Stephen Geyer
Encyclopedia
Stephen Geyer a songwriter, moved to Los Angeles
in 1972 after attending Towson State College (now Towson University
), in Maryland
, as an art major. Since coming to L.A., Stephen has made a name for himself as the writer of hit songs, popular TV themes, TV and film scripts, a non-fiction author, and studio and performance guitarist. He was born in Lima, Peru, and as the son of a CIA operative, spent most of his formative years overseas, including England where he began his professional musical career during the early Beatles years.
In 1973, after having performed at the BMI
showcase in the Capitol Records
building in hopes of landing a recording and publishing deal, Stephen was referred by BMI V.P. Ron Anton to Mike Post
, a rising star in TV scoring and record production. A twenty year musical collaboration ensued, yielding several TV theme songs, among the most notable, “Drive” and “Back To Back” for “Hardcastle & McCormick”, “My Opionation” for Blossom and, perhaps most notably of all, “Believe It Or Not” for The Greatest American Hero
, which rose to the #1 position on the Record World Chart and to the #2 position on the Billboard Hot 100
chart in 1981.
Additionally, Stephen has the distinction of being the original songwriter (music & lyrics) for all the original episodic songs (30 overall) recorded for The Greatest American Hero television show. He also has written other material for a variety of Stephen J. Cannell
productions, including The A-Team
, Riptide
and Stingray
. Geyer and Post also penned several songs for the Tommy Lee Jones
movie, The River Rat, as well as a number of TV movies including “Harvest” (with Ron Howard) and “The Ray Mancini Story”.
Joining forces with another noted composer, Charles Fox, Stephen wrote “Together Through The Years”, the theme for the variously named Valerie Harper
series (i.e.The Hogan Family
) as well as five songs for the soundtrack to the Scott Baio
debut movie, Zapped. In 1990, Stephen was called upon to write and to supervise the songwriting staff of Steven Bochco
’s harshly critiqued Cop Rock
television series, now considered something of a TV cult classic
.
Stephen’s guitar chops quickly evolved as he worked beside the cream of L.A.’s session players on Mike Post’s record and scoring dates, and soon he was being called upon for his guitar work and musical leadership in the studio and on the road, touring with a number of artists, including Jonathan Edwards, Herb Pedersen and Carole Bayer Sager.
Other noted Geyer songs include, “Hot Rod Hearts”, co-written with Bill LaBounty
(#3 Billboard hit by Robbie Dupree
), “Bloodline” (title song of Glen Campbell
’s #1 country album), “Love Brought Us Here Tonight” (gold album by Smokey Robinson
), “You Turn The Light On” (#1 platinum album by Kenny Rogers
), and “Dreams” (gold album by John Denver
).
Stephen has received several BMI awards for his songwriting, as well as an Emmy nomination for his song “Dreams” from an episode of the television show The Greatest American Hero. Not limited strictly to writing, Stephen also performed the lead vocal on the theme song for the 80's Disney television show "The Wuzzles
".
In addition to his work in music, Stephen has penned several scripts for television, including his work as staff-writer for the Mario Van Peebles
series Sonny Spoon
, and two scripts for the series Silk Stalkings
. Three of his original film scripts have been sold and put into development, and he is currently working on a fourth.
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
in 1972 after attending Towson State College (now Towson University
Towson University
Towson University, often referred to as TU or simply Towson for short, is a public university located in Towson in Baltimore County, Maryland, U.S...
), in Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
, as an art major. Since coming to L.A., Stephen has made a name for himself as the writer of hit songs, popular TV themes, TV and film scripts, a non-fiction author, and studio and performance guitarist. He was born in Lima, Peru, and as the son of a CIA operative, spent most of his formative years overseas, including England where he began his professional musical career during the early Beatles years.
In 1973, after having performed at the BMI
Broadcast Music Incorporated
Broadcast Music, Inc. is one of three United States performing rights organizations, along with ASCAP and SESAC. It collects license fees on behalf of songwriters, composers, and music publishers and distributes them as royalties to those members whose works have been performed...
showcase in the Capitol Records
Capitol Records
Capitol Records is a major United States based record label, formerly located in Los Angeles, but operating in New York City as part of Capitol Music Group. Its former headquarters building, the Capitol Tower, is a major landmark near the corner of Hollywood and Vine...
building in hopes of landing a recording and publishing deal, Stephen was referred by BMI V.P. Ron Anton to Mike Post
Mike Post
Mike Post is an American multi-Grammy and Emmy Award winning composer best known for scoring some of the most popular TV theme songs in the United States, for primetime series such as Law & Order, NYPD Blue, The Rockford Files, LA Law, Quantum Leap, Magnum, P.I., Hill Street Blues, among numerous...
, a rising star in TV scoring and record production. A twenty year musical collaboration ensued, yielding several TV theme songs, among the most notable, “Drive” and “Back To Back” for “Hardcastle & McCormick”, “My Opionation” for Blossom and, perhaps most notably of all, “Believe It Or Not” for The Greatest American Hero
The Greatest American Hero
The Greatest American Hero is an American comedy-drama television series that aired for three seasons from 1981 to 1983 on ABC. Created by producer Stephen J. Cannell, it premiered as a two-hour movie pilot on March 18, 1981...
, which rose to the #1 position on the Record World Chart and to the #2 position on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
chart in 1981.
Additionally, Stephen has the distinction of being the original songwriter (music & lyrics) for all the original episodic songs (30 overall) recorded for The Greatest American Hero television show. He also has written other material for a variety of Stephen J. Cannell
Stephen J. Cannell
Stephen Joseph Cannell was an American television producer, writer, novelist and occasional actor, and the founder of Stephen J. Cannell Productions.-Early life:...
productions, including The A-Team
The A-Team
The A-Team is an American action adventure television series about a fictional group of ex-United States Army Special Forces personnel who work as soldiers of fortune, while on the run from the Army after being branded as war criminals for a "crime they didn't commit". The A-Team was created by...
, Riptide
Riptide
A riptide is a dangerous ocean current.Riptide or Rip Tide may also refer to:* Rip Tide, a Doctor Who novella* Riptide , by Douglas Preston and Lincon Child* Riptide , short story anthologies...
and Stingray
Stingray (NBC TV series)
Stingray is an NBC television series produced by Stephen J. Cannell that ran from 1985 to 1987. It stars Nick Mancuso, who plays the mysterious character known only as Ray, whose trademark is a black 1965 Corvette Sting Ray.-Plot:...
. Geyer and Post also penned several songs for the Tommy Lee Jones
Tommy Lee Jones
Tommy Lee Jones is an American actor and film director. He has received three Academy Award nominations, winning one as Best Supporting Actor for the 1993 thriller film The Fugitive....
movie, The River Rat, as well as a number of TV movies including “Harvest” (with Ron Howard) and “The Ray Mancini Story”.
Joining forces with another noted composer, Charles Fox, Stephen wrote “Together Through The Years”, the theme for the variously named Valerie Harper
Valerie Harper
Valerie Harper is an American actress, known for her role as Rhoda Morgenstern on the 1970s television show The Mary Tyler Moore Show, and for her starring roles on the sitcoms Rhoda and Valerie.-Early life and career:Harper was born at the Good Samaritan Hospital in Suffern, Rockland County,...
series (i.e.The Hogan Family
The Hogan Family
The Hogan Family is an American television situation comedy that aired from March 1, 1986 to July 20, 1991...
) as well as five songs for the soundtrack to the Scott Baio
Scott Baio
Scott Vincent James Baio is an American actor and television director, best known for his roles as Chachi Arcola on the sitcom Happy Days and its spin-off, Joanie Loves Chachi, and as the title character on the sitcom Charles in Charge....
debut movie, Zapped. In 1990, Stephen was called upon to write and to supervise the songwriting staff of Steven Bochco
Steven Bochco
Steven Ronald Bochco is a US television producer and writer. He has developed a number of popular television hits including Hill Street Blues, L.A. Law, and NYPD Blue, as well as some notable flops such as Cop Rock....
’s harshly critiqued Cop Rock
Cop Rock
Cop Rock is an American musical police drama series that aired on ABC in 1990. The show, a police drama presented as a musical, was co-created by Steven Bochco, who also served as executive producer...
television series, now considered something of a TV cult classic
Cult Classic
Cult Classic is a Blue Öyster Cult studio recording released in 1994, containing remakes of many of the band's previous hits.-Track listing:# " The Reaper" - 5:05# "E.T.I...
.
Stephen’s guitar chops quickly evolved as he worked beside the cream of L.A.’s session players on Mike Post’s record and scoring dates, and soon he was being called upon for his guitar work and musical leadership in the studio and on the road, touring with a number of artists, including Jonathan Edwards, Herb Pedersen and Carole Bayer Sager.
Other noted Geyer songs include, “Hot Rod Hearts”, co-written with Bill LaBounty
Bill LaBounty
Bill LaBounty is an American musician. He was initially a singer-songwriter in the soft rock genre, first as a member of the band Fat Chance, and later as a solo artist. As a solo artist, LaBounty recorded six studio albums, including four on Curb Records/Warner Bros. Records...
(#3 Billboard hit by Robbie Dupree
Robbie Dupree
Robert Dupuis , better known by his stage name Robbie Dupree, is an American singer-songwriter best known for his 1980 top ten pop hit, "Steal Away"....
), “Bloodline” (title song of Glen Campbell
Glen Campbell
Glen Travis Campbell is an American country music singer, guitarist, television host and occasional actor. He is best known for a series of hits in the 1960s and 1970s, as well as for hosting a variety show called The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour on CBS television.During his 50 years in show...
’s #1 country album), “Love Brought Us Here Tonight” (gold album by Smokey Robinson
Smokey Robinson
William "Smokey" Robinson, Jr. is an American R&B singer-songwriter, record producer, and former record executive. Robinson is one of the primary figures associated with Motown, second only to the company's founder, Berry Gordy...
), “You Turn The Light On” (#1 platinum album by Kenny Rogers
Kenny Rogers
Kenneth Donald "Kenny" Rogers is an American singer-songwriter, photographer, record producer, actor, and entrepreneur...
), and “Dreams” (gold album by John Denver
John Denver
Henry John Deutschendorf, Jr. , known professionally as John Denver, was an American singer/songwriter, activist, and humanitarian. After growing up in numerous locations with his military family, Denver began his music career in folk music groups in the late 1960s. His greatest commercial success...
).
Stephen has received several BMI awards for his songwriting, as well as an Emmy nomination for his song “Dreams” from an episode of the television show The Greatest American Hero. Not limited strictly to writing, Stephen also performed the lead vocal on the theme song for the 80's Disney television show "The Wuzzles
The Wuzzles
Disney's Wuzzles is an American animated television series created for Saturday morning television, and was first broadcast on September 14, 1985 on CBS. An idea of Michael Eisner for his new Disney television animation studio, the Wuzzles are crossbred animals which sport a combined appearance of...
".
In addition to his work in music, Stephen has penned several scripts for television, including his work as staff-writer for the Mario Van Peebles
Mario Van Peebles
Mario "Chip" Cain Van Peebles is an American director and actor who has appeared in numerous Hollywood films. He is son of filmmaker Melvin Van Peebles.-Life and career:...
series Sonny Spoon
Sonny Spoon
Sonny Spoon was a detective program aired in the United States on the NBC television network in 1988. The series was created by Michael Daly, Dinah Prince, Stephen J. Cannell and Randall Wallace and produced by Stephen J...
, and two scripts for the series Silk Stalkings
Silk Stalkings
Silk Stalkings is a TV crime drama originally shown on CBS in 1991 as part of the network's late-night Crimetime After Primetime programming package, and rebroadcast on the USA Network. After CBS ended the Crimetime experiment in 1993, the series ran exclusively on USA until its finale in the...
. Three of his original film scripts have been sold and put into development, and he is currently working on a fourth.