Composers

Kerwin Young

1970 -

About

Kerwin Young (b. 1970) 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
Cry of the Queenless King Bass-Baritone G2 - F4 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
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)
Escape from the Evil Empire Yes Treble Chorus and Full Orchestra Soprano 10-20 Professional 3333-4331-timp+4perc; hp, pf; sop, wm ch; stgs
Far From Righteous Yes String Orchestra 5-10 Professional str
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
Reclamation Yes Full Orchestra 20+ Professional 4344-8331-timp+6, cimb, 2hp, pno, stgs (16.14.12.10.8)
Season of Autocracy Yes Full Orchestra 10-20 Professional 3343-4231-timp+3perc.; hp, stgs (16.14.12.10.8)
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+3perc; hp, pf-cel; stgs.
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 Professional
The Gardener and the Tyrant Yes Full Orchestra 10-20 Professional 3333-4031-timp+2perc; pf-cel, hp; stgs
The Gardener and the Tyrant (for Chamber Orchestra) Yes Chamber 10-20 Professional 2222-2010-timp+2/Hp/Pno-Cel/Stgs (64432)
The House of Price Yes String 10-20 Professional str
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