With a PhD in composition from the University of Minnesota, a Masters Degree in Composition from the University of Nebraska, and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Music Education from the University of Bridgeport, Dr. Joseph Curiale became Head of the Popular Music Program at the prestigious Lasalle College of the Arts in Singapore, where he taught a comprehensive class on the Music Business, the History of Popular Music, several levels of Music Production, Popular Music Performance, Songwriting, Private Studies and Dissertation mentoring from 2015 to 2018.

 

An Emmy Award-nominated composer, arranger, and producer of music for film, TV, audio recordings, and live performances, with nearly thirty years as member of the Hollywood entertainment community, and the first staff songwriter in Columbia Pictures’ history, Dr. Curiale has worked with nearly all major and independent film companies in Hollywood (Columbia Pictures, Warner Brothers Pictures, Paramount Pictures, Disney, Tri-Star, and more). With more than 100 artists to his credit, from Michael Jackson, Ray Charles, Quincy Jones, Santana, Little Richard, Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., Nancy Wilson, Trisha Yearwood, to opera star Kathleen Battle, Dr. Curiale also composed, arranged, and produced music for nearly 100 TV episodes, popular recordings, and such hit movies as Steve Martin’s Roxanne, receiving the first of several gold and platinum records for his contribution to the #1 motion picture soundtrack, Breakin’ (Breakdance), which introduced break dancing to the world. Dr. Curiale also received a gold record for his work on Vanessa William’s debut album, The Right Stuff. Doc Severinsen selected him to be one of the Jazz arranger/composers for NBC’s Tonight Show band from 1981 until Johnny Carson’s final show in May 1992, a wonderful eleven-year tenure in which one of his big band composition, Sick of the Blues, became the closing theme.



In 1995, Dr. Curiale conducted and recorded his first symphonic composition, Gates of Gold with The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra at Abbey Road Studio in London, and in 1997 released his first CD entitled, Awakening, a melding of Jazz harmonies, strong, memorable melodies, and ethnic influences, presented in an elegant symphonic setting. Now, in it’s 22nd year of being featured regularly by National Public Radio, two of the compositions in particular, Joy and Gates of Gold, have become modern American standards, performed by thousands of high school and college wind ensembles, marching bands, and major Drum Corps, and The Multiples of One became the theme to NPR’s show, Speaking of Faith. This inspired Dr. Curiale to complete a second CD in 2001, The Music of Life, with the London Symphony and Royal Philharmonic Orchestras. It features Wind River, a composition commissioned by the University of Wyoming in celebration of the new millennium. The third release of the Awakening CD also features a bonus track of his composition, Blue Windows, performed by Doc Severinsen and The Academy of Saint Martin in the Fields Orchestra, which Curiale conducted.

 

The most recent CD releases, In the Sound (2019), Dinkytown (2017) and In Autumn (2016), are a fusion of Jazz and Electronic Dance Music (EDM) including iconic Jazz soloists Randy Brecker, Bobby Shew, Russell Ferrante and Jimmy Haslip (Yellowjackets), Mike Miller (Chick Corea), Alphonso Johnson (Weather Report) Everette Harp, John Densmore (founding member of The Doors), The Czech National Symphony Orchestra, and top soloists from India. Both these albums were produced, programmed, recorded, edited and mixed by Dr. Curiale. In recent days he has also been composing and producing new music with Jon Anderson, the lead singer and songwriter of the legendary British Progressive Rock super group, YES.

A three-time CNN Hero nominee, from 2006-2014 his humanitarian foundation, The Joseph Curiale Foundation, brought relief to the widows and orphaned children affected by the mass of farmer suicides in India. A New Delhi Television (NDTV) documentary film, Sowing Hope, was broadcast worldwide in honor of Dr. Curiale’s humanitarian efforts in India. He has expanded aid to the Philippines, including building homes for the needy, personally funding college fees, and funding the first animal rescue on the island of Negros Occidental. A book about his experiences is in progress, which he hopes will join The Spirit of Creativity, and The Wisdom of Creativity, books intended to be insightful and inspiring guides to exploring, unlocking, and honoring the creative spirit in everyone.