Rob Shirakbari
Rob Shirakbari | |
|---|---|
 Shirakbari at Capitol Studios in 2016 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | John Robert Shirakbari |
| Also known as | Rob Shrock |
| Born | November 15, 1963 (age 60) Dermott, Arkansas, U.S. Rumer 2015 - present |
| Genres | Rock, pop, and soul |
| Occupation(s) | Producer, musician, songwriter, orchestrator, arranger |
| Instrument(s) | Piano, keyboards, guitar, bass |
| Years active | 1979–present |
| Website | shirakbari |
Rob (Shrock) Shirakbari is an American musician, composer, record producer, and arranger, best known for being long-time music director for Dionne Warwick (1985–present) and Burt Bacharach (1996 - 2010) [1] and as producer, co-writer, and music director for Rumer (2013–present).[2]
Shirakbari has worked with Aretha Franklin, Adele, Sheryl Crow, Elton John, Stevie Wonder, Sting, Elvis Costello, Wynonna Judd, Duffy, Ronald Isley, Peabo Bryson, Chris Botti, and Whitney Houston among other successful recording artists. He served on the NARAS Board of Governors for the Texas Chapter from 1998 to 2000.
Early life
[edit]Shirakbari was born in Dermott, Arkansas, on November 15, 1963, to parents Nasser and Betty Kay (née Seamans) Shirakbari. His father is a retired pharmaceutical doctor and his mother is a retired pharmacy technician. Shirakbari began playing trumpet at ten years old in his elementary school band. He later began playing guitar and teaching himself to play piano at age thirteen. His composing and conducting career started early by writing the Alma Mater for his Junior high school which was debuted with the school's concert band. He later studied piano with renowned teacher, Marjorie Mae Bond, and studied composition with Francis McBeth at Ouachita Baptist University. In high school, he played keyboards and guitar in several bands and developed his songwriting and recording skills.
Music career
[edit]Dionne Warwick
[edit]_Shirakbari,_Burt_Bacharach_1995.jpg)
Shirakbari began working with Dionne Warwick in 1985. He has toured extensively with her around the world as her music director, arranger, and pianist. He has produced and performed on albums, Friends Can Be Lovers (1993), Dionne Sings Dionne (1998), The Best of Dionne Warwick (2001), This Christmas (2014), and She’s Back (2019).[3]
Burt Bacharach
[edit]Shirakbari began working closely with Burt Bacharach in early 1987 when Bacharach and Warwick reunited and began touring together. Shirakbari became Bacharach's protege and was involved in recording sessions and arrangements with Bacharach. In 1996, Shirakbari became Bacharach's music director and together they wrote the arrangements for Bacharach's revamped live show, with many of the arrangements still being played in Burt's live show today. He toured extensively around the world with Bacharach until late 2010.
Shirakbari performed on One Amazing Night (1998), Sessions at West 54th (Bacharach/Elvis Costello) (2001), Isley meets Bacharach - Here I Am (Ron Isley/Burt Bacharach) (2003), At This Time (2005), Live at The Sydney Opera House (Mixed with Allen Sides) (2008), and What Love Can Do (Burt Bacharach/Peabo Bryson) (2009).
Rumer
[edit]Shirakbari began working with recording artist (and now wife) Rumer (musician), as her co-writer, producer, pianist, keyboardist, and arranger in 2013. The two met briefly at a World Hunger Day gala at the Royal Albert Hall in London hosted by Dionne Warwick in 2012, where Shirakbari was music director and Rumer and Warwick sang a duet of Bacharach & David's, “Hasbrook Heights.” Rumer later moved to Los Angeles in 2013, following the release of her album, Boy’s Don’t Cry, where the two began working together.
- 2014: Into Colour (producer, musician, and arranger)
Shirakbari produced Rumer's second album of all original material, Into Colour, (co-written by Rumer, Rob Shirakbari, and Stephen Bishop) and her third studio album, which was released on November 10, 2014, in the UK, Ireland, and Japan. The record was then released worldwide in early 2015 by Atlantic Records. Dangerous,[4] and Reach Out [5] were the first singles to be released from the album, both charting on BBC Radio 2. Dangerous was BBC Radio 2 Record Of The Week (October 13–19, 2014) and reached #2 and Reach Out was BBC Radio 2 Record Of The Week (December 21–27, 2014) and reached #10 on the charts.[6] Into Colour spent 9 weeks on the UK music charts and peaked at #12.[7]
- 2015: B Sides and Rarities (producer, mixer, musician, mastering, arranger)
B Sides and Rarities charted on the UK music charts at #97 [8]
- 2015: Love Is The Answer EP (producer, mixer, musician, arranger)
- 2016: This Girl's in Love: A Bacharach and David Songbook (producer, mixer, musician, arranger)
Rumer's fifth album, This Girl's in Love, released under the East West Records label, features select tracks from the songbook of Burt Bacharach and Hal David. It was released on November 25, 2016, and reached #28 [9] on the UK Music Charts. It was produced by Shirakbari at RAK Studios in London and Capitol Studios in Los Angeles in 2016.[10][11]
Artist development
[edit]Shirakbari has spent a substantial part of his career working with and developing new, young artists. He has worked with LeAnn Rimes, Mikaila, Kristy Lee Cook, Kate & Kacey, and many others at early stages in their music careers.
Film Composing, Soundtracks, and Live Television Performances
[edit]Shirakbari, Burt Bacharach, and Don Was were the music directors and arrangers for the 72nd Academy Awards. He wrote the arrangements and conducted the pit orchestra for the four-hour awards show and played keyboards in the on-camera band that featured Oscar-winning songs performed by Faith Hill, Ray Charles, Garth Brooks, Queen Latifah, Dionne Warwick and Isaac Hayes.[12][13]
| Year | Production | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | American Experience (PBS) (Soundtrack) | The Harvest | Composer, Arranger, Music mixer |
| 2012 | Switchmas (Soundtrack) | I Just Can't Do Without Christmas | Producer, Arranger, Mixer, Piano, Bass, Keyboards, Programming |
| 2000 | Soundstage (TV Series Documentary) | Ronald Isley and Burt Bacharach | Musician |
| 2001 | American Idol Season 2: All-Time Classic American Love Songs (Soundtrack) | What The World Needs Now Is Love | Co-producer, Keyboards |
| 2001 | Looney Tunes (Soundtrack) | Christmas With Frosty the Snowman & Friends | Orchestrator, Keyboards, Synthesizer, Programming, Rhythm, Engineer |
| 2000 | Sessions at West 54th (Televised Live Performance) | Elvis Costello/Burt Bacharach | Arranger, Keyboards |
| 2000 | 102 Dalmatians (Soundtrack) | Original Soundtrack | Keyboards, Drum and Synthesizer Programming |
| 2000 | Looney Tunes (Soundtrack) | Kwazy Christmas | Orchestrator, Keyboards, Synthesizer, Programming, Rhythm, Engineer |
| 1999 | The Murder in China Basin (Soundtrack) | Original Soundtrack | Producer, Composer, Lyricist, Arranger |
| 1998 | Burt Bacharach (TV Special) | One Amazing Night | Arranger, Musician |
| 1992 | The Johnny Carson Show (Televised Live Performance) | Dionne Warwick | Musician, Arranger |
Writer
[edit]As a writer, Shirakbari has been a long-time contributor to Keyboard Magazine, Electronic Musician, Mix Magazine, and Remix Magazine (among others), writing feature articles and product reviews.[14][15]
Teaching and mentoring
[edit]Shirakbari has taught and mentored at various industry events speaking on topics covering songwriting, arranging, and music production. He has taught master classes and workshops at Otis Redding Foundation Music Camp (Macon, Georgia), Bimm Music Institute (Dublin, Ireland), Henry Mancini Institute (Los Angeles, California), and various elementary, Jr. high and high schools.[16]
Discography
[edit]| Title | Artist | Credits | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nashville Tears (Album) | Rumer | String Arranger, Conductor, Engineer | 2020 |
| New Year's Eve in New Orleans: Roll Up '78 and Light Up '79! (Album) | The Marshall Tucker Band | Mixer (as Rob Shrock) | 2020 |
| She's Back (Album) | Dionne Warwick | Producer, Piano, Keyboards, Percussion, Horns (as Rob Shrock) | 2019 |
| Dionne Warwick & The Voices of Christmas (Album) | Dionne Warwick | Musical Direction, String Arranger, Conductor | 2019 |
| This Girl's In Love: A Bacharach and David Songbook (Album) | Rumer | Producer, Mixer, Arranger, Conductor, Engineer, Piano, Bass, Rhodes, Nylon Guitar, Vibes, Synth | 2016 |
| You and I (Album) | Alani | Producer, Composer, Piano, Bass, Mixer | 2016 |
| Love Is The Answer (EP) [17] " | Rumer | Producer, Arranger and Conductor | 2015 |
| B-Sides & Rarities (Album) | Rumer | Producer, Mastering, Mixer, Arranger, Conductor, Songwriter, Piano, Bass, Synth, Acoustic Guitar | 2015 |
| Into Colour (Album) [18] | Rumer | Producer, Arranger, Conductor, Songwriter, Piano, Bass, Wurlitzer, Organ, Rhodes, Acoustic Guitar, Vibes, Glockenspiel, Synth, Programming, Mixing | 2015 |
| This Christmas (Single) | Dionne Warwick | Producer, Arranger, Mixing, Piano, Bass, Keyboards, Programing | 2014 |
| BBC Radio 2's Sounds of the 80s ("Arthur's Theme") (Single) | Rumer | Producer, Arranger, Conductor, Mixing, Piano, Wurlitzer, Organ, Synth | 2014 |
| Movie Moods: Love Stories (Album) [19] | Michael Omartian | Vocal Engineer | 2014 |
| Lose A Girl (Album) [20] | Nicky Corbett | Piano, Strings | 2013 |
| Switchmas (Movie Soundtrack) | Annie Bany | Producer, Arranger, Mixer, Songwriter, Piano, Bass, Guitars, Kazoo | 2012 |
| Is Love a Fairy Tale? (Album) [21] | Aoede | Piano, String Arrangements, String Conductor, Synthesizer, Wurlitzer [22] | 2012 |
| Frail Hope Ranch (Album) | The Stripminers (featuring Brett Anderson of the Donnas) | String Arranger and Conductor | 2012 |
| Skeletons of the Muse (Album) | Aoede | Piano, Wurli, Synths, String Arrangements and Conducting | 2012 |
| Heart Strings (Album) [23] | Mary Segato | Fender Rhodes, Guitar (Acoustic), Melodica, Organ, Piano, Synthesizer, Wurlitzer | 2012 |
| Never Let The Little Man Down (Album) [24] | Scrote | Piano | 2012 |
| Affair with the Muse (Album) [25] | Aoede | Keyboards, Piano, String Arrangements, String Conductor | 2011 |
| Barefoot & Young (Album) [26] | Annie Bany | Producer, Songwriter, Mixer, Arranger, Bass, Guitars, Keyboards, Melodica, Mandolin, String Arrangements | 2011 |
| Karima | Karima | Piano | 2010 |
| What Love Can Do | Burt Bacharach and Peabo Bryson | Arranger, Keyboards | 2009 |
| Live at the Sydney Opera House [27] | Burt Bacharach | Arranger, Keyboards, Main Personnel, Mixing | 2008 |
| Pure Imagination | John Pagano | String Arrangement, Keyboards | 2008 |
| New Music From An Old Friend | Phil Ramone/Peabo Bryson | String Arrangements, Keyboards | 2007 |
| The Look of Love: Burt Bacharach Songbook (Album) [28] | Traincha (Trijntje Oosterhuis) | Piano | 2007 |
| Transvalue Book III: The '58 Retractable Hardtop [29] | Transvalue | Mastering | 2007 |
| Who'll Speak for Love [30] | Traincha (Trijntje Oosterhuis) | Programming | 2007 |
| MusicTraks III (Album) | Penny Framstad | Producing, Mixing, Piano, Guitar, Bass, Co-writing | 2006 |
| At This Time (Album) [31] | Burt Bacharach | Synthesizer | 2005 |
| At the Casbah [32] | Shani | Composer, Piano | 2005 |
| Spotlight on Music: Grade 2 Disc 13 [33] | Various Artists | Arranger | 2005 |
| Spotlight on Music: Grade 2 Disc 17 | Various Artists | Arranger | 2005 |
| Wet Dog Man [34] | Paul Chesne | Conductor, String Arrangements | 2005 |
| American Idol Season 2: All-Time Classic American Love Songs | What The World Needs Now Is Love (Burt Bacharach) | Assistant Music Director, Keyboards, Mixing, Producer, Vocal Arrangement | 2003 |
| American Idol Season 2: All-Time Classic American Love Songs (Album) | Finalists | Keyboards | 2003 |
| Here I Am: Isley Meets Bacharach [35] | Burt Bacharach / Ronald Isley | Keyboards | 2003 |
| So Damn Happy [36] | Aretha Franklin | Keyboards, Synthesizer Arrangements | 2003 |
| Graham Colton | Graham Colton | String Arrangements, Keyboards | 2000 |
| Christmas with Frosty the Snowman & Friends [37] | Looney Tunes | Bass, Drums, Keyboards, Programming, Rhythm, Synthesizer | 2001 |
| The Best of Dionne Warwick (Paradiso) [38] | Dionne Warwick | Arranger, Engineer, Keyboards, Organ, Producer, Programming, String Arrangements | 2001 |
| The Best of Sessions at West 54th, Vol. 1 [39] | Burt Bacharach / Elvis Costello | Keyboards | 2001 |
| The Murder at China Basin (Album) | Original Soundtrack | Producer, Composer, Lyricist, Arranger | 2000 |
| 102 Dalmatians (Album) | Original Soundtrack | Keyboards, Drum and Synth Programming | 2000 |
| Looney Tunes Kwazy Christmas [40] | Looney Tunes | Bass, Drums, Engineer, Keyboards, Orchestration, Programming, Synthesizer | 2000 |
| Painted From Memory | Elvis Costello | Keyboards, Accordion | 1998 |
| Dionne Sings Dionne [41] | Dionne Warwick | Arranger, Engineer, Keyboards, Organ, Percussion, Producer | 1998 |
| One Amazing Night[42] | Burt Bacharach | Keyboards, Arranger | 1998 |
| Friends Can Be Lovers (Album) [43] | Dionne Warwick | Producer, Arranger, Keyboards, Drums, Guitar | 1993 |
| Cure Me with the Groove | Citizen Swing (Album) | Producer, Engineer [44] | 1992 |
References
[edit]- ^ "Dionne Warwick - Concert Review - Rob Shrock keyboard player and music director-ASB-CBN News - written by Rick Olivares". 15 February 2018.
- ^ Barnett, Laura (9 November 2014). "Rumer: I feel a duty to be honest - Rob Shirakbari- producer, musician -The Guardian - written by Lauren Barnett - November 8, 2018". The Observer.
- ^ Warwick, Dionne; Wooley, David Freeman (22 November 2011). My Life as I see it: An Autobiography - Dionne Warwick - Rob Shrock Keyboards - Simon & Schuster. ISBN 9781439171356.
- ^ "BBC Radio 2 - Rumer - Dangerous - #2 - October 13, 2014".
- ^ "BBC Radio 2 - Rumer - Reach Out - #10 - December 21, 2014".
- ^ Listen to Rumer's new song Dangerous The Guardian. 22 September 2014.
- ^ "Into Colours - Official Charts -UK Charts #12 Album - November 22, 2014". Official Charts.
- ^ "UK Music Charts #97 - Rumer - B Sides & Rarities - September 17, 2015". Official Charts.
- ^ "UK Music Charts #28 - Rumer - This Girl's In Love - August 12, 2016". Official Charts.
- ^ "Rumer Announces London Show". Music-News.com. Retrieved 17 September 2016.
- ^ "This Girl's in Love with You - Rumer - Pop Matters - Producer Rob Shirakbari - written by Richard Folland - November 17, 2016". 18 November 2016.
- ^ "Cinema Sight - 72nd Academy Awards Ceremony 1999 - Musical Arranger - Rob Shrock". 23 April 2018.
- ^ "IMDB - Rob Shrock - Filmography". IMDb.
- ^ "Keyboard Magazine - The Virtual Orchestra: String Basics - Written by Rob Shrock - Dec 18, 2018".
- ^ "Electronic Musician - Audio Impressions 70 DVZ Strings - Written by Rob Shrock - Sep 15, 2011".
- ^ "Otis Redding Foundation - presenter of the day: Rob Shirakbari - June 6, 2018 - author Jaya Alaan".
- ^ "Rumer - Love Is The Answer (CD)". Discogs.com. 2015-12-11. Retrieved 2016-11-17.
- ^ "Listen to Rumer's new song Dangerous | Music". The Guardian. Retrieved 2016-11-17.
- ^ "Movie Moods: Love Stories - Michael Omartian | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 2016-11-17.
- ^ "To Lose A Girl - Nicky Corbett | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 2016-11-17.
- ^ "Is Love a Fairy Tale? - Aoede | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. 2012-09-18. Retrieved 2016-11-17.
- ^ "Aoede - Is Love A Fairy Tale?- Team". Isloveafairytale.com. Retrieved 2016-11-17.
- ^ "Heart Strings - Mary Segato | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. 2012-10-05. Retrieved 2016-11-17.
- ^ "Never Let The Little Man Down - Scrote | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. 2012-11-06. Retrieved 2016-11-17.
- ^ "Affair With The Muse - Aoede | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. 2011-03-15. Retrieved 2016-11-17.
- ^ "Barefoot & Young - Annie Bany | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. 2011-08-09. Retrieved 2016-11-17.
- ^ Mark Keresman (2008-10-28). "Live at the Sydney Opera House - Burt Bacharach | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 2016-11-17.
- ^ "The Look of Love: Burt Bacharach Songbook - Trijntje Oosterhuis, Traincha | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. 2007-07-02. Retrieved 2016-11-17.
- ^ "Transvalue Book III: The '58 Retractable Hardtop - Transvalue | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 2016-11-17.
- ^ "Who'll Speak for Love - Trijntje Oosterhuis, Traincha | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 2016-11-17.
- ^ Stephen Thomas Erlewine (2005-11-01). "At This Time - Burt Bacharach | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 2016-11-17.
- ^ "At the Casbah - Shani | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 2016-11-17.
- ^ "Spotlight on Music: Grade 2 Disc 13 - Various Artists | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 2016-11-17.
- ^ "Wet Dog Man - Paul Chesne | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 2016-11-17.
- ^ Thom Jurek (2003-11-11). "Here I Am: Isley Meets Bacharach - Ronald Isley, Burt Bacharach | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 2016-11-17.
- ^ John Bush (2003-09-16). "So Damn Happy - Aretha Franklin | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 2016-11-17.
- ^ arisa Brown (2001-07-17). "Christmas with Frosty the Snowman & Friends - Various Artists | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 2016-11-17.
- ^ "The Best of Dionne Warwick [Paradiso] - Dionne Warwick | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 2016-11-17.
- ^ Richie Unterberger. "The Best of Sessions at West 54th, Vol. 1 - Various Artists | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 2016-11-17.
- ^ Heather Phares (2000-10-03). "Looney Tunes Kwazy Christmas - Looney Tunes | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 2016-11-17.
- ^ Jason Elias (1998-10-06). "Dionne Sings Dionne - Dionne Warwick | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 2016-11-17.
- ^ Stephen Thomas Erlewine (1998-11-24). "One Amazing Night - Burt Bacharach | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 2016-11-17.
- ^ Bil Carpenter. "Friends Can Be Lovers - Dionne Warwick | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 2016-11-17.
- ^ "Cure Me with the Groove - Citizen Swing | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 2016-11-17.
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