Richard Wolf

Richard "Wolfie" Wolf is an American Emmy Award-winning film and television composer, multi-platinum-selling music producer, songwriter, remixer, and author.

Wolf began his career as a singer/songwriter before becoming a staff writer for Warner/Chappell Music. He later worked in film music and record production prior to focusing on television and film composition. Since 2015, he has been a faculty member at the University of Southern California Thornton School of Music.

Early life and career Wolf was born in Manhattan, New York. While still a college freshman, he signed his first recording agreement with Quinn Ivy Studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, where he worked with the studio guitarist and co-writer Wayne Perkins. He subsequently became a staff songwriter at Warner/Chappell Music, where his compositions were recorded by artists including Steve Cropper, Angela Bofill, Johnny Gill, and Toni Basil.

Record production In 1989, Wolf formed the production team Wolf & Epic with Bret "Epic" Mazur. The duo has been described as one of the notable production teams emerging from the early 1990s Los Angeles hip hop and R&B crossover scene. Their early work included Laquan's Notes of a Native Son, which incorporated live instrumentation with hip hop production techniques.

Wolf & Epic contributed to Bell Biv DeVoe's certified multi-platinum Poison (1990) and its remix counterpart WBBD-Bootcity!, which was certified gold. The album has been described in retrospective critical coverage as helping to blur the boundaries between hip hop and R&B.

Among Wolf's additional production and remix credits are collaborations with MC Lyte, Coolio, New Edition, Freddie Mercury, and Prince.

Film and television Wolf began working in film in the mid-1980s, contributing music to Back to School, The Karate Kid Part II, and Madonna's Who's That Girl. His later film work includes Presumed Innocent, Robocop (2014) and Three Kings.

He composed the score for the Warner Bros. animated series Static Shock (2000–2004), which Mix Magazine described as "hip hop and electronic elements with orchestral scoring". The work received Daytime Emmy nominations in 2003 and 2004 and won in 2004.

Academics and writing Wolf joined the faculty of the University of Southern California Thornton School of Music in 2015. His teaching focuses on music in media and the relationship between musical practice and mindfulness.

He is the author of In Tune: Music as the Bridge to Mindfulness (2019), which examines connections between musical training and mindfulness practices. The book was discussed in The New Yorker.

Personal life Wolf serves as a board member of the I Have a Dream Foundation, where he oversees a program that brings music and mindfulness education to underserved schools.

Discography

Year Album Artist

The Barrio Boyzz Arranger, Composer, Producer

2002 20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: The Best of Bell Biv DeVoe Bell Biv DeVoe Spirit of Funk

Composer, Producer

2001 The Very Best of MC Lyte MC Lyte Composer, Producer

2000 The Best of Bell Biv DeVoe Bell Biv DeVoe Composer, Producer

2000 The Best of the Barrio Boyzz The Barrio Boyzz Composer, Producer

1997 12 Super Exitos The Barrio Boyzz Composer, Producer

1994 12 Exitos Quemantes, Vol. 2

Composer, Producer

1994 Face the Music New Kids on the Block Producer, Composer

1994 Thought 'Ya Knew CeCe Peniston Composer, Drum Programming, Guitar, Keyboards, Producer

1993 Hootie Mack Bell Biv DeVoe Arranger, Composer, Engineer, Guitar, Keyboards, Vocal Arrangement, Vocals (Background)

1992 Crazy Coolin' The Barrio Boyzz Composer, Keyboards, Producer, Vocal Arrangement

1992 Eyes Are the Soul MC Lyte Composer, Producer

1992 Love for the Future Nona Gaye Composer, Guitar, Keyboards, Piano

1992 Return of the Product MC Serch Composer, Producer, Songwriter

1992 The Great Pretender Freddie Mercury Producer

1991 Act Like You Know MC Lyte Composer, Guitar, Keyboards, Producer, Vocal Arrangement

1991 Crazy Seal Lyte Years MC Lyte Composer, Producer

1991 Strictly Business

Producer, Songwriter

1991 WBBD-Bootcity! The Remix Album Bell Biv DeVoe Arranger, Composer, Guitar, Keyboards

1991 Wake Up the Party The Don Composer, Guitar, Keyboards, Producer

1991 What Comes Naturally Sheena Easton Arranger, Composer, Guitar, Keyboards, Vocal Arrangement, Vocals (Background)

1990 Notes of a Native Son Laquan Composer, Guitar, Keyboards, Organ, Vibraphone

1990 Poison Bell Biv DeVoe Composer, Multi Instruments

1990 Ralph Tresvant Ralph Tresvant Composer, Guitar, Keyboards, Vocals (Background)1990The Rebirth Of CoolLaquanComposer, Producer 1989 Annie Haslam Annie Haslam Composer

1987 Who's That Girl Madonna Songwriter, Producer

1986 Back to School

Performer, Primary Artist, Producer

1986

Angela Bofill Composer

1986 The Karate Kid, Pt. 2

Composer, Producer

1985 Chemistry Johnny Gill Composer, Songwriter

1983 Teaser Angela Bofill Composer

1982 Hungry Nights Tom Snow Composer

1939|Reckless Love Crimson Tide Unknown Contributor Role