Dunn Pearson, Jr.

Dunn Pearson, Jr. has built an extensive body of work that encompasses composing, arranging, and producing both his own projects and material for film, television, theater, advertising campaigns, and releases by other performers, prompting fellow musicians to bestow upon him the nickname "the Black Beethoven." A gifted pianist in his own right, he has contributed to albums by the O'Jays, Stephanie Mills, Teddy Pendergrass, Stevie Wonder, Mtume, Roy Ayers, D'Angelo, Keith Sweat, Gerald Levert, and James "J.T." Taylor through production, arrangement, songwriting, or performance, resulting in 26 gold and platinum awards collected to date. He has also written theme scores for Fox TV's New York Undercover, the HBO movie Head Office, the Columbia Pictures movie The Professional, Mario & Melvin Van Peebles' Identity Crisis, and the dramatic Cinecom Int. film Native Son. Additional credits include orchestration and arrangement for the Broadway musical Amen Corner, production of fitness videos for Jody Watley, Joannie Greggains, and Denise Austin's ESPN show Getting Fit, plus commercials for McDonald's, United Airlines, and a widely praised Wendy's chicken nugget spot featuring Kool & the Gang. Pearson has further issued numerous soul-jazz albums under his own direction.