BUENA PARK, CA (Feb. 11, 2005) — Michael Whalen not only plays great music, he creates it. Whalen is an Emmy-award winning artist with musical credits for Disney, National Geographic and over 350 television and film projects.
Every morning, millions of viewers wake up to Whalen's theme music on
Good Morning America. This February 2005, Whalen plans to release a new CD,
My Secret Heart, for everyone who has ever found or sought true love. The CD features a personal collection of melodies created from Whalen's film, classical and solo piano writing. In order to create the sound of love and inspiration for his CD, Whalen chose his favorite instrument retailer, Yamaha.
"For My Secret Heart, Yamaha sent me a beautiful DCFIIIS PRO to use," said Whalen. "It was magnificent. It made the record. The recording was done in 3½ hours…Truly a magical experience."
Whalen began his musical career playing his mother's
piano when he was four. He also played the
drums at five. However, he was inspired to become a composer by his teacher, Tommy Wardlow, the chief percussionist of the Kennedy Center.
"When I was in my early teens, he told me that being a percussionist or a sideman in an orchestra is fine, but that I had a natural aptitude for composition." Whalen said. "He taught me how drums and other percussive instruments can be melodic and how to make it all work together."
Whalen now uses his ability to create interesting and beautiful melodies for his projects including the soundtrack to
Slavery: The Making of America miniseries. The soundtrack features several other cultural sounds/influences from slave and African-American cultures. For the soundtrack, Whalen uses the Yamaha
02R96V2 mixer, DX-5 Synth and a
WX-5 MIDI Controller.
"The first piece of Yamaha gear I ever bought was the immense Yamaha DX-1 FM synthesizer when I was in college…For years, that instrument was my whole world," reflects Whalen, "After that, I have owned practically every
synthesizer Yamaha has made."
His music tells the story of love, courage, pain and the history of the nation. Whether it is on television, film, or CDs, Whalen's music continues to play in the minds and the hearts of fans nationwide. The soundtrack for the miniseries and
My Secret Heart are both on sale this month.
