Walter Afanasieff, formerly nicknamed Baby Love in the 1980s, is a Brazilian-American musician, songwriter, record producer and composer of Russian descent. He was a collaborator with Mariah Carey on her first six studio albums. He won the 1999 Grammy Award in the Record of the Year category for producing "My Heart Will Go On" by Celine Dion, and the 2000 Grammy Award for Producer of the Year, Non-Classical.
"Forever" is a song recorded by American singer-songwriter, and record producer Mariah Carey for her fifth studio album, Daydream (1996). It was released by Columbia Records on March 10, 1996, as an airplay-only single and the fifth single from the album. The song was written and produced by Carey and Walter Afanasieff, and was composed throughout 1995. Its lyrics describe a situation where the protagonist knows her relationship with her lover has withered away, however he will continue living in her memory forever.
"Never Too Far/Hero Medley" is a medley recorded by American singer and songwriter Mariah Carey, first released as a charity single on December 11, 2001 through Virgin Records America and is included in the Japanese release of Carey's second compilation album, Greatest Hits (2001). The medley combines the first verse and chorus of "Never Too Far", co-written and co-produced by Carey and Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, with a re-recorded version of the first verse, chorus and bridge of "Hero", written and produced by Carey and Walter Afanasieff. As the latter did not receive co-production credits due to the change in instrumentation, Randy Jackson was named as producer alongside Carey instead. The single was meant to express a message of unity and love in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks.
"Can't Let Go" is a song by American singer Mariah Carey from her second album, Emotions (1991). It was released as the album's second single in the fourth quarter of 1991 in the United States and the first quarter of 1992 elsewhere. The protagonist of this synthesizer-heavy ballad laments an ex-lover who has moved on, and though she tries she "can't let go."
"If It's Over" is a song written by American singers and songwriters Mariah Carey and Carole King, with the former and Walter Afanasieff helming its production. It was originally released on September 17, 1991, on Carey's second studio album, Emotions. Lyrically, the song tells of a romance that has withered, and finds the protagonist asking her lover "if it's over, let me go." Several months after the release of Emotions, Carey performed the song during her appearance on the television show MTV Unplugged.
"Can You Stop the Rain" is a song by American singer Peabo Bryson, taken from his fifteenth studio album of the same name (1991). It was written by John Bettis and Walter Afanasieff, while production was helmed by the latter. Released as the album's lead single, the song spent two weeks at number one on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart and peaked at number fifty-two on the Billboard Hot 100. It also reached number 11 on the Adult Contemporary chart.
The Moment is the eighth studio album by American saxophonist Kenny G. It was released by Arista Records in 1996, and reached number 1 on the Billboard Top Contemporary Jazz Albums chart, number 2 on the Billboard 200, number 9 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and number 16 on the Canadian Albums Chart.
Paradise is the eleventh studio album by saxophonist Kenny G. It was released by Arista Records in 2002, and reached number 2 on the Contemporary Jazz Albums chart, number 9 on the Billboard 200 and Internet Albums charts and number 15 on the R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.
Beauty and the Beast: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack is the official soundtrack album to the 1991 Disney animated feature film, Beauty and the Beast. Originally released on October 24, 1991, by Walt Disney Records, the album's first half – tracks 2 to 9 – generally contains the film's musical numbers, all of which were written by composer Alan Menken and lyricist Howard Ashman, while its latter half – tracks 10 to 14 – features its musical score, composed solely by Menken. While the majority of the album's content remains within the musical theatre genre, its songs have also been influenced by French, classical, pop and Broadway music. Credited to Various Artists, Beauty and the Beast: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack features performances by the film's main cast – Paige O'Hara, Richard White, Jesse Corti, Jerry Orbach, Angela Lansbury, Robby Benson and David Ogden Stiers – in order of appearance. Additionally, the album features recording artists Celine Dion and Peabo Bryson, who perform a pop rendition of the film's theme song of the same name, which simultaneously serves as the soundtrack's only single.
So Happy is the second music album by American comedian and singer Eddie Murphy, released in August 1989 by Columbia Records. A funk and soul effort with often humorous sexual lyrics, it was co-written and co-produced by Murphy with several high-profile contemporary musicians, such as Nile Rodgers and Larry Blackmon, at various recording studios in California, New York, Florida, and the Bahamas. The album was not a commercial success and received mixed reviews.
"If You Go Away" is a song by pop group New Kids on the Block Released as a stand-alone single on 1992, the only new song on the compilation H.I.T.S., it was later included on their 1994 album Face the Music. Written by John Bettis, Trey Lorenz and Walter Afanasieff, the latter of whom also served as the songs producer. Lead vocals are shared by Jordan Knight and Joey McIntyre, with a spoken word by Danny Wood. It was, at that point, the first song the group put out after having split with longtime manager and producer Maurice Starr.
"Havana" is the title of a 1997 single and instrumental by jazz musician Kenny G. It was the second single taken from his 1996 studio album The Moment, released on Arista Records.
Rhythm & Romance is the fifteenth studio album by Kenny G. The first of two bossa nova albums by the artist, the album peaked at number 15 on the R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, and number 14 on the Billboard 200. There was a tour supporting the album, called An Evening of Rhythm & Romance.
The song "Jimmy Lee" was a hit single by American singer Aretha Franklin. The single was nominated for an American Music Award and was the lead-off track on her 1986 album Aretha, and was written by Narada Michael Walden, Lisa Walden, Preston Glass, Jeffrey Cohen. Narada Michael Walden also produced the track.
"Fall Again" is a song written for Michael Jackson by Walter Afanasieff and Robin Thicke with some lyrics written by Jackson. He recorded a demo of the song in 1999, with a leaked video which was released in 2004. In 2010, a version by Kenny G with Robin Thicke on vocals became a hit. The song has been performed by many artists. Jackson recorded a demo of the song in 1999 during the sessions for his album Invincible, but the song was never finished. Songwriter Afanasieff confirmed in January 2000, "We worked to the point that we were three-fourths of the way finished, then the incident happened when his son (Prince) got very sick. We’re going to have to reserve a little spot to finish the song." The demo was released on November 16, 2004, as an album track of Jackson's limited edition box set The Ultimate Collection.
The American musician Walter Afanasieff has been credited with composing, producing, arranging, performing on or programming one or more tracks on the following albums or singles:
"Don't Make Me Wait For Love" is a song by Kenny G, and the first single released from his 1986 album Duotones. The song was written and composed by Walter Afanasieff, Preston Glass and Narada Michael Walden.
"Close My Eyes" is a song recorded by American singer and songwriter Mariah Carey for her sixth studio album Butterfly (1997). It was co-written and produced by Carey and Walter Afanasieff. While Carey solely wrote the lyrics to the song, both she and Afanasieff composed its music. They also produced and arranged the song together. A downtempo piano led song, the lyrics in "Close My Eyes" revolve around negative experiences in her life, including indirectly talking about the relationship between her and ex-husband Tommy Mottola. In September 2012, Carey revealed that it is one of her most favorite and revealing songs that she has written in her career thus far.
"Gimme Your Love" is a song recorded as duet between American singers Aretha Franklin and James Brown in 1989. The two singers' only collaboration, it is the lead track on Franklin's album Through the Storm and also appeared on Brown's Soul Session Live. It was written by Narada Michael Walden and Jeffrey Cohen, and produced by the former. It was released as the album's third and final single on September 18, 1989 by Arista Records which charted #48 R&B. The song was poorly received by critics, with Rolling Stone describing it as "a series of whoops and grunts as challenging to [the singers] as yawning".
Holiday Wishes, also titled Christmas Wishes in the UK and Snow Wishes in Japan, is a Christmas holiday album by American singer-songwriter and actress Idina Menzel. Produced by Walter Afanasieff, it was released by Warner Bros. Records on October 14, 2014, in the United States, and on November 3 in the United Kingdom. It is Menzel's fourth studio album to date, as well as her first in six years, and features a duet with Michael Bublé.
