Detroit singer Maurissa Rose, left, perfoms in a new song with award-winning musician Dan Yessian, right.
Dan Yessian, award-winning musician, composer and founder of the music, sound design and soundscapes production company Yessian, has recreated an iconic American pop song “Walk on By” in collaboration with metro Detroit musician Ohad Wilner. The new arrangement has Detroit singer Maurissa Rose performing a sultry and soulful rendition of the famed Burt Bacharach classic, with Yessian playing the saxophone and Wilner playing both the electric and bass guitars. The song has attracted accolades from fellow musicians and composers.
David Barrett, the songwriter behind “One Shining Moment” said “This is a joining of remarkable talents…Great song, great arrangement, soulful singing & playing,” while Bruce Miller, the composer of themes for TV shows such as “Frasier”, “Designing Women” and “Becker”, said: “Dan… great on so many levels. All the elements are there and it shows the artistry of everyone involved.” Ralphe Armstrong, a bass player for Carlos Santana, John McLaughlin and Frank Zappa, said: “This Version of “Walk on By” is the most unique version I’ve ever heard! Maurissa’s voice has the mellowness of a fine cello.” The song is now available on YouTube, Spotify and Apple Music; for images click here.
“This is “Walk on By” like you have never heard it before,” explained Yessian. “It is a fusion of pop, jazz and soul updated for a modern palate of sounds and sung by an extraordinary Detroit vocalist.” Yessian describes himself as a huge fan of Bacharach’s work, so much so that in 2005 he purchased Bacharach’s Steinway piano which has provided much inspiration for his own work. “I consider him to be a musical genius, as essential to pop music composition as earlier composers like Gershwin and Cole Porter,” he said.
Yessian knew that he wanted Maurissa Rose to provide the vocals for the new arrangement based on their 20 years of working together on projects ranging from theme songs for America’s Thanksgiving Parade to advertisements for Chevrolet and Cadillac.
“Our updated song was specifically for Maurissa; we custom-made it for her voice,” explained Wilner, who took the lead on the new arrangement and was also the instrument manipulator. “She was our first choice because of the emotion that resonates from her voice and even her acting ability.”
As a teenager in Detroit, Rose was courted by some of the biggest names in the music industry and signed a contract with EMI Records. She has shared the stage with countless artists including Anita Baker, Will Downing and KEM and has been heard on television and radio commercials for multinational brands ranging from Ford Motor Company and General Mills to Little Caesars Pizza and JC Penny. She was featured on Tyler Perry’s “Madea’s Family Reunion” movie soundtrack and enjoyed success with her own independent label Bold One Entertainment with the hit singles “Sweet Memories,” “Forget About You” and “Special.” This year, Rose has two other new projects being released in the fall: a new album called “Dave and Maurissa” which is a collaboration with British producer Dave Lee; and a single called “Feel It” by Norwegian electronic music duo Röyksopp where Rose is a featured vocalist.
Rose said she was honored to have been selected by Yessian and Wilner to perform the new song. “It has been sung by some of the greatest artists of our time like Dionne Warwick and Isaac Hayes, so I feel like I am part of an elite group. And of course, Dan Yessian is a legend in the music business, so to have this opportunity to create something so soulful with him is very cool,” she said.
Yessian spent the bulk of his career creating music for advertisements for international brands, including many listed on the Fortune 500. He was inducted into the 2018 Adcraft Hall of Fame in Detroit and recognized for Lifetime Achievement at the Detroit Music awards in 2016. His sons, Brian and Michael, continue producing campaigns for companies such as United Airlines, Ford Motor Company, Macy’s, McDonald’s, Taco Bell, Nintendo, Disney, Walmart, Toyota and Mercedes-Benz. Yessian Music has also provided music for many television shows including Sunday Night Football, The Voice, America’s Got Talent, ESPN’s College Football, Veteran’s Day with A & E, NBC, and HBO. Organizations across the globe turn to the company for unique music and sound design including immersive experiences such as The Office and FRIENDS. Nowadays Dan spends his time pursuing creative endeavors on his channel Dan Yessian Creative on YouTube, Facebook and Bandcamp. His work includes original music, cover songs, interviews with notables, and even some comedy. Yessian’s documentary “An Armenian Trilogy” about the search for his Armenian roots through an original classical composition is available on Amazon.
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