Jae Deal is an American composer, arranger, music producer, and orchestrator in various genres including pop, gospel, and hip hop as well as a Professor of Music Production, Music Technology, and Hip Hop Music & Culture at the
USC Thornton School of Music.
He's a session keyboardist, programmer, and bassist in
Los Angeles
Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the largest city in the state of California and the second most populous city in the United States after New York City, as well as one of the wor ...
,
California
California is a state in the Western United States, located along the Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the most populous U.S. state and the 3rd largest by area. It is also the ...
.
Jae Deal has worked behind the scenes and on stage with several premiere artists including
Janet Jackson
Janet Damita Jo Jackson (born May 16, 1966) is an American singer, songwriter, actress, and dancer. She is noted for her innovative, socially conscious and sexually provocative records, as well as elaborate stage shows. Her sound and choreog ...
,
Lady Gaga
Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta ( ; born March 28, 1986), known professionally as Lady Gaga, is an American singer, songwriter, and actress. She is known for her image reinventions and musical versatility. Gaga began performing as a teenag ...
,
Snoop Dogg
Calvin Cordozar Broadus Jr. (born October 20, 1971), known professionally as Snoop Dogg (previously Snoop Doggy Dogg and briefly Snoop Lion), is an American rapper. His fame dates back to 1992 when he featured on Dr. Dre's debut solo single, ...
,
Diddy,
Mary Mary,
Karen Clark Sheard,
Ne-Yo
Shaffer Chimere Smith (born October 18, 1979), known professionally as Ne-Yo, is an American singer, songwriter, actor, dancer, and record producer. He gained fame for his songwriting abilities when he penned Mario's 2004 hit " Let Me Love You ...
,
Faith Evans
Faith Renée Evans (born June 10, 1973) is an American singer and actress. Born in Lakeland, Florida, and raised in New Jersey, she relocated to Los Angeles in 1991 for a career in the music business. After working as a backing vocalist for Al ...
,
Tye Tribbett,
T-Pain,
Jessica Simpson
Jessica Ann Simpson (born July 10, 1980) is an American singer, actress, entrepreneur and philanthropist. After performing in church choirs as a child, Simpson signed with Columbia Records in 1997, aged seventeen. Her debut studio album, ''Swee ...
and
Wynton Marsalis
Wynton Learson Marsalis (born October 18, 1961) is an American trumpeter, composer, teacher, and artistic director of Jazz at Lincoln Center. He has promoted classical and jazz music, often to young audiences. Marsalis has won nine Grammy Awar ...
.
He has also contributed to the works of
Elton John
Sir Elton Hercules John (born Reginald Kenneth Dwight; 25 March 1947) is a British singer, pianist and composer. Commonly nicknamed the "Rocket Man" after his 1972 hit single of the same name, John has led a commercially successful career a ...
,
Jill Scott Jill Scott may refer to:
* Jill Scott (singer) (born 1972), American soul singer and songwriter.
* Jill Scott (racing driver) (1902–1974), English racing driver
* Jill Scott (media artist) (born 1952), Australian media artist
* Jill Scott (footba ...
and songwriter,
Diane Warren
Diane Eve Warren (born September 7, 1956) is an American songwriter. She has received several awards including a Grammy Award, a Primetime Emmy Award, two Golden Globe Awards, three ''Billboard'' Music Awards and an Honorary Academy Award.
War ...
.
Other projects have included performances with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra and musical direction for
Kirk Franklin
Kirk Dewayne Franklin (born January 26, 1970) is an American songwriter, choir director, gospel singer, and rapper. He is best known for leading urban contemporary gospel ensembles such as The Family, God's Property, and One Nation Crew (1NC) ...
’s Youth Ministry at Faithful Central Bible Church.
Early life
Jae Deal is from
Baltimore
Baltimore ( , locally: or ) is the List of municipalities in Maryland, most populous city in the U.S. state of Maryland, fourth most populous city in the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic, and List of United States cities by popula ...
,
Maryland
Maryland ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It shares borders with Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; ...
and began playing instruments at the age of seven. He attended
Friends School of Baltimore
Friends School of Baltimore is a private Quaker school in Baltimore, serving students in pre-kindergarten through 12th grade. One of the prestigious Roland Park 5 Preparatory Schools, Friends has been described by author Judy Colbert as "a challen ...
, the oldest private school in Baltimore.
By the time Jae was in high school, he was already a skillful bass guitar and synthesizer player. By the tenth grade, he was participating in
PBS specials, international tours, and performances for the
Pope
The pope ( la, papa, from el, πάππας, translit=pappas, 'father'), also known as supreme pontiff ( or ), Roman pontiff () or sovereign pontiff, is the bishop of Rome (or historically the patriarch of Rome), head of the worldwide Cathol ...
with Dr. Nathan Carter of the
Morgan State University
Morgan State University (Morgan State or MSU) is a public historically black research university in Baltimore, Maryland. It is the largest of Maryland's historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs). In 1867, the university, then known ...
Choir.
Shortly after high school,
Gospel music producer Steven Ford hired Jae to play on two major gospel recordings. The first was
Vickie Winans, Live in
Detroit
Detroit ( , ; , ) is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is also the largest U.S. city on the United States–Canada border, and the seat of government of Wayne County. The City of Detroit had a population of 639,111 at ...
.
It was her first live recording and it was nominated for a
Stellar Award
A Stellar Award is an award presented by SAGMA to recognize achievements in the gospel music industry.[Sagma](_blank)
The Stell ...
.
The second was
T.D. Jakes’ Woman Thou Art Loosed.
It won a
Stellar Award
A Stellar Award is an award presented by SAGMA to recognize achievements in the gospel music industry.[Sagma](_blank)
The Stell ...
and was
Grammy
The Grammy Awards (stylized as GRAMMY), or simply known as the Grammys, are awards presented by the Recording Academy of the United States to recognize "outstanding" achievements in the music industry. They are regarded by many as the most pres ...
nominated.
Jae Deal attended
Morgan State University
Morgan State University (Morgan State or MSU) is a public historically black research university in Baltimore, Maryland. It is the largest of Maryland's historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs). In 1867, the university, then known ...
in Baltimore, Maryland graduating with a Bachelor of Science in
Pure Mathematics
Pure mathematics is the study of mathematical concepts independently of any application outside mathematics. These concepts may originate in real-world concerns, and the results obtained may later turn out to be useful for practical applications ...
.
He studied classical music independently in his college years. Jae Deal's parallel education in music and mathematics have let him employ a mathematically inclined methodology towards analysis and production of music as he explains in an interview with Jammcard.
Career
After moving to
Los Angeles
Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the largest city in the state of California and the second most populous city in the United States after New York City, as well as one of the wor ...
, Jae Deal began working with young pop artists such as
Christina Milian
Christine Marie Flores (born September 26, 1981), better known as Christina Milian (), is an American actress and singer. Born in Jersey City, New Jersey, but raised in Maryland, she signed a contract with Murder Inc. Records at the age of 1 ...
,
Marques Houston, and
Omarion
Omari Ishmael Grandberry (born November 12, 1984), better known by his stage name Omarion, is an American R&B singer, songwriter, actor and dancer. He rose to prominence as the lead singer of the boy band B2K. The group achieved success in the ...
.
Jae Deal also performed with his childhood friend,
Mario (entertainer)
Mario Dewar Barrett (born August 27, 1986), known mononymously as Mario, is an American R&B singer, songwriter, record producer, dancer, model, and actor. Born and raised in Baltimore, he signed a record deal with J Records at the age of fourt ...
on
Good Morning America
''Good Morning America'' (often abbreviated as ''GMA'') is an American morning television program that is broadcast on ABC. It debuted on November 3, 1975, and first expanded to weekends with the debut of a Sunday edition on January 3, 1993. ...
.
Deal continued to work as a live
musician
A musician is a person who composes, conducts, or performs music. According to the United States Employment Service, "musician" is a general term used to designate one who follows music as a profession. Musicians include songwriters who w ...
,
orchestrator, director and
programmer
A computer programmer, sometimes referred to as a software developer, a software engineer, a programmer or a coder, is a person who creates computer programs — often for larger computer software.
A programmer is someone who writes/creates ...
and live musician for several tours, and recording sessions. Projects included
Elton John
Sir Elton Hercules John (born Reginald Kenneth Dwight; 25 March 1947) is a British singer, pianist and composer. Commonly nicknamed the "Rocket Man" after his 1972 hit single of the same name, John has led a commercially successful career a ...
,
Snoop Dogg
Calvin Cordozar Broadus Jr. (born October 20, 1971), known professionally as Snoop Dogg (previously Snoop Doggy Dogg and briefly Snoop Lion), is an American rapper. His fame dates back to 1992 when he featured on Dr. Dre's debut solo single, ...
& the Snoopadelics,
Mary Mary,
Karen Clark Sheard and
Jill Scott Jill Scott may refer to:
* Jill Scott (singer) (born 1972), American soul singer and songwriter.
* Jill Scott (racing driver) (1902–1974), English racing driver
* Jill Scott (media artist) (born 1952), Australian media artist
* Jill Scott (footba ...
.
Other projects have included Christmas specials, the
Baltimore Symphony Orchestra
The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra is an American symphony orchestra based in Baltimore, Maryland. The Baltimore SO has its principal residence at the Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall, where it performs more than 130 concerts a year. In 2005, it bega ...
, performing alongside
Wynton Marsalis
Wynton Learson Marsalis (born October 18, 1961) is an American trumpeter, composer, teacher, and artistic director of Jazz at Lincoln Center. He has promoted classical and jazz music, often to young audiences. Marsalis has won nine Grammy Awar ...
in Darin Atwater’s
Soulful Symphony
Soulful Symphony is a 75-piece United States, American symphony orchestra founded in 2000 by composer Darin Atwater, who serves as the symphony's artistic director and conductor. The symphony is based in Baltimore, Maryland and its membership is pr ...
debut and a year and a half stint as arranger with legendary songwriter
Diane Warren
Diane Eve Warren (born September 7, 1956) is an American songwriter. She has received several awards including a Grammy Award, a Primetime Emmy Award, two Golden Globe Awards, three ''Billboard'' Music Awards and an Honorary Academy Award.
War ...
.
In 2008, Jae served as the
orchestrator and
Pro Tools
Pro Tools is a digital audio workstation (DAW) developed and released by Avid Technology (formerly Digidesign) for Microsoft Windows and macOS. It is used for music creation and production, sound for picture ( sound design, audio post-prod ...
programmer
A computer programmer, sometimes referred to as a software developer, a software engineer, a programmer or a coder, is a person who creates computer programs — often for larger computer software.
A programmer is someone who writes/creates ...
on
Janet Jackson
Janet Damita Jo Jackson (born May 16, 1966) is an American singer, songwriter, actress, and dancer. She is noted for her innovative, socially conscious and sexually provocative records, as well as elaborate stage shows. Her sound and choreog ...
's "
Rock Witchu Tour
Rock Witchu Tour was the fifth concert tour by American singer-songwriter Janet Jackson, in support of her tenth studio album ''Discipline'' (2008), and her first in nearly seven years, following a total blacklist of the singer's music, due to th ...
".
Deal is currently refining what he describes as a
topological
In mathematics, topology (from the Greek words , and ) is concerned with the properties of a geometric object that are preserved under continuous deformations, such as stretching, twisting, crumpling, and bending; that is, without closing ...
methodology for analyzing and composing music.
Additional work
* Jae Deal produced and directed the performances of the Millennium Harmony Orchestra at the AFRAM arts festival in Baltimore, MD.
*Jae Deal, alongside Hollywood curator Monica Payne, co-created and produced #FLASHLIGHT, a progressive musical performance series based in Los Angeles. Featured musicians included producers
Ethan Farmer, Keith Harris, Ish a.k.a. “Wow Jones” & musicians
Kamasi Washington and
Tony Royster Jr.
Tony Royster Jr. (born October 9, 1984, in Nuremberg, Germany) is an American drummer. He was raised in Hinesville, Georgia and is a 2002 graduate of Liberty County High School. His father began to teach him how to play the drums at the age of ...
Featured DJs included
MC Lyte
Lana Michele Moorer (born October 11, 1970), better known by her stage name MC Lyte, is an American rap music, rapper, Disc jockey, DJ, actress and entrepreneur. Considered one of the pioneers of female rap, Lyte first gained fame in the late 19 ...
and DJ Smooth Dee.
*On May 9, 2019 Deal was the producer, host, and music director for "The Jammjam" event presented by Jammcard honoring
George Clinton and
Parliament-Funkadelic for receiving the
Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. Stars including
Ice Cube
An ice cube is a small piece of ice, which is typically rectangular as viewed from above and trapezoidal as viewed from the side. Ice cubes are products of mechanical refrigeration and are usually produced to cool beverages. They may be p ...
,
Anderson .Paak
Brandon Paak Anderson (born February 8, 1986), better known by his stage name Anderson .Paak (), is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer, and drummer. He released his debut mixtape, ''O.B.E. Vol. 1,'' in 2012 and went on to rel ...
,
CeeLo Green
Thomas DeCarlo Callaway - Burton (born May 30, 1975), known professionally as CeeLo Green (or Cee Lo Green), is an American singer, songwriter, rapper, record producer and actor. He is known for his work in hip hop and R&B, including the Gnarl ...
,
Flea (musician)
Michael Peter Balzary (born October 16, 1962), known professionally as Flea, is an Australian-American musician and actor. He is a founding member and bassist of the rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers.
Flea was born in Melbourne, Victoria; his fam ...
,
Eddie Griffin, and Dj
Battlecat jammed alongside members of Parliament-Funkadelic.
Community
Years before becoming a professor at
USC Thornton School of Music, Jae participated in music tutoring programs and appeared as a
motivational speaker
A motivational speaker is a speaker who makes speeches intended to motivate or inspire an audience. Such speakers may attempt to challenge or transform their audiences. The speech itself is popularly known as a pep talk.
Motivational speakers ...
:
* G.A.M.E. (Gilmor and Morgan Exchange) - ''Baltimore, MD'' - Jae Deal was founder and director of The GAME program, of the 503 Academy, which connected Gilmor Elementary School students with college students from Morgan State University for mentoring.
* UCLA – "Ethnomusicology M119: The Cultural History of Rap (Hip Hop)" - ''Los Angeles , CA'' - Jae Deal was a guest lecturer discussing the chronology of technological development alongside the Hip-Hop culture, considering future trends in Hip-Hop technology.
* Los Angeles College of Music 2016 " - ''Pasadena , CA'' - Jae Deal wrote the Songwriting 1 curriculum for the
Los Angeles College of Music ,served as an instructor of Songwriting 1 and Industry Showcase and provided career counseling.
* Musicians Institute 2018 " - ''Hollywood , CA'' - Jae taught Networking Strategies and Artist Development in the Music Business department of
Musicians Institute
Musicians Institute (MI) is a private for-profit music school in Los Angeles, California. MI students can earn Certificates and – with transfer of coursework taken at Los Angeles City College – Associate of Arts Degrees, as well as Bachel ...
.
Associations / awards
* Part-Time Lecturer,
University of Southern California
, mottoeng = "Let whoever earns the palm bear it"
, religious_affiliation = Nonsectarian—historically Methodist
, established =
, accreditation = WSCUC
, type = Private research university
, academic_affiliations =
, endowment = $8. ...
,
Thornton School of Music
*Guest Lecturer,
UCLA
The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) is a public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in Los Angeles, California. UCLA's academic roots were established in 1881 as a Normal school, teachers colle ...
School of
Ethnomusicology
Ethnomusicology is the study of music from the cultural and social aspects of the people who make it. It encompasses distinct theoretical and methodical approaches that emphasize cultural, social, material, cognitive, biological, and other dim ...
* Member,
American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers
The American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP) () is an American not-for-profit performance-rights organization (PRO) that collectively licenses the public performance rights of its members' musical works to venues, broadca ...
(ASCAP)
*Member an
judge Jammcard
*Jae Deal and co-composer Tia P won the 2016 International John Lennon Songwriting Contest in the category of Hip-Hop. In the same year both artists were the first international contestants to win the Australia's Vanda & Young Songwriting Competition.
Endorsements / affiliations
* KORG U.S.A.
* Propellerhead's Reason
* Moog Music, Inc
* ROLI
References
External links
Jae Deal - Official sitePropellerhead.seKORG U.S.A.DISCOGS ProfileROLI
{{DEFAULTSORT:Deal, Jae
American hip hop record producers
Living people
Year of birth missing (living people)
American male composers
21st-century American composers
21st-century American male musicians
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