Original Soundtrack - Fame [Original Soundtrack]

Fame was a film directed by Alan Parker, a serious auteur (some would say overly serious, especially in light of the work that came later) who designed the film for posterity, and the same attitude carried over the music. Yes, the production techniques often do sound dated -- the over-reliance on state-of-the-art synthesizer ironically now sounds helplessly tied to the year of its creation -- but the music by Michael Gore is dynamic, varied, and alive, sung with real passion and vigor, and it still retains its essential spark 23 years after it was a pop culture phenomenon. Sure, it's glitzy and glossy, sounding like show tunes, but that's the tradition of this music, and it was done better than most Broadway tunes and movie soundtracks of the '80s. Years later, this still has the spark and vitality of kids trying to make their big break, no matter the kind of music they're singing, and that's one of the main reasons (along with Gore's fine compositions) Fame retains its power and entertainment value years later. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide

Name Credits Adam Abeshouse Violin, Violin (Electric) Alan Vetter Choir, Chorus Albert Richmond French Horn Alfons Schipani Concert Master, Violin Alla Goldenberg Cello Allan Schwartzberg Drums Amy Wheeler Choir, Chorus Andrew Lolya Flute Annie Roboff Choir, Chorus, Vocals (Background) Annie Sutton Vocals (Background) Anthony B. Evans Tambourine, Choir, Chorus, Vocals (Background) Anthony Lewis Percussion Anthony Ogburn Choir, Chorus, Vocals (Background) April Lang Vocals (Background), Choir, Chorus Ariana Bronne Violin Barry Rogers Trombone (Tenor) Ben Werblolowsky Choir, Chorus Billy Cross Guitar Bob Fisher Drums Carmel Malin Violin Carolyn Halif Cello Carolyn Voight Viola Charles Russo Clarinet Cheryl Questell Vocals (Background) Cheryl Williams Choir, Chorus Chris Parker Drums Chris Rogers Trumpet Chuck "Fingers" Irwin Engineer Cliff Carter Keyboards Cliff Morris Guitar Contemporary Gospel Chorus Choir, Chorus Crusher Bennett Percussion Danny Cahn Trumpet Darryl Ware Tambourine, Choir, Chorus Dave Bargeron Trombone (Tenor) David Glasser Sax (Alto), Saxophone David Spinozza Guitar David Taylor Trombone (Bass) David Tofani Saxophone, Sax (Alto) Deborah McDuffie Vocals (Background) Delphia Shipman Choir, Chorus, Tambourine Dennis Morouse Sax (Tenor) Derek Cheeley Choir, Chorus Desiree Lindsay Tabla, Vocals (Background), Tambourine Diana Halprin Violin Don Brooks Harmonica Donald MacCourt Bassoon Donald Palma Double Bass Eddie Bert Trombone Elliott Randall Guitar Eric Brockington Vocals, Performer, Tambourine, Vocals (Background) Evelyn Glover Viola Frank Kuloga Engineer Frank Owens Piano Frederick Buldrini Violin Gene Santini Bass George Marge Oboe George Young Sax (Alto) Gil Askey Producer Gordon Gottlieb Percussion Gordon Sayles Vocals (Background), Tambourine, Choir, Chorus Harold Coletta Viola Harold Kohon Violin Harold Vick Sax (Tenor) Harry DiVito Trombone Helen Huybrechts Viola Irene Cara Vocals (Background), Vocals, Performer Israel Chorberg Violin James Sedlar Trumpet Jean Deetjin Choir, Chorus Jean Ingraham Violin Jeff Layton Guitar Jeff Mironov Guitar Jesse Levy Cello Jim Ogden Percussion Jimmy Maelen Percussion Joe Rabuska Violin John Beal Double Bass Jon Faddis Trumpet Jonathan Abramowitz Cello Joseph Malin Violin Joyce Flissler Violin Judith Charlton Choir, Chorus Judy Geist Viola Julie Cohen Choir, Chorus Julien Barber Viola Julius Baker Flute Kathryn Kienke Violin Kenneth Bichel Synthesizer Kevin Windley Choir, Chorus Kimberley Carlson Vocals (Background) Lamar Alsop Violin, Concert Master Laura Dean Vocals Lawrence Lenske Cello Lee Currel Piano Lee Curreri Piano Lenore Weinstock Viola Lenore Wolaniuk Violin Leo Kahn Violin Leon Goldstein Violin Leon Pendarvis Keyboards Lew Soloff Trumpet Lewis Paer Double Bass Linda Clifford Vocals, Performer Lisa Herman Choir, Chorus, Vocals (Background) Lisa Lowell Choir, Chorus, Vocals (Background) Loren Glickman Bassoon Lou Eley Violin Louise Bethune Vocals (Background) Luther Vandross Vocals (Background) Marcus Miller Bass Maretha Stewart Vocals (Background) Marilyn Wright Violin Marsha Heller Oboe Mary Wormworth Vocals (Background) Maureen Gallagher Viola Maurice Bialkin Cello Max Ellen Violin Max Hollander Violin Michael Gore Performer, Producer, Piano Michael Monaco Guitar (Electric), Guitar Mike Lawrence Trumpet Monica Dizozza Choir, Chorus Neil Jason Bass Paul McCrane Guitar, Performer, Vocals Peggi Blu Vocals (Background) Peter Dimitriades Violin Peter Gordon French Horn Peter Vanderwater Violin Phil Bodner Flute Ralph Dujour Choir, Chorus Ralph Oxman Double Bass Randy Brecker Trumpet Ray Chew Keyboards, Piano Regis Iandiorio Violin Regis Landiorio Violin Richard Locker Cello Rob Fisher Drums Rob Mounsey Piano, Keyboards Robert Bostwick Choir, Chorus Robert Koch Vocals (Background), ?, Choir, Chorus Ron Carter Double Bass Ron Sell French Horn Ronnie Cuber Sax (Baritone) Russ Traut Guitar Sanford Allen Violin Seymour Barab Cello Seymour Berman Viola Sharon Moe French Horn Shirley Jiha Choir, Chorus Steve Jordan Drums Steve Khan Guitar Steve Margoshes Piano Sue Pray Viola Suzanne Ciani Synthesizer Suzanne Ornstein Violin Thais Hockaday Choir, Chorus, Vocals (Background) Tim Tobias Synthesizer Tony Posk Violin Traci Parnell Vocals (Background), Tambourine, Performer Ullanda McCullough Vocals (Background) Vicki Sue Robinson Vocals (Background) Vivian Cherry Vocals (Background) Wade Lassiter Piano Wanda Tanks Choir, Chorus William Henry Producer, Vocals (Background) Willie Blount Clarinet Yogi Horton Drums Yvette Carrington Choir, Chorus Yvonne Lewis Vocals (Background)