Rob Chiarelli (born January 13, 1963) is an American record producer, mix engineer, musician, published author and multiple Grammy Award winner.[2] Widely recognized as a music producer for Will Smith and Men in Black II (2002),[3] Chiarelli's work appears on numerous gold and platinum albums and motion picture soundtracks, including twenty Grammy winners.[4]

Rob Chiarelli
Born (1963-01-13) January 13, 1963 (age 61)
Occupations
  • Producer
  • musician
  • mixing engineer
Years active1985–present
Spouse
Theresa Chiarelli
(m. 1995⁠–⁠2022)
[1]
Children2
AwardsGrammy Award
Musical career
Genres
Websitefinalmix.com

Early life

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Chiarelli was born in Newton, Massachusetts, and raised in Waltham, Massachusetts. He started playing the drums when he was ten years old. By junior high school, he was performing in school bands and participating in the Massachusetts All-State Jazz Ensemble and the Greater Boston Youth Symphony Orchestra. By age 17, he had received the Louis Armstrong Jazz Award (twice) and numerous awards from the International Association of Jazz Educators (formerly the National Association for Jazz Education, NAJE). Chiarelli graduated from Waltham High School in 1981 and attended the University of Miami School of Music on a scholarship, where he studied under the direction of Don Coffman, Fred Wickstrom and Vince Maggio. He formed his own band Inferno which recorded with producer Gary Vandy and included members Tim Mitchell (guitar), Dag Kolsrud (keyboards), Rick Margitza (sax), Mike Mangini (drums), Ed Calle (sax), Mike Lambert (trumpet) and Jeff Miller (keyboards)[4]

Career

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After moving to Los Angeles, California in 1989, Chiarelli joined Paramount Recording Studios[5] as an assistant engineer and quickly worked his way up to a first chair recording and mix engineer. His professional breakthrough came with legendary producer Jay King while working with the Grammy-winning R&B group Club Nouveau. Impressed with Chiarelli's work, King asked him to mix the entire Nouveau album, which reached #12 on the Billboard R&B Charts. While working on Club Nouveau at Aire LA Studios in Glendale, California, Chiarelli met mix engineer/mentor Craig Burbidge and worked on numerous hit records from artists such as Calloway, Chuckii Booker and Teddy Pendergrass.[6]

In 1991 Chiarelli founded Final Mix, Inc., a music production company specializing in contemporary music and artist development. Chiarelli was also CEO of Metro Beat Records, a joint venture with Semaphore Records from 1993 until 1996. In 1997, Chiarelli formed 3.6 Records, a joint venture record label distributed by BMG/Red Ant and located in West Hollywood, CA.[5][6]

In 2008, Chiarelli co-founded Gauge Precision Instruments, Inc. (originally Gauge, Inc.), a manufacturer of audio electronics and accessories for professional and consumer markets. In 2013, Final Mix, Inc. expanded to include music software development.[7][8]

Mixing and production

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As a mix engineer and record producer, Chiarelli has worked with such well known artists as Will Smith, Christina Aguilera, LeAnn Rimes, Kirk Franklin, Mary Mary, Janet Jackson, Jermaine Jackson, Stevie Wonder, Keiko Matsui, Coolio, Ray Charles, American Idol, Pink, Johnny Mathis, Paula Abdul, Diana Ross, En Vogue, Ice Cube, The Four Tops, Yolanda Adams, The Temptations, 3LW, K-Ci & JoJo, Madonna, Aaliyah, Hilary Duff, Jesse McCartney, Ricky Martin, The Corrs, Luther Vandross, Erin Boheme and Charlie Wilson.[9][10]

His recordings have been nominated numerous times for Grammy Awards including Christina Aguilera, Will Smith, Mary Mary and Yolanda Adams.[11]

As a musician

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Chiarelli is a classically trained musician; his principal instruments include both the electric bass and orchestral percussion. As a musician his work can be heard on the recordings of Keiko Matsui, Will Smith, Hilary Duff, Waldemar Bastos, Jesse McCartney, Tatayana Ali, Teddy Pendergrass, Ray Charles, Jennifer Paige and The Corrs.

As a songwriter his work has appeared on Erin Boheme (Concord Records), Sunz of Man (BMG/SONY) and on the motion picture soundtrack of Love Stinks, a 1999 comedy starring French Stewart, Bridgette Wilson, Bill Bellamy and Tyra Banks.

Publishing

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In 2009, Chiarelli's first book The Electric Bass Bible: Volume 1 Dexterity Exercises was published by Cherry Lane Music Publishing Company, Inc., a division of Hal Leonard.[12]

Clinician and speaker

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Chiarelli has been a featured speaker & clinician at Berklee College of Music, University of Illinois, NAMM,[13] TAXI,[14][15] ASCAP,[16] The Grammy Museum, FSU (Florida State University), MEIEA (Music and Entertainment Industry Educators Association), NXNE (North by Northeast Music Convention), Los Angeles Recording School, The International Digital Rights Foundation, Hank Shocklee's Remix Hotel, California Lawyers for the Arts, The Trebas Institute & The Sacramento Music Conference.

Societies and guilds

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Selected discography

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Soundtracks

Grammy Awards

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Year Category Song/Album Field Result[35]
1996 Best Engineered Album (non-classical) Q's Jook Joint Production & Engineering Won (Quincy Jones)
1997 Best Rap Solo Performance Men In Black Rap Won (Will Smith)
2000 Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album Mountain High, Valley Low R&B Won (Yolanda Adams)
2000 Best New Artist Christina Aguilera General Won (Christina Aguilera)
2009 Best Gospel Album The Sound R&B Nominated (Mary Mary)
2009 Best Gospel Song Mary Mary R&B Won (Mary Mary)
2009 Best Gospel Album Bold Right Life R&B Nominated (Kierra Sheard)
2010 Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album Let It Be Me: Mathis in Nashville R&B Nominated (Johnny Mathis)
2011 Best Gospel Album Something Big (album) R&B Nominated (Mary Mary)
2012 Best Gospel Album Hello Fear R&B Won (Kirk Franklin)
2013 Best Gospel Song Go Get It (album) R&B Won (Mary Mary)
2014 Best Gospel Song A Little More Jesus R&B Nominated (Mary Mary)
2014 Best Gospel Song I Believe R&B Nominated (Charlie Wilson)
2015 Best Gospel Song Help Gospel & Contemporary Christian Nominated (Mary Mary)
2015 Best Contemporary Instrumental Album Jazz, Funk, Soul Contemporary Instrumental Nominated (Jeff Lorber, Chuck Loeb, Everette Harp)
2015 Best Gospel Album Help Gospel & Contemporary Christian Won (Mary Mary)
2016 Best Gospel Song Wanna Be Happy Gospel & Contemporary Christian Won (Kirk Franklin)
2016 Best Gospel Album Life Music: Stage Two Gospel & Contemporary Christian Nominated (Jonathan McReynolds)
2017 Best Gospel Album Losing My Religion Gospel & Contemporary Christian Won (Kirk Franklin)
2018 Best Gospel Song Too Hard Not To Gospel & Contemporary Christian Nominated (Tina Campbell (musician))
2018 Best Gospel Song My Life Gospel & Contemporary Christian Nominated (The Walls Group)
2019 Best R&B Song Made For Love R&B Nominated (Charlie Wilson (singer)) (Lalah Hathaway)
2019 Best Gospel Song Cycles Gospel & Contemporary Christian Nominated (Jonathan McReynolds)
2019 Best Gospel Song Never Alone Gospel & Contemporary Christian Won (Tori Kelly)
2019 Best Gospel Album A Great Work Gospel & Contemporary Christian Nominated (Brian Courtney Wilson)
2019 Best Gospel Album The Other Side Gospel & Contemporary Christian Nominated (The Walls Group)
2019 Best Gospel Album Make Room Gospel & Contemporary Christian Nominated (Jonathan McReynolds)
2019 Best Gospel Album Hiding Place Gospel & Contemporary Christian Won (Tori Kelly)
2020 Best Gospel Song Love Theory Gospel & Contemporary Christian Won (Kirk Franklin)
2020 Best Gospel Album Long, Live, Love Gospel & Contemporary Christian Won (Kirk Franklin)
2021 Best Gospel Song Movin' On Gospel & Contemporary Christian Won (Jonathan McReynolds)
2022 Best Gospel Album Live In LA Gospel & Contemporary Christian Nominated (Jonny X Mali)
2022 Best Global Music Album Mother Nature Global Music Won (Angélique Kidjo)
2023 Best Contemporary Christian Song So Good Gospel & Contemporary Christian Nominated (DOE)
2023 Best Gospel Album Clarity Gospel & Contemporary Christian Nominated (DOE)
2023 Best Gospel Song When I Pray Gospel & Contemporary Christian Nominated (DOE)
2023 Best Gospel Song Kingdom Gospel & Contemporary Christian Won (Maverick City Music x Kirk Franklin)
2023 Best Contemporary Christian Song Fear Is Not My Future Gospel & Contemporary Christian Won (Maverick City Music x Kirk Franklin)
2023 Best Gospel Album Kingdom: Book One Deluxe Gospel & Contemporary Christian Won (Maverick City Music x Kirk Franklin)
2024 Best Gospel Song All Things Gospel & Contemporary Christian Won (Kirk Franklin)
2024 Best Gospel Album My Truth Gospel & Contemporary Christian Nominated (Jonathan McReynolds)
2024 Best Gospel Song All Things Gospel & Contemporary Christian Won (Kirk Franklin)
2025 Best Contemporary Christian Song Holy Hands Gospel & Contemporary Christian Pending (DOE)
2025 Best Contemporary Christian Album Heart of a Human Gospel & Contemporary Christian Pending (DOE)
2025 Best Gospel Album Father's Day Gospel & Contemporary Christian Pending (Kirk Franklin)

Publishing history

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  • The Electric Bass Bible: Volume 1 Dexterity Exercises (2009)

References

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  1. ^ "Theresa Chiarelli Obituary". Legacy. June 18, 2022. Retrieved February 21, 2023.
  2. ^ "The GRAMMY's". National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. Retrieved April 30, 2015.
  3. ^ a b "Rob Chiarelli". IMDb. Retrieved June 30, 2011.
  4. ^ a b "Rob Chiarelli: Mixer". Music180. Retrieved June 30, 2011.
  5. ^ a b "Robe Chiarelli: Ceo at Final Mix, Inc". LinkedIn. Retrieved June 30, 2011.
  6. ^ a b Laskow, Michael. "Rob Chiarelli Interview". Taxi.com. Retrieved May 28, 2011.
  7. ^ "Final Mix Software". Pinchplant.com. Retrieved May 15, 2015.
  8. ^ "Rob Chiarelli & Final Mix Software". Mi2N.com. Retrieved May 28, 2014.
  9. ^ "Come and Mingle with Rob Chiarelli, Producer, Mixer, and CEO of Final Mix, Inc". Launch Mondays. March 18, 2010. Archived from the original on February 11, 2012. Retrieved June 30, 2011.
  10. ^ "Daily Inspiration: Meet Paper Rainbows". Voyage LA. October 14, 2022. Retrieved March 1, 2023.
  11. ^ "Rob Chiarelli (download needed)". DocStoc. Retrieved June 30, 2011.
  12. ^ Dexterity Exercises for the Electric Bass by Rob Chiarelli. January 14, 2020. ASIN 1603781951.
  13. ^ "NAMM 2020 and Beyond". Ex Machine Sound. January 14, 2020. Retrieved March 1, 2023.
  14. ^ "Multi-Grammy Winning Mixer/Producer Rob Chiarelli interviewed by TAXI's Michael Laskow". TAXI. Retrieved March 1, 2023.
  15. ^ "Video: Advanced Record Production w/Rob Chiarelli, TAXI TV Live". TAXI TV Live. June 21, 2010. Archived from the original on October 19, 2012. Retrieved June 30, 2011.
  16. ^ "UPCOMING PRISM EVENTS: FREE SEMINAR AND ASCAP EXPO CHAT". Music Connection Magazine. April 26, 2016. Retrieved March 1, 2023.
  17. ^ "Guitar Center Introduces GC Pro Sales Division". Business Wire. Retrieved March 16, 2004.
  18. ^ "Discography: Rob Chiarelli". Final Mix. Retrieved June 30, 2011.
  19. ^ "Julian Lennon, Tin Cup Gypsy, Donna Burke, Mark Ballas, Maxi Priest, Wendy Parr, Monday Michiru, Amber Lily, Tierney Sutton, Rie Fu and Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band – Shine On! Songs Volume One". Discogs. October 7, 2011. Retrieved October 30, 2011.
  20. ^ "Think About These Things - Charles Jenkins I Credits I Allmusic". AllMusic.
  21. ^ "In It To Win It - Charlie Wilson I Credits I Allmusic". AllMusic.
  22. ^ "Stokley – Introducing Stokley (2017, CD) - Discogs". Discogs.
  23. ^ "Koryn Hawthorne – Koryn Hawthorne I Credits I Allmusic". AllMusic.
  24. ^ "Well Done – Erica Campbell I Credits I Allmusic". AllMusic.
  25. ^ "Hiding Place – Tori Kelly I Credits I Allmusic". AllMusic.
  26. ^ "Make Room – Jonathan McReynolds I Credits I Allmusic". AllMusic.
  27. ^ "Long Live Love – Kirk Franklin I Credits I Allmusic". AllMusic.
  28. ^ "Mother Nature – Angélique Kidjo I Credits I Allmusic". AllMusic.
  29. ^ "Overcomer - Credits". AllMusic.
  30. ^ "2022 Grammy Awards - Winners".
  31. ^ "Lindsey Webster - Official Website".
  32. ^ "All Things - Credits". AllMusic.
  33. ^ "Father's Day - Credits". AllMusic.
  34. ^ "Note to Self - Credits". AllMusic.
  35. ^ "Grammy Nominees and Winners". Grammy.com. Retrieved June 30, 2011.

Further reading

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