Ken Bichel
Encyclopedia
Ken Bichel is an American actor
, composer
, pianist
, and synthesizer
musician. Bichel attended the Juilliard School
where he graduated with a Bachelors degree in piano performance in the late 1960s. Although Bichel is a classically trained pianist, he has spent most of his career playing and recording jazz, rock, and other forms of contemporary music on the piano and the synthesizer. Bichel became a member of the New York based band Stories
is the early 1970s with whom he recorded several hit songs on three different albums until the band broke up in 1973. After leaving the band, Bichel began to play music for several Broadway
shows. In 1975, Bichel was hired as the musical director for the show Boccaccio. In 1977, Bichel took an onstage role (which also involved him playing the piano as well) as Norman in the original production of I Love My Wife
. Bichel won the Drama Desk Award
for Best Featured Actor in a Musical for his performance. In 1978, he became the assistant conductor and pianist for the Broadway musical Working
.
During the 1970s, Bichel also worked as a synthesizer or piano player for various bands in the recording studio. His work can be heard on over a dozen CDs including the self titled and Soul Searching albums by Average White Band on the Rhino label (1974 and 1976), Judy Collins
' Judith (1975) on the Elektra label, and Chaka Khan
's Chaka Khan Chaka on the Ol' Skool Label (1978). Bichel also played for and made an on screen appearance as a synthesizer player in the 1977 movie Pumping Iron
. He can also be heard on numerous disco
albums from the 1970s.
In the 1990s, Bichel moved to San Marino, CA, and began playing music for films and television. Occasionally Bichel has also appeared on screen as a musician in films like Kinsey
, Marvin's Room, and A Family Thing
. Bichel has also won an Emmy Award
for his music composition work on television and has kept his recording career active. More recent projects include the Peanuts
recording Schroeder's Greatest Hits (1992), Nikki Giovanni
's Way I Feel (1995), Judy Collins
' Christmas At The Biltmore Estate (1997), Gershon Kingsley
's First Moog Quartet (2003), and two albums with Jane Olivor
; Love Decides (2000) and Safe Return (2004).
Throughout his career, Bichel has always loved to perform in live concert settings both as a solo artist, ensemble player, and accompanist. Recently Bichel has played in numerous cabaret performances with Jane Olivor
. Today, lives with his wife in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, where he teaches Ishayah doctrine and music to just two students.
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
, 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...
, pianist
Pianist
A pianist is a musician who plays the piano. A professional pianist can perform solo pieces, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers, solo instrumentalists, or other performers.-Choice of genres:...
, and 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...
musician. Bichel attended the Juilliard School
Juilliard School
The Juilliard School, located at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York City, United States, is a performing arts conservatory which was established in 1905...
where he graduated with a Bachelors degree in piano performance in the late 1960s. Although Bichel is a classically trained pianist, he has spent most of his career playing and recording jazz, rock, and other forms of contemporary music on the piano and the synthesizer. Bichel became a member of the New York based band Stories
Stories (band)
Stories was a rock and pop music band, based out of New York in the early 1970s. The band consisted of keyboardist Michael Brown, bassist/vocalist Ian Lloyd, guitarist Steve Love, and drummer Bryan Madey, and had a Number 1 hit with a cover of Hot Chocolate's "Brother Louie."-Band history:Lloyd ...
is the early 1970s with whom he recorded several hit songs on three different albums until the band broke up in 1973. After leaving the band, Bichel began to play music for several Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
shows. In 1975, Bichel was hired as the musical director for the show Boccaccio. In 1977, Bichel took an onstage role (which also involved him playing the piano as well) as Norman in the original production of I Love My Wife
I Love My Wife
I Love My Wife is a musical with a book and lyrics by Michael Stewart and music by Cy Coleman, based on a play by Luis Rego.A satire of the sexual revolution of the 1970s, the musical takes place on Christmas Eve in suburban Trenton, New Jersey, where two married couples who have been close friends...
. Bichel won the Drama Desk Award
Drama Desk Award
The Drama Desk Awards, which are given annually in a number of categories, are the only major New York theater honors for which productions on Broadway, Off-Broadway, Off-Off-Broadway compete against each other in the same category...
for Best Featured Actor in a Musical for his performance. In 1978, he became the assistant conductor and pianist for the Broadway musical Working
Working (musical)
Working is a musical with a book by Stephen Schwartz and Nina Faso, music by Schwartz, Craig Carnelia, Micki Grant, Mary Rodgers, and James Taylor, and lyrics by Schwartz, Carnelia, Grant, Taylor, and Susan Birkenhead....
.
During the 1970s, Bichel also worked as a synthesizer or piano player for various bands in the recording studio. His work can be heard on over a dozen CDs including the self titled and Soul Searching albums by Average White Band on the Rhino label (1974 and 1976), Judy Collins
Judy Collins
Judith Marjorie "Judy" Collins is an American singer and songwriter, known for her eclectic tastes in the material she records ; and for her social activism. She is an alumna of the University of Colorado.-Musical career:Collins was born and raised in Seattle, Washington...
' Judith (1975) on the Elektra label, and Chaka Khan
Chaka Khan
Chaka Khan , frequently known as the Queen of Funk, is a 10-time Grammy Award winning American singer-songwriter who gained fame in the 1970s as the frontwoman and focal point of the funk band Rufus. While still a member of the group in 1978, Khan embarked on a successful solo career...
's Chaka Khan Chaka on the Ol' Skool Label (1978). Bichel also played for and made an on screen appearance as a synthesizer player in the 1977 movie Pumping Iron
Pumping Iron
Pumping Iron is a 1977 docudrama about the world of bodybuilding, focusing on the 1975 IFBB Mr. Universe and Mr. Olympia competitions and the 100 days leading up to them. The film was inspired by a book of the same name, written by Charles Gaines and George Butler...
. He can also be heard on numerous disco
Disco
Disco is a genre of dance music. Disco acts charted high during the mid-1970s, and the genre's popularity peaked during the late 1970s. It had its roots in clubs that catered to African American, gay, psychedelic, and other communities in New York City and Philadelphia during the late 1960s and...
albums from the 1970s.
In the 1990s, Bichel moved to San Marino, CA, and began playing music for films and television. Occasionally Bichel has also appeared on screen as a musician in films like Kinsey
Kinsey (film)
Kinsey is a 2004 biographical film written and directed by Bill Condon. It describes the life of Alfred Kinsey , a pioneer in the area of sexology. His 1948 publication, Sexual Behavior in the Human Male was one of the first recorded works that tried to scientifically address and investigate...
, Marvin's Room, and A Family Thing
A Family Thing
A Family Thing is a 1996 film starring Robert Duvall, James Earl Jones and Irma P. Hall. It was written by Billy Bob Thornton and Tom Epperson and directed by Richard Pearce.-Plot:...
. Bichel has also won an Emmy Award
Emmy Award
An Emmy Award, often referred to simply as the Emmy, is a television production award, similar in nature to the Peabody Awards but more focused on entertainment, and is considered the television equivalent to the Academy Awards and the Grammy Awards .A majority of Emmys are presented in various...
for his music composition work on television and has kept his recording career active. More recent projects include the Peanuts
Peanuts
Peanuts is a syndicated daily and Sunday American comic strip written and illustrated by Charles M. Schulz, which ran from October 2, 1950, to February 13, 2000, continuing in reruns afterward...
recording Schroeder's Greatest Hits (1992), Nikki Giovanni
Nikki Giovanni
Yolande Cornelia "Nikki" Giovanni is an American poet, writer, commentator, activist, and educator. Her primary focus is on the individual and the power one has to make a difference in oneself and in the lives of others. Giovanni’s poetry expresses strong racial pride, respect for family, and her...
's Way I Feel (1995), Judy Collins
Judy Collins
Judith Marjorie "Judy" Collins is an American singer and songwriter, known for her eclectic tastes in the material she records ; and for her social activism. She is an alumna of the University of Colorado.-Musical career:Collins was born and raised in Seattle, Washington...
' Christmas At The Biltmore Estate (1997), Gershon Kingsley
Gershon Kingsley
Gershon Kingsley a contemporary German American composer, is well known as a pioneer of electronic music and the Moog synthesizer and founder of the First Moog Quartet, as a partner in the famous electronic music duo Perrey and Kingsley, and for his rock-inspired compositions for Jewish religious...
's First Moog Quartet (2003), and two albums with Jane Olivor
Jane Olivor
Jane Olivor is an American cabaret singer. She was initially compared, often favorably, to Barbra Streisand and Édith Piaf.-Background:...
; Love Decides (2000) and Safe Return (2004).
Throughout his career, Bichel has always loved to perform in live concert settings both as a solo artist, ensemble player, and accompanist. Recently Bichel has played in numerous cabaret performances with Jane Olivor
Jane Olivor
Jane Olivor is an American cabaret singer. She was initially compared, often favorably, to Barbra Streisand and Édith Piaf.-Background:...
. Today, lives with his wife in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, where he teaches Ishayah doctrine and music to just two students.