Brian Tarquin (born December 2, 1965, New York) is an American jazz fusion guitarist, recording artist, sound engineer, record producer, and composer. He is best known as a guitar instrumentalist with several Top 10 radio hits in various genres as Smooth Jazz, NACC Loud Rock & Jam Band charts. He also is an established composer having won Emmy awards for “Outstanding Achievement in Music Direction and Composition for a Drama Series”. He owns BHP Music-Guitar Trax Records and Jungle Room Studios which specializes in guitar instrumental music. He specializes in guitar instrumental music and smooth jazz. Throughout his career he has recorded with and produced projects with

Larry Coryell Larry Coryell (born Lorenz Albert Van DeLinder III; April 2, 1943 – February 19, 2017) was an American jazz guitarist. Early life Larry Coryell was born in Galveston, Texas, United States. He never knew his biological father, a musician. He w ...

Gary Hoey Gary Hoey (born August 23, 1960) is an American hard rock and latterly blues rock guitarist, singer and songwriter. He has recorded over 20 albums and had five Top 20 ''Billboard'' hits. Early life and early career Hoey was born in Lowell, Ma ...

Hal Lindes Hal Andrew Lindes is an American–English guitarist and film score composer. In 1979, he played guitar with the new wave group Darling. Signed to Charisma Records, they released the single "Do You Wanna" (written by Lindes) and published the ...

Chuck Loeb Charles Samuel "Chuck" Loeb (December 7, 1955 – July 31, 2017) was an American jazz guitarist and a member of the groups Steps Ahead, Metro and Fourplay. Early years and education Loeb was born in Nyack, New York, near New York City. At a ...

Steve Morse Steve J. Morse (born July 28, 1954) is an American guitarist, best known as the founder of the Dixie Dregs and as the lead guitarist of Deep Purple from 1994 to 2022. Morse has also enjoyed a successful solo career and was briefly a member of ...

Billy Sheehan William Sheehan (born March 19, 1953) is an American musician. He is best known for playing the bass guitar with acts such as Talas, Steve Vai, David Lee Roth, Mr. Big, Niacin, and The Winery Dogs. He is also known for his "lead bass" playing ...

Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal Ronald Jay Blumenthal (born September 25, 1969), better known by his stage name Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal or just simply as Bumblefoot, is an American guitarist, songwriter, and producer. He adopted his nickname from the bacterial infection of the s ...

Leslie West Leslie West (born Leslie Abel Weinstein; October 22, 1945 – December 23, 2020) was an American guitarist, singer and songwriter. He was the co-founder, guitarist and co-lead vocalist of the rock band Mountain. Life and career Early years: 1 ...

, and

Mike Stern Mike Stern (born January 10, 1953) is an American jazz guitarist. After playing with Blood, Sweat & Tears, he worked with drummer Billy Cobham, then with trumpeter Miles Davis from 1981 to 1983 and again in 1985. He then began a solo career, re ...

Early life and education

Tarquin studied at Mannes School of Music (New York), The State University of New York (New Paltz) and Center for the Media Arts (New York).

Professional career

Composer

Tarquin wrote the theme music for

MTV MTV (Originally an initialism of Music Television) is an American cable channel that launched on August 1, 1981. Based in New York City, it serves as the flagship property of the MTV Entertainment Group, part of Paramount Media Networks, a di ...

's ''

Road Rules ''Road Rules'' is an MTV reality show that was a sister show of the network's flagship reality show, ''The Real World''. The series debuted on July 19, 1995, and ended on May 9, 2007. This allowed ''Road Rules'' a total of 14 seasons and 12 year ...

'', ''

All My Children ''All My Children'' (often shortened to ''AMC'') is an American television soap opera that aired on American Broadcasting Company, ABC from January 5, 1970, to September 23, 2011, and on The Online Network (TOLN) from April 29 to September 2, 20 ...

'', and '' The Watcher''. He received two Television Academy Emmy Awards for his work on ''All My Children'', and additional nominations. He has provided musical scores for the films ''A Bird of the Air'', ''

Real Steel ''Real Steel'' is a 2011 American science fiction sports drama film starring Hugh Jackman and Dakota Goyo and co-produced and directed by Shawn Levy for DreamWorks Pictures. The film is based on the short story "Steel", written by Richard Mathe ...

'', ''Inferno'', and ''

Bart Got a Room ''Bart Got a Room'' is a 2008 comedy film written and directed by Brian Hecker, and stars Steven Kaplan, Alia Shawkat, William H. Macy, and Cheryl Hines. Also appearing in the film are Ashley Benson, Brandon Hardesty, Kate Micucci, Jennifer Tilly, ...

''; as well as scoring for television in episodes of '' 24'', ''

Alias Alias may refer to: * Pseudonym * Pen name * Nickname Arts and entertainment Film and television * ''Alias'' (2013 film), a 2013 Canadian documentary film * ''Alias'' (TV series), an American action thriller series 2001–2006 * ''Alias the ...

'', ''

America's Next Top Model ''America's Next Top Model'' (abbreviated ''ANTM'' and ''Top Model'') is an American reality television series and interactive competition in which a number of aspiring models compete for the title of "America's Next Top Model" and a chance to b ...

'', ''

Beverly Hills, 90210 ''Beverly Hills, 90210'' (often referred to by its short title, ''90210'') is an American teen drama television series created by Darren Star and produced by Aaron Spelling under his production company Spelling Television. The series ran fo ...

'', ''

Cheers ''Cheers'' is an American sitcom television series that ran on NBC from September 30, 1982, to May 20, 1993, with a total of 275 half-hour episodes across 11 seasons. The show was produced by Charles/Burrows/Charles Productions in association w ...

'', ''

CSI: Crime Scene Investigation ''CSI: Crime Scene Investigation'', also referred to as ''CSI'' and ''CSI: Las Vegas'', is an American procedural forensics crime drama television series that ran on CBS from October 6, 2000, to September 27, 2015, spanning 15 seasons. This wa ...

'', ''

Extra Extra or Xtra may refer to: Arts, entertainment and media Film * ''The Extra'' (1962 film), a Mexican film * ''The Extra'' (2005 film), an Australian film Literature * ''Extra'' (newspaper), a Brazilian newspaper * ''Extra!'', an American me ...

'', ''

Friends ''Friends'' is an American television sitcom created by David Crane and Marta Kauffman, which aired on NBC from September 22, 1994, to May 6, 2004, lasting ten seasons. With an ensemble cast starring Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa ...

'', ''

Grey's Anatomy ''Grey's Anatomy'' is an American medical drama television series that premiered on March 27, 2005, on ABC as a mid-season replacement. The series focuses on the lives of surgical interns, residents, and attendings as they develop into se ...

'',

ABC ABC are the first three letters of the Latin script known as the alphabet. ABC or abc may also refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Broadcasting * American Broadcasting Company, a commercial U.S. TV broadcaster ** Disney–ABC Television ...

's ''

Making The Band ''Making the Band'' is an ABC/MTV reality television series that exists in separate iterations, each focusing on a specific music act. It spawned musical acts O-Town, Da Band, Danity Kane, Day26, and Donnie Klang. Except for the first iteration o ...

'', ''

Malcolm in the Middle ''Malcolm in the Middle'' is an American family television sitcom created by Linwood Boomer for Fox. The series premiered on January 9, 2000, and ended on May 14, 2006, after seven seasons and 151 episodes. The series follows a dysfunctional ...

'', ''

Melrose Place ''Melrose Place'' is an American prime time television soap opera that aired on Fox from July 8, 1992, to May 24, 1999, for seven seasons. The show follows the lives of a group of young adults living in an apartment complex on Melrose Place, in ...

'', ''

Seinfeld ''Seinfeld'' ( ) is an American television sitcom created by Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld. It aired on NBC from July 5, 1989, to May 14, 1998, over nine seasons and List of Seinfeld episodes, 180 episodes. It stars Seinfeld as Jerry Seinfeld ( ...

'', ''

The Simpsons ''The Simpsons'' is an American animated sitcom created by Matt Groening for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series is a satirical depiction of American life, epitomized by the Simpson family, which consists of Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa, ...

'', ''

TMZ on TV ''TMZ on TV'' (also known as ''TMZ on Fox'' and simply as ''TMZ'' or ''TMZTV'') is an American syndicated entertainment and gossip news television show that premiered on September 10, 2007 (its major carriage is among television stations owned ...

'', and ''

Sex and the City ''Sex and the City'' is an American romantic comedy, romantic comedy-drama television series created by Darren Star for HBO. An adaptation of Candace Bushnell's Sex and the City (newspaper column), newspaper column and 1996 book anthology of the ...

''.

Producer and recording engineer

Tarquin produced the ''Guitar Masters Series'' from the Jungle Room Studios, which featured guitarists

Jeff Beck Geoffrey Arnold Beck (born 24 June 1944) is an English rock guitarist. He rose to prominence with the Yardbirds and after fronted the Jeff Beck Group and Beck, Bogert & Appice. In 1975, he switched to a mainly instrumental style, with a focus ...

Steve Vai Steven Siro Vai (; born June 6, 1960) is an American guitarist, composer, songwriter, and producer. A three-time Grammy Award winner and fifteen-time nominee, Vai started his music career in 1978 at the age of eighteen as a transcriptionist for ...

Jimmy Page James Patrick Page (born 9 January 1944) is an English musician who achieved international success as the guitarist and founder of the rock band Led Zeppelin. Page is prolific in creating guitar riffs. His style involves various alternative ...

Santana Santana may refer to: Transportation * Volkswagen Santana, an automobile * Santana Cycles, manufacturer of tandem bicycles * Santana Motors, a former Spanish automobile manufacturer Boats * Santana 20, an American sailboat design by W. D. Sch ...

BB King Riley B. King (September 16, 1925 – May 14, 2015), known professionally as B.B. King, was an American blues singer-songwriter, guitarist, and record producer. He introduced a sophisticated style of soloing based on fluid string bending, shimm ...

Frank Gambale Frank Gambale (; born 22 December 1958) is an Australian jazz fusion guitarist. He has released twenty albums over a period of three decades, and is known for his use of the sweep picking and economy picking techniques. Recording career Solo ...

Chris Poland Chris Poland (born December 1, 1957) is an American guitarist, best known as the former guitarist of the thrash metal band Megadeth. Since 2002, Poland has been the guitarist of the instrumental rock/jazz fusion bands OHM (band), OHM and OHMphre ...

, and

Joe Satriani Joseph Satriani (born July 15, 1956)Prato, Greg"Joe Satriani – Music Biography, Credits and Discography". ''AllMusic''. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved May 28, 2014. is an American guitarist, composer, songwriter, and guitar teacher. Early in his ...

. In 2006 Tarquin launched his own record label, BHP Music/Guitar Trax, and released personal projects and a series of ''Guitar Masters'' compilations. In 2012 he founded TV Film Trax, a music production catalog which by 2016 included more than 2,000 songs by a variety of composers for television, and from which editors, music supervisors, producers, or directors can easily access tracks for their productions.

Guitarist and performer

Smooth Jazz

In 1995 Tarquin entered into a recording deal with the MCA-distributed Jazz Inspiration label, and the following year he released a debut smooth jazz album entitled ''Ghost Dance''. He was later engaged by

Instinct Records Instinct Records is a New York City electronic-music record label that first gained prominence in 1989. It is best known for releasing much of Moby's early work. Moby produced a number of tracks under various monikers so that in the early days, t ...

and released three albums, '' Last Kiss Goodbye'', '' Soft Touch'', and '' High Life''. In 2002 he released ''Sanctuary'' on the Passion Jazz label. In 2005, with Chris Ingram, he released a recording of electronic music for use in stage and screen called ''Downtempo Drama Vol. 1'' on the Megatrax Production Music Inc. label. In 2008, Tarquin released ''

Fretwork Fretwork is an interlaced decorative design that is either carved in low relief on a solid background, or cut out with a fretsaw, coping saw, jigsaw or scroll saw. Most fretwork patterns are geometric in design. The materials most commonly used ...

'' for nuGroove Records.

Asphalt Jungle

In the early 2000s, Tarquin founded the band Asphalt Jungle with keyboardist and programmer Chris Ingram, and in 2002 released ''Electro Ave.'', followed by ''Enjoy This Trip'', ''Jungilzation'', ''Bob Marley Remixed'', and ''Crazy Train''. The track "Witchcraft", from Asphalt Jungle's 2002 album ''Electro Ave.'', became the theme song to MTV's 1998 season of ''

''.

Recent projects

In the 2010s, Tarquin worked on charitable projects including releases ''Brian Tarquin & Heavy Friends: Guitars For Wounded Warriors'' (with

, Bumblefoot,

Reb Beach Richard Earl "Reb" Beach Jr. (born August 31, 1963) is an American rock guitarist. He is a member of the bands Winger and Whitesnake. Career After graduating from Fox Chapel Area High School and attending Berklee College of Music in the ear ...

The Flyin' Ryan Brothers The Flyin' Ryan Brothers is an American progressive rock band that formed in Illinois in 1995. It comprises two brothers, Jimmy and Johnny, who between them contribute guitars, bass, drums, keyboards, vocals and many other instruments. History Jim ...

, Alex DeRosso,

, and

) and ''Orlando In Heaven'' (with

Phil Naro Phillip Sampognaro (March 13, 1958 – May 3, 2021), known professionally as Phil Naro, was an American singer, songwriter, record producer, and guitarist, known for his participation in the hard rock bands Talas, Chain Reaction, and Coney Hatch. H ...

, Bobby Baldwin,

Denny Jiosa Denny or Dennie may refer to: People *Denny (given name), a list of people named Denny or Dennie *Denny (surname), a list of people surnamed Denny or Dennie *Denny (hybrid hominin) Places *Denny, California, a ghost town *Denny, Falkirk, a town i ...

Will Ray Will Ray (born 1950 in Richmond, Virginia) is an American session guitarist and current member of the Hellecasters. Ray has also released a number of solo albums. He is considered an influential player of the Fender Telecaster line of guitars. F ...

, Tony Franklin, and

), both on

Purple Pyramid Records Purple Pyramid Records is a sub-label to Cleopatra Records that focuses on progressive rock and psychedelic music. The label began in 2000 with a series of releases by guitarist Allan Holdsworth, Jon Anderson, and Hawkwind co-founder Nik Turner. ...

Publications and radio

Books

* ''Recording Techniques of the Guitar Masters'' * ''The Insider's Guide to Music Licensing'' *The Insider's Guide to Home Recording' * ''Guitar Amplifier Encyclopedia'' * ''Guitar Encyclopedia'' * ''Stomp on This! The Guitar Pedal Effects Guidebook'' * ''Survival Guide For Music Composers: Tools of the Trade to Get Paid!''

Magazine columns

In 2017-2018 Tarquin wrote a series of recording studio articles for ''

Guitar Player ''Guitar Player'' is an American popular magazine for guitarists, founded in 1967 in San Jose, California. It contains articles, interviews, reviews and lessons of an eclectic collection of artists, genres and products. It has been in print si ...

'' magazine. In 2010 he was a regular contributor to ''Recording Magazine'', and in 2007 he wrote a monthly column called "Guitar Studio" for ''

Premier Guitar Magazine ''Premier Guitar'' is a media company devoted to guitarists. It is based in Marion, Iowa, and it's staff is focused on creating the best website, videos, podcasts, and print/digital magazine for gearheads around the world. Interviews have include ...

''. The column focused on studio techniques for musicians and recording engineers. Tarquin also conducted interviews of musicians for the magazine.

Radio show

Tarquin hosts a weekly show called ''Guitar Trax'' on

NPR National Public Radio (NPR, stylized in all lowercase) is an American privately and state funded nonprofit media organization headquartered in Washington, D.C., with its NPR West headquarters in Culver City, California. It differs from other ...

WFIT WFIT (89.5 FM), is a National Public Radio member station serving the Space Coast. Broadcasts originate from the WFIT Studios on the campus of the Florida Institute of Technology in Melbourne, Florida. Programming WFIT's current weekday daytime p ...

89.5FM (Florida). The show debuted on Jan 11, 2016 and focusses on jazz and electric fusion styles such as

Weather Report Weather Report was an American jazz fusion band active from 1970 to 1986. The band was founded in 1970 by Austrian virtuoso keyboardist Joe Zawinul, American saxophonist Wayne Shorter, Czech bassist Miroslav Vitouš, American drummer and vocali ...

Pat Metheny Patrick Bruce Metheny ( ; born August 12, 1954) is an American jazz guitarist and composer. He is the leader of the Pat Metheny Group and is also involved in duets, solo works, and other side projects. His style incorporates elements of progre ...

Mahavishnu Orchestra The Mahavishnu Orchestra were a jazz fusion band formed in New York City in 1971, led by English guitarist John McLaughlin. The group underwent several line-up changes throughout its history across its two periods of activity, from 1971 to 1976 a ...

Billy Cobham William Emanuel Cobham Jr. (born May 16, 1944) is a Panamanian Americans, Panamanian–American jazz drummer who came to prominence in the late 1960s and early 1970s with trumpeter Miles Davis and then with the Mahavishnu Orchestra. He was indu ...

and

Frank Zappa Frank Vincent Zappa (December 21, 1940 – December 4, 1993) was an American musician, composer, and bandleader. His work is characterized by wikt:nonconformity, nonconformity, Free improvisation, free-form improvisation, sound experimen ...

Discography

Awards and nominations

Wins * 2018 USA Best Book Awards Performing Arts Winner for ''Survival Guide for Music Composers: Tools of the Trade to Get Paid!'' *2014 USA Best Book Awards Performing Arts Winner for ''Guitar Encyclopedia'' *2005 National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Emmy Award Winner for Outstanding Achievement in Music Direction and Composition for a Drama Series for ''All My Children'' (shared with Terry Walker, Jerry Pilato, A.J. Gundell,

Dominic Messinger Dominic Messinger is an American television composer. He began his work in soap opera music on ''General Hospital'', and has since composed for reality series and documentaries including '' Intervention'', '' Brace for Impact'', and for Nickelodeo ...

, R. C. Cates,

John Wineglass John Christopher Wineglass (born 1973) is an American television composer. Biography Wineglass was born in Washington, D.C., in 1973. He attended Langdon Elementary School. He played in the DC Youth orchestra in 1984, and ten years later he re ...

, Brian Comotto,

Loris Holland Loris Holland is a Guyanese born composer, record producer, keyboardist and songwriter, residing in America. He is also known as Time Shadow. Biography Holland grew up in the British Guyana, in a family which forbade any music other than hymns ...

Gary Kuo Gary Kuo is an American composer and violinist. He has worked as a composer on ''Another Night (film), Another Night'' (2003), ''As the World Turns'' and ''All My Children''. He played the violin for the film ''The Glass Shield'' in 1994, and ins ...

, Kim Oler, Peter Fish, Tom Spahn, and

Jim Klein Jim Klein is a Los Angeles born, Philadelphia-based, Emmy Award-winning composer, music producer, recording engineer, and songwriter. Klein is best known as the producer and songwriter behind the influential freestyle group Pajama Party, whose ...

) *2003 National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Emmy Award Winner for Outstanding Achievement in Music Direction and Composition for a Drama Series for ''All My Children'' (shared with Terry Walker, Andrew J. Gundell, Jerry Pilato,

Mike Renzi Michael Ernest Renzi (April 28, 1941 – September 29, 2021) was an American composer, music director, pianist, and jazz musician. Renzi graduated from the Boston Conservatory in 1973 and from Berklee College of Music in 1974. He was a musical ...

, Brian Comotto,

Robbie Kondor Robbie Kondor is an American composer, session musician, and arranger. He has worked as a composer on '' The Significant Other'', ''Ball In The House'', ''Sally Jessy Raphael'', ''Happiness'' (1998), ''The Suburbans'' (1999), '' Forever Fabulous ...

, Ron Goodman,

, Kim Oler, Peter Fish, and

) Nominations * 2018 Independent Music Awards Nomination for Best Album - Compilation for ''Guitars for Veterans'' as Brian Tarquin & Heavy Friends Deux *2017 Independent Music Awards Nomination for Best Album - Compilation for ''Orlando in Heaven'' as Brian Tarquin & Company *2016 Independent Music Awards Nomination for Best Album - Compilation for ''Guitars for Wounded Warriors'' as Brian Tarquin & Heavy Friends *2009 National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Emmy Award Nomination for Outstanding Achievement in Music Direction and Composition for a Drama Series for ''All My Children'' *2004 National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Emmy Award Nomination for Outstanding Achievement in Music Direction and Composition for a Drama Series for ''All My Children'' (shared with Terry Walker, A.J. Gundell, Jerry Pilato,

, Brian Comotto,

, Kim Oler, Peter Fish, Tom Spahn, and

)

Charts

References

External links

Conversation with Brian Tarquin (video interview)

* ttps://jungleroomstudios.com Jungle Room Studios {{DEFAULTSORT:Tarquin, Brian Living people Guitarists from New York City 1965 births American male guitarists 20th-century American guitarists 20th-century American male musicians