Rick Chertoff
Encyclopedia
Rick Chertoff is a five-time Grammy-nominated producer responsible for such hits as Joan Osborne
’s “One of Us
”, Cyndi Lauper
’s “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” and “Time After Time
” and Sophie B. Hawkins
’ “Damn I Wish I Was Your Lover
.” Both Cyndi Lauper’s album She's So Unusual
and Joan Osborne’s album Relish
were debut albums that garnered multi-platinum sales and multiple Grammy nominations. Chertoff was nominated twice for ‘album of the year’, twice for ‘record of the year’ and also for ‘producer of the year.’
, and whilst in Philadelphia he met long time friends Rob Hyman
and Eric Bazilian
and formed a musical collaboration that has lasted to this day. Chertoff signed Hyman and Bazilian (The Hooters
) to Columbia Records
, where he produced their multi-platinum, Nervous Night
, One Way Home
, and Zig Zag
.
Chertoff’s A&R career began under the training of music legend Clive Davis
at the inception of Arista Records
. In his all-purpose A&R/production role, Chertoff signed and produced, edited and remixed tracks for many Arista artists including The Kinks
and the Alan Parsons Project. Rick’s Arista career culminated in his co-production of Air Supply
’s first million-seller, “Lost in Love” as well as his co-production of the theme from Steven Spielberg
’s Close Encounters of the Third Kind
with acclaimed composer John Williams
.
In 1980, Rick joined Columbia Records, rising to Senior Vice President of A&R in 1989. Over the next three years, while heading the A&R department, he oversaw the creative efforts of dozens upon dozens of careers. He signed artists such as The Band
and Sophie B. Hawkins, and brought in label deals such as the successful Ruff House Records which resulted in albums from The Fugees
, Lauren Hill
, Wyclef Jean
, Kris Kross
, and Cypress Hill
.
One of Chertoff’s biggest successes in his Columbia days was producing Cyndi’s debut album, She's So Unusual. The album sold 9 million copies with perennial hits such as, “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun”, “All Through the Night
”, “When You Were Mine
” and “Money Changes Everything
.” He brought together Rob Hyman and Cyndi Lauper who co-wrote the #1 smash, “Time After Time.” Lauper and Chertoff then teamed up to write the hit, “She Bop
.”
In 1992, Chertoff started his Blue Gorilla label at Polygram
to allow him the opportunity to get back to concentrating in the studio on a select roster of artists. Blue Gorilla immediately performed well, exceeding expectations, with Joan Osborne’s, Relish, a multi-platinum album and worldwide smash which also garnered an amazing 7-Grammy nominations, including ‘producer of the year.’
Chertoff co-wrote and co-produced the song “Christmas of Love” for Ron Howard
’s film How the Grinch Stole Christmas and he co-wrote and co-produced the theme for Jerry Zucker
’s film, Rat Race
both with songwriter David Forman, who also performed the lead vocals for each song.
He is currently producing The Dream Jam Band, a group that writes and performs music for family audiences.
Largo is based on the second movement of Dvorak’s “Symphony from the New World.” The album, which Chertoff co-produced and co-wrote, features David Forman, The Chieftains
, Taj Mahal
, Garth Hudson
, Levon Helm
, Cyndi Lauper, Joan Osborne, Carole King
and old pals Rob Hyman and Eric Bazilian and uses Dvorak’s journey to America as a timeless tapestry of American blues
and folk music
. He is currently in collaboration to bring Largo to the stage.
Joan Osborne
Joan Elizabeth Osborne is an American singer-songwriter. She is best known for her song "One of Us". She has toured with Motown sidemen the Funk Brothers and was featured in the documentary film about them, Standing in the Shadows of Motown.-Biography:Originally from Anchorage, Kentucky, a suburb...
’s “One of Us
One of Us (Joan Osborne song)
"One of Us" is a song written by Eric Bazilian and originally released by Joan Osborne. Released in March 1995 on the album Relish and produced by Rick Chertoff, it became a top 40 hit in November of that year.- History :...
”, Cyndi Lauper
Cyndi Lauper
Cynthia Ann Stephanie "Cyndi" Lauper is an American singer, songwriter, actress and LGBT rights activist. She achieved success in the mid-1980s with the release of the album She's So Unusual and became the first female singer to have four top-five singles released from one album...
’s “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” and “Time After Time
Time after Time (Cyndi Lauper song)
"Time After Time" is a song by American singer Cyndi Lauper, released as the second single from her album She's So Unusual. It reached number one on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart on June 9, 1984, and remained there for two weeks...
” and Sophie B. Hawkins
Sophie B. Hawkins
Sophie Ballantine Hawkins is an American singer, songwriter, musician and painter. Her biggest hits are "Damn I Wish I Was Your Lover", "Right Beside You", and "As I Lay Me Down".- Career :...
’ “Damn I Wish I Was Your Lover
Damn I Wish I Was Your Lover
"Damn I Wish I Was Your Lover" is a hit song in the U.S. by Sophie B. Hawkins. Released in 1992, it is from her album Tongues and Tails...
.” Both Cyndi Lauper’s album She's So Unusual
She's So Unusual
She's So Unusual is the debut studio album by American pop singer-songwriter Cyndi Lauper. Released in 1983 by Portrait Records, the album catapulted Lauper to stardom with such hits as "Girls Just Want to Have Fun", "Time After Time", "She Bop", "All Through the Night", and "Money Changes...
and Joan Osborne’s album Relish
Relish
A relish is a cooked, pickled, or chopped vegetable or fruit food item which is typically used as a condiment.In North America, relish commonly alludes to sweet pickle relish-like sauce that often condiments hot dogs, hamburgers and other types of fast food.-Description and ingredients:The item...
were debut albums that garnered multi-platinum sales and multiple Grammy nominations. Chertoff was nominated twice for ‘album of the year’, twice for ‘record of the year’ and also for ‘producer of the year.’
Biography
Chertoff attended the University of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
, and whilst in Philadelphia he met long time friends Rob Hyman
Rob Hyman
Robert Andrew "Rob" Hyman is an American singer, songwriter, keyboard player, accordion player, producer, arranger and recording studio owner, best known for being a founding member of the rock band The Hooters.-Early life:Hyman started taking piano lessons at the age of four and grew up playing...
and Eric Bazilian
Eric Bazilian
Eric M. Bazilian , is an American singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, arranger and producer, best known for being a founding member of the rock band The Hooters.-Early life:...
and formed a musical collaboration that has lasted to this day. Chertoff signed Hyman and Bazilian (The Hooters
The Hooters
The Hooters is an American rock band from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. By combining a mix of rock and roll, reggae, ska and folk music, The Hooters first gained major commercial success in the United States in the mid 1980s due to heavy radio and MTV airplay of several songs including "All You...
) to Columbia Records
Columbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
, where he produced their multi-platinum, Nervous Night
Nervous Night
Nervous Night is a 1986 film starring American rock band The Hooters and directed by John Charles Jopson.-Background:As a follow-up to The Hooters' 1985 Columbia Records debut album Nervous Night, a film of the same title was produced by Bell One Productions...
, One Way Home
One Way Home
One Way Home is the third studio album by American rock band The Hooters and was released in 1987. The album peaked at #27 on the Billboard 200 chart on August 29, 1987.-Background:...
, and Zig Zag
Zig zag
Zigzag is a jagged, regular pattern.Zig zag, Zig Zag, Zigzag, or Zig-zag may also refer to:- Animals :* Several types of salamander living in the U.S.:** Southern Zigzag Salamander** Northern Zigzag Salamander...
.
Chertoff’s A&R career began under the training of music legend Clive Davis
Clive Davis
Clive Davis is an American record producer and music industry executive. He has won five Grammy Awards and is a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a non-performer. From 1967 to 1973 he was the President of Columbia Records. He was the founder and president of Arista Records from 1975...
at the inception of Arista Records
Arista Records
Arista was an American record label. It was a wholly owned subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment and operated under the RCA Music Group. The label was founded in 1974 by Clive Davis, who formerly worked for CBS Records...
. In his all-purpose A&R/production role, Chertoff signed and produced, edited and remixed tracks for many Arista artists including The Kinks
The Kinks
The Kinks were an English rock band formed in Muswell Hill, North London, by brothers Ray and Dave Davies in 1964. Categorised in the United States as a British Invasion band, The Kinks are recognised as one of the most important and influential rock acts of the era. Their music was influenced by a...
and the Alan Parsons Project. Rick’s Arista career culminated in his co-production of Air Supply
Air Supply
Air Supply is an Australian soft rock duo, consisting of Graham Russell as guitarist and singer-songwriter and Russell Hitchcock as lead vocalist. They had a succession of hits worldwide, including eight Top Ten hits in the United States, in the early 1980s...
’s first million-seller, “Lost in Love” as well as his co-production of the theme from Steven Spielberg
Steven Spielberg
Steven Allan Spielberg KBE is an American film director, screenwriter, producer, video game designer, and studio entrepreneur. In a career of more than four decades, Spielberg's films have covered many themes and genres. Spielberg's early science-fiction and adventure films were seen as an...
’s Close Encounters of the Third Kind
Close Encounters of the Third Kind
Close Encounters of the Third Kind is a 1977 science fiction film written and directed by Steven Spielberg. The film stars Richard Dreyfuss, François Truffaut, Melinda Dillon, Teri Garr, Bob Balaban, and Cary Guffey...
with acclaimed composer John Williams
John Williams
John Towner Williams is an American composer, conductor, and pianist. In a career spanning almost six decades, he has composed some of the most recognizable film scores in the history of motion pictures, including the Star Wars saga, Jaws, Superman, the Indiana Jones films, E.T...
.
In 1980, Rick joined Columbia Records, rising to Senior Vice President of A&R in 1989. Over the next three years, while heading the A&R department, he oversaw the creative efforts of dozens upon dozens of careers. He signed artists such as The Band
The Band
The Band was an acclaimed and influential roots rock group. The original group consisted of Rick Danko , Garth Hudson , Richard Manuel , and Robbie Robertson , and Levon Helm...
and Sophie B. Hawkins, and brought in label deals such as the successful Ruff House Records which resulted in albums from The Fugees
The Fugees
Fugees were a Haitian American hip hop group who rose to fame in the mid-1990s. Their repertoire included elements of Hip hop, soul and Caribbean music, particularly reggae. The members of the group were rapper/singer/producer Wyclef Jean, rapper/singer/producer Lauryn Hill, and rapper Pras Michel...
, Lauren Hill
Lauren Hill
Lauren Hill is the name of:*Lauren Michelle Hill, February 2001 Playboy Playmate of the Month*Lauryn Hill, American hip hop singer...
, Wyclef Jean
Wyclef Jean
Wyclef Jean is a Haitian musician, record producer, and politician. At age nine, Jean moved to the United States with his family and has spent much of his life in the country...
, Kris Kross
Kris Kross
Kris Kross was an American rap duo of the 1990s comprising Chris "Mac Daddy" Kelly and Chris "Daddy Mac" Smith. The duo are best known for their hit 1992 song "Jump", which was #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for eight weeks and was certified double platinum as a single...
, and Cypress Hill
Cypress Hill
Cypress Hill is an American hip hop group from South Gate, California. Cypress Hill was the first Latino hip-hop group to have platinum and multi-platinum albums, selling over 18 million albums worldwide...
.
One of Chertoff’s biggest successes in his Columbia days was producing Cyndi’s debut album, She's So Unusual. The album sold 9 million copies with perennial hits such as, “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun”, “All Through the Night
All Through the Night (Cyndi Lauper song)
"All Through the Night" is a song performed by American singer-songwriter Cyndi Lauper from her debut album She's So Unusual. It was written by Jules Shear for his album Watch Dog, as a mid-tempo folk-rock song. After The Cars recorded their own version, which they did not use on any of their...
”, “When You Were Mine
When You Were Mine
"When You Were Mine" is a song written and released by Prince on his 1980 album, Dirty Mind. Though not released as a single, the song received a promotional 12" release...
” and “Money Changes Everything
Money Changes Everything
"Money Changes Everything" is a song written by Tom Gray, frontman of The Brains, and was the band's only underground hit. It was recorded by Cyndi Lauper for her debut album, She's So Unusual and was released as a single in 1984, peaking at #27 on the Billboard Hot 100...
.” He brought together Rob Hyman and Cyndi Lauper who co-wrote the #1 smash, “Time After Time.” Lauper and Chertoff then teamed up to write the hit, “She Bop
She Bop
"She Bop" is a song by American singer Cyndi Lauper, released as the third single from her album She's So Unusual. It reached number three on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart on June 9, 1984. Worldwide, the song is her most commercially successful single after "Time After Time", and reached number...
.”
In 1992, Chertoff started his Blue Gorilla label at Polygram
PolyGram
PolyGram was the name of the major label recording company started by Philips from as a holding company for its music interests in 1945. In 1999 it was sold to Seagram and merged into Universal Music Group.-Hollandsche Decca Distributie , 1929-1950:...
to allow him the opportunity to get back to concentrating in the studio on a select roster of artists. Blue Gorilla immediately performed well, exceeding expectations, with Joan Osborne’s, Relish, a multi-platinum album and worldwide smash which also garnered an amazing 7-Grammy nominations, including ‘producer of the year.’
Chertoff co-wrote and co-produced the song “Christmas of Love” for Ron Howard
Ron Howard
Ronald William "Ron" Howard is an American actor, director, and producer. He came to prominence as a child actor, playing Opie Taylor in the sitcom The Andy Griffith Show for eight years, and later the teenaged Richie Cunningham in the sitcom Happy Days for six years...
’s film How the Grinch Stole Christmas and he co-wrote and co-produced the theme for Jerry Zucker
Jerry Zucker (film director)
Jerry Zucker is an American movie director known for his role in directing comedy spoof films, and the hit film Ghost....
’s film, Rat Race
Rat Race (film)
Rat Race is a 2001 ensemble cast comedy film directed by Jerry Zucker, written by Andy Breckman, and stars several comedians including Rowan Atkinson, Whoopi Goldberg, Cuba Gooding, Jr., Jon Lovitz, Lanei Chapman, Seth Green, Kathy Najimy, Dave Thomas, Vince Vieluf, John Cleese, Breckin Meyer,...
both with songwriter David Forman, who also performed the lead vocals for each song.
He is currently producing The Dream Jam Band, a group that writes and performs music for family audiences.
Largo is based on the second movement of Dvorak’s “Symphony from the New World.” The album, which Chertoff co-produced and co-wrote, features David Forman, The Chieftains
The Chieftains
The Chieftains are a Grammy-winning Irish musical group founded in 1962, best known for being one of the first bands to make Irish traditional music popular around the world.-Name:...
, Taj Mahal
Taj Mahal (musician)
Henry Saint Clair Fredericks , who uses the stage name Taj Mahal, is an American Grammy Award winning blues musician. He incorporates elements of world music into his music...
, Garth Hudson
Garth Hudson
Eric Garth Hudson is a Canadian multi-instrumentalist. As the organist, keyboardist and saxophonist for Canadian-American rock group The Band, he was a principal architect of the group's unique sound...
, Levon Helm
Levon Helm
Mark Lavon "Levon" Helm , is an American rock multi-instrumentalist and actor who achieved fame as the drummer and frequent lead and backing vocalist for The Band....
, Cyndi Lauper, Joan Osborne, Carole King
Carole King
Carole King is an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. King and her former husband Gerry Goffin wrote more than two dozen chart hits for numerous artists during the 1960s, many of which have become standards. As a singer, King had an album, Tapestry, top the U.S...
and old pals Rob Hyman and Eric Bazilian and uses Dvorak’s journey to America as a timeless tapestry of American blues
American Blues
American Blues were a 1960s Texas-based garage band who played a psychedelic style of blues rock music influenced by the 13th Floor Elevators. They are most famous for including two future members of the band ZZ Top in their ranks, Dusty Hill and Frank Beard...
and folk music
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
. He is currently in collaboration to bring Largo to the stage.