Harley is a native of Southern
California now living in Arizona, but he also feels at
home in India, where he received a full scholarship to
study Hindi linguistics at New Delhi University. Harley
also graduated from the Army - Navy Conservatory of
Music in the USA.
As an ethnomusicologist and performing jazz musician
(trumpet and bass), Harley has both absolute pitch and
total musical recall, all of which enhances his ability
to compose and orchestrate music in a multitude of
genres. In addition to writing award-winning songs,
Harley works as a consultant and arranger for
songwriters, and upon occasion, has composed for
independent film projects, such as:;
▪ NARAM 34
▪
Playboy:
Stripsearch
▪
Baywatch: Season 2
▪ Megahurtz
▪ Marissa, Where Art Thou?
In addition, Harley has
ghost-composed and/or assisted other composers on their
own projects.
Some of the genres in which he
currently composes include, Indian, Aboriginal, Chinese,
Tibetan, Middle Eastern, North African fusion,
Celtic,
Jazz
and Neo-Classical.
Harley’s fantasy piece, “Fly So High” won honorable
mention in the John Lennon Songwriting Contest. He has
also won 12 awards from VH1 Song of The Year contest in
composing and orchestrating in a number of genres.
Harley tested in the highest percentile in a perfect
pitch test that was administered by University of
California, San Francisco. This degree of pitch
perception enables Harley to encapsulate and utilize
original and highly unique cultural sound blends. It
also
|
|
helps Harley compose and
orchestrate highly complex material under tight
deadlines.
The following 4 references are from well-known people in
music and dance in the USA.
Renowned classical music conductor
David Amos once said, “I’d give my right arm to have
Harley’s ear.” And Steve Vai,
guitar guru wrote, “I find Harley extremely adept at
composing and orchestrating… He hears instantaneously
what needs to be done to enhance the visual imagery
desired.” In fact, after hearing his music, people often
say that Harley’s songs and orchestrations create strong
visual images that linger. Fran Cohen, Artistic Director
of the Center Dance Ensemble, Phoenix, AZ says that
Harley expertly composes to concept and some of his
classical pieces remind her of Stravinsky. Maria
Redina Franz, Choreographer of the
Motion Theater Dance Company has said that “Harley is a
very gifted and talented composer”.
Recently, Harley completed a
project co-composing and orchestrating 14 songs for a
three act musical play which is being workshopped at the
Canyon Moon
Theatre in the Sedona area. He will soon
begin composing theme music for upcoming dinner theater
plays. Harley is also composing Celtic songs for another
musical play in development as well as Medieval music
for yet another project.
Currently, Harley is available to
compose for:
▪ Modern
dance companies
▪
Live stage performances (source music)
▪
Film projects
▪
Corporate and ad
agencies music jingles
▪
Websites
▪
Orchestrating
songwriter’s material |
|