Amanda Kramer

Amanda Kramer was born on December 26, 1961, in New York City. Her parents were Beverly Dennis and Russell Dennis, both of whom were actors throughout the 1950s. Beverly Dennis was cast in supporting roles in several Hollywood features, including such films as William A. Wellman’s classic 1951 proto-feminist western, Westward the Women, Jean Negulesco’s drama Take Care of my Little Girl (1951) and appeared regularly on the CBS (and later NBC) variety hour, The Red Buttons Show (1952 – 1955). Russell Dennis gained minor roles in William Castle’s mystery drama, Hollywood Story (1951), and Mark Robson’s romantic war picture, Bright Victory (1951). Both Beverly and Russell fell victim to the McCarthy Era blacklisting and, in response to being ostracised from their work, soon sought out alternative careers in psychiatry and medicine, respectively.[1] Beverly Dennis would become a successful therapist whilst retaining a keen interest in social advocacy, particularly for Second-Wave Feminism, in which she worked in furthering female empowerment with some of the most eminent names in theatre, literature, film, and journalism. Russell Dennis died suddenly on March 29, 1964, aged 48, not long after receiving his medical degree. Beverly later remarried to World War II veteran and advertising executive, Jerry Kramer. The family lived on New York's Upper West Side, during which time young Amanda Kramer attended Manhattan's noted progressive Little Red Schoolhouse (LREI). The family later relocated to Beverly Hills, California.

Whilst growing up in New York City of the 1960s and 1970s, Kramer expressed interest in music from a tender age and soon began to train in classical piano. Time and place would also dictate that the young music enthusiast would take inspiration from the emerging art and cultural movements of the times. Buoyed by the raw energy and spirit of punk whilst inspired by the dexterity and freedom of jazz, Kramer's interests would be piqued by the emerging musical technologies of the 1980s, which would lead her to the beginning of a most versatile life in music. As a teenager, Kramer began her academic study of music at the Manhattan School of Music Preparatory Division, studying piano with Sonia Vargas. She would continue her studies at University of California at Santa Cruz and the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. Further, it was whilst studying Electronic Music and Video Production at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, Massachusetts, that Kramer would find fellow student, James Cassidy; this fortuitous meeting resulted in Cassidy inviting his talented and learned classmate to join his Minneapolis-based dance-pop group, Information Society (band). With Kramer rounding out the quartet, the group were primed for success.

Heralding her emergence as a musician of note, Information Society released their self-titled major label debut on Tommy Boy/Warner Bros. Records, the success of which certified the album gold. The dissolution of relations within the band led Kramer to return to New York City to further an eclectic career that has spanned genres and styles that includes classical, pop, rock, and scoring for film and television. Kramer soon began collaborating with some of the most lauded acts around. First she joined forces with Anton Fier as a core member of The Golden Palominos, recording several acclaimed albums, including A Dead Horse (1989) and Drunk with Passion (1991). As part of The Golden Palominos, Kramer would write and record with the likes of Michael Stipe, Bob Mould, Bill Laswell, and Richard Thompson, amongst others.

Kramer then became a member of 10,000 Maniacs, recording and touring hit records including the platinum-selling releases MTV Unplugged (1993) and Our Time in Eden (1993) before joining the British group World Party. Her first live performance as a member of the band would be a Pyramid Stage appearance at the 1994 Glastonbury Festival.

In the succeeding years, Kramer would be engaged in much studio and road work, playing on albums by artists such as Lloyd Cole (The Negatives, 2000), The Church (Man Woman Life Death Infinity, 2018), and most recently The Psychedelic Furs' first studio record in three decades, Made of Rain (2020). Kramer has been a member of the post-punk band since 2002, completing many international headlining tours.

As a versatile live performer, she has provided further keyboard duties for television performances, tours, and festival appearances with a variety of artists including Eurythmics, Julee Cruise, David Hykes and the Harmonic Choir, Steve Kilbey, and Tom Bailey. From 2007 to 2008 she toured with Siouxsie Sioux and recorded the Finale: The Last Mantaray & More Show live DVD.

Kramer has released four solo albums, including Wintermass (with Blake Leyh, 1994), Samsara (1998), Fallen Light Renew (2004) and Under the Sea (2011). These albums represent Kramer's diverse and extensive range of vocal and compositional talents, each incorporating the genres of World Music, Classical, Experimental, Jazz, and Ambient to create rich and distinctive body of work. The latter two albums were inspired by the poetry of William Blake and T.S. Eliot, respectively, and feature contributions from notable musicians including Karl Wallinger, Julee Cruise, amongst others.[2]

In addition to her successful recording and touring career, Kramer has composed for film and television. Her work can be heard on the Discovery Channel series Globe Trekker (later Pilot Guides), and has been featured on various television programmes including the PBS documentary Cayutaville (1998), ABC's 20/20 (1997), and the feature film, True Crime (1996).[3]

• 2010: UCLA, California - course in Harmonic Principals in Tonal and Atonal Music.
• 2001 - 2002: University of Bristol, Bristol - Masters Diploma in Composition for Film, Television and Theater.
• 1998 - 2000: The New School University, New York City, New York, Bachelor of Arts degree; emphasis in Music.
• 1998 -1999: Morley College, London - Orchestral Conducting with Lawrence Leonard.
• 1996 -1997: Mannes School of Music, extension, New York - Mediaeval Notation; Orchestration.
• 1995: One year Indian Classical Music study with David Hykes, New York.
• 1989 -1991: The Juilliard School, extension, New York – Music Theory and Analysis with Samuel Zyman.
• 1985 -1986: School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Massachusetts - Electronic Music and Video Production.
• 1983: San Francisco Conservatory of Music, California - Harpsichord with Laurette Goldberg.
• 1980 -1983: University of California at Santa Cruz, California - Music major; Piano with Lena-Liis Kiesel; Voice with Paul Hilliard; Harpsichord with Linda Burman-Hall.
• 1975 -1977: Manhattan School of Music Preparatory Division, New York; piano with Sonia Vargas.