Arnold McCuller (born August 26, 1950) is an American vocalist, songwriter, and record producer, born and raised in

Cleveland Cleveland ( ), officially the City of Cleveland, is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Cuyahoga County. Located in the northeastern part of the state, it is situated along the southern shore of Lake Erie, across the U.S. ...

, Ohio. He was active as a solo artist and

session musician Session musicians, studio musicians, or backing musicians are musicians hired to perform in recording sessions or live performances. The term sideman is also used in the case of live performances, such as accompanying a recording artist on a ...

, but is perhaps best known for his work as a touring back-up singer with artists such as

James Taylor James Vernon Taylor (born March 12, 1948) is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist. A six-time Grammy Award winner, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2000. He is one of the best-selling music artists of all time, havi ...

Linda Ronstadt Linda Maria Ronstadt (born July 15, 1946) is a retired American singer who performed and recorded in diverse genres including rock, country, light opera, the Great American Songbook, and Latin. She has earned 11 Grammy Awards, three American ...

Phil Collins Philip David Charles Collins (born 30 January 1951) is an English singer, musician, songwriter, record producer and actor. He was the drummer and lead singer of the rock band Genesis and also has a career as a solo performer. Between 1982 and ...

Beck Beck David Hansen (born Bek David Campbell; July 8, 1970) is an American musician, singer, songwriter, and record producer. He rose to fame in the early 1990s with his Experimental music, experimental and Lo-fi music, lo-fi style, and became ...

Bonnie Raitt Bonnie Lynn Raitt (; born November 8, 1949) is an American blues singer and guitarist. In 1971, Raitt released her self-titled debut album. Following this, she released a series of critically acclaimed roots-influenced albums that incorporated ...

, and

Todd Rundgren Todd Harry Rundgren (born June 22, 1948) is an American multi-instrumentalist, singer, songwriter, multimedia artist, sound engineer and record producer who has performed a diverse range of styles as a solo artist and as a member of the band Ut ...

. He toured for forty-five years with Taylor and is an audience favorite for his featured vocal parts on the songs "

Shower the People "Shower the People" is the opening track on James Taylor's 1976 album '' In the Pocket''. Reception '' Cash Box'' said that the song is "a meaningful ballad that will pick up a lot of FM airplay" said that it has "a way with melody and phrasing" ...

", "I Will Follow", and "Is That the Way You Look". He has also toured extensively with Collins and is one of the main lead vocalists on the live version of "

Easy Lover "Easy Lover" is a song performed by Philip Bailey of Earth, Wind & Fire and Phil Collins of Genesis, and jointly written and composed by Bailey, Collins, and Nathan East. The song appeared on Bailey's solo album, ''Chinese Wall''. Collins has per ...

". In 2010 McCuller joined the

Troubadour Reunion Tour The Troubadour Reunion Tour was a 2010 international concert tour by Carole King and James Taylor. It celebrated the 40th anniversary of their first performance together at The Troubadour in November 1970, and was a continuation of their reunio ...

supporting James Taylor and

Carole King Carole King Klein (born Carol Joan Klein; February 9, 1942) is an American singer, songwriter, and musician who has been active since 1958, initially as one of the staff songwriters at 1650 Broadway and later as a solo artist. Regarded as one ...

Film

McCuller has had numerous acting parts in films, particularly in movies centered on music, such as ''

American Hot Wax ''American Hot Wax'' is a 1978 biographical film directed by Floyd Mutrux with a screenplay by John Kaye from a story by John Kaye and Art Linson. The film tells the story of pioneering disc jockey Alan Freed, who in the 1950s helped introduce ...

'' (1978) and ''

The Hollywood Knights ''The Hollywood Knights'' is a 1980 American teen comedy film written and directed by Floyd Mutrux depicting the crass and mischievous antics and practical jokes of the remaining members of a 1950s-era car club turned social fraternity in and aro ...

'' (1980). He appeared in the film '' The Sum of All Fears'' singing "

The Star-Spangled Banner "The Star-Spangled Banner" is the national anthem of the United States. The lyrics come from the "Defence of Fort M'Henry", a poem written on September 14, 1814, by 35-year-old lawyer and amateur poet Francis Scott Key after witnessing the b ...

". Although he did not appear onscreen in ''

Duets A duet is a musical composition or piece for two performers. Duets or The Duets may also refer to: Films and television * ''Duets'' (film), a 2000 film, starring Gwyneth Paltrow, Paul Giamatti and Huey Lewis * "Duets" (''Glee''), a 2010 episod ...

'', his vocals were blended with those of actor

Andre Braugher Andre Keith Braugher (; born July 1, 1962) is an American actor. He is best known for his roles as Detective Frank Pembleton in the police drama series '' Homicide: Life on the Street'' (1993–1999), used car salesman Owen Thoreau Jr. in the com ...

to make a composite singing voice for the character "Reggie Kane"; in the film, Reggie Kane sang with

Paul Giamatti Paul Edward Valentine Giamatti (; born June 6, 1967) is an American actor and film producer. He first garnered attention for his breakout role in '' Private Parts'' as Kenny "Pig Vomit" Rushton, leading to supporting roles in ''Saving Private R ...

on "

Try a Little Tenderness "Try a Little Tenderness" is a song written by Jimmy Campbell, Reg Connelly, and Harry M. Woods. Original version It was first recorded on December 8, 1932, by the Ray Noble Orchestra, with vocals by Val Rosing. Another version, also recorded ...

" and performed an a cappella version of "

Free Bird "Free Bird", also spelled "Freebird", is a song written by Allen Collins and Ronnie Van Zant and performed by American rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd. The song featured on the band's debut album in 1973. Released as a single in November 1974, "F ...

". McCuller also performed the song "Nowhere to Run" for the 1979 film '' The Warriors'', which appears on the film's soundtrack (A&M Records); and was one of the four singers in the "guitar duel sequence" in the 1986 film ''

Crossroads Crossroads, crossroad, cross road or similar may refer to: * Crossroads (junction), where four roads meet Film and television Films * ''Crossroads'' (1928 film), a 1928 Japanese film by Teinosuke Kinugasa * ''Cross Roads'' (film), a 1930 Brit ...

'', with Ry Cooder.

Discography

Solo albums

* ''A Part of Me That's You'' (1984) with David Benoit * ''Exception to the Rule'' (1994) * ''You Can't Go Back'' (1999) * ''Exception to the Rule'' (2000) reissue (with fewer songs) * ''Back to Front'' (2002) * ''Live at the Baked Potato'' (2002) * ''Circa 1990'' (2003) * ''Sabor'' (2009) *''The Present'' (2010) * ''Soon as I Get Paid'' (2011) * ''Back @ The Baked Potato Live 2015'' (2015) * ''Witness'' (2017)

with James Taylor

*''

Flag A flag is a piece of fabric (most often rectangular or quadrilateral) with a distinctive design and colours. It is used as a symbol, a signalling device, or for decoration. The term ''flag'' is also used to refer to the graphic design empl ...

'' (1979) *''

Dad Loves His Work ''Dad Loves His Work'' is the tenth studio album by James Taylor released in 1981. The album includes the duet with J. D. Souther titled " Her Town Too", which peaked at number 11 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 and number 5 on the ''Billboard'' Adu ...

'' (1981) *''

That's Why I'm Here ''That's Why I'm Here'' is the eleventh studio album by singer-songwriter James Taylor released in 1985, four years after his previous effort, '' Dad Loves His Work''. The album contains a version of Buddy Holly's "Everyday", as well as the par ...

'' (1985) *''

Never Die Young ''Never Die Young'' is the twelfth studio album by singer-songwriter James Taylor released in 1988, three years after his previous effort, ''That's Why I'm Here''. The album reached No. 25 on the ''Billboard'' 200 and eventually was certified ...

'' (1988) *''

New Moon Shine ''New Moon Shine'' is the thirteenth studio album by singer-songwriter James Taylor released in 1991. The album peaked at number 37 on the ''Billboard'' 200 chart and certified platinum. The album was producer-pianist Don Grolnick's sixth and fi ...

'' (1991) *'' (LIVE)'' (1993) * ''

Hourglass An hourglass (or sandglass, sand timer, sand clock or egg timer) is a device used to measure the passage of time. It comprises two glass bulbs connected vertically by a narrow neck that allows a regulated flow of a substance (historically sand) ...

'' (1997) *'' October Road'' (2002) *'' At Christmas'' (2006) *'' Covers'' (2008) *'' Before This World'' (2015) *'' American Standard'' (2020) With many years of touring from 1977-2022; with the exception of 1990 (Phillip Ballou filled in), 1994 (Dorian Holley filled in), 2012 (Jim Gilstrap filled in with the exception of solo on "Shower the People"), and some of 2019 (Dorian Holley filled in at first and then both performed at Las Vegas & Tanglewood).

with Phil Collins

* '' Serious Hits... Live!'' (1990) * ''

Dance into the Light ''Dance into the Light'' is the sixth solo studio album by English drummer and singer-songwriter Phil Collins, released on 8 October 1996 in the United States and on 21 October 1996 in the United Kingdom by Face Value Records. It features guest ...

'' (1996)

with Lyle Lovett

* ''

Joshua Judges Ruth ''Joshua Judges Ruth'' is Lyle Lovett's fourth album, released in 1992. While the album does not have one theme that binds all the songs, several tracks deal with "high concepts" such as religion ("Church") and death ("Family Reserve" & "Since ...

'' (1992) * ''

I Love Everybody ''I Love Everybody'' is the fifth album by Lyle Lovett, released in 1994. The album consists of songs written by Lovett prior to the recording of his first album, '' Lyle Lovett'' (1986). On the 8th track, "Record Lady," Lyle refers to colleg ...

'' (1994) * '' The Road to Ensenada'' (1996) * ''

It's Not Big It's Large ''It's Not Big It's Large'' is an album by Lyle Lovett and his Large Band, released in 2007 (see 2007 in music). The recording was made live in studio (recorded with all instruments as if a concert venue, but done in a studio). The title is a p ...

'' (2007)

Film and television soundtracks

* ''

The Warriors (soundtrack) ''The Warriors: The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack'' is the soundtrack to the 1979 film '' The Warriors''. The soundtrack was released on March 16, 1979 by A&M Records. Background The album features music by Barry De Vorzon, Joe Walsh, Arno ...

oundtrack to the Motion Picture' (1979) * ''

Duets (film) ''Duets'' is a 2000 American road trip film co-produced and directed by Bruce Paltrow and written by John Byrum. The motion picture features an ensemble cast with Gwyneth Paltrow, Huey Lewis, Paul Giamatti, Maria Bello, Angie Dickinson, Scott Speed ...

oundtrack to the Motion Picture' (2000) * ''

Hairspray Hairspray may refer to: * Hair spray, a personal grooming product that keeps hair protected from humidity and wind * ''Hairspray'' (1988 film), a film by John Waters ** ''Hairspray'' (1988 soundtrack), the film's soundtrack album ** ''Hairspray ...

oundtrack to the Motion Picture' (2007) * ''

Chiquititas ''Chiquititas'' (literally translated as "Little Girls", known in English as ''Tiny Angels'') is a children's musical Argentina, Argentine soap opera, created and produced by Cris Morena. It starred Morena's daughter Romina Yan and Agustina Cher ...

'', Vol. 2 (2013)

References

External links

Official website

Arnold McCuller's MySpace
* {{DEFAULTSORT:McCuller, Arnold 1950 births Living people 20th-century African-American male singers American male film actors Record producers from Ohio Songwriters from Ohio Musicians from Cleveland American session musicians African-American songwriters 21st-century African-American people American male songwriters Lyle Lovett and His Large Band members