Harold O'Neal
Harold O'Neal | |
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O'Neal in 2011 | |
Background information | |
Birth name | Harold Mujahid O'Neal |
Also known as | Mr Piano Cinema |
Born |
Arusha, Tanzania | March 27, 1981
Origin | Kansas City, Missouri |
Genres |
Classical Jazz Hip Hop R&B Pop |
Occupation(s) |
Composer Producer Dancer Actor Public Speaker |
Instruments | Piano |
Years active | 2003–present |
Labels | BluRoc Roc-A-Fella Universal Music Group PME Smalls Records |
Associated acts | Jerry Duplessis, Lil' Ronnie, Damon Dash, Ski Beatz, Bobby Watson, Greg Osby, Andrew Hill, Ahmad Alaadeen |
Harold Mujahid O'Neal (born March 27, 1981) is a Tanzanian-born American pianist, film score composer, record producer, actor, and dancer. He has worked with U2, Jay Z, Disney, and HBO. He is compared to Duke Ellington by The New York Times and is considered to be one of this generation's greatest pianists.
Career
The last protégé of Andrew Hill, O'Neal began working with musical luminaries from a young age — touring the world with Bobby Watson when he was 19 after studying composition at the Berklee College Of Music and leaving the Manhattan School of Music to replace pianist Jason Moran in the influential band, The Greg Osby 4, recording for Blue Note Records.
As a composer, Harold is known for blending the genres of 20th-century impressionist music with modern music. His solo piano albums are noted for meriting a special identity. His work has been featured in the New York Times, Fortune, NPR, and PRI.
Film Scoring
Harold has composed music for Disney's Tomorrowland, Damon Dash and Kanye West's Loisaidas, and was a featured artist on the Bollywood film Tanu Weds Manu Returns "Old School Girl".
Production
In addition to composing, O'Neal is equally active as a producer in the worlds of Pop, Hip-Hop, and R&B. In 2010, Harold partnered with hip hop legend Damon Dash. This led to a long term collaboration with the iconic hip hop producer Ski Beatz, touring extensively with hip-hop artists, and producing tracks for Mac Miller, Cam'Ron, Murs, and Sir Michael Rocks. In 2012, Harold began a collaboration with super-producers Lil' Ronnie and Jerry Duplessis, a.k.a. Jerry Wonda, with whom he has worked with Busta Rhymes, Ashanti, Ne-Yo, and many of the music industry's icons.
Notable Events
Electric Burma
On June 18th, 2012, Harold performed with U2, Lupe Fiasco, Bob Geldof, Damien Rice, Angelique Kidjo and many other major artists for the presentation of Amnesty International's prestigious 'Ambassador of Conscience' Award to Aung San Suu Kyi. The award was originally announced from the stage when U2 played Croke Park in July 2009 - while the Burmese Nobel Peace Prize recipient was still under house arrest in Burma.
Global Citizen: World On Stage
On September 22nd, 2016, Harold performed with Aloe Blacc and Maya Jupiter for The Global Citizen Festival's The World On Stage, a night curated by Tom Morello and Jon Batiste. The evening was dedicated to several prominent speakers who addressed various causes -- such as education, the refugee crisis, gender equality, poverty, hunger, and much more -- and the presentation of the inaugural George Harrison Global Citizen award, presented by Paul Simon to Olivia and Dhani Harrison (George's widow and son).
The BLK SHP Bus Tours
Harold is a key member of Blk Shp (Black Sheep) -- a diverse collective of educators, entrepreneurs, and artists. With the recent Blk Shp Bus Tour the group travelled across the U.S. in search of untold American mentorship stories. Exploring a range of disciplines: from classroom experiences to museums to blacksmiths; BLK SHP partnered in this project with Pixar. Pixar -- who are famous for their original and inspiring movies -- co-hosted many of the Bus Tour workshops, having inspiring the origin of BLK SHP back in 2012. Today, the BLK SHP community includes over 3,000 creative specialists in North America and abroad. Harold is proud to play his part.
Discography
Albums
Year | Artist | Title | Label |
---|---|---|---|
2018 | Harold O'Neal | Piano Cinema | |
2013 | Harold O'Neal | Man On The Street | Universal Music Group |
2012 | Cam'Ron And Vado | BluTops | Universal Music Group |
2012 | Ski Beatz | 24 Hour Karate School Presents: Twilight | Universal Music Group |
2011 | Ski Beatz | 24 Hour Karate School 2 | Universal Music Group |
2011 | Harold O'Neal | Marvelous Fantasy | Smalls Records |
2010 | Harold O'Neal | Whirling Mantis | Smalls Records |
2008 | Bobby Watson | From The Heart | Palmetto Records |
2007 | Ahmad Alaadeen | And The Beauty Of It All | ASR Records |
2007 | Harold O'Neal | Charlie's Suite | PME Records |
2005 | Ahmad Alaadeen | New Africa Suite | ASR Records |
2005 | Leron Thomas | Dirty Draws Vol. 1 | Leron Thomas |
2003 | Greg Osby | St. Louis Shoes | Blue Note Records |
Film/TV
Year | Title | Director | Production Company |
---|---|---|---|
2015 | Tomorrowland (Blast From The Past Theme) | Brad Bird | Walt Disney Pictures |
2015 | Tanu Weds Manu Returns (Old School Girl) | Anand L. Rai | Colour Yellow Pictures |
2015 | Loisaidas (Ballade Of Jean Grey) | Damon Dash Exec. Prod. Kanye West | Damon Dash Studios |
Songs
Year | Artist | Title | Label |
---|---|---|---|
2014 | Tank | Thanking You | Atlantic Records |
2014 | Mali Music | Ready Aim | RCA Records |
2014 | Mali Music | One | RCA Records |
2013 | RaVaughn Feat Wale | Better Be Good | Sony Music Entertainment |
2013 | Bridget Kelly | Goosebumps | RocNation |
2013 | Gyptian | Good Girls | VP Records |
2013 | Gyptian | Turn Me On | VP Records |
2012 | Selah Sue | Fade Away | Because Music |
2012 | Ashanti Feat R. Kelly | That's What We Do | Written Entertainment |
2012 | Wonda Music Presents Feat Busta Rhymes | Make It Shake | Wonda Music |
2012 | Cam'Ron & Vado | BluTops | BluRoc |
2011 | Cassidy | Majesty | Universal Music Group |
2011 | Mikey Rocks | Cotton Candy | Universal Music Group |
2011 | Najee | This World | Universal Music Group |
2011 | Glc & Stat Quo | You Already Know | Universal Music Group |
2011 | MURS | Reach Hire | Universal Music Group |
2011 | MURS | Westside Love | Universal Music Group |
2011 | MURS | Epic Salutations | Universal Music Group |
2011 | MURS | Hip Hop & Love | Universal Music Group |
2011 | Mikey Rocks & Trademark Da Sky Diver | Living It Up | Universal Music Group |
2011 | Mac Miller | As Time Goes By | Universal Music Group |
2011 | Rugz D Bewler | Thank God | Universal Music Group |
2011 | Najee & Nicole Wray | New York City | Universal Music Group |
2011 | Locksmith | Silly Negro | Universal Music Group |
2011 | Locksmith | The Bottom | Universal Music Group |
2011 | Locksmith | Going Numb | Universal Music Group |
Filmography
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2009 | MTV - The Elements NYC: Bboy | Himself | Documentary |
2009 | Jay Z feat Mr. Hudson Young Forever | Himself | Music video |
2010 | Boardwalk Empire | Himself | Episode: "Home" |
2010 | iPad Music Video - Eye of the Tiger remix | Himself | Music video |
2011 | The Daily Habit | Himself | Episode: 168 |
2012 | Electric Burma | Himself | Documentary |
2014 | Keep On Keepin' On | Himself | Documentary |
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2013 | Lady Day | Sonny | Off-Broadway (Understudy) |
References
External links