Dan Pinto
Encyclopedia
Dan Pinto is a BMI
composer
/keyboardist
/drummer
-percussionist who writes and performs music in the styles of Jazz-Fusion and orchestral Film score
and Soundtrack
. Beginning in 1991, his original music compositions were used for many Robin Leach
hosted television shows that ran in syndication for several years including Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous
and Runaway with the Rich & Famous. His music was also used for the 1993 syndicated television show, World’s Best 1992.
.
bands of the early 1970s, his later studies of creating an orchestral sound would play an even more important role in his development as a music writer. So too would his deeply rooted interest in movies having attempted creations of his own at a very young age with his father’s 8mm camera long before he became involved with composing music.
With this foundation, Dan Pinto would move forward alternating between composing music for orchestra with a film soundtrack style and releasing solo projects in the realm of Progressive Rock and Jazz fusion. Dan Pinto’s music has been the backdrop over the years for industrial and commercial projects for AT&T
, CNN
, BMW
and RCA
. In 2006 Dan was nominated for Best "Instrumental Song of the Year" in the Just Plain Folks Music Awards for music from his "Ivory Towers" CD release recognizing his accomplishments as a New Age music
composer. With his 2008 release of "Anomalies" he seamlessly combines Progressive Jazz-rock fusion with Film score music redeveloping his style yet again into what has become a multi-tiered methodology.
. And with this performance as was with most early on in his career, although keyboards had become the most crucial element that forged Dan Pinto’s creative output, his origin still remained an integral part of his makeup which usually included a highlighted drum duet with the band’s regular drummer. As a drummer-percussionist, aside from performing all of the work on his own CD releases, he played on an album release by 3 Point Play featuring Dave LaRue
, bassist for the Dixie Dregs
& the Steve Morse Band. He was the keyboardist with WainWave Music record label recording artist, Doug Wain resulting in a live CD release that was recorded at the Ritz
in New York in 1988. Dan has also performed live on stage with members of MCA recording artist, Trixter
.
and Sabian Cymbals. He also incorporates a wide variety of percussion including Ludwig-Musser
orchestra bells and temple blocks, Slingerland timbales and Paiste Gongs. Electronics play an important role with his use of drums in conjunction with keyboard sound modules. As a keyboardist, since Dan Pinto's first electronic keyboard purchase, that being a Moog Music
Minimoog
synthesizer
, he has since evolved through a series of Moogs including a Ribbon controller and electronic drum synthesizers. He’s used Oberheim
and Roland Corporation
synths and a variety of Korg
keyboards before settling in on Kurzweil Music Systems
. He has also owned an impressive array of varying types of electric pianos including Yamaha
’s CP-80 and Roland’s RD-1000.
, he explained about how back in 1994 he dedicated several years of work into writing a screenplay, producing, directing and editing a movie for the sole purpose of writing the film score. While Dan went on to say that the film itself was an independent unofficial release, the music was in fact officially released on CD with Eclectic Sound Records in 1999. This, what might be construed as such an unusual endeavor by a musician should be noted for its shear magnitude both technically and physically, especially when you take into consideration by his own confession that Dan Pinto is not a Film-maker. Dan every so often gets involved with side projects. Such was the case when he and Horace Ott
, primary composer for "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood
", joined up to make a presentation on scoring music for films at the Memfest Film Festival in New Jersey in 2006.
is one in particular that is known to have had more of an impact than most. His music has also been interestingly compared to a variety of different Music group sounds including what has been quoted as being a more original sounding version of Kansas
as well as a style similar to that of Return to Forever
but with an arguably more accessible sound. Some other known artist influences would include John Williams
, Danny Elfman
, Chick Corea
, Pat Metheny
, Michel Camilo
, Jean-Luc Ponty
, Lyle Mays
, Yes
and Genesis
Broadcast Music Incorporated
Broadcast Music, Inc. is one of three United States performing rights organizations, along with ASCAP and SESAC. It collects license fees on behalf of songwriters, composers, and music publishers and distributes them as royalties to those members whose works have been performed...
composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
/keyboardist
Keyboardist
A keyboardist is a musician who plays keyboard instruments. Until the early 1960s musicians who played keyboards were generally classified as either pianists or organists. Since the mid-1960s, a plethora of new musical instruments with keyboards have come into common usage, requiring a more...
/drummer
Drummer
A drummer is a musician who is capable of playing drums, which includes but is not limited to a drum kit and accessory based hardware which includes an assortment of pedals and standing support mechanisms, marching percussion and/or any musical instrument that is struck within the context of a...
-percussionist who writes and performs music in the styles of Jazz-Fusion and orchestral Film score
Film score
A film score is original music written specifically to accompany a film, forming part of the film's soundtrack, which also usually includes dialogue and sound effects...
and Soundtrack
Soundtrack
A soundtrack can be recorded music accompanying and synchronized to the images of a motion picture, book, television program or video game; a commercially released soundtrack album of music as featured in the soundtrack of a film or TV show; or the physical area of a film that contains the...
. Beginning in 1991, his original music compositions were used for many Robin Leach
Robin Leach
Robin Douglas Leach is an English celebrity writer famous for hosting his first show, Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous, in the mid-1980s and into the mid-1990s, which focused on profiling well-known celebrities and their lavish homes, cars and other materialistic endeavors...
hosted television shows that ran in syndication for several years including Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous
Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous
Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous is a television series that aired in syndication from 1984 to 1995. The show featured the extravagant lifestyles of wealthy entertainers, athletes and business moguls....
and Runaway with the Rich & Famous. His music was also used for the 1993 syndicated television show, World’s Best 1992.
Beginnings
Dan Pinto began his career in 1974 as a Rock & Roll drummer and shortly afterward branched out to various forms of percussion and keyboards. Prior to his success as a composer, while continuing with the preestablished need to keep up on many forms of drums and percussion, he began to branch out by first developing his skill at the piano. A self-educated musician on all the instruments that he plays, Dan Pinto would learn while borrowing between full size pianos of one kind or another until he was able to afford his own. He then quickly moved into many types of electronic keyboards. Dedicating equal time toward both instrument groups, it wasn’t long before he was performing as a multi-keyboardist and drummer-percussionist both live and in the studio on a regular basis. It would be difficult to view Dan Pinto’s involvement on any one instrument without eventually including the other. It is plain to see that he has been very active using varying combinations of both instruments hand in hand throughout his entire career thus having molded him into becoming a genuine multi-instrumentalistMulti-instrumentalist
A multi-instrumentalist is a musician who plays a number of different instruments.The Bachelor of Music degree usually requires a second instrument to be learned , but people who double on another instrument are not usually seen as multi-instrumentalists.-Classical music:Music written for Symphony...
.
Music style and composition
Initially establishing his music style stemming from keyboard Progressive rockProgressive rock
Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
bands of the early 1970s, his later studies of creating an orchestral sound would play an even more important role in his development as a music writer. So too would his deeply rooted interest in movies having attempted creations of his own at a very young age with his father’s 8mm camera long before he became involved with composing music.
With this foundation, Dan Pinto would move forward alternating between composing music for orchestra with a film soundtrack style and releasing solo projects in the realm of Progressive Rock and Jazz fusion. Dan Pinto’s music has been the backdrop over the years for industrial and commercial projects for AT&T
AT&T
AT&T Inc. is an American multinational telecommunications corporation headquartered in Whitacre Tower, Dallas, Texas, United States. It is the largest provider of mobile telephony and fixed telephony in the United States, and is also a provider of broadband and subscription television services...
, CNN
CNN
Cable News Network is a U.S. cable news channel founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. Upon its launch, CNN was the first channel to provide 24-hour television news coverage, and the first all-news television channel in the United States...
, BMW
BMW
Bayerische Motoren Werke AG is a German automobile, motorcycle and engine manufacturing company founded in 1916. It also owns and produces the Mini marque, and is the parent company of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. BMW produces motorcycles under BMW Motorrad and Husqvarna brands...
and RCA
RCA
RCA Corporation, founded as the Radio Corporation of America, was an American electronics company in existence from 1919 to 1986. The RCA trademark is currently owned by the French conglomerate Technicolor SA through RCA Trademark Management S.A., a company owned by Technicolor...
. In 2006 Dan was nominated for Best "Instrumental Song of the Year" in the Just Plain Folks Music Awards for music from his "Ivory Towers" CD release recognizing his accomplishments as a New Age music
New Age music
New Age music is music of various styles intended to create artistic inspiration, relaxation, and optimism. It is used by listeners for yoga, massage, meditation, and reading as a method of stress management or to create a peaceful atmosphere in their home or other environments, and is often...
composer. With his 2008 release of "Anomalies" he seamlessly combines Progressive Jazz-rock fusion with Film score music redeveloping his style yet again into what has become a multi-tiered methodology.
Live and studio performance
Four years after he began composing original music, Dan Pinto would debut his efforts in 1981 as the keyboardist/drummer-percussionist for the original progressive rock band, “Juice” when they opened for Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, broadcast live on WDHAWDHA
WDHA-FM 105.5 FM is a rock music station licensed to Dover and Morristown, New Jersey. WDHA is owned and operated by Greater Media and serves the northern New Jersey region....
. And with this performance as was with most early on in his career, although keyboards had become the most crucial element that forged Dan Pinto’s creative output, his origin still remained an integral part of his makeup which usually included a highlighted drum duet with the band’s regular drummer. As a drummer-percussionist, aside from performing all of the work on his own CD releases, he played on an album release by 3 Point Play featuring Dave LaRue
Dave LaRue
Dave LaRue is a bassist who has performed with the Dixie Dregs since 1988 and with the Steve Morse Band since 1989. He also has worked with Dream Theater's John Petrucci, Mike Portnoy and Jordan Rudess...
, bassist for the Dixie Dregs
Dixie Dregs
The Dixie Dregs are an American band formed in the 1970s. Their mostly instrumental music fuses jazz, southern rock, bluegrass and classical forms in an often unique style.-Formation and early years:...
& the Steve Morse Band. He was the keyboardist with WainWave Music record label recording artist, Doug Wain resulting in a live CD release that was recorded at the Ritz
Ritz (rock club)
-History:The Ritz was founded in 1980 by Jerry Brandt on 11th Street between Third and Fourth Avenues in the East Village neighborhood of New York City. Formerly a ballroom known as Webster Hall, The Ritz still retained some of its previous incarnation's Art Deco style. As a venue, it focused...
in New York in 1988. Dan has also performed live on stage with members of MCA recording artist, Trixter
Trixter
Trixter is an American hard rock band from Paramus, New Jersey. The band achieved moderate success in the late 1980's and early 1990s but disbanded for several years as glam metal lost mainstream popularity...
.
Equipment
As a full blooded multi-instrumentalist, Dan Pinto's use of equipment covers ground in two main areas. As a drummer he uses mostly Pearl drums with a combination of Zildjian, PaistePaiste
Paiste, a Swiss manufacturer and designer, is the world's third largest manufacturer of cymbals, gongs, and metal percussion. Paiste is an Estonian/Finnish word which means "shine"...
and Sabian Cymbals. He also incorporates a wide variety of percussion including Ludwig-Musser
Ludwig-Musser
Ludwig-Musser is a drum and percussion instrument manufacturer that is part of the Conn-Selmer division of Steinway Musical Instruments.The first product made by the Ludwig brothers, William and Theobaldner , was a bass drum pedal capable of playing faster beats than was typical of products of the...
orchestra bells and temple blocks, Slingerland timbales and Paiste Gongs. Electronics play an important role with his use of drums in conjunction with keyboard sound modules. As a keyboardist, since Dan Pinto's first electronic keyboard purchase, that being a Moog Music
Moog Music
Moog Music is an American company based in Asheville, North Carolina which manufactures electronic musical instruments. The current Moog Music is the second company to trade under that name.-R.A. Moog Co. and the original Moog Music:...
Minimoog
Minimoog
The Minimoog is a monophonic analog synthesizer, invented by Bill Hemsath and Robert Moog. It was released in 1970 by R.A. Moog Inc. , and production was stopped in 1981. It was re-designed by Robert Moog in 2002 and released as Minimoog Voyager.The Minimoog was designed in response to the use of...
synthesizer
Synthesizer
A synthesizer is an electronic instrument capable of producing sounds by generating electrical signals of different frequencies. These electrical signals are played through a loudspeaker or set of headphones...
, he has since evolved through a series of Moogs including a Ribbon controller and electronic drum synthesizers. He’s used Oberheim
Oberheim
Oberheim Electronics is an American company, founded in 1969 by Tom Oberheim , which manufactured audio synthesizers and a variety of other electronic musical instruments.-Oberheim Electronics:...
and Roland Corporation
Roland Corporation
is a Japanese manufacturer of electronic musical instruments, electronic equipment and software. It was founded by Ikutaro Kakehashi in Osaka on April 18, 1972, with ¥33 million in capital. In 2005 Roland's headquarters relocated to Hamamatsu in Shizuoka Prefecture. Today it has factories in Japan,...
synths and a variety of Korg
Korg
is a Japanese multinational corporation that manufactures electronic musical instruments, audio processors and guitar pedals, recording equipment, and electronic tuners...
keyboards before settling in on Kurzweil Music Systems
Kurzweil Music Systems
Kurzweil Music Systems is a company that produces electronic musical instruments for professionals and home users. Founded in 1982 by Raymond Kurzweil, a developer of reading machines for the blind, the company made use of many of the technologies originally designed for reading machines and...
. He has also owned an impressive array of varying types of electric pianos including Yamaha
Yamaha
Yamaha may refer to:* Yamaha Corporation, a Japanese company with a wide range of products and services** Yamaha Motor Company, a Japanese motorized vehicle-producing company...
’s CP-80 and Roland’s RD-1000.
Beyond the music
Beyond working as a composer/musician, Dan Pinto has many other attributes. He produces and engineers all of the music that he writes in a privately owned recording studio that facilitates his needs exclusively. And in a 2009 live interview on BlogtalkradioBlogtalkradio
BlogTalkRadio is a web-based platform that allows callers to host a live call-in Internet broadcast using a computer and a phone.BlogTalkRadio is entirely web-based and requires no client download.-Service:...
, he explained about how back in 1994 he dedicated several years of work into writing a screenplay, producing, directing and editing a movie for the sole purpose of writing the film score. While Dan went on to say that the film itself was an independent unofficial release, the music was in fact officially released on CD with Eclectic Sound Records in 1999. This, what might be construed as such an unusual endeavor by a musician should be noted for its shear magnitude both technically and physically, especially when you take into consideration by his own confession that Dan Pinto is not a Film-maker. Dan every so often gets involved with side projects. Such was the case when he and Horace Ott
Horace Ott
Horace Ott is a noted composer, record producer, conductor and pianist. Although not formally credited he was one of the writers of Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood and arranged the Village Peoples hit Y.M.C.A.. He also led of the Horace Ott Orchestra....
, primary composer for "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood
Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood
"Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood" is a song written by Bennie Benjamin, Gloria Caldwell and Sol Marcus for the singer/pianist Nina Simone, who first recorded it in 1964. "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood" has been recorded or performed by many artists, and is widely known by the 1965 blues rock hit...
", joined up to make a presentation on scoring music for films at the Memfest Film Festival in New Jersey in 2006.
Musical influences
While Dan Pinto credits his musical influences to many individual artists, Keith EmersonKeith Emerson
Keith Noel Emerson is an English keyboard player and composer. Formerly a member of the Keith Emerson Trio, John Brown's Bodies, The T-Bones, V.I.P.s, P.P. Arnold's backing band, and The Nice , he was a founder of Emerson, Lake & Palmer , one of the early supergroups, in 1970...
is one in particular that is known to have had more of an impact than most. His music has also been interestingly compared to a variety of different Music group sounds including what has been quoted as being a more original sounding version of Kansas
Kansas
Kansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
as well as a style similar to that of Return to Forever
Return to Forever
Return to Forever is a jazz fusion group founded and led by keyboardist Chick Corea. Through its existence, the band has cycled through a number of different members, with the only consistent band mate of Corea's being bassist Stanley Clarke...
but with an arguably more accessible sound. Some other known artist influences would include John Williams
John Williams
John Towner Williams is an American composer, conductor, and pianist. In a career spanning almost six decades, he has composed some of the most recognizable film scores in the history of motion pictures, including the Star Wars saga, Jaws, Superman, the Indiana Jones films, E.T...
, Danny Elfman
Danny Elfman
Daniel Robert "Danny" Elfman is an American composer, best known for scoring music for television and film. Up until 1995, he was the lead singer and songwriter in the rock band Oingo Boingo, a group he formed in 1976...
, Chick Corea
Chick Corea
Armando Anthony "Chick" Corea is an American jazz pianist, keyboardist, and composer.Many of his compositions are considered jazz standards. As a member of Miles Davis' band in the 1960s, he participated in the birth of the electric jazz fusion movement. In the 1970s he formed Return to Forever...
, Pat Metheny
Pat Metheny
Patrick Bruce "Pat" Metheny is an American jazz guitarist and composer.One of the most successful and critically acclaimed jazz musicians to come to prominence in the 1970s and '80s, he is the leader of the Pat Metheny Group and is also involved in duets, solo works and other side projects...
, Michel Camilo
Michel Camilo
Michel Camilo is a pianist and composer from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. He specializes in jazz, Latin and classical piano work...
, Jean-Luc Ponty
Jean-Luc Ponty
Jean-Luc Ponty is a French virtuoso violinist and jazz composer.- Early years:Ponty was born into a family of classical musicians on 29 September 1942 in Avranches, France. His father taught violin, his mother taught piano...
, Lyle Mays
Lyle Mays
Lyle Mays is an American jazz pianist and composer from Wausaukee, Wisconsin. He is best known for his work with guitarist Pat Metheny as a member of the Pat Metheny Group...
, Yes
Yes (band)
Yes are an English rock band who achieved worldwide success with their progressive, art, and symphonic style of rock music. Regarded as one of the pioneers of the progressive genre, Yes are known for their lengthy songs, mystical lyrics, elaborate album art, and live stage sets...
and Genesis
Genesis (band)
Genesis are an English rock band that formed in 1967. The band currently comprises the longest-tenured members Tony Banks , Mike Rutherford and Phil Collins . Past members Peter Gabriel , Steve Hackett and Anthony Phillips , also played major roles in the band in its early years...
Music for film
- Runaway with the Rich and Famous (1991), (1992), (1993), (1994)
- Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous (1992), (1993), (1994)
- Worlds Best (1992)
- Die For a Life (1999)
Solo releases
- Blue of the Flame (1992)
- Jazz on the Rocks (1992)
- Ivory Towers (1992)
- Visions (2000)
- Happy Holidaze Christmas Album (2000)
- Anomalies (2008)
With other artists
- Doug Wain “Live at the Ritz”(Keyboards) (1988)
- 3 Point Play “Double OT”(Drums) (2001)