Michael Whittaker
Michael Whittaker is a unique hybrid of his diverse upbringing. Growing up in Los Angeles California, he grew up listening to a diverse culture of music. At a young age, his training on piano began in both jazz and classical music. By his early twenties, he had already begun to mold his own identifiable sound and was one of Los Angeles’ most sought after sidemen. His current album Modern World melds his virtuosic piano playing and elements of jazz, world music and soul. ContemporaryJazz.com said “Modern World” is the highlight of the year, and added the record to their list of “top all time” contemporary jazz albums. 
Michael’s experience in many styles, as well as his work as a producer, has earned him the top spot as keyboard player with numerous recording artists. He has been a sideman and produced for noted artists such as Paulina Rubio, Wayman Tisdale, Warren Hill, Lionel Richie, Jimmy Kimmel Live house band, Jeff Golub, Mindi Abair, Eric Marienthal, Brenda Russell, Paul Jackson Jr., Everette Harp, Cake, Boyd Tinsley from the Dave Mathews Band, Alex Acuna, Abe Laboriel, Gary Meek, Brandon Fields, Cecilia Noel, Marco Mendoza, Andrew Gouche, Don Grusin, Keith Carlock and many others.
As a film scoring student from UCLA, Michael’s classical training and knowledge of orchestration has allowed him to compose the film scores of over 300 television episodes and TV movies including the popular Power Rangers. Currently Michael is independently scoring and producing for companies like Disney, Sony, NBC and Lions Gate Films. His orchestration and keyboard skill have won many awards such as the Telly award for his score to the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles series, Bank of America Musical Achievement award, International Association of Jazz Educators player excellence award, and the Clarence Brown Memorial scholarship for jazz.
Michael’s music has been featured in many notable shows including America’s Next Top Model, Funniest Pets and Animals, A&E Toby Keith Documentary, Battleground Earth, Best Damn Sports Show, Biography of Tiger Woods, Dr. 90210, Gene Simmons Family Jewels, Leprechaun 6, Modern Marvels, Naruto Movie, Xyber 9 New Dawn, Access Hollywood, X Men animated, The New Addams Family, The Power Rangers, The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, America’s Most Wanted, Action Man, and the Nobel Peach Awards 2000 theme.
Now home in Nashville, Tennessee, Michael works as both a recording artist and a composer/producer. His newest project to be released by the end of 2010 is called “Southern Exposure.” It is a humanitarian effort from some of the top musicians in Nashville to raise money to bring clean water to impoverished areas of Africa.