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Michael Zager

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Michael Zager
Born (1943-01-03) 3 January 1943 (age 81)
Passaic, New Jersey, U.S.
Occupations
  • Musician
  • Record producer
  • Composer
Notable work"Let's All Chant"

Michael Zager (born January 3, 1943)[1] is an American record producer, composer, and arranger of original music for commercials, albums, network television, and theme music for films. He teaches music at Florida Atlantic University.[2] Zager was a member of jazz rock band Ten Wheel Drive from 1968 to 1973.[3]

Music career

Zager has produced for artists such as Whitney Houston, Cissy Houston, Peabo Bryson, Luther Vandross, Deniece Williams, Jennifer Holliday, Joe Williams, Arturo Sandoval, Herb Alpert, Olatunji, and The Spinners. Zager produced R&B artist Street Corner Symphony (1975), Marilyn Chambers (1976), Andrea True (1977),[4] Dee Edwards (1980), Take Five (1981), Elusion (1981). He also co-wrote the Patti Day song "Right Before My Eyes" with Alexander Forbes.

In 1978, the Michael Zager Band had a popular disco anthem with "Let's All Chant".[5] During 1979 and 1980 Zager wrote the medley arrangements for the Spinners' "Working My Way Back to You" / "Forgive Me, Girl" (No. 2 US Billboard Hot 100 in March–April 1980, No. 1 UK) and "Cupid" / "I've Loved You for a Long Time" (No. 4 US Hot 100 in July–August 1980, No. 4 UK).[6]

Appointments

Zager graduated from University of Miami and the Mannes College of Music. He taught at the Mannes College of Music, a division within The New School, in New York City.[2]

During the summers of 2006 and 2008 Zager taught at the College of Music at Payap University in Chiang Mai, Thailand.[7]

He holds the positions of the Dorothy F. Schmidt Eminent Scholar in Performing Arts and professor of music at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, Florida.[2]

He is the author of Writing Music for Television and Radio Commercials (A Manual for Composers and Students) published by Scarecrow Press,[8] and Music Production: For Producers, Composers, Arrangers, and Students, also published by Scarecrow Press.[9]

Discography

Studio albums

Year Album Label US 200
[10]
1978 Let's All Chant Private Stock Records 120
Life's a Party Columbia Records —
1980 Zager —
"—" denotes releases that did not chart.

Singles

Year Single Peak chart positions
US Pop
[11][12] 		US Dance
[13][14] 		US R&B
[15][14] 		UK
[16]
1976 "Do It with Feeling" (with Peabo Bryson) 94 3 25 ―
1977 "Let's All Chant" 36 1 15 8
1978 "Life's a Party" ― ― ― ―
"Soul to Soul" ― ― ― ―
"Love Express" ― ― ― ―
"You Don't Know a Good Thing" ― ― ― ―
"Music Fever" ― ― ― ―
1980 "Don't Sneak on Me" ― ― ― ―
1981 "Dr. Rhythm" ― ― ― ―
1984 "Shot in the Dark" ― 24 ― ―
1986 "Like a Tiger" ― 27 ― ―
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.

See also

References

  1. ^ "Michael Zager". Disco-Disco.com. Archived from the original on May 24, 2006. Retrieved February 6, 2022.
  2. ^ a b c "Michael Zager". FAU. Retrieved February 6, 2022.
  3. ^ Viglione, Joe. "Biography: Ten Wheel Drive". AllMusic. Retrieved May 31, 2010.
  4. ^ Paoletta, Michael (January 16, 1999). "Billboard - Dance: Artist & Music". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. pp. 28–. ISSN 0006-2510.
  5. ^ Henderson, Alex. "Michael Zager – Let's All Chant". AllMusic. Retrieved February 5, 2022.
  6. ^ "Michael Zager Page". Soulwalking.co.uk. Retrieved February 6, 2022.
  7. ^ "Music: The Universal Language Across Cultures". Fulbright. Retrieved February 6, 2022.
  8. ^ Zager, Michael (2003). Writing Music for Television and Radio Commercials: A Manual for Composers and Students (illustrated ed.). Scarecrow Press. ISBN 9780810847224.
  9. ^ Zager, Michael (2012). Music Production: For Producers, Composers, Arrangers, and Students (illustrated ed.). Scarecrow Press. ISBN 9780810882010.
  10. ^ "The Michael Zager Band: Chart History - The Billboard 200". Billboard. Retrieved February 6, 2022.
  11. ^ "The Michael Zager Band: Chart History - Billboard Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved February 6, 2022.
  12. ^ "Michael Zager's Moon Band/Peabo Bryson: Chart History - Billboard Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved February 6, 2022.
  13. ^ "The Michael Zager Band: Chart History - Dance Club Songs". Billboard. Retrieved February 6, 2022.
  14. ^ a b "Michael Zager Band Top Songs / Chart Singles Discography". Music VF. Retrieved February 6, 2022.
  15. ^ "The Michael Zager Band: Chart History - Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs". Billboard. Retrieved February 6, 2022.
  16. ^ "MICHAEL ZAGER BAND - full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 6, 2022.
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