Freddie Ravel

Biography

Freddie Ravel began performing around the world at age 23 with Brazilian icon Sergio Mendes, later signing with Universal Records. He released three solo studio albums: Midnight Passion (1991), Sol to Soul (1995), and Freddie Ravel (2000). In 1988, he became musical director for Indian violinist L. Subramaniam, then joined Sergio Mendes's band the following year. Ravel joined Earth, Wind & Fire in 1992 as musical director, playing on their 1993 album Millennium, which was certified Gold in Japan by the RIAJ.

He also featured on Flora Purim's 1994 album Speed of Light. After four years with EWF, he performed on Madonna's soundtrack for the 1996 film Evita. He played on Peter White's 1997 LP Songs of the Season. In 1998, Ravel became Al Jarreau's musical director, producing Jarreau's 2000 album Tomorrow Today, which rose to No. 2 on the Billboard Jazz Albums chart.

He later performed and co-wrote on Jarreau's 2002 album All I Got, played on Euge Groove's 2002 LP Play Date, and Earth, Wind & Fire's 2003 album The Promise. Ravel composed on Jarreau's 2004 album Accentuate The Positive, then played on and co-composed the tune "Givin' It Up" from the double Grammy Award-winning 2006 eponymous album by Al Jarreau and George Benson. Alongside Maya Angelou, Muhammad Ali, Deepak Chopra, and Stevie Wonder, he co-wrote the 2017 book Open My Eyes, Open My Soul, invited by Yolanda King, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s eldest daughter.

On November 17, 2012, Ravel was officially knighted by the Knights of St. John. He was later dubbed a "Keynote Maestro" by the City of Los Angeles for renewing the national and international economy through his Life In Tune system.