Michael Omartian

Michael Omartian (born November 26, 1945 in Evanston, Illinois) is an Armenian-American songwriter, Grammy Award-winning keyboardist, and music producer. He has produced albums for several pop artists including Christopher Cross, Michael Bolton, Whitney Houston, the Jacksons, Rod Stewart, Trisha Yearwood, Clint Black, Donna Summer, Joe "Bean" Esposito, Peter Cetera, Benny Hester, Steve Camp, The Imperials, Amy Grant, and Steely Dan. In 1985 Michael Omartian, along with Quincy Jones, co-produced the # 1 hit "We Are the World" by a supergroup of popular musicians billed as USA for Africa.

In one year alone, he was nominated for ten Grammy Awards, three of which he won for his work on Christopher Cross' debut album:

• 1981 Grammy Award for Record of the Year - "Sailing" (with Christopher Cross)
• 1981 Grammy Award for Album of the Year - Christopher Cross
• 1981 Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist(s) - "Sailing"

Previously, in the late 60's, Omartian helped launch Campus Crusade for Christ's new music outreach group, "The New Folk." In that capacity he arranged much of the music and assisted in training the singers. He was also a founding member of the 1970s disco-funk band Rhythm Heritage, and he also played as a session musician for artists including Koinonia, Steely Dan, The Four Tops, Seals and Crofts and Loggins & Messina.

Omartian has recorded a number of highly polished Contemporary Christian Music albums under his own name, including White Horse, Adam Again, Conversations (an instrumental album) and others. Omartian produced several Christian Contemporary albums for The Imperials. The Imperials are most remembered for the albums "Priority" and "One More Song For You" produced in Omartian's basement studio on very tight budgets. Virtually all of his solo albums are now out-of-print.

In 2003, Omartian scored an audio book rendition of the Biblical gospels, called "Gospels Come To Life". The audio Bible was read by fellow CCM writer/musician Michael W. Smith, based on musical ideas by Smith. The Spanish version of this audio Bible was narrated by CCM artist, Jaci Velasquez.

Toward the end of 2006 he contributed to an album with Annie Herring (former member of The 2nd Chapter of Acts) called One on One, he plays piano as the solo instrument throughout with Herring providing vocals. The album was released in 2009. One on One was his second collaboration with Herring; the first being the 1983 album Together Live, a collaborative, in-concert effort with Herring's family trio, The 2nd Chapter of Acts, and Omartian's wife, Stormie. The live double-LP album was recorded in 1982 at The Church on the Way in Van Nuys, California.

Aside from Together Live, Omartian has recorded several projects with his wife, Stormie Omartian. Stormie now focuses on her career as a successful author, writing principally for the Christian market.

Omartian is one of the few producers in recording history to have number one records in three consecutive decades – the seventies, eighties and nineties. Others in this group include George Martin (1964, 1970 and 1982, for example).

Discography as solo artist

• White Horse (1974)
• Adam Again (known overseas as "Onward") (1975)
• Seasons of the Soul (1977, as Michael and Stormie Omartian)
• The Builder (1980, as Michael and Stormie Omartian)
• Mainstream (1982, as Michael and Stormie Omartian)
• Omartian Odyssey (1982 compilation album)
• Together Live (1983, as Michael and Stormie Omartian with 2nd Chapter of Acts)
• Conversations (1986, instrumental)
• The Race (1991)
• White Horse/Adam Again (1991, re-release)
• Like Brothers (1995, with Pratt & McClain)
• Contemporary Mozart (known overseas as "Bon Appetit: Contemporary Mozart Arrangements Volume 2") (1995)

External links

• Michael Omartian at VH1.com
• Yamaha Corporation artist biography