Ian Robertson Underwood (born May 22, 1939) is a woodwind and keyboards player, known for his work with Frank Zappa and

the Mothers of Invention The Mothers of Invention (also known as The Mothers) was an American rock band from California. Formed in 1964, their work is marked by the use of sonic experimentation, innovative album art, and elaborate live shows. Originally an R&B band ...

Biography

Underwood graduated from The Choate School in 1957 and

Yale University Yale University is a Private university, private research university in New Haven, Connecticut. Established in 1701 as the Collegiate School, it is the List of Colonial Colleges, third-oldest institution of higher education in the United Sta ...

with a bachelor's degree in composition in 1961 and a master's degree in composition at

UC Berkeley The University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley, Berkeley, Cal, or California) is a public land-grant research university in Berkeley, California. Established in 1868 as the University of California, it is the state's first land-grant uni ...

in 1966. He began his career by playing San Francisco Bay Area coffeehouses and bars with his improvisational group, the Jazz Mice, in the mid-1960s before he became a member of Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention in 1967 for their third studio album, '' We're Only in It for the Money''. He speaks on '' Uncle Meat''; on the track "Ian Underwood Whips It Out" he relates how he first met Zappa and demonstrated his capabilities on the saxophone at Zappa's invitation. Underwood later worked with Frank Zappa on his solo recordings, including 1969's '' Hot Rats''. He married Ruth Komanoff (Underwood), marimbist/percussionist from the Mothers of Invention in May 1969. Underwood left the Mothers of Invention in September 1973. He and Ruth divorced in 1986. After his association with Frank Zappa, he pursued a career as a session keyboardist. Underwood has since been proficient on the Minimoog synthesizer, mostly in film. He has been credited in recordings for

Quincy Jones Quincy Delight Jones Jr. (born March 14, 1933) is an American record producer, musician, songwriter, composer, arranger, and film and television producer. His career spans 70 years in the entertainment industry with a record of 80 Grammy Award n ...

Barbra Streisand Barbara Joan "Barbra" Streisand (; born April 24, 1942) is an American singer, actress and director. With a career spanning over six decades, she has achieved success in multiple fields of entertainment, and is among the few performers awar ...

Ronee Blakley Ronee Sue Blakley (born August 24, 1945) is an American actress, singer-songwriter, composer, producer and director. She is perhaps best known for her role as the fictional country superstar Barbara Jean in Robert Altman's 1975 film ''Nashville ...

Hugh Cornwell Hugh Alan Cornwell (born 28 August 1949) is an English musician, singer-songwriter and writer, best known for being the lead vocalist and lead guitarist for the punk rock and new wave band the Stranglers from 1974 to 1990. Since leaving the ...

, Freddie Hubbard,

Jean-Luc Ponty Jean-Luc Ponty (born 29 September 1942) is a French jazz violinist and composer. Early life Ponty was born into a family of classical musicians in Avranches, France. His father taught violin, his mother taught piano. At sixteen, he was admitt ...

Herb Alpert Herb Alpert (born March 31, 1935) is an American trumpeter who led the band Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass in the 1960s. During the same decade, he co-founded A&M Records with Jerry Moss. Alpert has recorded 28 albums that have landed on the ...

Hugh Masekela Hugh Ramapolo Masekela (4 April 1939 – 23 January 2018) was a South African trumpeter, flugelhornist, cornetist, singer and composer who was described as "the father of South African jazz". Masekela was known for his jazz compositions and for ...

, Peggy Lee,

Dolly Parton Dolly Rebecca Parton (born January 19, 1946) is an American singer-songwriter, actress, philanthropist, and businesswoman, known primarily for her work in country music. After achieving success as a songwriter for others, Parton made her album d ...

Chicago (''City in a Garden''); I Will , image_map = , map_caption = Interactive Map of Chicago , coordinates = , coordinates_footnotes = , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name ...

, Janet Jackson,

Dave Grusin Robert David "Dave" Grusin (born June 26, 1934) is an American composer, arranger, producer, jazz pianist, and band leader. He has composed many scores for feature films and television, and has won numerous awards for his soundtrack and record w ...

, Jefferson Airplane, Frankie Valli,

the Carpenters The Carpenters (officially known as Carpenters) were an American vocal and instrumental duo consisting of siblings Karen (1950–1983) and Richard Carpenter (born 1946). They produced a distinct, soft, musical style, combining Karen's contr ...

James Ingram James Edward Ingram (February 16, 1952 – January 29, 2019) was an American singer, songwriter and record producer. He was a two-time Grammy Award-winner and a two-time Academy Award nominee for Best Original Song. After beginning his career ...

, and Barry Manilow. Underwood was also one of the musicians who played the main title theme for the 1980s hit series ''

Knight Rider ''Knight Rider'' is an American entertainment franchise created by Glen A. Larson. The core of ''Knight Rider'' is its three television series: the original ''Knight Rider'' (1982–1986) and sequel series '' Team Knight Rider'' (1997–1998) ...

''. Underwood was the uncredited producer of the debut album by

Alice Cooper Alice Cooper (born Vincent Damon Furnier, February 4, 1948) is an American rock singer whose career spans over five decades. With a raspy voice and a stage show that features numerous props and stage illusions, including pyrotechnics, guillot ...

, ''

Pretties For You ''Pretties for You'' is the debut studio album by American rock band Alice Cooper, released on June 25, 1969, by Straight Records. At this time, the name "Alice Cooper" referred to the band and not its lead singer Vincent Furnier. The album has a ...

'', in 1969. Underwood contributed synthesizers and programming to the historic recording of the

Michael Jackson Michael Joseph Jackson (August 29, 1958 – June 25, 2009) was an American singer, songwriter, dancer, and philanthropist. Dubbed the "King of Pop", he is regarded as one of the most significant cultural figures of the 20th century. Over a ...

/ Lionel Richie single "

We Are the World "We Are the World" is a charity single originally recorded by the supergroup USA for Africa in 1985. It was written by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie and produced by Quincy Jones and Michael Omartian for the album '' We Are the World''. Wi ...

" (produced by

in 1985); he has also been a featured performer (mostly on keyboard) with

James Horner James Roy Horner (August 14, 1953 – June 22, 2015) was an American composer. He was known for the integration of choral and electronic elements, and for his frequent use of motifs associated with Celtic music. Horner's first film score was in ...

on numerous James Horner film scores including ''

Titanic RMS ''Titanic'' was a British passenger liner, operated by the White Star Line, which sank in the North Atlantic Ocean on 15 April 1912 after striking an iceberg during her maiden voyage from Southampton, England, to New York City, Unit ...

'' (1997) and '' Sneakers'' (1992).

Discography

Lenox School of Jazz Concert, 1959 w/ Ornette Coleman,

Herb Pomeroy Irving Herbert Pomeroy III (April 15, 1930 – August 11, 2007) was an American jazz trumpeter, teacher, and the founder of the MIT Festival Jazz Ensemble. Early life Pomeroy was born in Gloucester, Massachusetts, United States. He began playing ...

With Frank Zappa/

The Mothers of Invention The Mothers of Invention (also known as The Mothers) was an American rock band from California. Formed in 1964, their work is marked by the use of sonic experimentation, innovative album art, and elaborate live shows. Originally an R&B band ...

*'' We're Only in It for the Money'' (1968) *'' Cruising with Ruben & the Jets'' (1968) *'' Uncle Meat'' (1969) *'' Hot Rats'' (1969) *'' Burnt Weeny Sandwich'' (1970) *'' Weasels Ripped My Flesh'' (1970) *'' Chunga's Revenge'' (1970) *'' Fillmore East - June 1971'' (1971) *'' 200 Motels'' (1971) *''

Just Another Band from L.A. ''Just Another Band from L.A.'' is a live album by The Mothers, released in 1972. It was recorded live on August 7, 1971, in Pauley Pavilion on the campus of UCLA in Los Angeles. A notable inclusion on this album is "Billy the Mountain", Frank Z ...

'' (1971) *''

Over-Nite Sensation ''Over-Nite Sensation'' is the ninth studio album by Frank Zappa and The Mothers of Invention, released in September 1973. It was followed by Zappa's solo album ''Apostrophe (')'' (1974), which was recorded during the same sessions. Recording ...

'' (1973) *'' Apostrophe'' (1974) *''

Zoot Allures ''Zoot Allures'' is the 22nd album by the American rock musician Frank Zappa, released in October 1976 and his only release on the Warner Bros. Records label. Due to a lawsuit with his former manager, Herb Cohen, Zappa's recording contract was t ...

'' (1976) *''

Orchestral Favorites ''Orchestral Favorites'' is an album by Frank Zappa first released in May 1979 on his own DiscReet Records label. The album is entirely instrumental and features music performed by the 37-piece Abnuceals Emuukha Electric Symphony Orchestra. It r ...

'' (1979) With Sandy Hurvitz *''Sandy's Album Is Here At Least'' (Bizarre, 1968) With Captain Beefheart *''

Trout Mask Replica ''Trout Mask Replica'' is the third studio album by the American band Captain Beefheart and his Magic Band, released as a double album on June 16, 1969, by Straight Records. The music was composed by Captain Beefheart (Don Van Vliet) and arrange ...

'' (Straight, 1969) With

*''

Pretties for You ''Pretties for You'' is the debut studio album by American rock band Alice Cooper, released on June 25, 1969, by Straight Records. At this time, the name "Alice Cooper" referred to the band and not its lead singer Vincent Furnier. The album has a ...

'' (Straight, 1969) With

*'' King Kong: Jean-Luc Ponty Plays the Music of Frank Zappa'' (World Pacific/Liberty, 1970) With Freddie Hubbard *'' High Energy'' (Columbia, 1974) *'' Liquid Love'' (Columbia, 1975) With

* '' Mellow Madness'' (A&M, 1975) * '' Roots'' (A&M, 1977) * '' The Dude'' (A&M, 1981) * ''

Back on the Block ''Back on the Block'' is a 1989 studio album produced by Quincy Jones. The album features legendary musicians and singers from across three generations, including Ella Fitzgerald, Miles Davis, Joe Zawinul, Ice-T, Big Daddy Kane, Sarah Vaugh ...

'' (Qwest/Warner Bros, 1989) With

Gábor Szabó Gábor István Szabó (March 8, 1936 – February 26, 1982) was a Hungarian American guitarist whose style incorporated jazz, pop, rock, and Hungarian music. Early years Szabó was born in Budapest, Hungary. He began playing guitar at the age ...

*''

Macho Machismo (; ; ; ) is the sense of being " manly" and self-reliant, a concept associated with "a strong sense of masculine pride: an exaggerated masculinity". Machismo is a term originating in the early 1930s and 1940s best defined as hav ...

'' (Salvation, 1975) With

Alphonse Mouzon Alphonse Lee Mouzon (November 21, 1948 – December 25, 2016) was an American jazz fusion drummer and the owner of Tenacious Records, a label that primarily released Mouzon's recordings. He was a composer, arranger, producer, and actor. He ga ...

*'' The Man Incognito'' (Blue Note, 1975) With

Porter Wagoner Porter Wayne Wagoner (August 12, 1927 – October 28, 2007) was an American country music singer known for his flashy Nudie and Manuel suits and blond pompadour. In 1967, he introduced singer Dolly Parton on his television show, ''The Po ...

and

*'' Say Forever You'll Be Mine'' (RCA Victor, 1975) With Flo & Eddie *'' Illegal, Immoral and Fattening'' (Columbia, 1975) *'' Moving Targets'' (Columbia, 1976) With

Spirit Spirit or spirits may refer to: Liquor and other volatile liquids * Spirits, a.k.a. liquor, distilled alcoholic drinks * Spirit or tincture, an extract of plant or animal material dissolved in ethanol * Volatile (especially flammable) liquids, ...

*'' Farther Along'' (Mercury, 1976) With

Carmen McRae Carmen Mercedes McRae (April 8, 1920 – November 10, 1994) was an American jazz singer. She is considered one of the most influential jazz vocalists of the 20th century and is remembered for her behind-the-beat phrasing and ironic interpre ...

*'' Can't Hide Love'' (Blue Note, 1976) With Seawind *''Seawind'' (CTI, 1976) With Alphonso Johnson *''Moonshadows'' (1976) With Chunky, Novi & Ernie *''Chunky, Novi, & Ernie'' (Warner Bros, 1977) With Ambrosia *'' Somewhere I've Never Travelled'' (20th Century Fox, 1978) With Lalo Schifrin *''

Gypsies The Romani (also spelled Romany or Rromani , ), colloquially known as the Roma, are an Indo-Aryan ethnic group, traditionally nomadic itinerants. They live in Europe and Anatolia, and have diaspora populations located worldwide, with sign ...

'' (Tabu, 1978) *''

No One Home ''No One Home'' is an album by Argentine composer, pianist and conductor Lalo Schifrin recorded in 1979 and released on the Tabu label.Payne, DLalo Schifrin discographyaccessed March 19, 2012

'' (Tabu, 1979) With

*''

Herb Alpert / Hugh Masekela ''Herb Alpert / Hugh Masekela'' is collaborative studio album by Herb Alpert and Hugh Masekela. It was recorded in Hollywood, California, and released in 1978 via A&M Records and Horizon Records labels. Track listing Personnel *Acoustic guit ...

'' (Horizon, 1978) With

*''

Songbird A songbird is a bird belonging to the suborder Passeri of the perching birds (Passeriformes). Another name that is sometimes seen as the scientific or vernacular name is Oscines, from Latin ''oscen'', "songbird". The Passeriformes contains 5000 ...

'' (Columbia, 1978) With Peggy Lee * '' Close Enough for Love'' (1979) With

Chicago (''City in a Garden''); I Will , image_map = , map_caption = Interactive Map of Chicago , coordinates = , coordinates_footnotes = , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name ...

*''

Chicago XIV ''Chicago XIV'' is the twelfth studio album by the American band Chicago, released in 1980. Recorded at a time of waning interest in the band, ''Chicago XIV'' remains one of Chicago's poorest-selling albums, failing to reach Gold certification b ...

'' (Columbia, 1980) With Janet Jackson *'' Janet Jackson'' (A&M, 1982) Jefferson Airplane *'' Jefferson Airplane Loves You'' (1992) Some of his work on Film Scores *2010 '' The Karate Kid'' (synthesizer programmer) *2009 ''

Avatar Avatar (, ; ), is a concept within Hinduism that in Sanskrit literally means "descent". It signifies the material appearance or incarnation of a powerful deity, goddess or spirit on Earth. The relative verb to "alight, to make one's appeara ...

'' (synthesizer programmer) *2008 '' The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas'' (synthesizer programmer) *2008 '' The Spiderwick Chronicles'' (music score programmer) *2007 '' The Life Before Her Eyes'' (music score programmer) *2006 '' Apocalypto'' (musician: synthesizer programming) *2006 ''

All the King's Men ''All the King's Men'' is a 1946 novel by Robert Penn Warren. The novel tells the story of charismatic populist governor Willie Stark and his political machinations in the Depression-era Deep South. It was inspired by the real-life story of U ...

'' (synthesizer programmer) *2005 '' The New World'' (synthesizer programmer) *2004 '' Bobby Jones: Stroke of Genius'' (synthesizer programmer) *2001 ''I Iris'' (synthesizer programmer) *1998 '' Mighty Joe Young'' (musician) *1997 ''

'' (musician: instrumental solo) *1995 '' Braveheart'' (instrumental soloist: synth programming, London Symphony Orchestra) *1993 ''

Bopha! ''Bopha!'' is a 1993 American drama film directed by Morgan Freeman and starring Danny Glover. It is Freeman's directorial debut. It was adapted from a 1986 play of the same name. Story Micah Mangena is a black police officer in South Africa d ...

'' (musician) *1993 ''

House of Cards A house of cards (also known as a card tower or card castle) is a structure created by stacking playing cards on top of each other, often in the shape of a pyramid. "House of cards" is also an expression that dates back to 1645 meaning a structu ...

'' (featured musician) *1993 '' Jack the Bear'' (musician) *1992 '' Sneakers'' (musician) *1991 ''

Class Action A class action, also known as a class-action lawsuit, class suit, or representative action, is a type of lawsuit where one of the parties is a group of people who are represented collectively by a member or members of that group. The class actio ...

'' (musician) *1991 '' My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys'' (musician: instrumental solo) *1989 ''

Field of Dreams ''Field of Dreams'' is a 1989 American sports fantasy drama film written and directed by Phil Alden Robinson, based on Canadian novelist W. P. Kinsella's 1982 novel ''Shoeless Joe''. The film stars Kevin Costner as a farmer who builds a ...

'' (musician: instrumental solo) *1989 '' Honey, I Shrunk the Kids'' (synthesizer programming and performance) *1989 ''

Winter People ''Winter People'' is a 1989 American romantic-drama film directed by Ted Kotcheff, and starring Kurt Russell and Kelly McGillis. It is based on the novel by John Ehle. Wayland Jackson, a widower with a young daughter, moves to a small, impoverish ...

'' (musician: keyboards) *1988 '' Red Heat'' (musician) *1988 ''

Willow Willows, also called sallows and osiers, from the genus ''Salix'', comprise around 400 speciesMabberley, D.J. 1997. The Plant Book, Cambridge University Press #2: Cambridge. of typically deciduous trees and shrubs, found primarily on moist so ...

'' (musician: Fairlight synthesizer) *1987 '' No Way Out'' (musician – as Ian R. Underwood) *1986 '' The Mosquito Coast'' (musician: synthesizers) *1986 '' The Name of the Rose'' (synthesizer programmer) *1986 '' Aliens'' (synthesizer effects) *1983 '' Krull'' (synthesizer effects) *1983 '' Brainstorm'' (synthesizer effects) *1982 ''

Blade Runner ''Blade Runner'' is a 1982 science fiction film directed by Ridley Scott, and written by Hampton Fancher and David Peoples. Starring Harrison Ford, Rutger Hauer, Sean Young, and Edward James Olmos, it is an adaptation of Philip K. Dick' ...

'' (musician: synthesizer) *1979 '' The Warriors'' (musician: synthesizer) *1977 ''

Demon Seed ''Demon Seed'' is a 1977 American science fiction–horror film directed by Donald Cammell. It stars Julie Christie and Fritz Weaver. The film was based on the 1973 novel of the same name by Dean Koontz, and concerns the imprisonment and forc ...

'' (electronic performances) *1976 '' Marathon Man'' (musician: keyboards – uncredited) *1971 '' 200 Motels'' (music performer: Mothers of Invention)

References

External links

Complete discography
{{DEFAULTSORT:Underwood, Ian The Mothers of Invention members American multi-instrumentalists 1939 births Living people Choate Rosemary Hall alumni