EMILIO PALAME - A BIOGRAPHY

Emilio Palame was born on March 14, 1954 in Buffalo, New York.  In his early years he found a deep passion for music.  Countless hours were spent teaching himself to play the piano in the basement of his parent's house.  Leading a group of young musicians by age twelve, Emilio played organ and sang in a band that performed at local concerts, clubs, and school events.

After studying privately throughout high school, Emilio was awarded a state scholarship to attend Fredonia State University to further his education in music.  While studying at Fredonia, Emilio composed, arranged, and conducted ensembles for album recordings and local television. He directed the Fredonia Jazz Ensemble program for four years - longer than any other student director before or since!  Touring the east coast, he taught clinics and performed concerts at major jazz festivals; winning "Outstanding Composer/Arranger" and "Outstanding Ensemble" awards at the Notre Dame Jazz Festival in 1975, 76, and 77 - three years in a row!

Emilio graduated from SUNY Fredonia in 1976 with two Bachelor Degrees: B.A. in Music Theory and Composition and B.S. in Music Education.  As a post-graduate, he was hired by the university to teach music theory, jazz arranging and improvisation, and private instruction for piano.  During this time, many of his original scores for big-band and orchestra were published by Jenson Pub. and Kendor Music.  Halfway to his Master's Degree, Emilio decided to leave school to pursue his musical career as a composer/arranger and performer with his own big-band.

In 1977, Mark Records released "Make Room", Emilio's first commercial recording.  In addition to producing and arranging the album, Emilio conducted his big-band; featuring himself on piano.  "Make Room" received great acclaim in the jazz scene from top critics such as George Beck and Dale Anderson.  The release of the album spawned a series of concerts in which Emilio headlined with major artists such as Tony Bennett, Buddy Rich, Lionel Hampton, and Stanely Turentine. Even as Emilio was beginning to make a name for himself in the more traditional jazz scene of the east coast, he found a new love for the more modern R&B and funk movement of the west coast and moved to Los Angeles in 1978.

Over the next several years, Emilio expanded his musical career beyond the jazz with which he had already tasted success.  He performed and recorded with many artists in L.A. building a reputation that eventually landed him the coveted seat as accompanist/conductor for the legendary Miss Peggy Lee.

During his expansive eleven year collaboration with Miss Lee, Emilio performed with many major acts including, Frank Sinatra, Mel Torme, George Burns, Count Basie and has conducted The Milwaukee and Pittsburgh Symphonies and The Los Angeles Philharmonic at the Hollywood Bowl.  More than just an accompanist, Emilio co-wrote, "Circle In The Sky" with Miss Lee, the song that "represented the full circle she'd described in her lifetime." said biographer Peter Richmond in Fever: The Life and Music of Miss Peggy Lee.

Spawning from his great success with Miss Lee, Emilio went on to tour and record with Paul Williams, Mamas and the Papas, Andy Williams, Connie Stevens, The Jeoffry Ballet, Lanie Kazan, Sha Na Na, Chuck Mangione, Mike Garson, Mark Winkler, Junko Yagami, Ernie Watts, Grant Geissman, and on the set of TV shows "Cheers", "Fraiser", "Friends", "Just Shoot Me", and "News Radio".  After touring both nationally and internationally for many years, Emilio decided to settle down back home in Los Angeles, and established himself as a studio keyboardist, composer/arranger and producer.

In 1990, Chase Music Group released "Home Free", Emilio's critically acclaimed first solo album.  Produced by Emilio, the CD featured all original instrumentals he composed and arranged.  In addition to his own albums, he produced/arranged several other albums for various artists including, Amarna's "Shadow Play" (#8 on Japan's "J-Wave" Top 100), Mark Winkler's "Color of Love" (AC Top 10), Back To The Future star Tom Wilson's "In The Name Of The Father", Bulgarian pianist Emile Lambrev's "Nostalgic Dream", and Garner Thomas' "When You Hold Me".

After spending several years producing/arranging and recording tracks with many artists in Los Angeles, Emilio began his career in film/television.  Beginning with conducting and orchestrating the score to the CBS Afternoon Special "Love In The Dark Ages", he quickly moved on to composing/orchestrating "Movie Magic: Tornadoes" and several other shows.  He composed/arranged selected cues for "King of the Hill" on FOX TV and national ad campaigns for The Travel Channel, TWA, Best Stores, and Stacker II.  Emilio also orchestrated/arranged for composer Guy Moon on "The Fairly Oddparents", "Chalk Zone", and "Danny Phantom" on Nickelodeon.

In 2002, Emilio invited his son Emerson to co-write a commercial for "Mercedes Benz World Racing".  The bond they shared on that project, both professionally and as father/son was so great that they decided to form a composing team for all future projects.  Together they composed several commercials, provided cuts for music libraries, and co-wrote and produced two songs for Garner Thomas' debut album "When You Hold Me".

The very next year, Emerson and Emilio's big break came as they began composing their first television series, "Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide" on Nickelodeon. Since then, they've composed fifty-three episodes of "Ned's" and received critical acclaim from television and music professionals alike.

Currently, Emilio is completing the third and final season of "Ned's Declassified" with his son.  They are also beginning production on a new project with "King Washington", an exciting new rock band in L.A.