NEIL NORMAN
(Photo courtesy Neil Norman)
Neil Norman, in charge of production for GNP/Crescendo Records, is a wildly diversified player in the music industry. The award-winning record producer is a driving force in bringing very intriguing genres of music to the record label - including world beat, rock' n roll, surf and power instrumental, state-of-the-art reissues, and especially Science Fiction! Norman's record-producing ability has re-ignited the careers of legends and sent many on a legendary path. The Ventures, grammy winner Queen Ida, Gamma (Ronnie Montrose/Davey Pattison); Robin Trower; Savoy Brown; and REO Speedwagon writer/guitarist Gary Richrath, two-time emmy winner Dennis McCarthy, Jay Chattaway, Ron Jones, Alexander Courage and many more.
Norman began guitar session work while still in high school, eventually playing on over 100 albums with groups including The Monkees, The Heywoods ("Bill Don't Be a Hero") Arthur Lyman, Les Baxter, and dozens of others. Neil played on his first record when he was only 16 and had his own records before age 21. Norman also lived in London, playing and producing many sessions. He now has over 47 successful albums (as producer or artist) to his credit.
As a student at the prestigious UCLA Film School, Norman regularly scored many of his fellow student's film projects. He experimented with guitars and synthesizers for screen projects of all genres. His love for sci-fi and film scoring let to his first solo album, Not of this Earth - recorded mostly while he was in college. Later, he toured with his band, wearing outlandish space costumes employing pioneering futuristic special effects on stage. As a follow-up, Neil recorded the immensely successful Greatest Science Fiction Hits series - his interpretations of the most exciting Sci-Fi music from his favourite movies and TV shows. (Any one who has this album, will know which are our faves - this was our first opportunity in the seventies to own the Irwin Allen themes). Neil is now collaborating with emmy-winning Star Trek composer Dennis McCarthy, with volume 4 now in production.
Neil has also executive produced 15 award-winning Star Trek albums including the worldwide box office smash 'Generations' and the Emmy-winner 'Voyager'. He will again be executive producer of the new 'STAR TREK VIII: First Contact' soundtrack featuring Academy Award-winner Jerry Goldsmith.
Eventually, Neil is looking towards producing full length Science-Fiction movies! Norman's most recent productions for GNP/Crescendo include 'Quantum Leap', 'Mission:Impossible', 'The Outer Limits' and Emmy-winner 'Star Trek: Deep Space Nine'. Out now - a colossal 6 CD box-set - The Fantasy Worlds of Irwin Allen - music from Academy-Award winning composers John Williams and Jerry Goldsmith including - 'Lost in Space', 'Time Tunnel', 'Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea' and 'Land of the Giants'. This fall - The VENTURES all new album! It appears Neil is evolving into Sci-Fi's foremost musical catalyst!
