Emerson Swinford
Emerson Swinford, a native of Chicago, is a Los Angeles-based guitarist, composer/songwriter and producer. His theme and under-score music composed for the hit comedy Hot in Cleveland won him a 2011 and 2012 ASCAP Film and Television Music Awards. He is also a composer for the TV Land network comedy series The Soul Man (TV series) and Retired at 35 and has had many TV and film song placements including MTV/"The Hills", " The Ghost Whisperer", and "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno." As a session guitarist, Emerson has recorded with a diverse roster of artists such as Rod Stewart, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Paul Oakenfold, Jim McGorman, P.J. Olsson, Delerium, Liz Phair, Fisher (band), Kimberly Locke, Natalie Cole, Kenny G and many others, as well as performing on the soundtracks for the movies Just Like Heaven, Planet of the Apes (2001) and "Power Rangers." His guitar work is also featured on several national TV commercial spots including "St. Ives" and "Coors Light." Emerson is a co-writer of the hit single "Barenaked" for actress and singer Jennifer Love Hewitt. He was the MusicAL director and touring guitarist for Tony award-winning actress and singer Idina Menzel, famous for her roles in Broadway's Wicked, Rent and the TV show "Glee." Emerson has appeared live with Idina on the PBS show Soundstage and "The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" "Regis and Kelly", "The PBS National Memorial Day Concert" and also on several national and European concert tours.
(Selected) Discography
Year |
Album |
Artist |
Credit |
|---|---|---|---|
1997 |
P.J. Olsson |
P.J. Olsson |
Guitar |
1998 |
Power Rangers |
[Original Motion Picture Soundtrack] |
Guitar |
1999 |
Words For Living |
P.J. Olsson |
Guitar |
2000 |
Haunted |
Poe |
Guitar |
2000 |
Planet of the Apes [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack] |
Danny Elfman |
Guitar |
2001 |
Bunkka |
Paul Oakenfold |
Guitar |
2001 |
True North |
Fisher |
Guitar |
2002 |
BareNaked |
Jennifer Love Hewitt |
Guitar |
2003 |
Girls Night Out, Vol. 2 [BMG] |
Various Artists |
Guitar/Composer |
2003 |
Departure |
Carla Werner |
Guitar |
2003 |
Perfecto |
Paul Oakenfold |
Guitar |
2003 |
Just So You Know |
Holly Palmer |
Producer/Composer/Guitar |
2004 |
Billy Miles |
Billy Miles |
Producer/Composer/Guitar |
2005 |
Crash: Music from and Inspired by the Academy Award winning movie Crash |
[Original Motion Picture Soundtrack] |
Producer |
2005 |
Extraordinary Ways |
Conjure One |
Guitar |
2005 |
Just Like Heaven (Reese Witherspoon) |
[Original Motion Picture Soundtrack] |
Guitar |
2005 |
Beautifully Insane |
P.J. Olsson |
Programming, Composer, Mixing, Guitar, Producer |
2005 |
Lost Art of the Idle Moment |
Carmen Rizzo |
Guitar |
2006 |
I'm in the Mood for Love: The Most Romantic Melodies of All Time |
Kenny G |
Guitar |
2006 |
If Your Memory Serves You Well |
Serena Ryder |
Guitar |
2006 |
The World is Falling Down |
Jamestown (a.k.a. Jim McGorman) |
Guitar/Composer |
2007 |
Based on a True Story |
Kimberley Locke |
Guitar |
2007 |
American Scream |
P.J. Olsson |
Guitar |
2008 |
Acoustic Cafe |
Fisher |
Guitar |
2009 |
Never Say Goodbye |
Sarah Bettens |
Composer |
2009 |
Water |
Fisher |
Composer/Guitar |
2009 |
Spectacular! (Music From the Nickelodeon Original Movie) |
[Original Motion Picture Soundtrack] |
Guitar |
2010 |
Danny Elfman & Tim Burton 25th Anniversary Music Box |
Tim Burton |
Guitar |
2011 |
Cas Nás Naucí |
Petr Kolář |
Guitar/Composer |
2012 |
Merry Christmas Baby |
Rod Stewart |
Guitar |
2012 |
Music Box Opera |
Delerium |
Guitar |
Main source for discography:
Education
- Graduated James B. Conant High School, Hoffman Estates, IL. 1986
- Graduated Millikin University, Decatur IL. Bachelor of Music, 1990
- Graduated University of Southern California, Master of Music, 1992