Jack Waldman

Jack Waldman (September 6, 1952 – May 17, 1986) was an American jazz and rock musician, composer, record producer, vocalist and multi-instrumentalist.

Waldman was best known for his studio work and performances with singer Robert Palmer, and also worked with artists such as Billy Idol, Madonna, Rob Hegel, Joe Jackson, Foreigner and Whitney Houston. He was classically trained from childhood, and played keyboards, synthesizer, bassoon, saxophone and flute. He died in 1986 from HIV-related lymphoma.

Personal history Jack Waldman was born September 6, 1952, in Perth Amboy, New Jersey, and grew up in Metuchen, New Jersey. He began classical piano lessons at the age of five, and had perfect pitch. In his teenage years, Waldman switched his focus from classical to jazz piano, studying with Morris Nanton. After attending Metuchen High School, which created the Jack Waldman Memorial Scholarship in his honor, Waldman studied at Rutgers College, Livingston College and Juilliard School of Music between 1970 and 1974. Waldman graduated in 1974 with a BA in music from Rutgers. After college, he relocated to New York City, where he remained until his death in 1986 from HIV-related lymphoma.

Music career After relocating to New York in 1974, Waldman met and performed with jazz guitarist Joe Beck. He quickly became a prolific studio musician, playing keyboards and synthesizer with well-known artists and producing remixes for single releases. Concurrently, Waldman worked on a number of independent musical projects, including Tornader with Larry Alexander, and the more noteworthy Air Force 1 with Elliot Sokolov. Waldman and Sokolov co-wrote and produced "See the Light / Feel the Heat," released in 1984 on Streetwise records, in which they sampled public domain clips of then-president Ronald Reagan. The piece, also known as the "Ronald Reagan Rap," released on Streetwise Records as "See the Light Feel the Heat" was one of the earliest records featuring entirely sampled vocals. In 1984, MTV aired a video promotion for the piece. Waldman also worked with more avant-garde performance artists, including Klaus Nomi. He did arrangements for Nomi, who mixed synth-driven new wave, 1920s German cabaret music, disco and opera. Other noteworthy artists with whom Waldman worked include Gloria Gaynor, Joe Jackson, Billy Idol, Rob Hegel, Foreigner, Aretha Franklin, Madonna, and Whitney Houston. '1977: Glorious, Gloria Gaynor 1979: Niteflyte, Niteflyte 1979: Secrets, Robert Palmer 1980: Clues, Robert Palmer 1980: Hegel, Rob Hegel 1980: Ding Dong, Klaus Nomi 1982: Maybe It's Live, Robert Palmer 1982: Night and Day, Joe Jackson 1982: Simple Man, Klaus Nomi 1983: Encore!, Klaus Nomi 1983: Pride, Robert Palmer 1983: Rebel Yell, Billy Idol 1983: Rhythm of Life, Paul Haig 1983: Secret, Classix Nouveaux 1984: Agent Provocateur, Foreigner 1984: Feeling Cavalier, Ēbn-Ōzn 1984: Sapphire, John Martyn 1984: See The Light Feel the Heat, Air Force 1, Streetwise Records 1984: Snap, Peter Brown 1984: Some People, Belouis Some 1984: The Mexican, Jellybean John "Jellybean" Benitez 1984: Wotupski!?!, Jellybean John "Jellybean" Benitez 1984: Visitors, Motoharu Sano 1985: Cierta Gente, Belouis Some 1985: Love's Gonna Get You, Jocelyn Brown 1985: Riptide, Robert Palmer 1985: Some People, Belouis Some 1985: Surprise, Surprise, Various artists 1985: The Sun Always Shines on T.V., a-ha 1985: What The Papers Say, Bad Manners 1985: When Midnight Comes, Surgin' 1985: Who's Zoomin' Who, Aretha Franklin 1986: Frantic Romantic, Jermaine Stewart 1986: Shakey's Got The Blues, Seven Windows 1987: Holiday / Over And Over, Madonna 1987: One From The Heart, Jocelyn Brown 1987: Whitney, Whitney Houston 1987: You Can Dance, Madonna 1988: Love Will Save The Day, Whitney Houston 1989: 45 R.P.M. Club, a-ha 1989: Addictions Volume 1, Robert Palmer 2002: The Definitive, Foreigner 2007: Electro Funk Sessions, Various Artists 2008: Body Language Six'', Various Artists