Nick Martinelli
Encyclopedia
Nick Martinelli is an American R&B and pop record producer
. He worked with many R&B and pop music artists during the 1980s, many of which were based in the UK. The acts he worked with include Loose Ends
, Five Star
, Stephanie Mills
and Regina Belle
.
It was in the clubs where Martinelli found an outlet to express himself creatively — behind the turntables. In 1978, WMOT Records
hired NICK for a national sales position. He finally made the transition to A&R a year later. This enabled him to sign and develop new talent on the Philadelphia scene at the time.
Influenced by “The Sound of Philadelphia”, Martinelli credits Dexter Wansel
for his technical studio training. Although Martinelli and WMOT did well in America with Frankie Smith
's "Double Dutch Bus", it took a trip overseas for him to create a niche with his production style; he co-produced "Zoom" for Fat Larry's Band
, and it rose to the top of the British pop singles chart in 1981. Martinelli then spent two years remixing many hits for various artists including the Ray Parker Jr. hit, "Ghost Busters".
during the mid 1980s when he produced two of their all time biggest selling albums, So Where Are You?
in 1985 and Zagora
in 1986. So Where Are You? included Loose Ends biggest hit to date "Hangin' on a String (Contemplating)" which reached number one on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
chart. Zagora featured another highly successful hit "Slow Down
", which also reached number one on the same chart.
In the mid-eighties, Martinelli's accomplishments continued, producing some of the most talented signature vocalists in music, including Stephanie Mills
(with #1 singles for "I Feel Good All Over" and "Home
"), Gladys Knight & The Pips (All Our Love album - gold), Teddy Pendergrass (#1 Joy album - gold), and Miki Howard (#1 single with "Love Under New Management" and "Baby Be Mine").
, spawning two #1 hit singles, one which garnered a Grammy nomination ("Make It Like It Was"). Long-time mentor Kenny Gamble selected him to work with Phyllis Hyman
. Having written two selections for Hyman including the Top 10 single, "When You Get Right Down To It". he produced her #1 R&B hit, "Don't Wanna Change The World". In 1993, Martinelli relocated to Los Angeles where he wrote and produced songs for Regina Belle
, Robin S.
, Howard Hewett
, Gerald Alston
, Lulu
, Ru Paul, Chaka Kahn and his life-long idol, Diana Ross
.
He achieved Quadruple platinum status with his new productions on the Diana Ross One Woman Collection. In 1994 he branched out by doing a symphonic Christmas CD For Diana Ross in the U.K. In early 1995, Martinelli was called back to London to produce the original cast album for the hit musical, Mama I Want To Sing, starring Chaka Kahn.
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
. He worked with many R&B and pop music artists during the 1980s, many of which were based in the UK. The acts he worked with include Loose Ends
Loose Ends (band)
Loose Ends was a successful British R&B band that had several urban contemporary hits. The trio was formed in London in 1980, initially comprising vocalist and guitarist Carl McIntosh, vocalist Jane Eugene, and keyboard player, writer and founder Steve Nichol...
, Five Star
Five Star
Five Star are a British pop / R&B group, formed in 1983. Comprising siblings Stedman, Lorraine, Denise, Doris and Delroy Pearson, they were known for their flamboyant image, matching costumes and heavily choreographed dance routines...
, Stephanie Mills
Stephanie Mills
Stephanie Dorthea Mills is an American R&B and soul singer, and a former Broadway star.-Career:Mills began her career appearing in her first play at the age of nine. Two years later, Mills won Amateur Night at the Apollo Theater a record six times...
and Regina Belle
Regina Belle
Regina Belle is a singer-songwriter who first surfaced in the late 1980s. She is notable for her Grammy award winning duet with Peabo Bryson, "A Whole New World".-Biography:Regina Belle was born in Englewood, New Jersey...
.
Early history
Martinelli cut his teeth as a teenager in 1969 in the Chips warehouse, an independent record distributor for Motown. He was promoted to warehouse manager as he developed an understanding of distribution and retail sales. In 1977, Motown rewarded Nick's diligence by giving him additional responsibilities handling dance promotion for the Northeast region which covered from New York to Washington.It was in the clubs where Martinelli found an outlet to express himself creatively — behind the turntables. In 1978, WMOT Records
WMOT Records
WMOT Records, an independent recording company in Philadelphia, produced a number of singles in the "Philadelphia sound" soul tradition...
hired NICK for a national sales position. He finally made the transition to A&R a year later. This enabled him to sign and develop new talent on the Philadelphia scene at the time.
Influenced by “The Sound of Philadelphia”, Martinelli credits Dexter Wansel
Dexter Wansel
Dexter Gilman Wansel is an American keyboardist, raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He contributed to the development of the Philly Sound and worked with producers Gamble and Huff at Philadelphia International Records. Wansel led the musical group, Yellow Sunshine...
for his technical studio training. Although Martinelli and WMOT did well in America with Frankie Smith
Frankie Smith
For the football player of the same name see Frankie Smith .Franklyn Leon "Frankie" Smith is an American funk musician and R&B/soul songwriter.-History:...
's "Double Dutch Bus", it took a trip overseas for him to create a niche with his production style; he co-produced "Zoom" for Fat Larry's Band
Fat Larry's Band
Fat Larry's Band was an American R&B/funk band from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, who enjoyed some commercial success in the early 1980s.-Career:...
, and it rose to the top of the British pop singles chart in 1981. Martinelli then spent two years remixing many hits for various artists including the Ray Parker Jr. hit, "Ghost Busters".
1980s
Martinelli is perhaps best known for working with the successful English R&B band Loose EndsLoose Ends (band)
Loose Ends was a successful British R&B band that had several urban contemporary hits. The trio was formed in London in 1980, initially comprising vocalist and guitarist Carl McIntosh, vocalist Jane Eugene, and keyboard player, writer and founder Steve Nichol...
during the mid 1980s when he produced two of their all time biggest selling albums, So Where Are You?
So where are you?
So Where Are You? is the second album released by the English R&B band Loose Ends. It reached number 13 in the UK in 1985. It features the hits, "Magic Touch" and a cover of David Bowie's "Golden Years". The hit single "Hangin' on a String ", which had appeared on the U.S. edition of the previous...
in 1985 and Zagora
Zagora (Loose Ends album)
Zagora is the third studio album by British R&B band Loose Ends, released in 1986 by MCA Records. The album spawned the hits "Slow Down", "Stay a Little While, Child" and two others, all of which were hits on the U.S...
in 1986. So Where Are You? included Loose Ends biggest hit to date "Hangin' on a String (Contemplating)" which reached number one on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States.The chart, initiated in 1942, is used to track the success of popular music songs in urban, or primarily African American, venues. Dominated over the years at various times by jazz, rhythm and blues, doo-wop, soul,...
chart. Zagora featured another highly successful hit "Slow Down
Slow Down (Loose Ends song)
"Slow Down" is the 8th single by English R&B band Loose Ends from their third studio album, Zagora. It was released in September 1986 by MCA Records and produced by Loose Ends' long time collaborator Nick Martinelli...
", which also reached number one on the same chart.
In the mid-eighties, Martinelli's accomplishments continued, producing some of the most talented signature vocalists in music, including Stephanie Mills
Stephanie Mills
Stephanie Dorthea Mills is an American R&B and soul singer, and a former Broadway star.-Career:Mills began her career appearing in her first play at the age of nine. Two years later, Mills won Amateur Night at the Apollo Theater a record six times...
(with #1 singles for "I Feel Good All Over" and "Home
Home (The Wiz song)
"Home" is a song from the 1975 Broadway musical, The Wiz. The song was performed by Stephanie Mills in the stage production and by Diana Ross in the 1978 film adaptation and released on the soundtrack album in 1978....
"), Gladys Knight & The Pips (All Our Love album - gold), Teddy Pendergrass (#1 Joy album - gold), and Miki Howard (#1 single with "Love Under New Management" and "Baby Be Mine").
1990s
Martinelli entered the nineties with Regina Belle's #1 album, Stay with MeStay with Me (Regina Belle album)
Stay with Me is the second album by singer-songwriter, Regina Belle. It was released in 1989, two years after her debut. The album peaked at #63 on the Billboard 200 and #1 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart...
, spawning two #1 hit singles, one which garnered a Grammy nomination ("Make It Like It Was"). Long-time mentor Kenny Gamble selected him to work with Phyllis Hyman
Phyllis Hyman
Phyllis Linda Hyman was an American soul singer and actress.-Early years:Phyllis Hyman was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and grew up in the St. Clair Village, the South Hills section of Pittsburgh...
. Having written two selections for Hyman including the Top 10 single, "When You Get Right Down To It". he produced her #1 R&B hit, "Don't Wanna Change The World". In 1993, Martinelli relocated to Los Angeles where he wrote and produced songs for Regina Belle
Regina Belle
Regina Belle is a singer-songwriter who first surfaced in the late 1980s. She is notable for her Grammy award winning duet with Peabo Bryson, "A Whole New World".-Biography:Regina Belle was born in Englewood, New Jersey...
, Robin S.
Robin S.
Robin S. is an American singer-songwriter, who scored success in the 1990s with such hit singles as "Show Me Love" and "Luv 4 Luv". She has had three number ones on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart.-Career:Robin S...
, Howard Hewett
Howard Hewett
Howard Hewett is an American R&B and gospel singer and former lead vocalist of the R&B group Shalamar.Raised in Akron, Ohio, Hewett moved to Los Angeles. He would eventually meet Soul Train dancer and future first wife Rainey Riley-Cunningham, then a secretary of the show's creator and original...
, Gerald Alston
Gerald Alston
Gerald Alston is an R&B singer, and the lead singer with The Manhattans. Between 1988 and 1995, he left the group to record five albums and ten solo singles, including "Take Me Where You Want To." "Slow Motion" a remake of Atlantic Starr's "Send For Me" and "Activated", most of which was for...
, Lulu
Lulu (singer)
Lulu Kennedy-Cairns, OBE , best known by her stage name Lulu, is a Scottish singer, actress, and television personality who has been successful in the entertainment business from the 1960s through to the present day...
, Ru Paul, Chaka Kahn and his life-long idol, Diana Ross
Diana Ross
Diana Ernestine Earle Ross is an American singer, record producer, and actress. Ross was lead singer of the Motown group The Supremes during the 1960s. After leaving the group in 1970, Ross began a solo career that included successful ventures into film and Broadway...
.
He achieved Quadruple platinum status with his new productions on the Diana Ross One Woman Collection. In 1994 he branched out by doing a symphonic Christmas CD For Diana Ross in the U.K. In early 1995, Martinelli was called back to London to produce the original cast album for the hit musical, Mama I Want To Sing, starring Chaka Kahn.
Accolades
In 1988, Martinelli received the Philadelphia Music Foundation Award for notching the most Top 10 singles in one year. Two years later they honored him again by naming him Best Urban Producer. In the U.K. he was always included in the Blues and Soul Top 10 producer list.Selected discography
- 1985: Loose Ends - "Hangin' on a String (Contemplating)"
- 1985: Five Star - "Let Me Be the One"
- 1985: 52nd Street - "Tell Me (How It Feels)"
- 1986: Phyllis Hyman - "Ain't You Had Enough LoveLiving All AloneLiving All Alone is the seventh album by American Soul singer-songwriter Phyllis Hyman. It was released by Philadelphia International Records in 1986...
" - 1986: Loose Ends - "Slow DownSlow Down (Loose Ends song)"Slow Down" is the 8th single by English R&B band Loose Ends from their third studio album, Zagora. It was released in September 1986 by MCA Records and produced by Loose Ends' long time collaborator Nick Martinelli...
" - 1987: Miki Howard - "Baby Be Mine"
- 1988: Teddy Pendergrass - "JoyJoy (Teddy Pendergrass song)"Joy" is a 1988 single by Teddy Pendergrass. The single became Teddy Pendergrass' first number one on the Black Singles chart in ten years, where it stayed for two weeks. The single was also his first solo entry on the Hot 100 in seven years.. "Joy" also peaked at number forty-two on the dance...
" - 1989: Stephanie Mills - "HomeHome (The Wiz song)"Home" is a song from the 1975 Broadway musical, The Wiz. The song was performed by Stephanie Mills in the stage production and by Diana Ross in the 1978 film adaptation and released on the soundtrack album in 1978....
" - 1989: Kiara and Shanice Wilson - "This TimeThis Time (Kiara song)"This Time" is a duet song performed by Detroit R&B duo Kiara and singer Shanice Wilson. It became a #2 R&B hit, only missing the top position to New Edition's "Can You Stand the Rain". A music video was filmed.-Track listing:12" single...
"