或許你不知道他是誰，但你一定聽過他作的音樂；他是葛萊美獎提名人——Rex Rideout。或許這是音樂產業最大的祕密，從R&B、pop、smooth jazz到電視和廣播廣告都可以發現其身影，Rex持續不輟的展現多方天賦，例如作為製作人、作曲者、編曲者和所謂的音樂人，這些領域的作品都讓人印象深刻。（You may not recognize him, but you know his music. Grammy nominated, Rex Rideout could be considered one of the industry's best kept secrets. From R&B and pop to smooth jazz to television and radio commercials, Rex has continued to exhibit his versatile gifts as a producer, songwriter, arranger and musician, and has quietly built an impressive body of work.）
你可以透過Luther Vandross、Angie Stone、Will Downing、Lalah Hathaway和Boney James的音樂，以及Coca-Cola、AT&T、McDonald's、Budweiser、Ford Motors和K-Swiss的廣告中聽到他的作品。（His music can be heard on such artists as Luther Vandross, Angie Stone, Will Downing, Lalah Hathaway, and Boney James, and in advertising spots for Coca-Cola, AT&T, Mc Donald's, Budweiser, Ford Motors and K-Swiss. ）
來自賓夕法尼亞州匹茲堡的Rex，十歲時就展現對音樂的喜好，他自始學習鋼琴，並與幾個當地樂團共同登台表演。為了追求更遠大的音樂之路，Rex搬到亞特蘭大，結識了一些當地著名的樂手，此後，Rex被引介至紐約，不久便成為Roy Ayers、George Howard、Noel Pointer和Will Downing的演唱會鍵盤手。（Hailing from Pittsburgh PA, Rex's interest in music began at the age of ten when he learned to play the piano and performed with local groups. Deciding to pursue a career in music, he moved to Atlanta, meeting up with some of the area's noted musicians. From there, Rex was led to New York and subsequently became the live keyboardist for Roy Ayers, George Howard, Noel Pointer and Will Downing.）
累積巡迴現場演奏經驗後，最終轉進錄音室工作。Rex在GPR唱片操作了三張George Howard的專輯（譯注：《Do I Ever Cross Your Mind?》〔1992〕、《When Summer Comes》〔1993〕、《Home Far Away》〔1994〕）、在Mercury唱片操作了兩張Will Downing專輯（譯注：應該是三張，《Love's the Place to Be》〔1993〕、《Moods》〔1995〕、以及下段會提到的《Invitation Only》〔1997〕），作曲和製作的功力大為精進，為Will Downing所作的作品〈Sorry I〉，打入成人單曲（Urban AC single）榜的前十名和R&B單曲（R&B single）榜的前四十名，並將《Moods》這張Downing著名專輯推向「告示牌」（譯注：本篇所提及之排行榜皆為「Billboard」）現代爵士專輯（Contemporary Jazz album）榜的第一名。同時，Rex也開始替電視、廣播的廣告寫曲和製作，並發掘新歌手到他自己的音樂製作公司。（Roadwork eventually turned into studio work, where Rex garnered songwriting and production on three of George Howard's albums on GRP Records and on two of Will Downing's albums on Mercury Records. Rex's song, "Sorry I" became a Top 10 Urban AC single as well as a Top 40 R&B single, pushing Downing's Moods to be a #1 Billboard Contemporary Jazz album. During that same time, Rex began writing and producing jingles for TV and radio commercials, as well as developing new artists under his production company. ）
Rex接著參與製作了「Downing」後來的兩張專輯：《Invitation Only》和《All the Man You Need》，然而他的音樂之路卻沒有任何「Down」的跡象，還被許多知名的歌手點名，證據如下：
- 他替SWV的聖誕專輯《A Special Christmas》製作了〈Silver Bells〉這首歌；
- 在Luther Vandross的黃金唱片（譯注：專輯總銷售超過500,000張）、葛萊美獎提名專輯《I Know》中，共同創作和編製首波主打〈Night In Harlem〉一曲；
- 在The Temptations的葛萊美獎提名白金唱片（譯注：專輯總銷售超過1,000,000張）《Phoenix Rising》中，Rex擔綱寫曲和製作工作，其中〈How Could He Hurt You〉成為該專輯的第二波主打單曲；
- 與Boney James，這位著名smooth jazz音樂人的黃金唱片《Body Language》，合作一曲〈Are You Ready〉；
- neo-soul歌手Angie Stone在她令人驚豔的白金唱片《Black Diamond》中，也收錄了Rex的作品〈Could Be You〉；
- 在《Pokemon 2000: The Power of One》（神奇寶貝）的電影原聲帶，Rex參與了〈They Don't Understand〉單曲，並交由青少年團體Dreamstreet演唱。
（Showing no signs of slowing down, Rex produced songs on the next two Will Downing albums, Invitation Only and All the Man You Need, and was tapped by a number of other stellar artists. Rex contributed his production of "Silver Bells" on the Christmas album from SWV. He co-wrote and arranged "Nights In Harlem", the 1st single from Luther Vandross' gold certified and Grammy nominated album, I Know. He produced and wrote, "How Could He Hurt You" which became the 2nd single from The Temptations' platinum certified and Grammy nominated album, Phoenix Rising. Likewise, renowned smooth jazz artist, Boney James, features Rex's song, "Are You Ready" on his gold album Body Language, neo-soulist, Angie Stone, includes the single "Coulda Been You" on her breakthrough platinum album Black Diamond, and the soundtrack to the movie Pokemon 2000 incorporates "They Don't Understand" performed by upstart pop group Dreamstreet. ）
讓我們把焦點轉回Rex擅長的工作。他和專門出版Jazz音樂的N-Coded Music唱片，當時的總裁Carl Griffin一同激發名為「Club 1600」的概念專輯；由於受到Quincy Jones的《Q's jook joint》專輯啟發，Rex也在smooth jazz場域利用了類似的途徑（譯注：意指跨音樂領域／音樂人合作，《Q's jook joint》的大堆頭模式在當時蔚為風潮）。這兩張專輯以「Club 1600」為名的專輯，製作皆不假他人之手，全由Rex包辦，並且找來了許多smooth jazz裡的風雲人物，包括Roy Ayers、Randy Brecker、Gerald Albright和Maysa。第一張專輯《NCoded Music》的歌就名列排行榜前茅，其中包括〈Stay〉這首改編自The Temptations動人歌曲；第二張專輯《Ridin' High》，在極富感染力的〈Tease〉單曲之中，Albright那令人無法抗拒的薩克斯風和Rex本身豐富鍵盤簡直是完美搭配。（Taking a step out from behind the scenes, Rex, along with N-Coded Music President Carl Griffin, created the concept album Club 1600. Being inspired by Quincy Jones' Q's Jook Joint, Rex set out with the same approach for the smooth jazz arena. Having two installments released, both albums were produced entirely by Rex, and featured a collection of songs performed by some of the most respected names in smooth jazz including Roy Ayers, Randy Brecker, Gerald Albright and Maysa. The first album yielded the chart topper, "Stay", a powerful arrangement of The Tempations' hit song, and the second, Ridin' High, features the infectious single "Tease" highlighting Albright's irresistible sax and Rex's own prolific keyboard playing. ）
轉移陣地至洛杉磯之後，Rex依舊持續著音樂製作和創作。第一首發表的曲子是收錄於Boney James獲得葛萊美獎提名的《Ride》專輯中，由Dave Hollister獻唱的〈Somethin' Inside〉；接著是Will Downing《Sensual Journey》專輯中的〈Cool Water〉；Rex也製作了同廠牌（譯注：N2K唱片，是N-Coded Music唱片的前身）女歌手Maysa的專輯《Out Of The Blue》；Al Jarreau的《All I Got》專輯也收錄了他所創作的兩首歌，其中一首甚至是首波主打〈Secret Of Love〉。Rex的「外務」也是絲毫不遜色，例如Nissan、General Motors、K-Swiss等許多熱門電視廣告歌曲的製作。（Relocating to Los Angeles, Rex continued his producing and writing, delivering first singles "Somthin' Inside" sung by Dave Hollister from Boney James' Grammy nominated album, Ride and "Cool Water" from Will Downing's CD, Sensual Journey. Rex also produced the Out Of The Blue album for label mate, Maysa and contributed two songs to Al Jarreau's All I Got (including first single "Secrets Of Love"). Not letting his "other career" fade, he completed music for several popular TV and radio spots for Nissan, General Motors, and K-Swiss. ）
