Greg Kurstin

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Greg Kurstin
Birth name Gregory Allen Kurstin[1]
Born May 14, 1969 (1969-05-14) (age 42)
Associated acts Geggy Tah, The Bird and the Bee, Lily Allen, Hard-Fi, Kelly Clarkson

Gregory Allen "Greg" Kurstin (born May 14, 1969)[2][3] is an award-winning[4] American songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. In 2009 Kurstin received a Grammy Award[5] nomination for Producer of the Year. That same year he won three Ivor Novello awards for his work with Lily Allen, including Songwriters of the Year for "The Fear". He is one half of The Bird and the Bee and was also a member of Geggy Tah.

Contents

[edit] Personal life

Kurstin was born and raised in Los Angeles. His earliest musical memory came from his grandmother playing piano for him when he was a baby. He started playing piano when he was five years old. Kurstin would later inherit her piano and spend hours practicing the fundamentals of jazz and blues music.

At age 12 he performed in Dweezil Zappa's band and co-wrote "Crunchy Water",[6] the b-side to Los Angeles' KROQ-FM's staple "My Mother Is A Space Cadet".

After high school, Kurstin moved to New York City to study with Charles Mingus' piano player, Jaki Byard, at The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music, a world renowned jazz conservatory.[7] He played with a variety of Jazz legends including Bobby Hutcherson, George Coleman and Charles McPherson.[8]

[edit] Multi-instrumental work

Kurstin has played and performed with Beck, Red Hot Chili Peppers,[9] Yusuf Islam,[10] Flaming Lips, Bob Moog, among many others. He was also the musical director for Gwen Stefani's live and television performances.[11] Kurstin played for Marlon Brando during his lunch breaks from Tony Kaye's infamous Marlon Brando documentary. Kaye's documentary was eventually pulled from London's Raindance Film Festival.[12] His multi-instrumental work appears on many albums. Greg is nominated for a Grammy as Producer of the Year (2010).

[edit] Appears on

[edit] Geggy Tah

Main article: Geggy Tah

After his studies, Kurstin returned to Los Angeles where he began writing and recording music with singer-songwriter Tommy Jordan. They formed the band Geggy Tah. Their eclectic musical sound caught the ear of David Byrne of Talking Heads. Byrne signed the band to his Luaka Bop label.[13] They released three records, which he co-produced with Tommy Jordan and Susan Rogers. Their first record, Grand Opening appeared in 1994. Their 1996 release, Sacred Cow, spawned the hit single, "Whoever You Are" which peaked at #16 on the Billboard Modern Rock chart. He also performed with Pamelia Kurstin, the accomplished theremin-playing multi-instrumentalist, to whom he was also married for a time. Kurstin continued to perform jazz and played with the likes of Bobby Hutcherson, George Coleman and Charles McPherson.[8]

[edit] The Bird and the Bee

Main article: The Bird and the Bee

In 2005, Mike Andrews introduced Kurstin to Inara George. Kurstin and George found themselves spending hours in the studio together where they discovered their mutual interest in '60s Tropicalia.[14] They began to explore new sounds and textures while working in the studio. This resulted in their debut EP, Again and Again and Again, released in October 2006. The Bird and the Bee's self-titled LP was released the following year by Blue Note. It spawned a number one hit on the U.S. Hot Dance Club chart with a remix of "F*cking Boyfriend"[15]

The pair also released a five-song EP entitled Please Clap Your Hands which featured a cover of the Bee Gees' ‘How Deep Is Your Love’. Their songs “Again & Again” and “Please Clap Your Hands” were featured in the TV show, Grey’s Anatomy. In 2007 the song “La La La” was used for the iPod touch commercial, however it never aired on television. In honor of the holidays, The Bird and The Bee released Carol of The Bells on November 27, 2007 and iTunes featured it as the Free Single Of The Week. The same year they hit the road and joined indie pop act Rilo Kiley on their fall tour. Comedian Eric Wareheim, from Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job! directed their video for “Polite Dance Song”.[16] On Valentine’s Day 2008, they released their EP, One Too Many Hearts as a gift to their fans.[17]

[edit] The Bird and the Bee Discography

[edit] Producer and songwriter

Kurstin's production and songwriting is found on a wide range of albums. He has written and produced with Lily Allen,[18] Kylie Minogue, Peaches,[19] The Flaming Lips,[20] Karen O, Little Boots, All Saints,[21] Sia, Pink, DEVO, and Donna Summer.

[edit] Producer/songwriter discography

"Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)"
"Dark Side"
"Honestly"
(Still a) Weirdo
"Glamour Puss"
"Oh No!"
"New in Town"
"Earthquake"
"Stuck on Repeat"
"Meddle"
"Mathematics"
"Do It Again”
"Carried Away”
"Backyard”
"Wow”
"Do It Again”
"Carried Away”
"Death By Chocolate”
"Competition”
"True Believer”
"Black Limousine”
"Wow”
"No More Rain”
"Catch You”
"Everything’s Just Wonderful”
"Not Big”
"Alfie”
"Haven’t Got a Clue"
"Downtown”
"Tent In Your Pants”
"Downtown”
"Rocksteady”
"On and On”
"Not Eazy”
"One Me and U”
"Headlock”
"In It To Win It”
"Backass”
"Centerfold”
"Waiting Game”

[edit] References

  1. ^ USA People Search
  2. ^ allmusic
  3. ^ Family Tree Legends
  4. ^ [1]
  5. ^ [2]
  6. ^ Dweezil-My Mother Is A Space Cadet
  7. ^ [3]
  8. ^ a b Greg Kurstin-Blue Thumb Records Biography
  9. ^ Greg Kurstin-Pipl.com
  10. ^ Yusuf Islam-An Other Cup-Deluxe Edition Review Answers.com
  11. ^ Allen-The Guardian UK Bush Hall Live Review
  12. ^ Tony Kaye-IMDb
  13. ^ Geggy Tah-Luaka Bop Artist Page
  14. ^ Subba-Cultcha/The Bird and The Bee
  15. ^ Reyes-Kulkami, Saby (2007-11-14). "The Bird and The Bee is lounge music without the kitsch". New York Press. http://www.newyorkpress.com/20/46/music/music.cfm. Retrieved 2008-03-12. 
  16. ^ The Bird and The Bee-Polite Dance Song You Tube
  17. ^ The Bird and The Bee-One Too Many Hearts EP for Valentine’s Day
  18. ^ Lilly Allen AV Club Intereview
  19. ^ Peaches-Impeach My Bush Emusic Review
  20. ^ BBC Radio 3 Review
  21. ^ Why We Love Greg Kurstin-Pop Justice
  22. ^ Kylie Minogue-Wow Single Wikipedia Article
  23. ^ Kylie Minogue-Wow Song-Wikipedia Article

Background checks

[edit] External links

The Bird and the Bee
Studio albums
EPs
Singles
Related articles
Geggy Tah
  • Tommy Jordan
  • Greg Kurstin
  • Daren Hahn
Studio albums
Singles
Related articles
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