Wendy Melvoin

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Wendy Melvoin
WendyMelvoin 2006.jpg
Wendy Melvoin in 2006
Background information
Born (1964-01-26) January 26, 1964 (age 60)
Origin Los Angeles, California, United States
Genres Alternative rock, funk, R&B, rock, pop, new wave, Minneapolis sound
Occupation(s)Musician, arranger, composer, songwriter, record producer
Instrument(s)Guitar, bass guitar, mandolin, drums, vocals
Years active1980–present
Labels Columbia, SME, Virgin, EMI, World Domination
Member of The Revolution, Wendy & Lisa
Website wendyandlisa.com

Wendy Ann Melvoin (born January 26, 1964) is an American guitarist and singer-songwriter, best known for her work with Prince as part of his backing band the Revolution, and for her collaboration with Lisa Coleman as one half of the duo Wendy & Lisa.

Contents

Music career

Wendy Melvoin met Prince in 1980 when her girlfriend Lisa Coleman joined Prince's band for the Dirty Mind period. Prince would stay at their house when he came to the L.A. area and she was regularly at the Dirty Mind, Controversy, and 1999 tour shows. She was watching from backstage when Prince and the band opened for the Rolling Stones in 1981. One night when she was practicing guitar in Lisa Coleman's room, Prince overheard and asked Coleman who was playing guitar. A few days later, when guitarist Dez Dickerson did not show up at soundcheck, Prince asked Melvoin to play his guitar; that same night after asking Lisa first, Prince invited her to join the band. Melvoin sang back up on the 1999 album song "Free", as well as the B-side single "Irresistible Bitch". [1] Melvoin's debut show with the Revolution was a benefit concert for the Minnesota Dance Theatre at the First Avenue nightclub in Minneapolis on August 3, 1983. This concert was recorded and some of the songs ("Let's Go Crazy", "Computer Blue", "Purple Rain", "Baby I'm a Star", and "I Would Die 4 U") were released on Purple Rain , Prince's next record. Melvoin was 19 at that time.

Melvoin then worked extensively with Prince in the studio on songs released and unreleased, as well as contributing to protégé projects such as 1984's Apollonia 6, 1985's the Family, and the 1985 Prince & the Revolution album Around the World in a Day .

Shortly after the completion of Prince and the Revolution's 1986 album tour in October 1986 Parade , Coleman and Melvoin left the Revolution and started their own duo, Wendy & Lisa, also known as Girl Brothers.

Melvoin performed with Prince at a Bangles show later in 1986 and appears on Prince's 1987 album Sign o' the Times on the tracks "Slow Love", "Strange Relationship", and "It's Gonna Be a Beautiful Night".

Melvoin and Coleman also composed music for the first season of the TV series Heroes . [2] In September 2008, they announced that they would release an album consisting entirely of the score from Heroes, titled Heroes: Original Score . Melvoin and Coleman composed the main title song for Nurse Jackie , for which they were awarded an Emmy in 2010. As of mid-November 2015, the duo was working on the American TV series Touch .

Melvoin and Coleman performed with Prince on and off during the 2004–2007 period: notably, the 2004 Tavis Smiley show performing "Reflections" with Prince; a June 5, 2004, Musicology tour aftershow; the 2006 Brit Award Show; and the 2007 Triple Hit shows in Minneapolis (the Macey's Show, the Target show, and the First Avenue show.) They also worked on a few songs on Prince's Planet Earth album.

Melvoin also contributed guitars to Madonna's 2008 album Hard Candy on the song "She's Not Me". She is mentioned by name during the song.

Melvoin contributed heavily to Neil Finn's second solo album One Nil , co-writing many tracks and playing drums and bass on several. She is credited for guitar work on most of the tracks on Rob Thomas's first solo album, ...Something to Be .

Melvoin is also listed in the credits of Glen Campbell's 2011 final studio album, Ghost on the Canvas .

Personal life

Wendy Melvoin was born in Los Angeles, California. Her father Mike Melvoin was a pianist and member of studio musicians known as the Wrecking Crew, and also a former president of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. [3] [4] Her brother Jonathan Melvoin was a touring keyboardist with the Smashing Pumpkins, and her twin sister is singer and composer Susannah Melvoin.

In April 2009, Melvoin gave an interview with Out that, for the first time, publicly revealed she is a lesbian and discussed her past romantic relationship with Lisa Coleman, who is still her musical partner. [5] Melvoin was also in a long-term relationship with film director Lisa Cholodenko, with whom she has a son. [6]

Awards and recognition

In 2007, the ASCAP Film and Television Music Awards gave Melvoin and Coleman the "Top Television Series" award for their work on Heroes . [7]

Melvoin and Coleman were awarded with an Emmy for Outstanding Original Main Title in 2010 for their theme to Nurse Jackie . [8] They also technically share the honor of winners of a Grammy and Oscar for being part of the Revolution, as Purple Rain won two Grammys, and the Oscar for Best Original Score.

In 2014, Melvoin and Coleman received the inaugural Shirley Walker Award from The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP), an award which honors those whose achievements have contributed to the diversity of film and television music. [9]

Collaborations

With Meshell Ndegeocello

With Glen Campbell

With k.d. lang

With Doyle Bramhall II

With Lisa Marie Presley

With Michael Penn

With Ilse DeLange

With Rob Thomas

With Nerina Pallot

With Neil Finn

With Sheryl Crow

With Seal

With Nikka Costa

With Skye Edwards

Related Research Articles

<i>Purple Rain</i> (film) 1984 film by Albert Magnoli

Purple Rain is a 1984 American rock musical drama film scored by and starring Prince in his acting debut. Developed to showcase his talents, it contains several concert sequences, featuring Prince and his band The Revolution. The film is directed by Albert Magnoli, who later became Prince's manager, from a screenplay by Magnoli and William Blinn. The cast also features Apollonia Kotero, Morris Day, Olga Karlatos and Clarence Williams III.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Purple Rain (song)</span> 1984 single by Prince and the Revolution

"Purple Rain" is a song by the American musician Prince and his backing band the Revolution. It is the title track from the 1984 album of the same name, which in turn is the soundtrack album for the 1984 film of the same name starring Prince, and was released as the third single from the album. The song is a power ballad that combines rock, R&B, gospel, and orchestral music.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Revolution (band)</span> American rock band

The Revolution is an American band formed in Minneapolis, Minnesota, in 1979 by Prince, serving as his live band and later as his studio band. The band's sound incorporated rock, pop, R&B, funk, new wave and psychedelic elements. Along with Prince's other projects, the Revolution helped create the Minneapolis sound. By the time of their 1986 breakup, the Revolution had backed Prince on two studio albums, two soundtracks and two videos.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Let's Go Crazy</span> 1984 single by Prince and The Revolution

"Let's Go Crazy" is a 1984 song by Prince and The Revolution, from the album Purple Rain. It is the opening track on both the album and the film Purple Rain. "Let's Go Crazy" was one of Prince's most popular songs, and was a staple for concert performances, often segueing into other hits. When released as a single, the song became Prince's second number-one hit on the Billboard Hot 100, and also topped the two component charts, the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and Hot Dance Club Play charts, as well as becoming a UK Top 10 hit. The B-side was the lyrically controversial "Erotic City". In the UK, the song was released as a double A-side with "Take Me with U".

Wendy & Lisa is a music duo consisting of Wendy Melvoin and Lisa Coleman. They began working with Prince in the early 1980s and were part of his band the Revolution, before branching out on their own and releasing their eponymous debut studio album in 1987. In recent years they have turned their attention to writing music for film and television and have won an Emmy Award.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Take Me with U</span> 1985 single by Prince and the Revolution

"Take Me with U" is a song by Prince and the Revolution, and the final US single released from their album, Purple Rain (1984).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Susannah Melvoin</span> American musician

Susannah Melvoin is an American vocalist and songwriter. Melvoin is best known for her association with Prince in the mid-1980s. Melvoin comes from a musical family and is the twin sister of musician Wendy Melvoin, sister of Jonathan Melvoin, and daughter of jazz pianist Michael Melvoin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lisa Coleman (musician)</span> American musician

Lisa Coleman is an American musician and singer-songwriter, primarily on keyboards and piano. Coleman is known for her tenure as a member of Prince's backing band The Revolution from 1979 to 1986, as well as Wendy & Lisa, her musical partnership with fellow Revolution alum Wendy Melvoin.

<i>Wendy and Lisa</i> (album) 1987 studio album by Wendy & Lisa

Wendy and Lisa is the 1987 debut album by American pop duo Wendy & Lisa, formerly of Prince's band, the Revolution.

"Computer Blue" is a song by Prince and The Revolution. Released on June 25, 1984, it is the fourth track on Prince's sixth album, Purple Rain, which also served as the soundtrack to the film of the same name. In the film, the song represents Prince's character's angst at the budding relationship between the characters played by Morris Day and Apollonia, the latter of whom he desires, and he performs it in front of the two during The Revolution's set at a nightclub with the aim of upsetting them. The song was composed by Prince with credit to his father, John L. Nelson, for the guitar solo based on a piano instrumental written by Nelson and Prince. He titled the instrumental piece "Father's Song" and recorded it on piano for the film, though onscreen it was portrayed as being played by Prince's character's father, played by Clarence Williams III. On the box-set Purple Rain Deluxe (2017), a different and longer recording of "Father's Song" was included.

"Baby I'm a Star" is a song written and recorded by American musician Prince from his album Purple Rain. It is also the B-side on the "Take Me with U" single.

<i>Apollonia 6</i> (album) 1984 studio album by Apollonia 6

Apollonia 6 is the only studio album by R&B vocal trio and Prince protégées Apollonia 6.

Mike Melvoin was an American jazz pianist, composer, and arranger. He served as chairman and president of The Recording Academy and worked as a prolific studio musician, recording with Frank Sinatra, John Lennon, The Jackson 5, Natalie Cole, and The Beach Boys. Melvoin was nominated for the 2003 Grammy Award for Best Jazz Instrumental Solo for "All or Nothing at All" from his album It's Always You.

The music of the Heroes television series was composed by Wendy Melvoin and Lisa Coleman of the duo, Wendy & Lisa. Some of the scores feature the voice of L. Shankar. The score album and the soundtrack album were released via La-La Land Records. The soundtrack of the series contains some songs, including old ones.

Dream Factory is an unreleased double LP project by Prince and the Revolution.

<i>Jellycream</i> 1999 studio album by Doyle Bramhall II

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"Around the World in a Day" is a song performed by Prince and the Revolution and is the opening track of the album of the same name. The track represents a completely different direction that Prince wanted to go after the massively successful Purple Rain album and film of the same name.

The Parade Tour was a concert tour by American recording artist Prince in support of Prince and The Revolution's eighth studio album Parade and his 1986 film Under the Cherry Moon. The Hit n Run Tour was not a full scale American tour, but a string of concerts that was dubbed "Hit n Run" by Prince's manager. Most of those shows were announced days or hours before the actual concert took place. The Parade Tour marked the first full tour of Europe by Prince. It also saw the expanded Revolution line-up and featured Sheila E. and her band as an opening act for most shows.

<i>Jill Jones</i> (album) 1987 studio album by Jill Jones

Jill Jones is the self-titled debut solo album from the artist of the same name; Jill Jones. The album was released in 1987 on Paisley Park / Warner Bros. Records. It was produced by Jones and Prince.

<i>Doyle Bramhall II</i> (album) 1996 studio album by Doyle Bramhall II

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References

  1. ↑ Eric Deggans (December 30, 2010). "Biggest regret in 2008: Not publishing this Wendy and Lisa interview". tampabay.com. St. Petersburg Times. Archived from the original on October 12, 2009. Retrieved August 25, 2010.
  2. ↑ Melvoin's and Coleman's compositions for Heroes closely followed their music-scoring of the previous Tim Kring series, Crossing Jordan , which had starred Jill Hennessy in the lead role.
  3. ↑ Dennis McDougal (March 1, 1985). "Jazz musicians threaten split after snub on Grammy show". Montreal Gazette.
  4. ↑ Robert Lloyd. "Time of the Session: When the music was fast, and the players anonymous". LA Weekly. Retrieved April 8, 2004.
  5. ↑ "The Revolution Will Be Harmonized". Out.com. April 16, 2009. Retrieved February 12, 2017.
  6. ↑ "Family dynamic: Lisa Cholodenko explores modern parenthood in 'The Kids Are All Right' | FilmJournal International". September 24, 2015. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015.
  7. ↑ "Top Television Series". Ascap.com. Retrieved February 12, 2017.
  8. ↑ "'Glee,' Rock Hall of Fame Win Creative Arts Emmys". Billboard.com. Retrieved February 12, 2017.
  9. ↑ "ASCAP to Honor Wendy Melvoin and Lisa Coleman with Inaugural Shirley Walker Award at 29th Film and TV Awards". Ascap.com. Retrieved February 12, 2017.
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