Brian Tarquin

Tarquin wrote the theme music for MTV's Road Rules, All My Children, and The Watcher.[2] He received two Television Academy Emmy Awards for his work on All My Children, and additional nominations.

He has provided musical scores for the films A Bird of the Air, Real Steel, Inferno, and Bart Got a Room; as well as scoring for television in episodes of 24, Alias, America's Next Top Model, Beverly Hills, 90210, Cheers, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Extra, Friends, Grey's Anatomy, ABC's Making The Band, Malcolm in the Middle, Melrose Place, Seinfeld, The Simpsons, TMZ on TV, and Sex and the City.[1][9][10][11][12][13]

Tarquin produced the Guitar Masters Series from the Jungle Room Studios, which featured guitarists Jeff Beck, Steve Vai, Jimmy Page, Steve Morse,[14] Gary Hoey, Santana, Billy Sheehan, BB King, Frank Gambale, Leslie West, Chris Poland, Hal Lindes, and Joe Satriani.[8][6]

In 2006 Tarquin launched his own record label, BHP Music/Guitar Trax, and released personal projects and a series of Guitar Masters compilations.

In 2012 he founded TV Film Trax, a music production catalog which by 2016 included more than 2,000 songs by a variety of composers for television, and from which editors, music supervisors, producers, or directors can easily access tracks for their productions.[15][16][17]

In 1995 Tarquin entered into a recording deal with the MCA-distributed Jazz Inspiration label, and the following year he released a debut smooth jazz album entitled Ghost Dance.[5] He was later engaged by Instinct Records and released three albums, Last Kiss Goodbye,[18] Soft Touch, and High Life.[19] In 2002 he released Sanctuary on the Passion Jazz label.[20] In 2005, with Chris Ingram, he released a recording of electronic music for use in stage and screen called Downtempo Drama Vol. 1 on the Megatrax Production Music Inc. label.[21] In 2008, Tarquin released Fretwork for nuGroove Records.[20]

Tarquin with Les Paul

In the early 2000s, Tarquin founded the band Asphalt Jungle with keyboardist and programmer Chris Ingram,[22] and in 2002 released Electro Ave.,[23][24][5] followed by Enjoy This Trip,[25] Jungilzation,[26] Bob Marley Remixed, and Crazy Train. The track "Witchcraft", from Asphalt Jungle's 2002 album Electro Ave., became the theme song to MTV's 1998 season of Road Rules.[1]

In the 2010s, Tarquin worked on charitable projects including releases Brian Tarquin & Heavy Friends: Guitars For Wounded Warriors (with Billy Sheehan, Bumblefoot, Reb Beach, Chris Poland, Gary Hoey, The Flyin' Ryan Brothers, Alex DeRosso, Hal Lindes, Chuck Loeb, and Steve Morse)[27] and Orlando In Heaven (with Larry Coryell, Phil Naro, Bobby Baldwin, Chris Poland, Mike Stern, Denny Jiosa, Will Ray, Tony Franklin, and Hal Lindes),[28] both on Purple Pyramid Records.

• Recording Techniques of the Guitar Masters[29][30]
• The Insider's Guide to Music Licensing[31]
• The Insider's Guide to Home Recording'[32]
• Guitar Amplifier Encyclopedia[33][34][35]
• Guitar Encyclopedia[36]
• Stomp on This! The Guitar Pedal Effects Guidebook[37][38]
• Survival Guide For Music Composers: Tools of the Trade to Get Paid![39]

In 2017-2018 Tarquin wrote a series of recording studio articles for Guitar Player magazine. In 2010 he was a regular contributor to Recording Magazine, and in 2007 he wrote a monthly column called "Guitar Studio" for Premier Guitar Magazine.[1] The column focused on studio techniques for musicians and recording engineers. Tarquin also conducted interviews of musicians for the magazine.[40][41]

Tarquin hosts a weekly show called Guitar Trax on NPR's WFIT 89.5FM (Florida).[42] The show debuted on Jan 11, 2016 and focusses on jazz and electric fusion styles such as Weather Report, Pat Metheny, Mahavishnu Orchestra, Billy Cobham, Jeff Beck and Frank Zappa.[43]