About the Author
Michael Zagerholds the Dorothy F. Schmidt Eminent Scholar Chair in
Performing Arts and is a professor of music at Florida Atlantic University
in Boca Raton, Florida. He previously taught at the Mannes College of
Music, a division of New School University in New York City. He is a Ful-
bright Specialist (awarded by the Bureau of Education and Cultural
Affairs of the Department of State and the Council for International
Exchange of Scholars) and serves on the Board of Governors of the Florida
Chapter of the Recording Academy (creator of the Grammy Awards).
Some of Zager’s original scores and original studio recordings of Whitney
Houston, the Spinners, Luther Vandross, and the Michael Zager Band
reside in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum in Cleveland, Ohio.
He is a graduate of the University of Miami and the Mannes College of
Music.
Zager designed and directs the Commercial Music Program at Florida
Atlantic University, which won an award for Best New Major fromFlorida
Leadermagazine in 2003. He has produced, composed, and/or arranged
original music for a wide range of musical idioms, including commercials,
albums, network television programs, and major motion pictures.
Zager has written more than 400 commercials for clients, including Dr
Pepper, MCI, Masterlock, Cablevision, Buick, Acura, IBM, Schlitz Malt
Liquor (sung by Kool and the Gang, the Spinners, .38 Special, and the Chi-
lites), Bounce (sung by Whitney Houston), Crystal Light (sung by Raquel
Welch), Budweiser, Crest, Kodak, Ivory Shampoo, Maxwell House Coffee,
Clearasil, Lancoˆme, Volvo, Burger King, and Os-Cal (featuring Olympic
gold medalist Peggy Fleming).
Zager has received numerous advertising awards for composing and/
or arranging, including a Clio Award, three International Film Festival
Awards, three Art Directors Club Awards, and a Mobius Advertising
Award. For many years, his company produced the American Advertising
Federation Hall of Achievement Awards.
Zager has produced Grammy Award–winning artists Whitney Hous-
ton, Cissy Houston, Peabo Bryson, Luther Vandross, Denise Williams, Jen-
nifer Holliday, Joe Williams, Arturo Sandoval, Herb Alpert, Olatunji, and
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