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Jay Gruska (/ˈɡrʌskə/; born April 23, 1952) is an American songwriter and composer best known for his film and television scoring, and for writing hit songs for a variety of artists. He has composed musical scores for dozens of TV dramas, with over 500 hours of shows played internationally.
Jay Gruska | |
|---|---|
| Born | 23 April 1952 Brooklyn, New York, United States |
| Occupation(s) | Film composer, television composer, songwriter, music producer, arranger |
| Instrument(s) | Piano, keyboard |
| Years active | 1974–present |
| Website | jaygruska.com |
Gruska has received three Emmy Award nominations, one Genie Award nomination, and nine ASCAP awards. Some of his best-known scores are for the TV shows Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, Charmed, and Supernatural.[1]
Career
editGruska started his career as a singer/songwriter. He was briefly a member of Three Dog Night in 1976, replacing Danny Hutton, until the group disbanded. He had recording contracts with ABC Records and Warner Bros. Records with the band Maxus,[2] for which he was the lead singer and songwriter. Warner Bros. Records later released his solo album Which One of Us Is Me, which Gruska also produced.
Gruska is also known for co-writing the hit duet "Tell Me I'm Not Dreamin' (Too Good to Be True)" for Jermaine and Michael Jackson; the Gloria Loring/Carl Anderson duet "Friends and Lovers" (also released in a country version under the title "Both To Each Other (Friends and Lovers)," performed by Juice Newton and Eddie Rabbitt); and Amy Grant's "Good for Me".[3][4][5]
In November 2014, the 200th episode of Supernatural, titled "Fan Fiction", aired on The CW.[6] Gruska wrote and produced two songs for the episode (co-writing the lyrics with screenwriter Robbie Thompson). Within 24 hours after the episode aired, one of the songs, "The Road So Far", was #3 on the iTunes soundtrack chart and #57 among all songs on iTunes.
Personal life
editGruska is the father of Barbara and Ethan Gruska, the members of the pop music duo The Belle Brigade.[7]
Awards and nominations
editAwards
edit- 2014: ASCAP Film/TV Award - Score, Supernatural
- 2010: ASCAP Film/TV Award - Score, Supernatural
- 1998: ASCAP Film/TV Award - Score, Charmed
- 1993: ASCAP Pop Award - "Good for Me"
- 1988: ASCAP Country Award - "Friends & Lovers (Both to Each Other)"
- 1988: ASCAP Pop Award - "Friends & Lovers (Both to Each Other)"
- 1987: ASCAP Country Award - "Friends & Lovers (Both to Each Other)"
- 1987: ASCAP Pop Award - "Friends & Lovers (Both to Each Other)"
Nominations
edit- 2000: Emmy Award nomination - Best Original Score, Falcone
- 2000: Emmy Award Nomination - Best Main Title Theme Music, Falcone
- 1996: Golden Reel Nomination - Music, Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman
- 1995: Golden Reel Nomination - Music, Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman
- 1994: Golden Reel Nomination - Music, Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman
- 1994: Emmy Award Nomination - Best Main Title Theme Music, Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman
- 1989: Genie Award for Best Original Song nomination - Shadow Dancing[8]
Discography
editSolo releases
editWith Three Dog Night
edit- American Pastime (1976)[9]
With Maxus
edit- Maxus (1981)[9]
Film and television
edit| Project Title | Project Type | Credit and Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Supernatural | TV series | Composer, with Christopher Lennertz |
| Ruby & the Rockits | TV series | Composer, songwriter, and music producer |
| Charmed | TV series | Composer |
| Wildfire | TV series | Composer |
| Hack | TV series | Composer |
| War Stories | TV movie | Composer |
| The Division | TV series | Composer |
| That's Life | TV series | Composer |
| Beverly Hills, 90210 | TV series | Composer |
| Bellyfruit | Film | Composer |
| Falcone | TV series | Composer |
| Waiting for Woody | Short | Composer |
| Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman | TV series | Composer |
| Charlie Grace | TV series | Composer |
| Courthouse | TV series | Composer |
| Trapped in Space | TV movie | Composer |
| Saved by the Bell: Wedding in Las Vegas | TV movie | Composer |
| A Time to Heal | TV movie | Composer |
| Dying to Remember | TV movie | Composer |
| Without Warning: Terror in the Towers | TV movie | Composer |
| Sisters | TV series | Composer |
| Mo' Money | Film | Composer |
| Baby of the Bride | TV movie | Composer |
| Child of Darkness, Child of Light | TV movie | Composer |
| Another Pair of Aces: Three of a Kind | TV movie | Composer |
| Nightmare on the 13th Floor | TV movie | Composer |
| Against the Law | TV series | Composer |
| The World's Oldest Living Bridesmaid | TV movie | Composer |
| Wheels of Terror | TV movie | Composer |
| thirtysomething | TV series | Composer |
| Sing | Film | Composer |
| Shadow Dancing | Film | Composer |
| The Principal | Film | Composer |
| "David Cassidy: Man Undercover" | TV series | Composer (with David Cassidy) |
| The Great Defender | TV series | Composer |
| Cocoon | Film | Arranger and producer |
| Commando | Film | Music producer |
| The Cutting Edge | Film | Songwriter (with Danny O'Keefe) and producer for "Turning Circles", performed by Sally Dworsky |
| Adventures in Babysitting | Film | Songwriter (with Barry Goldberg), arranger, and producer for "Just Can't Stop", performed by Percy Sledge |
| Stella | Film | Songwriter (with Paul Gordon) |
Songwriting credits
edit| Song Title | Album | Artist | Credit and Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Good for Me" | Heart in Motion | Amy Grant | Co-songwriter with Tom Snow (lyrics by Amy Grant and Wayne Kirkpatrick). Quadruple platinum album. #1 on AOR Charts. #8 Billboard Hot 100. |
| "Tell Me I'm Not Dreaming" | Jermaine Jackson: Dynamite | Jermaine Jackson and Michael Jackson | Co-songwriter with Michael Omartian and Bruce Sudano. Gold album. Three weeks at #1 on Billboard dance chart.[10] |
| "Friends and Lovers" | Carl Anderson | Carl Anderson and Gloria Loring | Co-songwriter with Paul Gordon. #1 on AC charts.[11] #2 on pop charts. 900,000 singles sold. |
| "Both to Each Other" | Rabbit Trax & Great Hills | Eddie Rabbitt and Juice Newton | Co-songwriter with Paul Gordon. #1 on country charts.[12] |
| "What You're Missing" | Chicago 16 | Chicago | Co-songwriter with Joseph Williams. Double platinum album. |
| "Turning Circles" | The Cutting Edge soundtrack | Sally Dworsky | Co-songwriter (with Danny O'Keefe) and producer |
| "Just Can't Stop" | Adventures in Babysitting soundtrack | Percy Sledge | Co-songwriter (with Barry Goldberg), arranger, and producer |
| "One More Cheer" | Stella soundtrack | Bette Midler | Co-songwriter (with Paul Gordon) |
References
edit- ^ "'Supernatural' Musical Episode 'Fan Fiction' to Feature Songs by Christopher Lennertz & Jay Gruska" Film Music Reporter. Accessed 12 November 2014.
- ^ "JAY GRUSKA on Adult Contemporary Music in Japan" bekkoame.ne.jp. Accessed 12 November 2014.
- ^ "2009 Presenters - LimmundLA." Archived 2015-01-19 at the Wayback Machine Limmundla. Accessed 12 November 2014.
- ^ Copyright Encyclopedia Copyright Encyclopedia. Accessed 12 November 2014.
- ^ "'Being Earnest' Review" triviana arts & entertainment, theater. Accessed 12 November 2014.
- ^ "Supernatural Oral History: Ackles, Padalecki, Kripke on 200 episodes" Variety.com. Accessed 17 November 2014.
- ^ Kevin Bronson, "The Belle Brigade: All in the Family", L.A. Weekly, March 31, 2011.
- ^ "Genie Award Nominees 1989". Cinema Canada. February–March 1989. pp. 27–35.
- ^ a b c d "Jay Gruska". Sessiondays. Retrieved 2 January 2023.
- ^ Michael Tops Billboard Charts for Dance/Club Songs Archived 2014-11-12 at archive.today michaeljackson.com. Accessed 12 November 2014.
- ^ Billboard Adult Contemporary Charts 1986 billboard.com. Accessed 12 November 2014.
- ^ Billboard Country Charts 1986 billboard.com. Accessed 12 November 2014.