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GRAMMY Award-Winning Producer Andre Fischer is New Dean of McNally Smith College of Music |
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Written by Press Release
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Saturday, 20 January 2007 |
Prolific, passionate and
successful producer Andre Fischer has packed up his Grammys, his forty
platinum and gold albums and American music awards and left sunny Los
Angeles for the frozen lakes of Minnesota to assume his new position as
Dean of McNally Smith College of Music.
 Rufusized
Fischer brings a lifetime of musical experience to the students of
McNally Smith ranging from one of his earliest achievements as a
founding member and drummer of the seminal 70's and 80's funk band,
Rufus featuring Chaka Khan, to executive positions he held at various
record /music/film companies as: Senior Vice President MCA/Universal
Urban Music Department, Vice President of Jazz A&R for Quincy
Jones' Qwest/Warner Bros., Vice President of Publishing Development,
20th Century Fox Records & Films where he and fellow work mate
Ronnie Vance signed the likes of James Ingram, Bruce Hornsby, and
Joseph Williams just to name a few.
Fischer played a key role in the creation and the success of his former
wife Natalie Cole's seven-time-Grammy award-winning album,
"Unforgettable" as well her other Grammy award-winning album "Take a
Look."
Andre has produced; executive produced, recorded and or performed with
a diverse roster of preeminent artists such as: Patti Labelle, Janet
Jackson, Tony Bennett, Al Green, The Rolling Stones, B.B. King, Gladys
Knight, Frank Sinatra, The Temptations, Dusty Springfield, Dr. John,
Laura Nyro, Lou Rawls, Nancy Wilson, Bruce Hornsby, Curtis Mayfield
& the Impressions, Jerry Butler, Elton John, The Who, Etta James,
Lalah Hathaway, Anita Baker, Isley Brothers, Donny Hathaway, Richie
Havens, Randy Crawford, and Amed Jamal, among many others.
At McNally Smith College of Music, Andre is involved in the development
of curriculum for the Recording Technology and Music Business programs.
He also shares his expertise with McNally Smith students by teaching
courses in Music Industry Careers, production, and Record Companies.
Why is he doing this? Fischer states it simply, "Its time to give back!"
Previously, Fischer served as Production Instructor for the acclaimed
Thornton School's Music Industry Department at the University of
Southern California.
"Successful producers put their egos aside to create great
product." Fischer stresses, "I don't have an Andre agenda, I have
a musical agenda and for all of my years as an independent producer and
musician, all I wanted was a creative home to embrace me." Andre
chuckles, "The funny thing is I was born in Minneapolis. I left there
when I was in the fifth grade."
Indeed, he has taken on some famously challenging artists and flipped
the script into gold and platinum. When Nina Simone, the arch-diva and
genius, was put in Andre's hands, she flourished. "You just
needed to listen to Nina. We all need someone to talk to.
Somehow, I'm always the surrogate manager; lawyer, father, agent, and
confidant and I have embraced these roles." Andre has accepted the task
of Dean as a way to mentor passionate young musicians unprepared for
the rigors and reality of the music world.
"I have one purpose here to expand on what I was doing at USC and
beyond. Most of the information that I haven't received from direct
experience was freely given to me by my elders and surrogate fathers of
a sort. My Father Stewart Fischer; Professor Richard Evans, Jerry
Butlter, Curtis Mayfield, Al Schmitt, Jay Lasker, Lee Young Sr., and
Neil Portnow current President of the Grammys. These men and many
others have been essential in forming the person I am today and any of
the information they imparted to me was for sharing."
"The biggest predicament with college is the transition into the real
world after graduation, because the reality of it has not dawned on you
yet. Internships and direct experience in our industry are
essential in helping that transition. There are better halfway houses
for inmates being paroled from prison then there are facilities that
help college student's transition into the real world of music,
business, and entertainment. I have been out there for quit a while
traveling, playing with countless artists, producing records and
basically living the dream. McNally Smith College of Music is a
very Unique School for its faculty are the best instructors, musicians,
arrangers, singers and engineers that the Country has to offer. I am
very happy to have found that creative home I've been searching for. I
am looking forward to seeing many new faces come to our house!"
www.mcnallysmith.edu
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 Wednesday, 03 December 2008
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