Composers

Kerwin Young

1970 -

About

Kerwin Young is the composer of the KCPT weekly news series Ruckus. A classically trained composer, Kerwin studied music composition with Chen Yi, Zhou Long, and Bobby Watson at the UMKC Conservatory of Music and Dance (2009-2015). The composer of five symphonies, film and television scores, and a long list of gold and platinum recordings, Kerwin's unique, multi-genre palette keeps him in high demand.

Kerwin's professional career began in the late 1980's as a recording producer with the rap group Public Enemy. As a member of the Bomb Squad, and a protégé of Eric "Vietnam" Sadler, Young honed his craft working on PE's Fear of a Black Planet, Ice Cube's Amerikkkaz Most Wanted, Professor Griff and the Last Asiatic Disciples' Pawns in the Game, and Luke Skywalker and the 2 Live Crews' Banned in the U.S.A. Young has produced iconic rappers as Eric B. & Rakim, Busta Rhymes, Mobb Deep, and the Gravediggaz.

As a pop recording producer, Kerwin has produced, arranged, and co-written for/with George Clinton, Bootsy Collins, Bobby Brown, Roy Haynes, Bobby Byrd, Eddie Kendricks, Tevin Campbell, Kenny Gamble & Leon Huff, and Eddie Moore & the Outer Circle. He's even produced posthumous recording projects for Jimi Hendrix and Bob Marley.

Young has been fortunate at having several songs placed in major motion pictures: Do the Right Thing (1989), Green Card (1990), Sister Act 2 (1992), Street Fighter (1994), He Got Game (1998), and Dirty Grandpa (2016). As a member of the Bomb Squad, blockbuster features continue to include songs that the team produced, including the 2013 biography Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom, the 2015 biopic Straight Outta Compton, and Star Trek Beyond (2016).

Related Information

http://www.kerwinyoung.com

Works by Kerwin Young

Title Collection Voice Type Range Poet
After the Sun Goes Down Mezzo-Soprano, Baritone Kerwin Young
Cry of the Queenless King Bass-Baritone G2 - F4 Kerwin Young
The Lone Scout Tenor Kerwin Young
Title Published Size Solo with Ensemble Duration Range Level Orchestration
A Coming Together Yes Chamber under 5 Professional 1111-1110-2perc, pno, hp, stgs (16-14-12-10-8)
American Caravan Yes Full Orchestra 10-20 Professional 2[1.2/pic] 2[1.2/Eh] 2[1.2/bcl] 2[1.2/cbn]-4221-perc3-timp-harp-str
Amplitudes and Attitudes in Hertz, Ohms, and Decibels Yes Concert Wind Band under 5 Professional 53535/64422/timp + 5/pno
An Old Bolivian Jaguar Tale Yes String Orchesra Under 5 Professional
Batter Up Yes Jazz Big Band Under 5 Professional
Battle on the Great Green Yes Full Orchestra 10-20 Professional 3333/4331/timp+4/hp/pno-cel/stgs
Bolivar (Ballet Suite) Yes Full Orchestra and Choir 10-20 Professional 3333-4331-timp+6, 2cl. gtr, cimb, hp, choir, stgs (16.14.12.10.8)
Chasing El Diablo Yes Full Orchestra 5-10 Professional 4333-8331-timp+6, hp, pno, stgs (16.14.12.10.8)
Conflict Between the Pen and the Sword Yes Chamber under 5 Professional Ten sax; tpt, tbn, bs tbn; stgs
Doll Collection of Mrs. Wynn Yes Chamber 10-20 Professional winds, percussion, piano/celesta, children's choir and strings (16.14.12.10.8)
Dumas-Pushkin Suite (Ballet Suite) Yes Full Orchestra 20+ Professional 3333-6241-timp + 7perc, 2hp, cel, stgs (16.14.12.10.8)
Far From Righteous Yes String Orchestra 5-10 Professional str
Inescapable (Concerto for Contrabass and Wind Symphony) Yes Orchestra Contrabass 10-20 Professional 22321/4221/timp+3/hp
Journey to the Center of the Floor Yes Chamber Orchestra Under 5 Professional 0111/2110/4perc/kybd/elec. gtr/elec. bs
Nature's Karmic Vengeance Yes Full Orchestra under 5 Professional 3220-4231-djembe-glockenspiel-str
Over 200 Films Yes Full Orchestra 10-20 Professional 3222-4000-Timp+7/hp,pno/cel,stgs (16.14.12.10.8)
Rabat Waterfront Fantasy Yes Full Orchestra 5-10 Professional 3332-3121-timp+2perc; cel, hp; stgs OR wind band 33343/24211/timp+3/hp OR Pierrot ensemble
Reclamation Yes Full Orchestra 20+ Professional 4344-8331-timp+6, cimb, 2hp, pno, stgs (16.14.12.10.8)
Sakanoue No Tamuramaro Yes Chamber Orchestra 10-20 Professional 2222/2000, solo perc
Season of Autocracy Yes Full Orchestra 10-20 Professional 3343-4231-timp+3perc.; hp, stgs (16.14.12.10.8)
Skyfall Yes Jazz Big Band 5-10 Professional
Soccer Dance Yes Chamber Under 5 Professional 1111/1110/2perc/hp, pno, string quartet
Sulwe: An Orchestral Adaptation Yes Full Orchestra 10-20 Professional 3222-4231-timp+5, hp, pf, strings
Symphony No. 1 (Empire of Kasuf) Yes Full Orchestra 20+ Professional 3333-4331; timp+3perc.; hp, cel; chdn ch; stgs
Symphony No. 2 (Khemet West) Yes Full Orchestra 20+ Professional 3333-5331; timp+6perc; 2hp, cel, gtr, cimb; mxd ch; stgs (16.14.12.10.8)
Symphony No. 3 (Captain Paul Cuffe and the Traveller) Yes Full Orchestra 20+ Professional 3333/4231/timp+3/hp/pno-cel/stgs (16. 14. 12. 10. 8)
Symphony No. 4 (Kasufhetep I) Yes Full Orchestra 20+ Professional 4333/6332; timp+6perc; 2hp, pf, cimb; stgs (16.14.12.10.8)
Symphony No. 5 (Perseverance) Yes Full Orchestra 20+ Professional 4333/6331; timp+5perc; 2hp; cimb; stgs (16.14.12.10.8)
Symphony No. 6 (The Plagiarist) Yes Full Orchestra 20+ Professional 3333/6331/timp+6, hp, cel, stgs (16.14.12.10.8)
Symphony No. 7 Yes Full Orchestra 20+ Professional 3233/4331/timp + 4, 2hp, pno/cel, stgs (16.14.12.10.8)
Symphony No. 8 "End of Reign" Yes Full Orchestra 20+ Professional 3333/6331/timp+5, hp, pno-cel, strings (16.14.12.10.8)
Symphony No. 9 "War of a Different Kind" Yes Full Orchestra 20+ Professional 3333/4331/timp+4/hp/pno-cel/stgs
The Five Elements (Hip-Hop Concerto) Yes Full Orchestra 20+ Professional 2222/2111/timp.+2perc, 8-pc band, Rapper, Turntablist, Beat-Boxer, Dancer(s),
The Gardener and the Tyrant Yes Full Orchestra 10-20 Professional Graffiti Artist.
The Gardener and the Tyrant (Chamber Orchestra) Yes Chamber 10-20 Professional 3333/4031/timp+2/pno(cel)/hp/stgs
The House of Price Yes String Orchestra 10-20 Professional (14. 12. 10. 8. 6)
The Nebraska Plains Yes Concert Wind Band Under 5 Professional 1040+3saxes/2323/3perc
U.S. Marshall - Bass Reeves (an Overture for an American Western) Yes Full Orchestra 5-10 Professional 3123-4131-timp+4perc; cimb, hp, 2cl gtr, acc, male ch; stgs
What I Think of Academia Yes SATB Chorus and Full Orchestra 20+ Professional 3333-4321-timp+2, pf, SATB, stgs
You Got Your Head Up In the Clouds Yes Chamber Professional 1111-a. sax, t. sax-1110-Drums, elec. pno, 2 sopr., stgs, elec. bs
逃離邪惡帝國 Escape from the Evil Empire Yes Treble Chorus and Full Orchestra Soprano 10-20 Professional 3333/4331/timp+4/choir/sop./hp/pno/stgs (14. 12. 10. 8. 6)
Title Work Instrumentation Level Number of Movements Accompanied Size Duration Range
A Composers Passion Violin or Oboe, Piano No Duet
An Observation of Squirrels Woodwind Quintet No Quintet
Atchafalaya Expedition Woodwind Quintet No Quintet
Cellét Ten Cellos, Choreography No Choir
Coming Forth By Day Oboe, Viola, Violoncello, Baritone No Quartet
Eva's Ashes Viola No Solo
Evening Music for Clarinet and Piano Clarinet, Piano No Duet
Fantasy of a Lonely Man Erhu, Pipa No Duet
For Reasons and Seasons I Can’t Explain Piano No Solo
Gateway at Preah Vihear Guzheng, Distortion Petal No Solo
In the Amazon String Quartet No Quartet
Kalakuta Republic String Quartet No Quartet
Legacy of Lefty LaMarque Woodwind Quintet No Quintet 10-20
Love Aint Nuthin’ But itty bitty Feelings Alto Saxophone, Piano, Bassoon, Drums No Quartet
Lyric for Violin and Harp Violin, Harp No Duet
Mark Lewis in Hong Kong String Quartet No Quartet
Mis-Treatment of the Honorable Vibraphone, 2 Violins, 2 Violas, Cello, Alto Flute/English Horn No Septet
Movements In Space for Mime and Ensemble Mime, Small Ensemble No Quintet
Music for Steven Spielberg’s Next Film Alto Saxophone, Piano Yes Duet
PEace on the Left, Justice on the Right String Quartet No Quartet Under 5
Serpent’s Venom/Vulture’s Talons Clarinet, Bassoon, Piano No Trio
Songbirds: Suite for Violin and Piano Violin, Piano No Duet
Tales of a Fon Griot String Quartet No Quartet
The Teen and the Talking Trees Flute Choir, Narrator Easy No Choir
Theme from the Motion Picture: It Happened in January Horn, Piano No Duet
我独自步行 I Walk Alone Guzheng No Solo
犯罪心理 Criminal Minded Guzheng No Solo
白茶 (White Tea) Zhonghu, Yangqin, Da Ruan, Percussion No Quartet