Wendy Melvoin | |
|---|---|
 Melvoin in 2006 | |
| Background information | |
| Born | (1964-01-26)January 26, 1964 (age 61) |
| Origin | Los Angeles,California, United States |
| Genres | |
| Occupations |
|
| Instruments |
|
| Years active | 1980–present |
| Labels | Columbia,SME,Virgin,EMI,World Domination |
| Member of | The Revolution,Wendy & Lisa |
| Website | wendyandlisa |
Wendy Ann Melvoin (born January 26, 1964) is an American guitarist and singer-songwriter, best known for her work withPrince as part of his backing bandthe Revolution, and for her collaboration withLisa Coleman as one half of the duoWendy & Lisa.
Wendy Melvoin met Prince in 1980 when her girlfriend Lisa Coleman joined Prince's band for theDirty Mind period. Prince would stay at their house when he came to the Los Angeles area and she was regularly at the Dirty Mind, Controversy, and 1999 tour shows. She was watching from backstage when Prince and the band opened for theRolling Stones in 1981. One night when she was practicing guitar in Coleman's room, Prince overheard and asked Coleman who was playing guitar. A few days later, when guitaristDez Dickerson did not show up at soundcheck, Prince asked Melvoin to play his guitar; that same night after asking Coleman first, Prince invited Melvoin to join the band. Melvoin sang backup on the1999 album song "Free", as well as the B-side single "Irresistible Bitch".[1] Melvoin's debut show with the Revolution was a benefit concert for theMinnesota Dance Theatre at theFirst Avenue nightclub inMinneapolis on August 3, 1983. This concert was recorded and some of the songs ("Let's Go Crazy", "Computer Blue", "Purple Rain", "Baby I'm a Star", and "I Would Die 4 U") were released onPurple Rain, Prince's next record. Melvoin was 19 at the time.
Melvoin then worked extensively with Prince in the studio on songs released and unreleased, as well as contributing to protégé projects such as 1984'sApollonia 6, 1985'sthe Family, and the 1985 Prince & the Revolution albumAround the World in a Day.
Shortly after the completion of Prince and the Revolution's album tour in October 1986Parade, Coleman and Melvoin left the Revolution and started their own duo,Wendy & Lisa, also known as Girl Brothers.
Melvoin performed with Prince at aBangles show later in 1986 and appears on Prince's 1987 albumSign o' the Times on the tracks "Slow Love", "Strange Relationship", and "It's Gonna Be a Beautiful Night".
Melvoin and Coleman also composed music for the first season of the TV seriesHeroes.[2] In September 2008, they announced that they would release an album consisting entirely of the score fromHeroes, titledHeroes: Original Score. Melvoin and Coleman composed the main title song forNurse Jackie, for which they were awarded an Emmy in 2010. As of mid-November 2015, the duo was working on the American TV seriesTouch.
Melvoin and Coleman performed with Prince on and off during the 2004–2007 period: notably, the 2004Tavis Smiley show performing "Reflections" with Prince; a June 5, 2004,Musicology tour aftershow; the 2006Brit Award Show; and the 2007 Triple Hit shows in Minneapolis (the Macey's Show, the Target show, and the First Avenue show.) They also worked on a few songs on Prince'sPlanet Earth album.
Melvoin also contributed guitars toMadonna's 2008 albumHard Candy on the song "She's Not Me". She is mentioned by name during the song.
Melvoin contributed heavily toNeil Finn's second solo albumOne Nil, co-writing many tracks and playing drums and bass on several. She is credited for guitar work on most of the tracks onRob Thomas's first solo album,...Something to Be.
Melvoin is also listed in the credits ofGlen Campbell's 2011 final studio album,Ghost on the Canvas.
Wendy Melvoin was born in Los Angeles, California. Her fatherMike Melvoin was a pianist and member ofstudio musicians known asthe Wrecking Crew, and also a former president of theNational Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences.[3][4] Her brotherJonathan Melvoin was a touring keyboardist withthe Smashing Pumpkins, and her twin sister is singer and composerSusannah Melvoin.
In April 2009, Melvoin gave an interview withOut that, for the first time, publicly revealed she is a lesbian and discussed her past romantic relationship withLisa Coleman, who is still her musical partner.[5] Melvoin was also in a long-term relationship with film directorLisa Cholodenko, with whom she has a son.[6]
In 2007, theASCAP Film and Television Music Awards gave Melvoin and Coleman the "Top Television Series" award for their work onHeroes.[7]
Melvoin and Coleman were awarded with anEmmy for Outstanding Original Main Title in 2010 for their theme toNurse Jackie.[8] They also technically share the honor of winners of a Grammy and Oscar for being part of the Revolution, asPurple Rain won two Grammys, and the Oscar for Best Original Score.
In 2014, Melvoin and Coleman received the inaugural Shirley Walker Award from TheAmerican Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP), an award which honors those whose achievements have contributed to the diversity of film and television music.[9]
WithGlen Campbell
Withk.d. lang
WithMichael Penn
WithIlse DeLange
WithRob Thomas
WithNerina Pallot
WithNeil Finn
WithSheryl Crow
WithSeal
WithNikka Costa
WithSkye Edwards
