Chuck Fernandez/Pete Myers Luncheon – June 24, 2009

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 Adventures 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

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