Walter Afanasieff

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Walter "Wally" Afanasieff is a grammy-award-winning record producer and songwriter who started out as Whitney Houston's arranger but rose to success co-writing and co-producing music with Mariah Carey. He has also written and produced music for many famous singers such Jessica Simpson, Lionel Richie, Luther Vandross, Céline Dion, Savage Garden, Destiny's Child, Kenny G, Michael Bolton, Kenny Loggins, Barbara Streisand, Christina Aguilera, Ricky Martin, Marc Anthony, Babyface, Lara Fabian, Michael Jackson, Josh Groban and many more. Afanasieff is working with a young Hungarian talent, Linda Kiraly, whose international album is to be released early 2007.

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[edit] Life and work

Together with his musical mentor (production-wise), 80's top-producer Narada Michael Walden, his first big production was the title track of the James Bond movie "Licence to Kill" sung by Gladys Knight. One of his biggest hits as a producer was the "titanic" smash hit "My Heart Will Go On" .

Afanasieff is a multitalented instrumentalist. Beside other instruments he plays drums, guitar, bass and of course piano. His musical skills can be heard on most of his recordings (mainly keyboards, organ, piano, bass and drum-programming). He is best known for his big bombastic sounding and great arranged productions (like "My Heart Will Go On") on which he works with the creme de la creme of musicians and mixing engineers like Michael Landau (guitars), Nathan East (bass), Dann Huff (guitars), Mick Guzauski (Mixing Engineer), Greg Phillinganes (piano), Bill Ross (string/orchestra arranger and conductor) etc. The main productions take place in Afanasieff's own recording studios (Wally World) in San Raffael, California where he records mainly in digital.

Afanasieff spent the vast majority of his career creating music with Mariah Carey. He traveled and toured with her, playing piano live. He appeared in Carey's home videos talking about their creative process. After 1997's Butterfly album, Afanasieff and Carey reportedly had creative differences and a falling out. They have not worked together since, although on 2001's Glitter, Carey released one of the songs the pair had co-written during the Butterfly sessions, "Lead the Way". After Carey's breakdown, E! Entertainment interviewed Afanasieff, who spoke highly of Carey, noting her hard work ethic and musical talent.

Beneath the senior portrait in his high school yearbook, Afanasieff wrote that his goal was to write and play better than Keith Emerson of Emerson, Lake & Palmer. Walter currently resides in the Hollywood Hills in Los Angeles, California with his girlfriend Katie Cazorla.

[edit] Mariah Carey discography

Mariah Carey

Emotions

  • And You Don't Remember (co-written and co-produced)
  • Can't Let Go (co-written and co-produced)
  • If It's Over (co-produced)
  • So Blessed (co-produced)
  • Till the End of Time (co-written and co-produced)
  • The Wind (co-produced)

MTV Unplugged

Music Box

  • Dreamlover (co-produced)
  • Hero (co-written and co-produced)
  • Anytime You Need a Friend (co-written and co-produced)
  • Music Box (co-written and co-produced)
  • Without You (co-produced)
  • Just to Hold You Once Again (co-written and co-produced)
  • All I've Ever Wanted (co-written and co-produced)
  • Everything Fades Away (co-written and co-produced)

Merry Christmas

Daydream

  • Underneath the Stars (co-written and co-produced)
  • One Sweet Day (co-written and co-produced)
  • Open Arms (co-produced)
  • I Am Free (co-written and co-produced)
  • When I Saw You (co-written and co-produced)
  • Forever (co-written and co-produced)
  • Looking In (co-written and co-produced)

Butterfly

  • Butterfly (co-written and co-produced)
  • My All (co-written and co-produced)
  • Fourth of July (co-written and co-produced)
  • Close My Eyes (co-written and co-produced)
  • Whenever You Call (co-written and co-produced)
  • Outside (co-written and co-produced)

Glitter

  • Lead the Way (co-written and co-produced)

Misc.

[edit] Céline Dion discography

Celine Dion (album)

The Colour Of My Love

  • Love Doesn't Ask Why (produced)

Let's Talk About Love

  • My Heart Will Go On (co-produced)
  • Tell Him (co-written and co-produced)
  • Immortality (co-produced)

A New Day Has Come

[edit] Ricky Martin discography

  • She Bangs (co-written and co-produced)
  • Nobody Wants To Be Lonely (co-produced)

[edit] Josh Groban discography

Josh Groban (co-produced with David Foster)

  • Gira con me questa notte (produced and arranged)
  • Un Amore per Sempre (wrote music)

Closer

  • Per Te (co-written with Josh Groban, produced)
  • You're the Only Place (bonus track on internet edition only, co-written with Billy Mann)
  • Broken Vow (co-written and originally performed by Lara Fabian)


[edit] Jessica Simpson discography

  • When You Told Me You Loved Me
  • To Fall in Love Again

[edit] Lara Fabian discography

Lara Fabian

  • You are my heart (co-written)
  • You're not from here (co-written)
  • Broken Vow (co-written)

A Wonderful Life

  • Walk Away (co-written with Kara DioGuardi)

Udo Lindenberg

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