Ian Underwood

Ian Underwood ( May 22nd, 1939 in New York City ) is an American musician. He plays keyboard instruments of all kinds, various wood and brass instruments and guitar. He became known in the 1960s with the Frank Zappa band The Mothers of Invention. Today he is a sought-after studio musician and film music specialist.

Life and work

Yale University, he left in 1961 with the Bachelor of Arts degree in composition. He then completed his music studies at the University of California, Berkeley, to which he again in Composition, a Master of Arts degree took off in 1966. At that time it was the instrumentalist Ian Underwood as an expert in matters of Mozart.

In 1967, Ian Underwood thrilled by a performance by the Mothers in the Garrick Theatre in New York; he wanted to immediately join in Zappa's band. The only question: " What can you do that 's fantastic? " Underwood let it hear him - and was hired away because of its diverse qualities from the spot. ( Recorded live in Copenhagen) The song " Ian Underwood whips it out" on the album Uncle Meat represents the course of the job interview by - a month after this had taken place.

In the years 1968 to 1972 Underwood has Zappa's work and the live performances of the Mothers of Invention decisive influence on how the witness 15 recordings that have arisen in this phase. In addition to recordings with Zappa and the Mothers Underwood is also heard on albums by GTOs, Jeff Simmons and Jean -Luc Ponty as well as by John Lennon and Yoko Ono. In 1970, Underwood married also playing at Zappa American percussionist Ruth Komanoff. Meanwhile, this marriage is divorced.

After retiring from the Mothers of Invention Ian Underwood end of 1973 was able to make a name as a studio musician. Among other things, he was involved in shooting of Lee Ritenour, Dave Grusin, Barbra Streisand, Gábor Szabó, Manhattan Transfer and Nina Hagen. The Hollywood film industry resorted to Underwood's abilities, including as a specialist for synthesizer programming. For subsequent years, his involvement is occupied on several movies, for example, Aliens, Blade Runner, Honey, I Shrunk the Kids, Titanic and Avatar. Underwood now lives in Los Angeles and works for various film studios. He was, among others, also participated in the soundtracks for The Name of the Rose, Field of Dreams and The Mosquito Coast.

Discography (selection)

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