grew up in San Jose and attended Willow Glen High School. [10] He began playing the guitar at 16 and started performing at 17. [10] He performed regularly at Offstage, a folk club in San Jose founded by Paul Foster that later hosted artists including the Grateful Dead, Jefferson Airplane, Quicksilver Messenger Service, Jorma Kaukonen, Paul Kantner, Jerry Garcia [11] [12] David Freiberg and David Crosby, Odetta, Jesse Fuller, The Albin Brothers (members of Janis Joplin's band) and Malvina Reynolds. [10] Levin attended San Jose State University and performed with numerous artists including Jerry Garcia and the Black Mountain Boys and his own band, The Piney Creek Ramblers with his brother Robbie Levin. [10] [13]

In 2017, Levin's former band People! decided to come back together to start recording their new album which includes the single Eve of Destruction. Current members include, Gene Mason, Denny Fridkin, Robb Levin, Geoff Levin, and John Tristao. [14] [2] [15]

Career

People!

Levin is the former member of the rock band People!. [1]

Producing

Levin helped produced the album Tusks & Horns for artist Mayuka Thaïs which was released in May 2014. [16] [17] Levin and Thaïs performed the single off the album Tusks & Horns at the Global March for Elephants & Rhinos on October 4, 2014. [18]

Collaboration

For her exhibition held at the Carnegie Art Museum, Levin collaborated with artist Bobbie Moline-Kramer by adding auditory experience to complement the art pieces. [19] [20] [13]

Personal life

In 1975, Levin met Diana Canova and in 1976 they were married. They divorced in 1979. In 1993, Levin married Lisa London and had two children, son Collin, and daughter Savannah. Levin and London divorced in 2006. [10] Levin was a Scientologist for 30 years, even having served in the Sea Org., Scientology's religious order, aboard the Apollo. [21]

Discography

Film

YearTitleDirectorStudioNotes
1983The Measure of AmericaTom SolariSolari Communications
1987HeartJames Lemmo New World Pictures
1999Spies and Lovers Gary Graver International Investment Holdings Ltd.
1989Beyond the StarsDavid SapersteinFive Star Entertainment
1989DreamersRobert F. LyonsMidsummer Productions
1990Nerds of a Feather Gary Graver
1994Skins Wings Hauser Single Wing Productions
1995The JanitorVanessa SchwartzNational Film Board of Canada Academy Award-nominated animated short based on a story by Geoffrey Lewis from the album Celestial Navigations .
1997 I'll Be Home for Christmas Jerry London Fremantle Media North America
1997MobiusNoel SterrettAdmit One Pictures
1998Second Chances James Fargo Rhineberger Organization Inc.
1999Jimmy ZipRobert McGinley
1999A Kid Called DangerEric HendershotSpeedy Films
1999Wasted in BabylonJoshua McGowan
1999The Last Great RideRalph E. PortilloMosquito Productions
2000The Smokers Kat Slater International Production Company
2000The Black RoseSteven RushHandheld Productions
2001Extreme HonorSteven RushHandheld Productions
2002Bloody CrisisGerald BarclayGee-Bee Productions
2002Hungry HeartsRolf SchraderAscension 7 Films
2002HelloTom Cadman
2003Moving AlanChristopher SheltonDestiny Entertainment
2003The Ghost ClubRalph E. PortilloHemisphere Entertainment
2003The WagerHenry Crum
2003A.N.I. 1240Rolf Schrader American Film Institute
2003Double NegativeTue Walin Storm American Film Institute
2003UnderdogScott Leberecht
2003One of ThemRalph E. PortilloMTI Home Video
2003Natural SelectionScott Leberecht
2004Undercover KidsRalph E. PortilloHemisphere Entertainment
2004Quiet KillMark JonesEsoteric Pictures
2004Among ThievesOscar DanielsRed Sea Films
2004Haunted HouseConrad John
2005UnitedTaron LextonTXL Films
2005Searching for Bobby DPaul BorgheseNeighborhood Filmworks
2008KemperRick BitzelbergerMainline Releasing
2005Made for Each OtherBrad WhiteWhite Film Production
2005Last Mysteries of the TitanicNeil Flagg Discovery Channel
2005Confessions of a Pit FighterArt CamachoAlliance Group Entertainment
2006Strip PokerAlex D'LermaTostado Productions
2006House of the Rising SunBill BalasAYM Films
2006Who Made the Potatoe Salad?Coke DanielsDos Bros. LLC
2006Social Security GuardJason Cook
2007AgendaJonathan de la LuzAzisa Pictures
2007The Rat ThingKevin KereseyRelentless Productions
2007The Tehuacan ProjectAndrew LauerReel-Aid
2007BornRichard FriedmanDevil's Child Picture Company
2007From Fire: An Odyssey of GlassKaren LavenderLiveTribe Productions
2007Yours TrulyTom Wozny
2008The GriftRalph E. PortilloHemisphere Entertainment
2008 Triloquist Mark Jones Sawyers Levine Jones Productions
2008America's PhonelessTed PrescottPrince / Prescott Productions
2008Nine FourteenCarolyn Bevacqua
2009Set ApartRalph E. PortilloHemisphere Entertainment
2009Becoming Jesse TateRalph E. PortilloGodFilms
2009 Flying By Jim AmatulliArte Films
2009Spaceman on EarthShant Hamassian
2011Dreams AwakeJerry Alden DealSusan Johnston Casting
2011Midnight SonScott LeberechtFree Lunch Productions
2012HenryCollin Mckenzee Levin
2012iVOTERob Adler
2013Avec amourCollin Mckenzee Levin
2013Halfway to HellRichard FriedmanAPT. 1B Productions
2013The HomecomingJan TussingBlue Boots Entertainment
2013Noah HammerJoao Gabriel Kowalski
2013FlabbergastedBruno B. Campelo
2014 Finding Harmony Dagen MerrillOnce Upon A Dream
2016In Search of LibertyNorm NovitskyBlu Nile Films

Television

TitleYearNotes
Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour 1988-1989Paul Brownstein Productions
Street Sharks 1994-1996 DIC Entertainment
What if1996Barraclough Carey Productions
Perfect Assassins1998Promark Entertainment Group
Beauty 1998Citadel Entertainment
As Time Runs Out1999Fremantle Media North America
Riddle of the Desert Mummies1999Terra Nova Television
Sabrina, the Animated Series 1999 Buena Vista Television
K2: Surviving the Mountain2001 National Geographic Channel
Jakers! The Adventures of Piggley Winks 2003Entara Ltd.
UnDetectables2005 Discovery Channel
ChalkZone 2004-2005 Frederator Studios
Last Mysteries of the Titanic2005Last Mysteries of the Titanic
Random! Cartoons 2007 Frederator Studios

TV movies

YearTitleDirectorStudioNotes
1992The Price She PaidFred WaltonSandyhook Productions
1997 I'll Be Home for Christmas Jerry London Fremantle Media North America
1999As Time Runs OutJohn de Graaf
2001The Valley of the T-RexReuben Aaronson Discovery Channel

Documentary

YearTitleDirectorStudioNotes
2005Answering the Call: Ground Zero's VolunteersLou AngeliChesca Media Group LLC
2007 Google Me Killeen Films

Videos

TitleYearDirectorNotes
Hot Boyz2002 Master P No Limit Films
Far on Foot2001Stephanie R.M. SmithSisyphs Productions
Dark Wolf2003Richard FriedmanDarkWolf Picture Company LLC
One of Them2003N/AN/A
Maisie Undercover: Shadow Boxer2006J.W. McHausenMRG Entertainment
Succubus: Hell-Bent2007Kim BassV1 Cut Productions
Kemper2008 Rick Bitzelberger Mainline Releasing

Albums

TitleArtistYearRoleLabels
Little Wheel Spin and Spin Buffy Sainte-Marie 1966Lead guitar Vanguard
I Love You People! 1968Lead guitar Capital Records
Both Sides of People People! 1969Lead guitar Capital Records
Isle of View Jimmie Spheeris 1971Lead guitar CBS
Original Tap Dancing Kid Jimmie Spheeris 1973Lead guitar Epic
The Eloquent Elephant Dick Glass 1974Lead guitarMoonwatcher
Falling into Spring Rita Coolidge 1974Energy bow, dobro A&M Records
Wings Livinryte Wings Hauser 1975Elbow, Guitar RCA Victor
The Dragon Is Dancing Jimmy Spheeris 1975Lead guitar Epic
Port of the Heart Jimmy Spheeris 1976Lead guitarist Epic
Laverne and Shirley Sing Laverne and Shirley 1976SongwriterOh Gee!
Live at McCabes Larry McNeely, Geoff Levin, and Jack Skinner1977N/A Flying Fish
Confederation Larry McNeely, Geoff Levin, and Jack Skinner1977N/ASheffield Labs
Celestial Navigations Chapter 1 Celestial Navigations 1986N/A K-tel
Celestial Navigations Chapter 2 Celestial Navigations 1989N/AN/A
After Midnight Larry McNeely, Geoff Levin, and Jack Skinner1990N/ASheffield Labs
Celestial Navigations Ice Chapter 3 Celestial Navigations 1992N/AN/A
Celestial Navigations Road Train Chapter 4 Celestial Navigations 1995N/AN/A
Celestial Navigations The Connection Chapter 5 Celestial Navigations 2005N/AN/A
Live at the Matrix Celestial Navigations 2006N/AN/A
Celestial Navigations Space Racer Chapter 6 Celestial Navigations 2008N/AN/A
Celestial Navigations War Chapter 7 Celestial Navigations 2008N/AN/A
Tusks & Horns Mayuka Thaïs 2014ProducerIndependent

Singles

TitleArtistYearRoleLabels
I Love You People! 1968Lead guitar Capitol Records
I Love You/Somebody Tell Me My Name People! 1968Lead guitar Capitol Records
Crying Shoes People! 1968Lead guitar Capitol Records
Apple Cider/Ashes of Me People! 1968Lead guitar Capitol Records
Ulla/Turnin' Me In People! 1968Lead guitar Capitol Records

Video interviews

Awards

YearAwardCategoryWorkResult
2013 Action on Film Best Score - FeatureHalf Way to HellNominated

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References

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