Thomas Bähler has enjoyed a career in entertainment that few can claim. He has had the privilege of working with numerous icons of our time.
He was both Music Supervisor and Executive Producer of the soundtrack album for “The Color Purple”, working with Oprah Winfrey and Whoopi Goldberg, directed by Steven Spielberg and produced by Quincy Jones.
He was both lyricist and composer for Michael Jackson’s “She’s Out of My Life”, as well as Michael’s principle vocal arranger throughout his career. He composed, again both lyrically and musically, “The American Dream” for Barry Levinson’s “Wag the Dog”, starring Robert DeNiro and Dustin Hoffman.
Thomas served as Creative Director at Radio City Music Hall, and for numerous Super Bowl Half Time Shows, and also composed the music for Siegfried and Roy’s thirteen-year sold-out show at the Mirage Hotel in Las Vegas.
He served as Music Director and Producer for many Diana Ross events, including her television special “Red Hot and Blues”, as well as for her appearance in the opening of World Cup 1994. Thomas provided voices and vocal arrangements for Barbra Streisand, and was also chosen as vocal arranger for Billy Joel’s album “Innocent Man“.
Thomas’ long history of collaboration with Quincy Jones reached a new level when he was asked to be Associate Producer and Vocal Arranger for “We Are The World”, which reunited him with many artists with whom he had worked as a singer, arranger and/or producer, such as Ray Charles, Stevie Wonder, Tina Turner and Billy Joel and Bette Midler.
Thomas has composed music for countless television shows and films. His score for “The Object of Beauty”, starring John Malkovich and Andie MacDowell garnered much critical acclaim.
He has received the coveted Alumni Merit Award from the University of Southern California, and was also honored by his Alma Mater’s Thornton School of Music with a Special Commendation Award.
He served a vocal consultant and music conductor for the movie “The Wiz”, and also served in that capacity with the added moniker of Music Director for many events sponsored by the White House, including “America’s Millennium”, “Points of Light” and President Clinton’s Inaugural Concert. Thomas has also served as Music Director and arranger for “The Kennedy Center Honors”.
Thomas penned another hit record for Cher entitled “Living In A House Divided”, and Nora Ephron chose his song “Cowboy Reggae” to introduce John Travolta on-screen in her movie “Michael”.
Thomas’s novel “ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE, A Tale of ÆSOP”, has been endorsed by Quincy Jones.
