Chuck Fernandez/Pete Myers luncheon
Pete Myers and Charles Fernandez Honored at
ASMAC June Honor-Our-Own Luncheon
A large and enthusiastic crowd attended the June 24, 2009 ASMAC Honor-Our- Own luncheon honoring Peter Myers and Charles Fernandez at Catalina’s Bar and Grill in Hollywood. Pete Myers has the reputation of being the pro’s pro. A composer, conductor, arranger, and orchestrator he has served as lead composer for many producers, including Aaron Spelling, Lorimar, Twentieth Century Fox, Universal, CBS, Viacom and Paramount. His series include “Dynasty,” “Hotel,” “The Colbys,” “The Love Boat,” “Charlie’s Angels,” “Glitter,” “Finder of Lost Loves,” “Aloha Paradise,” “Murder She Wrote,” “Voyagers,,”“Diagnosis Murder,” “Matlock,” “Father Dowling,”“Jake and the Fatman,” “Tiny Toons,” “Falcon Crest,” “Fall Guy,” “Stark,” “Emerald Point,” and “Happy Days.” Pete was the orchestrator for several films including “Unmarried Woman,” “Fist,” “Rocky III,” “The Seduction of Joe Tynan,” “The Wiz,” “Private Benjamin,” “For Your Eyes Only,” “A Man, Woman & Bank,” and “The Formula.” In variety television, he was the chief arranger on a number of series, including “Carol Burnett,” “Sonny & Cher,” “Captain & Tennille,” and specials with Bing Crosby, Duke Ellington, Chicago, Academy Awards, Cotton Club 78, Emmy Awards, and Bob Hope.
Pete has also written arrangements for Sammy Davis, Jr., Carmen McRae, Sarah Vaughn, Tom Jones, Gladys Night, Robert Goulet, Della Reese, Andy Gibb, and Fred Astaire. As a jazz trombone player, he performed in the 1960s with Frank Rosolino, Conte Candoli, Oliver Nelson and Philly Joe Jones. In 1969 he was appointed musical director for the Della Reese Show and also wrote arrangements for Billy Eckstein, Marvin Gay, George Benson, OscarPeterson, Dizzy Gillespie, and Cannonball Adderly.
Pete Myers was introduced by Van Alexander who said, “It I had to be stranded on a desert island with a man, I’d have to pick Peter because he is always entertaining and informative.” Peter shared with ASMAC some of his personal history. Originally from Manchester, England, he attended the Royal College of Music until the jazz bug bit him. He decided if he was serious about a career in the music business he needed to relocate to Hollywood which he did in 1964. Peter Myers graciously thanked ASMAC for the honor: “It’s terrific to be honored by my peers. I’ve worked for years ‘under the radar’ and I find this tribute very moving. Thank you.”
Chuck Fernandez moved to L.A. from his native New
Orleans in 1983 and began
composing for television in
film in 1989. He has
composed for television
series such as Universal’s
“Casper Cartoon Series” (for
which he received two Emmy
and one Annie nomination),
Disney’s” Little Mermaid,”
“Aladdin,” “Doug,” and “101
Dalmations,” “Dalmations’
Toonsylvania,” “Disney’s
Bonkers” and Cartoon
Networks’ “Robot Chicken.”
Among films he’s written for
are “Doug’s 1st Movie”
(Disney), “Aladdin III”
(Disney), “The Pebble and
the Penguin” (MGM), “All
Dogs Go To Heaven II”
(MGM), “Aladdin and the
King of Thieves” (Disney);
“All Dogs Christmas Carol”
(MGM), “Babes in Toyland”
(MGM), “Tom Sawyer”
(MGM), “Alvin and the
Chipmunks Meet
Frankenstein” (Universal),
“The New Adeventures of
Tom Thumb and
Thumbalina” (Artisan),
“Jingle Bells” (Artisan) and
“The Tangerine Bear
“(Artisan). He has also
served as orchestrator and
conductor on countless
trailers and film projects.
He studied conducting and
bassoon at Loyla University
in New Orleans and bassoon
at UCLA (his Masters
degree) and at the Royal
College of Music in London.
Also active as composer of
concert music, he has
recorded several compact
discs of his own music. He
currently serves as the
ASMAC Board Secretary-
Treasurer.
_Jeannie Gayle Pool
