Shelly Berg Biography

Fast Facts

• His album "Blackbird," released in 2005, reached number on U․S․ Jazz radio and was nominated for Record of the Year and Artist of the Year
• Was named Educator of the Year by the Los Angeles Jazz Society in 2003 and was chosen as one of three Educators for the Millennium by the Los Angeles Times in 2000
• Began playing the piano at the age of 4 and was performing Beethoven's Sonatas by the age of 8
• Quote: "Music is the mortar of humanity․ It binds people of all backgrounds and experiences, as it poignantly expresses universal emotions․ It is an amazing and elusive complement to our existence․"
• Best known as a jazz pianist who composed for the TV series "Fudge" and "A League of Their Own․"
• Has orchestrated for artists like Joe Cocker, Kiss, Steve Miller, Chicago, and Lou Rawls
• Spent 16 years as the McCoy/Sample Professor of Jazz Studies at the University of South Carolina's Thornton School of Music
• Is the Dean of the Frost School of Music at the University of Miami
• Has collaborated with numerous jazz vocalists, including Bobby McFerrin, Dionne Warwick, Monica Mancini, and Nancy Wilson
• Was the composer of the theme song for the 1986 U․S․ Olympic Festival