Richard "Wolfie" Wolf is an American Emmy Award-winning film and television composer, multi-platinum-selling music producer, songwriter, remixer, and author.[1]
Richard Wolf | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Background information | |
| Born | |
| Genres | Film score, Hip hop |
| Occupations | Composer, music producer, songwriter, remixer, author |
Wolf began his career as a singer/songwriter before becoming a staff writer for Warner/Chappell Music. He later worked in film music and record production prior to focusing on television and film composition. Since 2015, he has been a faculty member at the University of Southern California Thornton School of Music.[2]
Early life and career
editWolf was born in Manhattan, New York.[citation needed] While still a college freshman, he signed his first recording agreement with Quinn Ivy Studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, where he worked with the studio guitarist and co-writer Wayne Perkins. He subsequently became a staff songwriter at Warner/Chappell Music, where his compositions were recorded by artists including Steve Cropper, Angela Bofill, Johnny Gill, and Toni Basil.[3]
Record production
editIn 1989, Wolf formed the production team Wolf & Epic with Bret "Epic" Mazur.[4] The duo has been described as one of the notable production teams emerging from the early 1990s Los Angeles hip hop and R&B crossover scene.[5] Their early work included Laquan's Notes of a Native Son, which incorporated live instrumentation with hip hop production techniques.[6]
Wolf & Epic contributed to Bell Biv DeVoe's certified multi-platinum Poison (1990) and its remix counterpart WBBD-Bootcity!, which was certified gold.[7] The album has been described in retrospective critical coverage as helping to blur the boundaries between hip hop and R&B.[8]
Among Wolf's additional production and remix credits are collaborations with MC Lyte, Coolio, New Edition, Freddie Mercury, and Prince.
Film and television
editWolf began working in film in the mid-1980s, contributing music to Back to School, The Karate Kid Part II, and Madonna's Who's That Girl.[9] His later film work includes Presumed Innocent, Robocop (2014) and Three Kings.[10]
He composed the score for the Warner Bros. animated series Static Shock (2000–2004), which Mix Magazine described as "hip hop and electronic elements with orchestral scoring".[10][11] The work received Daytime Emmy nominations in 2003 and 2004 and won in 2004.[1]
Wolf has also composed music for television including work used in NCIS, America's Next Top Model, and Fox Sports beginning in 1999.[12][13]
Academics and writing
editWolf joined the faculty of the University of Southern California Thornton School of Music in 2015. His teaching focuses on music in media and the relationship between musical practice and mindfulness.[14]
He is the author of In Tune: Music as the Bridge to Mindfulness (2019), which examines connections between musical training and mindfulness practices.[15] The book was discussed in The New Yorker.[16]
Personal life
editWolf serves as a board member of the I Have a Dream Foundation, where he oversees a program that brings music and mindfulness education to underserved schools.[17]
Discography
edit| Year | Album | Artist | Role |
| 2016 | Messenger of the Gods: The Singles | Freddie Mercury | Additional Production, Mixing |
| 2005 | Donde Quiera Que Estes [2005] | The Barrio Boyzz | Arranger, Composer, Producer |
| 2002 | 20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: The Best of Bell Biv DeVoe | Bell Biv DeVoe | Composer, Producer |
| 2001 | Soulblitz All Stars | Coolio | Composer, Producer |
| 2001 | Spirit of Funk | Composer, Producer | |
| 2001 | The Very Best of MC Lyte | MC Lyte | Composer, Producer |
| 2000 | The Best of Bell Biv DeVoe | Bell Biv DeVoe | Composer, Producer |
| 2000 | The Best of the Barrio Boyzz | The Barrio Boyzz | Composer, Producer |
| 1997 | 12 Super Exitos | The Barrio Boyzz | Composer, Producer |
| 1994 | 12 Exitos Quemantes, Vol. 2 | Composer, Producer | |
| 1994 | Face the Music | New Kids on the Block | Producer, Composer |
| 1994 | Thought 'Ya Knew | CeCe Peniston | Composer, Drum Programming, Guitar, Keyboards, Producer |
| 1993 | Hootie Mack | Bell Biv DeVoe | Arranger, Composer, Engineer, Guitar, Keyboards, Vocal Arrangement, Vocals (Background) |
| 1992 | Crazy Coolin' | The Barrio Boyzz | Composer, Keyboards, Producer, Vocal Arrangement |
| 1992 | Eyes Are the Soul | MC Lyte | Composer, Producer |
| 1992 | Love for the Future | Nona Gaye | Composer, Guitar, Keyboards, Piano |
| 1992 | Return of the Product | MC Serch | Composer, Producer, Songwriter |
| 1992 | The Great Pretender | Freddie Mercury | Producer |
| 1991 | Act Like You Know | MC Lyte | Composer, Guitar, Keyboards, Producer, Vocal Arrangement |
| 1991 | Crazy | Seal | Remixing |
| 1991 | Horny Pony | Prince | Additional production, Remixing |
| 1991 | Lyte Years | MC Lyte | Composer, Producer |
| 1991 | Strictly Business | Producer, Songwriter | |
| 1991 | WBBD-Bootcity! The Remix Album | Bell Biv DeVoe | Arranger, Composer, Guitar, Keyboards |
| 1991 | Wake Up the Party | The Don | Composer, Guitar, Keyboards, Producer |
| 1991 | What Comes Naturally | Sheena Easton | Arranger, Composer, Guitar, Keyboards, Vocal Arrangement, Vocals (Background) |
| 1990 | Notes of a Native Son | Laquan | Composer, Guitar, Keyboards, Organ, Vibraphone |
| 1990 | Poison | Bell Biv DeVoe | Composer, Multi Instruments |
| 1990 | Ralph Tresvant | Ralph Tresvant | Composer, Guitar, Keyboards, Vocals (Background) |
| 1990 | The Rebirth Of Cool | Laquan | Composer, Producer |
| 1989 | Annie Haslam | Annie Haslam | Composer |
| 1987 | Who's That Girl | Madonna | Songwriter, Producer |
| 1986 | Back to School | Performer, Primary Artist, Producer | |
| 1986 | The Best of Angela Bofill [Arista] | Angela Bofill | Composer |
| 1986 | The Karate Kid, Pt. 2 | Composer, Producer | |
| 1985 | Chemistry | Johnny Gill | Composer, Songwriter |
| 1983 | Teaser | Angela Bofill | Composer |
| 1982 | Hungry Nights | Tom Snow | Composer |
|
1939|Reckless Love | Crimson Tide | Unknown Contributor Role |
References
edit- 1 2 "'Sesame', 'Ellen' Top Creative Emmys". Daily Variety. 17 May 2004.
- ↑ "Richard Wolf | USC Thornton School of Music". Music.usc.edu.
- ↑ Widran, Jonathan (14 April 1991). "Hot Picks". Music Connection.
- ↑ Kimpel, Dan (27 March 2005). "Who Really Produced That Record". Music Connection.
- ↑ Heller, Jerry; Reavill, Gil (2006). Ruthless: A Memoir. Simon Spotlight Entertainment. ISBN 978-1-4169-1792-2.
- ↑ Pareles, Jon (6 December 1990). "'Radical' Rap: Of Pride and Prejudice". The New York Times.
- ↑ Brown, Joe (1 September 1991). "The Masters of the Remix". The Washington Post.
- ↑ Frederick, Brendan. "Bell Biv DeVoe: Poison." Pitchfork. July 29, 2018. https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/bell-biv-devoe-poison/
- ↑ Kimpel, Dan (2005). "Richard Wolf's Sonic Chemistry". The Hollywood Reporter.
- 1 2 Farinella, David John (1 January 2002). "Composer Spotlight: Richard Wolf". Mix.
- ↑ Crisafulli, Chuck (20 August 2002). "Sophisticated Kids". The Hollywood Reporter.
- ↑ Longwell, Todd (27 February 2008). "Music on 'Top Model' elevates the drama". The Hollywood Reporter.
- ↑ Callaghan, Dylan (11 November 2003). "Brand Royale". The Hollywood Reporter. Fall Film and TV Music. Archived PDF: https://www.richardwolf.net/_files/ugd/6da5b8_1cc034de2348411ca6797896e8245db2.pdf
- ↑ "Mindfulness in Music". Dailytrojan.com.
- ↑ Wolf, Richard (2019). In Tune: Music As The Bridge To Mindfulness. The Experiment.
- ↑ Hsu, Hua (31 May 2019). "The Noises That We Try Not to Hear". The New Yorker.
- ↑ "I Have A Dream Foundation". Ihadla.org.
External links
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