Dave Grusin Biography
26 June 1934, Littleton, Colorado, USA. Grusin played piano semi-professionally while studying at the University of Colorado, and almost abandoned music to become a veterinary surgeon (he later stated, "I'm still not sure I made the right decision, a lot of dead cows might still be alive today if I hadn't gone to music school.") His musical associates at the time included Art Pepper, Terry Gibbs and Spike Robinson, with whom he worked extensively in the early 50s. In 1959 Grusin was hired as musical director by singer Andy Williams, a role he maintained into the mid-60s. An eclectic musician, Grusin worked with mainstream artists such as Benny Goodman and Thad Jones and also worked with hard bop players. He made many recording sessions, including several in the early 70s, accompanying singers amongst whom were Sarah Vaughan and Carmen McRae. Around this same time Grusin began to concentrate more and more on electric piano and keyboards, recording with Gerry Mulligan, Lee Ritenour in the jazz world and with Paul Simon and Billy Joel in pop. He has arranged and produced for the Byrds, Peggy Lee, Grover Washington Jnr., Donna Summer, Barbra Streisand, Al Jarreau, Phoebe Snow and Patti Austin.
Grusin is also co-founder and owner, with Larry Rosen, of GRP Records, a label which they founded in 1976 and has an impressive catalogue of singers, jazz and jazz rock artists including Diane Schuur, Lee Ritenour, David Benoit, his brother Don Grusin, Michael Brecker, Chick Corea, Steve Gadd, Dave Valentin, Special EFX and Gary Burton. The success of GRP has much to do with Grusin's refusal to compromise on quality. With Rosen he pioneered an all digital recording policy, and using "state of the art" technology their productions reach a pinnacle of recorded quality. In addition to his activities as a player and producer, Grusin has written extensively for films and television. His portfolio is most impressive; in addition to winning a Grammy in 1984 his film scores have received several Academy Award nominations, and include Divorce Italian Style, The Graduate, The Heart Is A Lonely Hunter, Three Days Of The Condor, Heaven Can Wait, Reds, On Golden Pond, The Champ, Tootsie, Racing With The Moon, The Milagro Beanfield War, Clara's Heart, Tequila Sunrise, A Dry White Season, The Fabulous Baker Boys, Bonfire Of The Vanities, Havana, For The Boys, and The Firm. Additionally one of his most evocative songs "Mountain Dance" was the title song to Falling In Love. His American television credits include St. Elsewhere, Maude, Roots, It Takes A Thief and Baretta. Grusin is a master musical chemist - able to blend many elements of pop and jazz into uplifting intelligent and accessible music.
Source: The Encyclopedia of Popular Music by Colin Larkin. Licensed from Muze.
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