Director Curt Harpel



Expressive, and creative, film and television composer and arranger Curt Harpel has been involved with most major aspects of the performing arts including acting, singing, dancing, live and recorded performances, playing piano and guitar, disc jockeying, hosting, and more. His diverse experience has contributed greatly toward his abilities as a composer and is evident when listening to the range of his compositions.

With a CBS newsman for a father, a mother with a gift for singing, and a grandfather who worked with the likes of Charlie Chaplin in the silent screen days, Curt's inclination to get into the business of entertainment was natural. Curt's formal training began when he left for New York at the age of 18 to study at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts and The Manhattan School of Music. Other training led him to the Santa Fe Opera and earned him a First Class F.C.C. broadcasting license.

Before Curt turned his focus to composing, he had enjoyed the performing spotlight as a singer and actor, working on both coasts of the U.S as well as touring. One of his favorite gigs was singing with Al Green and Patty Labelle in the Broadway touring production of "Your Arm's Too Short To Box With God." His celebratory style also earned him an invitation to sing in the Jesse Jackson presidential campaign.

While working to further his career as a singer, he walked a traditional path singing in showcases. Then one night while performing at Club Lingerie in Hollywood, a Morgan Creek Records A&R scout heard him and immediately signed him to a record deal, which resulted in recording an album with his band at the time at the renowned Studio 55. Over the course of the years, Curt was part of many interesting gigs as a performer, one of which was the world-famous ladies show "Chippendales, Inc.," which toured huge European theathers. When the Chippendale's" craze ended, he returned to the U.S., where he turned toward a newly developing interest, composing.

Curt first gained notoriety for his compositions for numerous radio and TV commercials in such campaigns as Coca-Cola, Panasonic, American Airlines, and Sunkist. He also cut the mustard by composing numerous musicals and industrials in New York as well as writing music for "All My Children" and "Showtime." Frequently active in celebrity projects, he composed PSAs for radio and recording with such stars as Jeff Bridges and Ted Danson, among others. He has also worked with Warner Home Video, writing music cues for such film trailers as "Leaving Las Vegas," "Blown Away," "Getting Even With Dad," and "Wild Bill." Having mastered his craft in projects which were smaller in nature, he recently turned his commitment toward feature films and television series and has begun to exploit his talent in this area. His most recent composing and arranging film project is New Image Cinema's feature film "Quicksand," currently in post-production. He also composed the music for the Sundance Film Winner "Drylongso," the Warner Bros. short film and CD "Quest For Camelot," and Lumbardi Entertainment's short film "The Boss." His recent television credits are music cues for the series "Clueless" and VH-1's "Fashionation."

Curt's focus is around developing his career in composing for film and television. For a demo CD of Curt's work, please contact him at 310. 963.0855.

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