Jae Deal

Jae Deal is an American record producer and music educator. He is a Professor of Music Production, Music Technology, and Hip Hop Music & Culture at the USC Thornton School of Music. Jae Deal has worked behind the scenes and on stage with several music industry acts including Janet Jackson, Lady Gaga, Snoop Dogg, Lauryn Hill, Charli XCX, Mary Mary, Karen Clark Sheard, Ne-Yo, Faith Evans, Tye Tribbett, T-Pain, Jessica Simpson, and Wynton Marsalis. He has also contributed to the works of Elton John, Jill Scott, and songwriter Diane Warren.

Early life Jae Deal is from Baltimore, Maryland and began playing instruments at the age of seven. He attended Friends School of Baltimore, the oldest private school in Baltimore. Shortly after high school, Gospel music producer Steven Ford hired Jae to play on two major gospel recordings. The first was Vickie Winans, Live in Detroit. The second was T.D. Jakes’ Woman Thou Art Loosed.

Jae Deal attended Morgan State University in Baltimore, Maryland graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Pure Mathematics.

Career After moving to Los Angeles, Jae Deal began working with young pop artists such as Christina Milian, Marques Houston, and Omarion. Deal continued to work as a live musician, orchestrator, director and programmer and live musician for several tours, and recording sessions. Projects included Elton John, Snoop Dogg & the Snoopadelics, Mary Mary, Karen Clark Sheard and Jill Scott. Jae Deal, alongside Hollywood curator Monica Payne, co-created and produced #FLASHLIGHT, a progressive musical performance series based in Los Angeles. Featured musicians included producers Ethan Farmer, Keith Harris, Ish a.k.a. “Wow Jones” & musicians Kamasi Washington and Tony Royster Jr. Featured DJs included MC Lyte and DJ Smooth Dee. On May 9, 2019 Deal was the producer, host, and music director for "The Jammjam" event presented by Jammcard honoring George Clinton and Parliament-Funkadelic for receiving the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. Stars including Ice Cube, Anderson .Paak, CeeLo Green, Flea (musician), Eddie Griffin, and Dj Battlecat jammed alongside members of Parliament-Funkadelic.

In 2024, Jae's "Joint 2" was sampled by Kanye West on the song "Vultures" and by Charli XCX on her song "Everything Is Romantic".

Community Years before becoming a professor at USC Thornton School of Music, Jae participated in music tutoring programs and appeared as a motivational speaker: UCLA – "Ethnomusicology M119: The Cultural History of Rap (Hip Hop)" - Los Angeles, CA - Jae Deal was a guest lecturer discussing the chronology of technological development alongside the Hip-Hop culture, considering future trends in Hip-Hop technology. Los Angeles College of Music 2016 - Pasadena, CA - Jae Deal wrote the Songwriting 1 curriculum for the Los Angeles College of Music, served as an instructor of Songwriting 1 and Industry Showcase and provided career counseling.

Associations / awards

Awards Year Award Category Nominated work Result 2023 66th Grammy Awards Best Jazz Performance "Vulnerable" (as songwriter) Nominated 2023 66th Grammy Awards Best Jazz Instrumental Album "Legacy: The Instrumental Jawn" (included song "Vulnerable") Nominated 2024 67th Grammy Awards Album of the Year brat* by Charli XCX (Producer/Songwriter on "Everything is Romantic") Nominated 2024 67th Grammy Awards Best Dance/Electronic Album brat* by Charli XCX (Producer/Songwriter on "Everything is Romantic") Member and judge, Jammcard Jae Deal and co-composer Tia P won the 2016 International John Lennon Songwriting Contest in the category of Hip-Hop. In the same year both artists were the first international contestants to win the Australia's Vanda & Young Songwriting Competition.

Endorsements / affiliations KORG U.S.A. Moog Music, Inc ROLI