Legends, Icons, and Superstars: Randy Edelman

Belonging to humanity for all eternity is the musical contributions of composer Randy Edelman which out numbers the stars on a clear night and shine brighter than the celestial fireball in the sky we call the sun. Music is an integral part of society, and expression of inner emotions, a celebration of life, a symbol of everlasting memories, the hallmark of important moments in our existence.

Within his lyrics Randy casts the power to make rainbows or waterfalls, sunsets or roses, to find that piece of soul that many have lost long ago. His instrumentals and orchestrations are as an exploding star blazing like titan’s fiery wheel in the sky and sparkling with the splendor of a soul-swelling out of body experience….

As one of the pop heart throbs of the “Top of the Pops” era, Randy’s dazzling hits “Uptown Uptempo Woman” and “Concrete and Clay” became the inauguration of stairway to fame. Randy’s songwriting capacity stretched far beyond his own recorded hits to some of the world’s most popular artists of our time including “A Weekend in New England” as recorded by Barry Manilow, “Isn’t it a Shame” recorded by Patty LaBelle and then hip hop sensation Nelly, “You” recorded by The Carpenters, “The Woman on my Arm”, recorded by Bing Crosby, “The Laughter and the Tears”, recorded by Dionne Warwick, “If Love is Real” recorded by Olivia Newton-John, “Turn the World Around” recorded by Agnetha Faltskog (ABBA), and a never ending array of others.

Beyond these classic pop recordings Randy has appeared in some of the biggest arenas and stadiums known the world over including the Budokan in Japan, Drury Lane Theatre in England and the London Palladium. He has as a conductor lead entire orchestras in Ubeda and on Broadway. Aside from his solo performances Randy has opened for artists from The Carpenters to Frank Zappa and The Mothers of Invention.

Amidst the gaps in the canopy of stars are the lances of molting golden beams splashed onto the cutting room floors of the ultimate, most substantial and major blockbuster motion picture soundtracks on the planet that Randy’s musical orchestrations have breathed life into. As one of the most respected film music designers in the world he has composed and performed the music for “My Cousin Vinny”, “Last of the Mohicans”, “Gettysburg”, “The Mask”, “Billy Madison”, “Kindergarten Cop”, “XXX”, “Dragonheart”, “Beethoven“, “The Chipmunks”, “Anaconda”, “While You Were Sleeping”, “Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story”, “Twins”, “Come See Paradise”, “Leap Year”, Ghostbusters ll”, “Mummy 3: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor”, “27 Dresses”, “The Skulls”, “The Mask”, and hundreds of others. Randy also wrote the theme for the hit television series “MacGyver“, themes for ESPN, HBO, The Olympics and even NASA. His scores have been performed as symphonies by Boston Pops, Cincinnati Symphony, Charleston Symphony and the London Symphony Orchestra.

The award-winning maestro and piano couturier is the recipient of the highest honors including: the BMI Spotlight Award for 2 decades of NBC’s Randy Edelman Olympics theme, He has received The Lifetime Achievement Awards from BMI Richard Kirk Lifetime Achievement Award, The Long Island International Film Expo, and The Composers and Lyricists Guild. He has also been honored for them BMI Award for Top TV Series for “MacGyver“, The Indie Fest “Award of Excellence” for “Leaves of the Tree”, Los Angeles Film Awards, Best Score, an Honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts from the University of Cincinnati, the Emmy for “Atlanta Olympics NBC Broadcast, and once again a limitless cascade of others.

His ever growing career continues its relevancy with the recently released, Billboard A/C charting global post pandemic anthem, “Coming Out the Other Side” and his R&B chart rising hit “How Could I Let You Go” both via Tribeca Records. He is also in the midst of scoring the intimate film “Skelly” with Brian Cox (HBO’s Succession). He is currently sequestered in the Abbey Road Studios scoring the exorcism themed demonic thriller “The Beast Inside”, and several other films not yet publicly announced. Also recently released was his original soundtrack of Ghostbusters ll on Sony Classics. The songs from his new musical “Shortcut” about the building of the Panama Canal can also now be heard.

Most recently he has sold out The Camden Club in London, and Chelsea Stage in New York on 3 separate occasions with his heartwarming and touching solo extravaganza “A Life in 80 Minutes.” Randy will be appearing live in Times Square for the iconic children’s show Wonderama along with host David Osmond and the Mayor of New York Eric Adams on July 25th, 2022 at 11:00 AM EST. He will also be appearing on several CBS television shows. His fans can also look forward to his performance at The City Winery in New York City on August 28, 2022. Doors open at 7 PM and tickets can be purchased on the City Winery website.

Like the flash of the setting sun as it hits the horizon and sparks the light of the stars, so is the music of Randy Edelman. Whether chasing angels or fleeing demons his music like a mountain top is the last place man can truly run wild. It has a way of stopping everything for one fleeting moment…and like the sunset his music and his career is not looked upon as the days end but rather the beginning of the night…..Randy’s music touches everyone in the cosmic perspective. His music is the reason someone smiles, the reason someone feels loved and reason humanity can be saved…..

Photo Credits: Billy Hess