Top Takeaways:
- The importance of supporting your children's passions which might become their lifelong careers
- The power of persistence and taking advantage of a moment that could change the trajectory of your life or career
- Why you should always be aware of your surroundings not to be left behind and also follow what you have an interest in
- The benefits of going after your passion with dedication, focus, and certainty
Listen in to hear the career moments of Earl Rose, who through his focus, has lived for his passion for music.
Ep. 70 - Earl Rose, a multi-talented Emmy and ASCAP award winner, has led a really interesting life and is a famous guy, sometimes "behind the scenes" and sometimes right up front! From the Johnny Carson Show to the Dick Cavett Show to writing songs for Johnny Mathis and Olivia Newton-John to playing at the Carlyle Hotel on New York's Upper East Side, he's done it all - but he isn't resting on his laurels! Hear about his young years with his father, a vaudeville comedy dancer who later appeared in Irving Berlin revues at the Music Box Theater on Broadway, and his mother who traveled the world with a circus trapeze act. Hear his story about Paul McCartney. Fascinating!
"If you're thinking of being a professional musician and you need to ask yourself if I don't succeed in music what else will I do? If you ask that question, you should not be doing music." -Earl Rose
CAREER AS A MULTI-TALENTED MUSICIAN
Earl Rose is a celebrated American composer, pianist, arranger, and conductor. In addition to writing film and television music, Rose has composed several well-known pops and R & B songs. Rose began his composing and conducting career while still in college in the late 1960s, as assistant music conductor for NBC's The Tonight Show starring Johnny Carson, when the show was based in New York. He continued a part-time affiliation with the show until Carson's departure in 1992.
TELEVISION SERIES
Beginning in 1976, one of his first television composing credits was co-writing songs with lyricist Judy Spencer for the CBS television series, Captain Kangaroo. In 1981, he composed the score for the television movie, Thin Ice, and in 1986, he wrote for ABC television's Dick Cavett Show. Rose was the composer for ABC television's Ryan's Hope series between 1983 and 1989. He also wrote for ABC's series All My Children from 1990 to 1995.
DOCUMENTARIES AND MINI-SERIES
Beginning in 2002, Rose composed scores for over a dozen History Channel and A&E Television documentaries and mini-series, including Masada, Wake Island: Alamo of the Pacific, The Presidents, Remember the Alamo, and In The Shadow Of Cold Mountain. In 1996, he began composing scores for documentary films written and directed by Peter Jones. These include Ballyhoo: The Hollywood Sideshow, Stardust: The Bette Davis Story, Inventing L.A.: The Chandlers and Their Times, and Johnny Carson: King of Late Night.
TV SHOWS
His music has been featured on TV shows such as American Woman, Shameless, The Brave, The Magicians, Pan Am, The West Wing, ER, Sex and The City, and many others. In 2008, he was the pianist for the TV special, A Colbert Christmas: The Greatest Gift of All, accompanying Elvis Costello, Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert.
FILM SCORES
Rose's other film score credits include Mad Dog Time, and original music featured in New Year's Eve, About Schmidt, White Oleander, and Gunshy. He wrote the song arrangements for The Object of My Affection.
SONGWRITING AND RECORDING
Rose's songwriting and recording credits include co-writing "Right From the Heart", recorded by Johnny Mathis, "Every Beat of My Heart", co-written and recorded by Brian McKnight, "I Found Love", co-written and recorded by Peabo Bryson, and the Emmy Winning and platinum-selling song, "Love Is A Gift", recorded by Olivia Newton-John and co-written with Victoria Shaw and Olivia Newton-John.
SOUNDTRACKS
His soundtrack recordings include Stardust: The Bette Davis Story, Inventing L.A.: The Chandlers and Their Times, Johnny Carson: King Of Late Night, and Always At The Carlyle (2018).
CONDUCTOR AND PIANIST
As a conductor and pianist, Rose's guest appearances have included the Pacific Symphony, Jacksonville Symphony, Corpus Christi Symphony, Erie Philharmonic, Lubbock Symphony and the San Angelo Symphony. In addition, during the 1990 to 1991 concert season, he performed in and conducted the Columbia Artist Festival's concert presentation, The Irving Berlin Century, in 106 US cities.
As a pianist, Rose has recorded for Gramavision Records, Columbia Records, Varese-Sarabande Records, Piano Disc, Steinway and his own label, Amadeus Music Company. These recordings include Solo, Color, Rhythm and Magic: favorite Songs From Disney Classics, Take My Breath Away, Earl Rose Plays Burt Bacharach, Great Movie Themes, Guys and Dolls, and New Standards (2018).
ARRANGER
As an arranger, he arranged Audra McDonald's recording of "You Were Meant For Me", featured in the film The Object of My Affection and singer Barbara Lusch's CD Rock Me Sweet.
BEMELMAN'S BAR IN THE CARLYLE
For the past 25 years, he has performed a residency as a pianist in Bemelman's Bar at the Carlyle Hotel in New York City. His score for the feature documentary film Always at the Carlyle features a wide range of styles that reflect the history of the 87-year-old hotel.
EDUCATION
He attended and graduated from the Mannes College of Music with a major in piano in 1970, having studied with Francis Dillon and Edith Oppens. During his second year of college, he studied at the Vienna Academy of Music. He also studied conducting at the Juilliard School.
AWARDS
Rose has received numerous accolades for his music, including 13 Daytime Emmy Award nominations, winning one, and a News and Documentary Emmy Award nomination. He has also won three ASCAP awards for composing one of the five most performed songs on television.
CONDUCTOR AND PIANIST
As a conductor and pianist, Rose's guest appearances have included the Pacific Symphony, Jacksonville Symphony, Corpus Christi Symphony, Erie Philharmonic, Lubbock Symphony and the San Angelo Symphony. In addition, during the 1990 to 1991 concert season, he performed in and conducted the Columbia Artist Festival's concert presentation, The Irving Berlin Century, in 106 US cities.
You will also learn the importance of staying true to your interests and not having a plan B for your passion.
Key Moments
Earl shares the interesting story of how he started playing piano at age 7 [3:43]
When he started taking piano lessons plus stories of his interest in movies and music [6:13]
He explains how he creates the melody of film music and how it differs from writing a pop song [11:49]
He talks about his first job as a page working at the 'Tonight Show' where he got to know many musicians and eventually kickstarting his career [13:14]
How his collaboration with director Peter Jones led to his involvement with the Johnny Carson documentary, and other film projects [18:08]
Earl explains how he landed the job of writing music for The Captain Kangaroo tv show [21:18]
The difference between composing music for movies and television shows [24:10]
Earl explains how he's kept up with technology and also stayed in touch with playing music that interests him [27:11]
Why he started a record label to help artists get to keep their work [29:31]
He explains his experience working with Johnny Mathis and how that happened and became a success [30:31]
Why Earl has no favorite style of music and instead enjoys different varieties of music [33:33]
He describes his passion for music and making people feel good as the most valuable things in his life [35:25]
He explains why he would do-over- missing immersing himself in the 60s music culture [36:40]
Earl advises young upcoming musicians to have focus and certainty when going after their passions [38:34]
RESOURCES