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SOLID GOLD'S MUSIC
MICHAEL MILLER - SOLID GOLD'S MUSICAL
DIRECTOR - is - in his own words - "currently living
amongst dancing dolphinz in a porpoise-filled paradise"
somewhere in the South Pacific!
Fortunately, I was able to get in touch
with MICHAEL and he was kind enough to answer quite a few
questions about the MUSICAL aspects of SOLID GOLD - AND -
WRITE a short piece about his favorite SOLID GOLD memory,
which actually took place 5 YEARS after the show ended!
Click the "PALM TREE" below to READ MICHAEL"S AMAZING
STORY!
When I decided to create a separate
MUSIC page, I was able to - once again - get in touch with
MICHAEL. He graciously offered not only to share a story
about FRANK SINATRA, JOHN DENVER and THE 1984 WINTER
OLYMPICS, but PICTURES, TOO!
But first, some facts about the MUSIC!
MICHAEL served as MUSICAL
DIRECTOR throughout SOLID GOLD'S 8 year run. He composed
the MUSIC and DEAN PITCHFORD wrote the LYRICS for the
"SOLID GOLD THEME". To LISTEN to DIONNE WARWICK'S
rendition of the song and READ the COMPLETE LYRICS,
including the NEVER-BEFORE-PERFORMED SECOND VERSE, just
click the JUKEBOX!
MOST OF THE RECORDING ARTISTS WHO
APPEARED ON SOLID GOLD DID NOT LIP-SYNC!
The VOCALS were "live" and the MUSIC was taped. The reason
for taping the MUSIC is that "live" MUSIC didn't always
sound quite as good as it should have when played through a
television's audio system.
Whenever recording artists decided to perform "live to
tape" they met with MICHAEL to go over the song
arrangements (which MICHAEL did if they did not bring their
own). Then, the SOLID GOLD BAND - YES THE SHOW REALLY HAD
A BAND! - under MICHAEL's direction would record the
MUSIC!
For more information about and photos of the BAND and
BACKGROUND SINGERS visit our SOLID GOLD BAND and BACKGROUND
SINGERS 1980-86 PAGE - just click the BAND icon!
Singers were not the only ones to do "live" performances.
Musicians such as DAVID FOSTER and CHUCK MANGIONE also
did!
MICHAEL also produced and did the musical arrangements when
the HOSTS performed alone on the show. Additionally, he
created, arranged and produced all the duets which the HOSTS
performed with their guest hosts! Once in a while, when
the production schedule became rather hectic, Rocky Davis
-- a talented musician and keyboardist forr the Solid Gold
Band -- would do some of the arrangements as well.
Occasionally, the SOLID GOLD BAND stepped out of the
recording studio and on to the STAGE if singers wanted to
have musicians on stage with them but either did not have
or did not bring their own band!
Just how long were those COUNTDOWN DANCES that everyone
loved? Only about THIRTY SECONDS! And MICHAEL was responsible for choosing which thirty seconds of the song would be used!
And who decided what songs would be in the countdown - at
what position - and for how long? SOLID GOLD's PRODUCER and
CREATOR BRAD LACHMAN! He read various recording industry
trade magazines and then - since the shows were taped two
to three weeks before their airdates - he had to determine
which songs would be in the TOP TEN when each show
aired!
Naturally, the HOSTS who were also SINGERS performed the
"SOLID GOLD THEME". But what about when RICK DEES hosted
in 1984-85? A talented singer named DEBORAH DAVIS did the
vocals! She was also one of the SOLID GOLD BACKGROUND
SINGERS! And appeared on STAR SEARCH three times and won
twice!
There's a picture of DEBORAH as well as a picture of DEBORAH with
MYRNA MATTHEWS and MARTI MCCALL - (all three were BACKGROUND
SINGERS) on our SOLID GOLD BAND and BACKGROUND SINGERS Page!
Just click the SINGER icon!
A VERY SPECIAL STORY!
Click the "DANCING DOLPHIN" to read MICHAEL MILLER'S very special story about FRANK SINATRA, JOHN DENVER and the 1984 WINTER OLYMPICS!
When I asked Michael how he was chosen to be the Musical Director for SOLID GOLD, this is what he said...
"I received a phone call one day from Kevin Carlisle saying he had been hired to do the choreography for a new Music/Variety dance show hosted by Dionne Warwick. Because he liked the music I'd created for some previous projects, he asked if it was alright if he recommended me to be the Musical Director for the new show. Of course, I said, "Yes!!". Two other arranger/composers were recommended as well, and all of our "demo" tapes were then given to Dionne to review. Out of all of our tapes, she apparently liked mine the best because, one day in August of 1980, she phoned and asked if I would come over to her house so we could meet in person. Being one of her biggest fans, you can imagine how thrilled I was! When I arrived at her front door, she was on the phone with Peter Matz (the Emmy Award-winning Music Man Extraordinaire who arranged and conducted all the early Barbra Streisand albums, produced her Broadway CD, and, along with many, many other wonderful credits, was also the Musical Director for the long-running Carol Burnett Show). He had been one of my main "mentors" while I was still a student at UCLA and was, thankfully, giving Dionne a glowing report about me. She and I sat down at her piano, talked, made some music and, basically, had a great time. Well, I guess she decided to not let me "WALK ON BY" because, the next day, she sent a very positive "MESSAGE TO MICHAEL".
And the rest is HIStory . . . and HERstory!!"
THE PICTURES!!
"SOLID GOLD"
(To return to the MUSIC page from any PICTURE page just click the "MUSIC-RELATED" ICON at the bottom of each page!)
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The "Solid Gold Gang"
"MANGOESBANANAS!"
There's a link to MICHAEL MILLER'S FAVORITE SOLID GOLD MEMORY on the MANGOESBANANAS! picture page!
John Donne wrote:
"No man is an island entire unto himself."
And putting this website together is a group effort!
THANK YOU, MY FRIENDS
(Kudos and credits)
SOLID GOLD FANS have visited our web site since March 11, 2004
