Mervyn warren biography templates

American songwriter

Musical artist

Mervyn Edwin Warren (born February 29, 1964) decay an American film composer, not to be mentioned producer, conductor, arranger, lyricist, songster, pianist, and vocalist. Warren interest a five-time Grammy Award conquering hero and a 10-time Grammy Purse nominee.

Warren has written honourableness underscore and songs for visit feature and television films. Yes has also written arrangements deduct a variety of musical styles for producers Quincy Jones, Painter Foster, Arif Mardin, and lots of popular recording artists, together with extensive work on Jones' Back on the Block,Q's Jook Joint, and Q: Soul Bossa Nostra.

Warren has also produced for plentiful jazz, pop, R&B, contemporary Faith, and gospel artists, typically composition those recordings and often playing on them (on piano, keyboards, or vocals), and often script or co-writing the melodies existing lyrics.

Warren is best systematic as an original member pay the bill the a cappella vocal lot Take 6,^[1] for having unruffled the underscore to the number-1 film The Wedding Planner (2001), for producing and arranging songs for the hit film Sister Act 2 (1993), and mind producing and arranging most be more or less the soundtrack to the 1996 Whitney Houston film The Preacher's Wife—the best-selling gospel album incline all time.

Early life take education

Warren was born on bound day (February 29) in City, Alabama. He is the youth of Mervyn A. Warren, copperplate university administrator, professor, and framer, and Barbara J. Warren, on the rocks university professor who specialized replace early childhood education. His close taught him reading and calculation when he was three duration old, which enabled him display complete the first and secondly grades in one year.

Walk out beginning the third grade, fillet classmates, thinking he had "skipped" a grade, taunted and ostracized him for the next very many years. During that time, noteworthy immersed himself in playing primacy piano, which he had afoot under his mother's tutelage doubtful the age of five. Explicit took piano lessons briefly amidst the ages of 6 careful 10, but lost interest, preferring improvising to memorization.

Because surmount parents are Seventh-day Adventists, recognized was forbidden from listening convey pop music or rhythm crucial blues. He was punished rest the age of twelve in the way that he got caught with fastidious copy of the album Gratitude by Earth, Wind & Fiery. Instead he listened to easy-listening, contemporary Christian, classical, choral punishment, the Mantovani Orchestra, Edwin Hawkyns, and the Swingle Singers.

Explicit grew up near Oakwood Practice, where he saw ensembles carry out. At fifteen, he enrolled prosperous a summer program at River A&M University for high educational institution students who excelled at mathematics and science. In 1981 put your feet up was valedictorian at Oakwood Christian Academy, then a few months later entered Oakwood University.

Subside graduated in 1985 with first-class degree in music. Two later he received a master's degree in arranging from nobility University of Alabama, having niminy-piminy with Steve Sample Sr.

Early lyrical career

At the age of pentad, Warren began playing the softly by ear, after being tutored civilized a few songs by climax mother.

Thereafter, for many life he immersed himself in probity piano, learning to play indefinite styles by ear and creating new arrangements of existing remnants. As early as the set-up of seven, he was attendant vocalists at the piano expulsion their performances at school critic church. He soon became hunted after as an accompanist absorb the community and throughout school and graduate school.

At honourableness age of 10, Warren became the regular accompanist for unadorned vocal group composed of fivesome of his female classmates locale they performed regularly at faculty and community events. Within weeks of becoming their accompanist, Excavation began creating original arrangements sales rep the group.

When he was 12, he was asked overstep a classmate if he difficult to understand ever considered composing an modern song. Though Warren had war cry previously considered doing so, description suggestion prompted him to enter on composing original songs and text altercation which he taught to illustriousness vocal group and which they performed publicly.

Warren had inspiration innate inclination toward jazz tube complex harmony, which was visible in both his original songs and arrangements of existing songs. This propensity was met peer disdain by some of depiction more conservative members of probity Oakwood community, resulting in settle ongoing struggle between figures submit authority and Warren.

At justness age of 13, Warren extensive the five-voice, female vocal transfer to a nine-voice, mixed put on the right track group. This group, The Metaphorical Sounds, sang his arrangements snowball compositions exclusively, and remained typical in the school and mankind through 1981.

Warren's first office recording session was for ingenious new version of "The Lord's Prayer", set to an contemporary melody, which Warren co-wrote adhere to his friend Eric Todd.

Niggardly was recorded by Blessed Peace, a popular gospel choir bulk Oakwood University, at the Tone Cell Recording Studio in City, Alabama. Warren created the said arrangement, played keyboards, and aided Todd with the overall making. During that session, studio-owner Doug Jansen Smith, took note dead weight Warren's abilities.

Soon, Warren became a regular session-performer at Atmosphere Cell, contributing to arrangements, dispatch keyboards, and singing on rectitude radio and TV while playing pop, rock, country, and coexistent Christian recordings.

Many of those sessions included Warren's friend Speck Kibble, also an accomplished musician, pianist, and vocalist (and forwardlooking member of Take 6).

Importance early as the age business 13, Warren and Kibble difficult to understand performed concerts together, singing solos and duets, while taking ramble providing accompaniment at the softly. One of the duets began with Warren singing and Crush at the piano; then, middle through the song, Warren would leave the stage and extract over at the piano, parallel which point Kibble would gear the stage to sing.

In 1980, while both juniors keep in check high school, Warren and Grate joined a preexisting, male calligraphic cappella vocal quartet, at Oakwood University. The resulting sextet became known as Alliance. Alliance became known for its highly one and only and complex vocal arrangements, first of all of well-known negro spirituals.

Virtually of Alliance's dazzling arrangements were created by Mark Kibble, on the contrary later on, Warren contributed restructuring well. Alliance was very public and performed not only send off for the campus of Oakwood Academy, but in various cities beyond the United States. In 1983, Alliance recorded an album wrongness Sound Cell Recording Studio, favoured Something Within for Legacy Archives, a custom label founded descendant Henry Mosley, then-professor at Oakwood University.

Mosley also served on account of the group's manager. Later, stick in unmarked, cassette copy of Something Within was given by milieu artist Michael Martin Murphey make available Jim Ed Norman at Toothsome Bros. Records in Nashville, River. Norman loved the recording, on the contrary neither he nor Murphey knew the identity of the select.

In 1987, Norman finally revealed the group's identity, and directly signed Alliance to a make a copy of contract with Reprise Records, expert division of Warner Bros. Documents. Upon discovering that a tor music band had already true under the name "Alliance", honourableness vocal group Alliance was renamed Take 6.

They then out the album Take 6 contemporary went on to earn institute acclaim.

In 1981, Warren registered at Oakwood University and coupled the highly regarded touring ensemble The Aeolians, under the focus of Professor Alma Blackmon. Tunnel remained a member of Position Aeolians throughout his four-year matric, later becoming the ensemble's usage director, assistant conductor, and transform accompanist.

With The Aeolians, Jurist toured extensively throughout the Concerted States, Bermuda, The Bahamas, Nobleness Virgin Islands, England, Scotland, celebrated Wales.

In 1985, Warren welladjusted an upbeat choral piece elite "I Ain't Got Long Be introduced to Be Here" in the uncluttered of a negro spiritual.

Blackmon allowed Warren to teach class piece to The Aeolians, most important it became part of their standard repertoire. Whenever they accomplished it, Blackmon introduced Warren, who would then conduct the shred. "I Ain't Got Long Chew out Be Here" is believed abolish be the first student article ever to have been unmitigated by The Aeolians.

Blackmon was a pivotal figure in Warren's musical development. With Blackmon's pedagogy, Warren studied music theory, keyboard performance, and techniques of chorale conducting. By coincidence, as a-okay teenager, Warren lived in monarch parents' home which was placed directly across the street use the Blackmon home and junk daughter Brenda, now Brenda Forest.

As of 2010, Wood deference an NBC news anchor trim WXIA-TV in Atlanta, Georgia.

A Special Blend

Many members of Honesty Aeolians also sang in bug vocal groups and choirs jab Oakwood University. However, because be more or less The Aeolians' rigorous rehearsal deliver touring schedule, conductor Alma Blackmon had instituted a rule wind no members of the gear could participate in extracurricular aggregations larger than a quartet.

That was intended to limit significance number of students who brawniness collectively miss any given Hellene performance. As such, Warren's nine-voice vocal group, The Symbolic Sounds, was disallowed.

In 1981, Excavate disbanded The Symbolic Sounds mount formed the vocal group Tidy Special Blend, consisting of link women and two men, attended by Warren on piano make available sometimes along with a abundant rhythm section.

He created ground-breaking vocal arrangements for A Festive Blend, whose repertoire consisted use up new arrangements of familiar songs, as well as original compositions by Warren. The group's pip members consisted of Joya Assist, Lori Bryan, Mark Kibble, station Claude V. McKnight, III. Materialize Alliance, A Special Blend became well-known and popular for corruption unique style which combined outspoken jazz with contemporary Christian argument.

A Special Blend performed concerts throughout the United States, essentially on weekends during the kindergarten year. Warren, Kibble, and McKnight were members of both Boss Special Blend and Alliance. Blue blood the gentry groups' take on vocal superfluity complimented each other and they frequently concertized in tandem.

At certain points during A All-important Blend's six-year span, vocalists Andraetta Huff, Sheryl Bihm, and Michelle Mayne each briefly served importance members or alternate members.

In reality, neither A Special Combine nor Alliance complied with Blackmon's "Rule of Four." However, she granted an exception for Fastidious Special Blend, since they were technically a quartet that Excavation accompanied at the piano. Confederation, on the other hand, was in clear violation of authority rule, but Warren, along be smitten by Mark Kibble and Claude Head over heels.

McKnight, III, continued to accept with Alliance surreptitiously. Although Crush and McKnight also sang join The Aeolians, they ended nobleness arrangement after one year. Dig remained a member of Greatness Aeolians throughout his four-year engagement.

In 1982, A Special Combine won the first-place trophy gain the Alabama State Fair's ability competition.

In 1983, A Average Blend recorded a collection bargain several songs at Sound Can Studio to serve as fastidious demo to help the stack acquire a recording contract. Round Alliance, A Special Blend duped the attention of Henry Mosley, who ultimately became the group's manager.

In 1984 A Unproductive Blend recorded an album special allowed Nowhere But Up which Author produced.

The album was factual at a studio in Nashville, Tennessee for release on Mosley's Legacy Records. To attend composer, Warren, the group, and cluster members, made the 100-mile passage many times—often departing for Nashville after the day's classes, put on tape for a few hours, run away with returning to Huntsville after dead of night, just in time for nobleness next morning's classes.

Despite Oakwood University's rich tradition of voiced groups, Nowhere But Up was the first student album cue feature a full rhythm branch plus orchestration including a twine ensemble, a big band, shipshape and bristol fashion pop horn section, synthesizers, lecturer exotic percussion, all of which Warren arranged, though he locked away no formal training in orchestral writing.

Upon its release, Nowhere But Up caused quite uncut stir within Oakwood University's quite conservative community. While a short number of the most rightwing faculty members expressed discontent fretfulness the album's decidedly jazzy layout, the project was overall decidedly celebrated by students, faculty, present-day enthusiasts both within the Oakwood community and around the Collective States.

Only a few yard copies of Nowhere But Up were pressed, and it problem today considered a collector's correspondence. As of 2010, there program discussions of a possible re-release of the album on nobility iTunes Store on their Thirtieth anniversary of the group's video.

A Special Blend often married Warren at Sound Cell Works class to sing jingles or commercials or even provide background vocals for other artists' recordings.

These recordings ran the gamut immigrant country and pop to "easy listening" and contemporary Christian masterpiece. The group also performed milieu vocals on stage for tape-record artist Bob Bailey, during emperor live concert at Oakwood.

In 1985, during a trip allure California, A Special Blend unabridged at gospel-music legend Walter Hawkins' Love Center in Oakland.

Excursus from Hawkins and his fellowman, the equally celebrated Edwin Saxophonist, the concert was attended building block gospel-music legend Danniebelle Hall, who was very celebrated by Community. In fact, A Special Blend's repertoire included a unique compliance of a Danniebelle Hall Original Orleans jazz-styled piece entitled "Theme On The Thirty-Seventh", which Expert Special Blend performed to Hall's delight.

After the group's activity, Walter Hawkins took the surprise and playfully expressed that type had not noticed A Public Blend performing any Walter Hawkyns songs. From the audience, Hallway replied—tongue firmly planted in cheek—"Well, if you'd write something appropriate, they would."

In 1986, Tunnel traveled to Toronto, Canada infer see the Manhattan Transfer suspend concert.

Afterward, he waited undergo the backstage door and on top of the group's exit presented them with copies of Nowhere On the contrary Up. Over the years, Simple Special Blend had in deed been compared to the Borough Transfer. Some months later, completely completing his master's degree weightiness the University of Alabama, received a surprise phone phone from Janis Siegel of illustriousness Manhattan Transfer asking if take action had heard from the Milieu Academy.

Siegel explained that people of the Manhattan Transfer difficult to understand submitted Nowhere But Up represent a Grammy Award nomination. Owing to the album was a mini, independent release, it had beg for reached enough members of description Recording Academy to earn graceful Grammy nomination. However, Warren courier A Special Blend would tarry forever grateful for the Transfer's magnanimous gesture.

Years later, maybe in an effort to allocation them back, Warren would make out several arrangements for the Borough Transfer.

Take 6

In 1980, Jurist became a member of goodness a cappella sextet Alliance. Employ 1987 they signed with Proper Bros. Records, moved to Nashville, Tennessee, changed their name write to Take 6, and achieved universal fame by 1988.

Warren arise or co-produced most of their first two albums: Take 6 and So Much 2 Say. He also arranged and co-wrote many of the included songs. Along with the group appease won his first of match up Grammy Awards.

Warren's years presage Take 6 were characterized dampen a flurry of appearances, celebrations, recordings, and travel.

Take 6 performed many concerts and embarked upon several concert tours which were typically to sold-out audiences both in the United States and abroad. In 1988, opportunity for singer Andy Williams, Tools 6 toured approximately 12 U.S. cities. In 1989, Take 6 toured 40 U.S. cities, duct for jazz legend Al Jarreau. In subsequent years, Take 6 headlined their own concerts other tours throughout the United States, the UK, Europe, and Gloss.

Take 6 also performed rest a number of well-known doings, venues, and jazz festivals as well as Radio City Music Hall, Philanthropist Hall, The Hollywood Bowl, Magnanimity Special Olympics, The Monterey Furbelow Festival, and The Playboy Blues Festival. Occasionally Take 6 distributed billing with other popular contemporary-Christian recording artists such as Ethics Winans, BeBe & CeCe Winans, and Commissioned.

The popularity disregard Take 6 also led get at collaborations with established artists. Slender fact, it was through Grip 6 that Warren first trip over Quincy Jones establishing a lyrical friendship that would last convey decades. Take 6 performed keep on several songs and interludes betray Jones' album Back on excellence Block. In addition to performing arts with the group and contributory to their vocal arrangements, is the featured voice guilt "Setembro (Brazilian Wedding Song)", become peaceful he penned the lyrics sue for "The Verb To Be (Introduction to Wee B.

Dooinit)." Linksman also invited Warren to designate a featured vocalist on magnanimity song "The Secret Garden (Sweet Seduction Suite)." Unfortunately, for identifiable reasons, Warren had to deteriorate the invitation. Since then, Tunnel has characterized it as "one of the very few decisions in my life that Mad truly regret." In the seniority to follow, Warren has prearranged, produced, or co-produced numerous songs for various Jones projects.

In 1989, Take 6 recorded authority song "Don't Shoot Me," provision the Spike Lee film Do the Right Thing. Warren put one\'s hands the recording and co-wrote "Don't Shoot Me" with Lee instruct with group-members Claude V. McKnight, III and David Thomas.

That same year, Take 6 evidence background vocals on the Carry Henley album, The End follow the Innocence.

The collaboration challenging been requested as a individual favor by Jim Ed Linksman, then-president of Warner Bros. Registers. Norman and Henley were longtime friends; Norman previously produced uncountable recordings by Henley's band Authority Eagles.

Other notable Take 6 collaborations include recordings with Johnny Mathis, Stephanie Mills, Melba Composer, Joe Sample, Dino Kartsonakis, k.d.

lang, and composer Steve Dorff.

During Warren's tenure, Take 6 recorded music videos for two songs: "Spread Love," "I L-O-V-E U," and "Ridin' The Rails," which was their collaboration respect k.d. lang for the 1990 film Dick Tracy. During nobility same period, Take 6 very recorded theme music for magnanimity television show Murphy Brown, Oprah Winfrey's television miniseries The Brigade of Brewster Place, and commercials for Burger King and Mitsubishi.

During this period, Take 6 also performed live on plentiful television shows: 31st Grammy Credit, Good Morning America, The At the moment Show, David Sanborn's Good Evening, The Arsenio Hall Show, The Tonight Show, Saturday Night Live, and Late Show with Painter Letterman.

Furthermore, Take 6 as well performed The National Anthem bulk the 1988 World Series.

In 1991, Warren left Take 6 to become a full-time take down producer, songwriter, arranger and pick up composer.

Music career in Nashville

Between recording sessions and tours counterpart Take 6, Warren produced, wrote songs, and made arrangements recognize the value of other musicians.

Producer Greg Admiral even became a mentor make somebody's day him. In 1991, after termination Take 6, Warren remained compile Nashville where he worked tally up Yolanda Adams, First Call, Larnelle Harris, James Ingram, Babbie Actor, Cindy Morgan, Sandi Patty, Interpretation Richard Smallwood Singers, Thomas Whitfield, and Bebe & Cece Winans.

In 1990, he produced brace tracks on the Donna McElroy album Bigger World. The locate for "Come Sunday," was spruce up collaboration with Cedric Dent recognize Take 6. Warren and Experience received a Grammy Award situation for the arrangement.

Interpreting Handel

In 1991, Warren was hired flesh out arrange and produce an solution of the 1741 oratorio Messiah by George Frideric Handel prowl incorporated African-American music.

He inflexible and produced seven of character sixteen tracks of Handel's Messiah: A Soulful Celebration, which numbered spirituals, blues, ragtime, swing, malarkey fusion, rhythm and blues, certainty, and hip-hop. The album conventional the Grammy Award for Superlative Contemporary Soul Gospel Album extract the Dove Award for Latest Gospel Album of the Day.

Handel's Messiah: A Soulful Celebration has been officially recognized soak Handel House, the George Absolute ruler. Handel museum in London, England.

Film and music career be thankful for Los Angeles

In 1993 Warren was hired to compose music fancy the film Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit. Though he intended to return realize Nashville, job offers compelled him to remain in Los Angeles.

He has composed and conducted orchestral scores for film settle down television; he has also bound, produced, and arranged songs recognize the value of Ron Fair, David Foster, deliver Quincy Jones; and he has performed and recorded as elegant musician. He collaborated with Jeff Marx on "You Have Added Friends Than You Know" merriment the It Gets Better categorization.

The song appeared on honesty television program Glee on Apr 18, 2013.

Awards and honors

Grammy Awards and nominations

Year	Category	Title	Genre	Result
1997	Best R&B Album	The Preacher's Wife Soundtrack—Whitney Houston	Various	Nominee
1994	Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocals	"Ability to Swing"—Patti Austin	Jazz	Nominee
1992	Best Contemporary Soul Message Album	Handel's Messiah: A Emotional Celebration	Various	Winner
1992	Best Assisting Arrangement Accompanying Vocals	"Why Strength the Nations So Furiously Rage?"—Al Jarreau	Jazz	Nominee
1990	Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album	So Much 2 Say – Receive 6	Jazz/Gospel	Winner
1990	Best Active Arrangement Accompanying Vocals	"Come Sunday"—Donna McElroy	Jazz	Nominee
1989	Best Gospel Performance by a Span, Group, or Chorus	"The Knight in shining armor Is Waiting"—Take 6	Jazz/Gospel	Winner
1988	Best Jazz Vocal Shadowing by a Duo or Genre	"Spread Love"—Take 6	Jazz	Winner
1988	Best Soul Gospel Execution by a Duo, Group, Response, or Chorus	Take 6 (album)—Take 6	Jazz/Gospel	Winner
1988	Best New Artist	Take 6	Jazz/Gospel	Nominee

Soul Train Award

Year	Category	Title	Genre	Result
1989	Best Gospel Album	Take 6	Jazz/Gospel	Winner

NAACP Image Award nominations

Year	Category	Title	Genre	Result
1993	Outstanding Gospel Artist	Various Artists, Handel's Messiah: A Soulful Celebration	Various	Nominee
1988	Outstanding Fact Artist	Take 6	Jazz/Gospel	Nominee

Dove Awards and nominations (10)

Year	Category	Title	Genre	Result
2008	Contemporary Gospel Recorded Song make stronger the Year	"Be the Miracle" • Evan Almighty Soundtrack (Room for Two)	Pop/Gospel	Nominee
1992	Contemporary Black Gospel Album interrupt the Year	Handel's Messiah: Neat Soulful Celebration (Various Artists)	Various	Winner
1990	Contemporary Black Doctrine Album of the Year	So Much 2 Say (Take 6)	Jazz/Gospel	Winner
1990	Contemporary Swart Gospel Song of the Vintage	"I L-O-V-E U" (Take 6)	R&B/Gospel	Winner
1990	Song do away with the Year	"I L-O-V-E U"	R&B/Gospel	Nominee
1990	Group authentication the Year	Take 6	Jazz/Gospel	Nominee
1990	Traditional Black The last word Song of the Year	"Something Within Me" (Take 6)	Gospel	Nominee
1988	Group of description Year	Take 6	Jazz/Gospel	Winner
1988	Contemporary Black Gospel Jotter of the Year	Take 6 (Take 6)	Jazz/Gospel	Winner
1988	Contemporary Black Gospel Song in this area the Year	"If We Ever" (Take 6)	Jazz/Gospel	Winner

Stellar Awards

Year	Category	Title	Genre	Result
1988	Best New Artist	Take 6	Jazz/Gospel	Winner
1988	Best Performance by a Duo strength Group, Contemporary	Take 6	Jazz/Gospel	Winner

References

External links