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Rhett Lawrence | |
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 Lawrence in 2016 | |
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| Years active | 1982–present |
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James Everett "Rhett"Lawrence is an American record producer and songwriter.[1][2] He first became known for producing the 1990 single "Vision of Love" byMariah Carey, which received aGrammy Award and peaked on theBillboard Hot 100. His productions have since resulted in sales of 350 millionalbum-equivalent units worldwide.[3]
Lawrence has produced and written songs for mainstream musical acts includingWhitney Houston,Earth Wind and Fire,Little Richard,Philip Bailey,Gladys Knight,Jon Anderson (Yes),Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe,Enrique Iglesias,Selena,Paula Abdul,Hilary Duff,Jessica Simpson,98 Degrees,Carola Häggkvist,June Pointer,Kirk Franklin, andCrystal Lewis, among others.
Lawrence's other noteworthy production and songwriting credits include the 2000 single "Never Be the Same Again" byMelanie C,[4] the 1998 single "Angel of Mine" byMonica (originally recorded byEternal), and the 1997 single "I Wanna Be the Only One" for Eternal.
Prior to becoming a producer, Lawrence was a programmer, arranger and studio musician in Los Angeles and New York. Some of the artists he worked with during this period includeMichael Jackson on hisBad andDangerous[5] albums,Van Halen,Crosby Stills Nash and Young,Stevie Wonder,Gladys Knight,Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe (aYes spin-off),Earth Wind and Fire,Neil Diamond,Chicago ("Will You Still Love Me"), andQuincy Jones (two solo albums, Jackson, andBarbra Streisand), rock artistsBilly Preston,Boz Scaggs andRoger Hodgson (formerly ofSupertramp), pop artistsRichard Marx,Belinda Carlisle ("Heaven is a Place On Earth"), easy listening artistsJulio Iglesias, and David Foster, jazz artistsLarry Carlton,George Benson andEarl Klugh, funk artiststhe Gap Band andthe Dazz Band, and gospel artistsPhil Keaggy andAndrae Crouch. He also programmed the distinctive drum loop (with Maurice Gibb and Scott Glasel) for theBee Gees' "You Win Again (Bee Gees song)" that sold over three million copies worldwide, while working on multiple projects with them andArif Mardin.
Lawrence produced and co-wroteKelly Clarkson's first single following herAmerican Idol victory, "Miss Independent", which was at No. 1 for 6 weeks on Top 40 radio and received a Grammy Award nomination forBest Female Pop Vocal Performance. Lawrence's second collaboration with Clarkson led to the creation of a new anthem forFord Motor Company titled "Go". The song was introduced first duringAmerican Idol and was inspired by Lawrence's love for Ford's anniversary re-issue of theGT40 Lemans race car, theFord GT. "Go" became Ford's theme song for television and radio advertising in North and South America for one year, and led to Ford sponsoring Clarkson's tour for two years. Ford and Clarkson gave away aFord Mustang orFord Fusion to a lucky audience member at each concert.[6][7]
Lawrence produced and co-wrote theBillboard No. 2 Rap single “Request + Line” for theBlack Eyed Peas featuringMacy Gray, which gave them their first top 40 hit.[8][9]
In addition to the use of synthesizers, Lawrence used computers and sampling in albums, the first studio musician in Los Angeles to own and use theFairlight CMI (Computer Music Instrument). He was an early advisor toDigidesign (laterAvid Technology) and would later become the first producer to mix an album usingPro Tools, alongside legendary mixerDave Pensado[10] who continued collaboration through the years.[11][8][12]
Lawrence also owns and records with a large collection of vintage guitars and recording equipment includingJimi Hendrix's firstMarshall amplifier, which was given to Hendrix byKit Lambert, manager ofthe Who during the 1960s, after its guitarist and original owner,Pete Townshend, had switched amplifier companies.[13][14]
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