Bryan Loren is an American music producer. Loren's signature style was characterized by a fusion of R&B, funk, and pop elements, which set him apart as a visionary producer. His keen ear for detail and meticulous approach to composition made him a sought-after collaborator for musicians across the spectrum.
Biography[]
Bryan Loren was born on Long Island, New York. He moved to South Philadelphia at a young age. Loren became interested in music at age 5 and began playing drums and other instruments, He was eventually able to play all of the instruments used for recording a complete album. Loren said that he remembers being influenced by the South Philly music scene; recalling "TSOP and Phila. International" and songwriting artists "Stevie Wonder, Steely Dan and Herbie Hancock" as specific inspiring examples.
In the mid-1980s, Bryan Loren's career began to take flight. He honed his craft as a session musician, working with renowned artists like Michael Jackson, Barry White, and Whitney Houston. His expertise in songwriting and production quickly caught the attention of industry insiders. In 1984, he was instrumental in producing the hit single "We Are the World", performed by USA for Africa, a charity supergroup comprising some of the biggest names in the music industry.
Michael Jackson[]
Loren and Jackson started working together in 1989. Their work lasted until the next year, creating around 20-25 songs, although only two ("Superfly Sister" and "To Satisfy You") were released. Loren talked about working with Jackson during the 79th episode of MJCast in 2018.[1] Their work included:
- "Work That Body"
- "Man in Black"
- "Serious Effect"
- "Deep in the Night"
- "She Got It"
- "Seven Digits"
- "Don't Believe It"
- "All the Truth"
- "Call It Off"
- "The Verdict"
- "Stay"
Trivia[]
- It's often wrongly assumed that Loren's song, "Do the Bartman", made for The Simpsons, was originally sung by Jackson. However, he explained in the earlier mentioned episode of MJCast that only Loren wrote, produced the song, and sang backing vocals on it.[1]