Chieli Minucci (born April 17, 1958) is an American guitarist who co-founded the band Special EFX.
Career Minucci's father Ulpio Minucci was a concert pianist and composer who wrote the music to the 1955 song "Domani."
Minucci started Special EFX in 1982 with Hungarian drummer George Jinda. The band combined rock, Latin rhythm, and smooth jazz. When the duo separated in 1995, Jinda continued to perform under the name Special EFX. After Jinda's death in 2001, Minucci performed under the name Chieli Minucci and Special EFX. He recorded albums as a solo act, beginning in 1994 with Jewels. He has worked as a record producer and composer for Deborah Henson-Conant and Kim Pensyl, and as a sideman for Angela Bofill, Roberta Flack, Chaka Khan, Noel Pointer and Roseanna Vitro.
Awards and honors Outstanding Achievement in Music Direction and Composition for a Drama Series, Daytime Emmy Awards, The Guiding Light, 1999, 2007, 2008 "Deep as the Night" was the Billboard #1 Smooth Jazz Song of the Year for 2018.
Discography As leader Jewels (JVC, 1995) Renaissance (JVC, 1996) It's Gonna Be Good (JVC, 1998) Sweet on You (Shanachie, 2000) Night Grooves (Shanachie, 2003) Got It Goin' On (Shanachie, 2005) Solos, Duos, & Trios (ChieliMusic, 2008) Pop Today (ChieliMusic, 2008) Raspberry & Cream (ChieliMusic, 2008) Drippings (ChieliMusic, 2008) Travels (Watchfire Music, 2009) East of the Sun (Watchfire Music, 2009) Someone's Singing (Watchfire Music, 2022)
With Special EFX Special EFX (GRP, 1983) Modern Manners (GRP, 1985) Slice of Life (GRP, 1986) Mystique (GRP, 1987) Double Feature (GRP, 1988) Confidential (GRP, 1989) Just Like Magic (GRP, 1990) Peace of the World (GRP, 1991) Global Village (GRP, 1992) Play (JVC, 1993) Catwalk (JVC, 1994) Body Language (JVC, 1995) Masterpiece (Shanachie, 1999) Butterfly (Shanachie, 2001) Party (Shanachie, 2003) A Night with Chieli Minucci & Special EFX (Shanachie, 2006) Sweet Surrender (Shanachie, 2007) Without You (ChieliMusic, 2010) Genesis (Shanachie S405, 2013) Deep as the Night (Trippin 'n' Rhythm, 2017) All Stars (Trippin 'n' Rhythm, 2020) Twenty Twenty 2 (ChieliMusic, 2022) Return to Budapest with Love (ChieliMusic, 2024)
As sideman With Anastacia Not That Kind (Epic/Daylight, 2000) Freak of Nature (Epic/Daylight, 2001) You'll Never Be Alone (Epic/Daylight, 2002) Pieces of a Dream (Epic/Daylight, 2005)
With Celine Dion Let's Talk About Love (Columbia, 1997) These Are Special Times (Columbia, 1998) I'm Alive (Columbia, 2002) A New Day Has Come (Columbia, 2002) One Heart (Columbia, 2003)
With Deborah Henson-Conant Caught in the Act (GRP, 1990) Talking Hands (GRP, 1991) Budapest (MCD Jazz, 1992)
With Chris Hinze Saliah (Keytone, 1984) African Dream (Keytone, 1991) Music for Relaxation (Keytone, 1992)
With others Marc Anthony, Mended (Columbia, 2002) Angela Bofill, Love in Slow Motion (Shanachie, 1996) Backstreet Boys, Millennium (GSM Music, 1999) B. B. & Q. Band, All Night Long (Capitol, 1982) B. B. & Q. Band, Six Million Times (Capitol, 1983) Bob Baldwin, Standing Tall (Narada, 2002) Jay Beckenstein, Eye Contact (Windham Hill, 2000) Tom Browne, R'N'Browne (Hip Bop, 1999) Will Downing, Invitation Only (Mercury, 1997) Roberta Flack, Oasis (Atlantic, 1988) Russell Gunn, Ethnomusicology Vol. 1 (Atlantic, 1999) Omar Hakim, We Are One (OzMosis, 2014) Lionel Hampton, For the Love of Music (MoJazz, 1995) Enrique Iglesias, Escape (Interscope, 2002) Jewel, Joy (Atlantic, 1999) Jennifer Lopez, On the 6 (Work, 1999) Cheryl Lynn, It's Gonna Be Right (Columbia, 1985) Marion Meadows, Player's Club (Heads Up, 2004) Kim Pensyl, Eyes of Wonder (GRP, 1993) Noel Pointer, Never Lose Your Heart (Shanachie, 1993) Nicole Renee, Nicole Renee (Atlantic, 1998) Rick Rhodes, Now You See It (Beverly, 1994) Rick Rhodes, Indian Summer (Beverly, 1995) Lionel Richie, To Love a Woman (Island, 2003) Jessica Simpson, Irresistible (Columbia, 2001) Kevin Toney, Strut (Shanachie, 2001) Nestor Torres, Mi Alma Latina (Shanachie, 2002) Gerald Veasley, Signs (101 South, 1994) Gerald Veasley, Love Letters (Inak, 1999) Roseanna Vitro, Catchin' Some Rays (Telarc, 1997)
Music library production YearLibraryCredit/Title(s)1998–presentGotham Library/FirstcomComposer, performer music cues for television, movies, and radio2000–2001Bloomberg RadioComposed music, including the main station IDs1999Sound Ideas/Westar Music LibrarySecond Cup 1999Sound Ideas/Westar Music LibraryNeon Nights2001Sound Ideas/Westar Music LibrarySex & Romance2001Sound Ideas/Westar Music LibraryManhattan Silhouette2002Sound Ideas/Westar Music LibraryX-Treme Sports 2002Sound Ideas/Westar Music LibraryOver the Edge1999De Wolfe MusicLatin Power1999De Wolfe MusicSmooth Jazz #41997Killer TracksThe 60's Vol. 1 1994FirstComAmerican Dream Vol. 21995FirstComLifestyles 1996FirstComAmerican Dream
References
External links Official site Interview