Steve Rawlins

Last updated
Steve Rawlins
Steve Rawins 2015.jpg
Rawlins in Recording Studio, 2015
Born
Steven Jeffrey Rawitz

(1954-09-05) September 5, 1954 (age 69)[ citation needed ]
Occupations
  • Musician
  • Arranger
  • Composer
  • Musical Director
  • Music Producer
  • Author
Years active1972–present
Spouses
Michele Delon
(m. 1993;div. 1994)
Isela Sotelo
(m. 1978;div. 1989)
Children2
Musical career
Genres
Instrument(s)
  • Piano
Labels
  • Motown
  • London Records
  • Sea Breeze Records
Website steverawlins.com

Steve Rawlins is an American musician, composer, arranger, musical director, and author. He has arranged music for a wide range of recording artists, including Smokey Robinson, Bette Midler, Chaka Khan, Anna Danes, [1] and Lainie Kazan. He produced the single Angelito (Angel Baby), recorded by Isela Sotelo on Motown Latino Records, which charted on Latin Billboard's Hot 100 in 1982. [2]

Contents

He has arranged music for the Academy Awards and Emmy Award ceremonies, and for multiple television shows, including The Crazy Ones, 24, and Jeopardy!. Rawlins has performed throughout the U.S. and internationally including Carnegie Hall and the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and served as music director for such artists as John O'Hurley, [3] Lainie Kazan, Steve March-Tormé, Anna Danes, [4] Shea Arender, [5] and The Wonderful Wizard of Song-The Music of Harold Arlen. [6]

Early life

Steve Rawlins (born September 5, 1954) was born in Mineola, New York to parents Gloria (née Gluck) and Herbert Rawitz. His father was an aerospace engineer that worked on NASA's Project Gemini. Rawlins is the second born of three siblings. He began taking piano lessons at six years old and began playing the trumpet at nine years old and played both instruments consistently throughout his childhood.

He and his family relocated to Los Angeles, California in 1965 when Rawlins was eleven years old. His parents frequented live CBS variety television show tapings as a part of the audience and sat next to the orchestra which influenced Rawlins in choosing a career as a professional musician. He attended University High School (Los Angeles) where the school's big band singer was Lorna Luft (daughter of Judy Garland) and Rawlins wrote some of his earliest arrangements for her to sing. His music teacher John Magruder, (who played baritone saxophone with Don Ellis) mentored him in music arranging and career direction. He graduated high school in 1972.

While attending CSUN, (California State University at Northridge) Rawlins saw a notice on a bulletin board that composer/arranger Sammy Nestico was teaching a big band and was looking for musicians at nearby Pierce College. Rawlins joined the band for the next two years learning much from Nestico in advanced composition and orchestration techniques.

Career

In 1974 Rawlins played keyboards with a top 40 band touring throughout Western Canada. Upon returning to Los Angeles in 1975 he began writing music for The Merv Griffin Show and was offered a position as a staff arranger and music librarian. Griffin's featured trumpet player, Jack Sheldon, introduced Rawlins to Benny Goodman to write arrangements that were featured in his 40th Anniversary Concert at Carnegie Hall.

In 1979, Rawlins was hired by John Davidson (entertainer) as an arranger at his John Davidson's Singer's Summer Camp (JDSSC) on Catalina Island then hired him to write for his show in Las Vegas and Rawlins went on to compose and arrange music for his The John Davidson Show, which aired for two years.

He continued to freelance as a musician, composer and arranger for various commercials, TV shows, and recording projects.

Isela Sotelo - Angelito (Angel Baby) - Motown Latino Records

Rawlins produced and arranged Isela Sotelo's radio charting single, Angelito (Angel Baby) released on Motown Latino Records which was earned a spot on the Billboard Hot 100 Latin music charts in 1982. [7] [8]

Step Right Up

Before the release of his album Step Right Up (released on Sea Breeze Records) in 1985, Rawitz decided to legally change his last name to Rawlins for the sake of easier pronunciation and spelling. [9] The song, Laguna was played on radio stations throughout the U.S. and was in regular rotation on KTWV (94.7 The Wave) in Los Angeles in 1985.

Steve March-Tormé

Rawlins began working with Steve March-Tormé in 1996 as an arranger, composer, and pianist and continues to work with him. Rawlins co-wrote the title track, Swingin' at the Blue Moon Bar & Grille as well as arranged Straighten Up and Fly Right which March-Tormé recorded as a duet with his father, Mel Tormé. [10]

Discography

YearAlbumArtistCredit
2019The King Symphonic Shea Arender/Las Vegas Symphony Orchestra Arranger, Conductor
The RomanticMichael TinholmeArranger
Lady StardustMichael TinholmeArranger
August AfternoonClaude HallArranger, Piano
2017Blue SmokeMary BogueProducer, Composer, Arranger, Piano
One Night Of SinMary BogueProducer, Arranger
The Moonlight Sessions Lyn Stanley Arranger
2016Once Upon a TimeWinston ByrdPiano
2015Interludes Lyn Stanley Arranger
From The StartAlistair ToberComposer
2014Potions Lyn Stanley Arranger
2013Lost in Romance Lyn Stanley Producer, Arranger
2012Don't Go To StrangersMary BogueProducer, Arranger, Piano
That Old FeelingPatrisha ThomsonProducer, Arranger, Piano
2011Kiss of BrazilBianca RossiniComposer, Keyboards
2009Inside Out Steve March Tormé Arranger, Piano
2008Last CallAl TimssArranger, Piano
2007So Far Steve March Tormé Producer, Composer, Arranger, Piano
2006Standard ScotchScotch Ellis LoringPiano
2005Benzali Daniel Benzali Arranger, Piano
2003A Night For RomanceGeorge BugattiArranger, Piano
The Essence of Love Steve March Tormé Producer, Composer, Arranger, Piano
2001Sunday DriveRobert KaufmanProducer, Composer, Arranger, Keyboards
Queen of the Night Ella Leya Keyboards
2000Buy Me A MartiniSara LaporteProducer, Composer, Arranger, Piano
Live On the StripGeorge BugattiArranger
The Night I Fell For You Steve March Tormé Producer, Composer, Arranger, Piano
1999Swingin’ At The Blue Moon Bar and Grille Steve March Tormé Producer, Composer, Arranger
1998Oh, What a Night For LoveGeorge BugattiArranger, Piano
Hot HarmonicaDanny WeltonArranger
1997Summer in San FranciscoDanny WeltonArranger
1992Bruce EskovitzBruce EskovitzTrumpet
Time Will TellGrant GeissmanComposer
1991Flying ColorsGrant GeissmanComposer
1988Three Gals, Three Guitars The Del Rubio Triplets Trumpet
1986Musica Ranchera and Rock and RollIsela SoteloProducer, Composer, Arranger, Piano, Trumpet
1985Step Right UpSteve RawlinsProducer, Composer, Arranger, Trumpet
1983Flip Wilson Flip Wilson Arranger, Trumpet
1982Angel Baby (Angelito)Isela SoteloProducer, Arranger, Piano
197840th Anniversary Concert (Live at Carnegie Hall) Benny Goodman Arranger
1977Come Softly Brenton Wood Trumpet

Film and television

[11]

YearFilm/TVCreditStudio/Production Company
2014 The Crazy Ones ArrangerCBS
2012 Carol Channing: Larger than LifeArrangerDramatic Forces
2010 Arrested Development PianoFox
2009 24 (TV Series) Arranger, PianoFox Television
2000Star Trek VoyagerOn-Camera Musician, Piano CoachParamount
1998 All Dogs Go to Heaven: The Series ArrangerMGM Television
1997 Family Matters On-Camera MusicianCBS
1996 Phil Hartman NewsRadio ArrangerNBC
1993 Jeopardy! College Championship ArrangerKing World Productions
1992Class of the 20th CenturyArrangerA & E
1991World War II- A Personal JourneyArrangerDisney Channel
1988"Viva"Composer, ArrangerSyndicated Talk Show Theme
1987This Is Your LifeArrangerRalph Edwards Productions
1983PostComposer, ArrangerNewsweek Television
SuperbowlTrumpet, ArrangerNBC
1982Yes, GeorgioOn-Camera MusicianMGM
My Favorite Year On-Camera MusicianMGM
1980-1982The John Davidson ShowComposer, ArrangerSyndicated
1979Real LifeOn-Camera MusicianParamount
Los Angeles Film Critic's AwardsMusic Director, ArrangerMetromedia
1978 Charlies Angels TrumpetABC/Aaron Spelling Productions
1975-1978 The Merv Griffin Show Staff Music Arranger, Music LibrarianSyndicated
1971 Pretty Maids All in a Row On-Camera MusicianMGM

Author

In 1995 while attending the NAMM Show Rawlins met John Haag, who was the president of Creative Concepts Publishing. Haag published Rawlins' How To Get Real With A Fake Book [12] Shortly thereafter Hal Leonard LLC bought out Creative Concepts Publishing and hired Haag as a consultant who oversaw the rest of Rawlins' Hal Leonard releases. [13] [14]

YearBookTopicPublisherCredit
2008$2,000 Singers Resource Book69 Custom Arrangements For Female SingersHal LeonardAuthor
2006Ready Tonight - Volume 1Performance-Ready Female Vocals in Original KeysHal LeonardAuthor
Ready Tonight - Volume 2Performance-Ready Female Vocals in Original KeysHal LeonardAuthor
Entertaining Easy Classics Volume 1 (Book/CD)Easy Piano With Chord SymbolsHal LeonardAuthor
Entertaining Easy Classics Volume 2Easy Piano With Chord SymbolsHal LeonardAuthor
2004Pro Charts in Original Keys: Volume 2For Female SingersHal LeonardAuthor
Pro Charts in Original Keys: Volume 1For Female SingersHal LeonardAuthor
2003Jazz Tracks for SingersMen's Edition: Book/Audio with Jazz Trio Tracks [15] Hal LeonardAuthor
Jazz Tracks for SingersWomen's Edition: Book/Audio with Jazz Trio TracksHal LeonardAuthor
Jazz Ballads for SingersMen's Edition: 15 Classic Standards in Custom Vocal ArrangementsHal LeonardAuthor
Jazz Ballads for SingersWomen's Edition: 15 Classic Standards in Custom Vocal ArrangementsHal LeonardAuthor
2002The Singer's Book of Jazz StandardsWomen's Edition (Vocal Collection)Hal LeonardAuthor
The Singer's Book of Jazz StandardsMen's Edition (Vocal Collection)Hal LeonardAuthor
200121 Bebop ExercisesFor Vocalists and InstrumentalistsHal LeonardAuthor
1996How to Get Real with a Fake Book:A Guide for the Piano ArrangerA Guide for the Piano ArrangerHal LeonardAuthor

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References

  1. "Anna Danes, Steve Rawlins, Lucie Hill host Ilona Europa interviewed singer songwriter Anna Danes and her music director, composer, arranger Steve Rawlins".
  2. "Global Voice - Before He Was Old Enough To Drink, STEVE RAWLINS was working with MORT LINDSEY - Cabarabia Podcast - Published on Nov 18, 2014". YouTube .
  3. "Broadway World - Photo Coverage: John O'Hurley Plays Cafe Carlyle by Stephen Sorokoff Mar. 30, 2017".
  4. "KPBS Radio - An Evening With Anna Danes - Music Director Steve Rawlins".
  5. "Las Vegas Symphony - The King Symphonic - Steve Rawlins - Arranger, Conductor".
  6. "Wonderful Wizard of Song - The Music of Harold Arlen - Music Director Steve Rawlins - December 1, 2018". 15 December 2023.
  7. "American Radio History - Billboard Magazine - Latin Radio charts - Isela Sotelo - 7/10/1882" (PDF).
  8. "Discogs - Angelito - Isela Sotelo - 1982". Discogs .
  9. "All Music - Step Up - Steve Rawlins". AllMusic .
  10. "New Haven Register - Steve March-Tormé may not make you think of his dad, but he sure can sing - musical director and piano player, Steve Rawlins - November 2, 2013". 2 November 2013.
  11. "IMDB - Steve Rawlins". IMDb .
  12. "Barnes and Noble - How To Get Real With A Fake Book - Steve Rawlins".
  13. "Sheet Music Plus - Steve Rawlins Arrangements".
  14. Amazon - 21 Bebop Exercises for Vocalists - Steve Rawlins. ISBN   0634033905.
  15. "Hal Leonard Publishing - Steve Rawlins - Jazz Tracks for Singers – Men's Edition - Book/Audio with Jazz Trio Tracks".