Multi-instrumentalist who was multi-instrumental in providing Frank Zappa with the sound pastiches he wanted for The Mothers of Invention. Their first meeting is documented in the song “Ian Underwood Whips It Out” on the album Uncle Meat.
He married fellow Mother Ruth Komanoff, a marimbist and percussionist in 1970. (He has since divorced and remarried.)
He was with the Mothers until 1973, after which time he became a sought-after session musician, playing with the likes of Herb Alpert, Patti Austin, Gato Barbieri, Stephen Bishop, Michael Bolton, The Brothers Johnson, Captain Beefheart, Hugh Cornwell, David Foster, Lee Garrett, Lowell George, David Grusin, James Ingram, Maurice Jarre, Jefferson Airplane, Peggy Lee, The Manhattan Transfer, Barry Manilow, Hugh Masakela, Melba Moore, Yoko Ono, Dolly Parton, Jean-Luc Ponty, Lee Ritenour, Brenda Russell, Carole Bayer Sager, Joey Scarbury, Tom Scott, Ben Sidran, Dusty Springfield, Rick Springfield, Frankie Valli and Ernie Watts. He also did the synthesizer arrangements for Quincy Jones’ USA For Africa project, “We Are The World”.
In the ’80s and ’90s, Ian drifted away from pop and into film, although he continued to work on Frank Zappa’s solo projects.
Some of the many albums he has worked on under one guise or another include Somewhere I’ve Never Travelled by Ambrosia, Genius & Soul: The 50th Anniversary Collection by Ray Charles, Chicago XIV by Chicago, Saturday Night Special by Norman Connors, In the Center by Rodney Franklin, Tracks of Life by The Isley Brothers, Mellow Madness by Quincy Jones, Love is on Your Side by Jerry Knight, Some Time in New York City/Live Jam by John Lennon, One Voice by Barry Manilow, Sergio Mendes & The New Brasil ’77 by Sergio Mendes & Brasil ’77, Burnt Weeny Sandwich by The Mothers of Invention, Songbird by Barbra Streisand and 200 Motels by Frank Zappa. Some of his notable film credits include Blade Runner, Braveheart, Field of Dreams, No Way Out, and Titanic.
An in-demand flautist, pianist, saxophonist and synthesizer player and programmer, Ian Underwood continued to ply his craft in film, working out of famed TV composer Mike Post’s Olive Studios, in Burbank, California.
Lalo Schifrin recordings
Love Rhapsody from “The Concorde – Airport ’79” (Lalo Schifrin)
Theme from “The Concorde – Airport ’79” (Lalo Schifrin)
Sources:
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ian_Underwood
- http://www.united-mutations.com/u/ian_underwood.htm
- http://www.nndb.com/people/679/000044547/
- http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0881005/
- http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:jzfyxqwgldae~T4
- http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:jzfyxqwgldae~2~T40B
- http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:jzfyxqwgldae~3~T40B