Nick Martinelli

Nicholas J. Martinelli (born 5 July 1952) is an American R&B and pop record producer. During the 1980s he worked with many R&B and pop music artists, some of them based in the UK. Acts he has worked with include Loose Ends, Phyllis Hyman, Five Star, Stephanie Mills and Regina Belle.

Early history Martinelli cut his teeth as a teenager in 1969 in the Chips warehouse, an independent record distributor for Motown. He was promoted to warehouse manager as he developed an understanding of distribution and retail sales. In 1977, Motown rewarded Nick's diligence by giving him additional responsibilities handling dance promotion for the Northeast region covering the territory from New York to Washington.

1990s Martinelli entered the 1990s with Regina Belle's No. 1 album Stay with Me spawning two No. 1 hit singles, one of which garnered a Grammy nomination ("Make It Like It Was"). Long-time mentor Kenny Gamble selected him to work with Phyllis Hyman, having written two selections for Hyman, including the Top 10 single, "When You Get Right Down to It," as well as her No. 1 R&B hit "Don't Wanna Change the World". In 1993, Martinelli relocated to Los Angeles, where he wrote and produced songs for Jomanda, Regina Belle, Robin S., Howard Hewett, Gerald Alston, Lulu, RuPaul, Chaka Khan, Chris Walker, and his lifelong idol Diana Ross.

He achieved quadruple Platinum status with his new productions on the Diana Ross greatest-hits One Woman Collection. In 1994 he branched out by producing a BPI-certified Gold symphonic Christmas CD, A Very Special Season for Diana Ross in the U.K. In early 1995, Martinelli was called back to London to produce the original cast album for the hit musical Mama, I Want to Sing!, starring Chaka Khan.

Accolades In 1988, Martinelli received the Philadelphia Music Foundation Award for notching the most Top 10 singles in one year. Two years later they honored him again by naming him Best Urban Producer. In the U.K. he was always included in the Blues and Soul Top 10 producer list.

Selected discography 1982: Fat Larry's Band - "Act Like You Know" 1984: The Real Thing - "We Got Love" 1985: Loose Ends - "Hangin' on a String (Contemplating)" 1985: Five Star - "Let Me Be the One" 1985: 52nd Street - "Tell Me (How It Feels)" 1986: Phyllis Hyman - "Ain't You Had Enough Love" 1986: Loose Ends - "Slow Down" 1987: Miki Howard - "Baby Be Mine" 1987: Sheena Easton - "The Last To Know" 1988: Miki Howard - "Love Under New Management" 1988: Teddy Pendergrass - "This is the Last Time" 1989: Stephanie Mills - "Home" 1989: Kiara and Shanice Wilson - "This Time" 1991: Phyllis Hyman - "Don't Wanna Change The World" 1991: Chris Walker - "Giving You All My Love" 1992: Regina Belle: "If I Could" 1993: Jomanda: "After All This Love"