Secondary Skills: Arranger, Musician, Songwriter
Active: Late 1960s to present
Michael Omartian is an American producer, arranger, and keyboardist whose work played a defining role in late 1970s and 1980s pop and adult contemporary music. Known for combining strong musical discipline with commercial clarity, Michael Omartian built a career spanning mainstream pop, film soundtracks, and contemporary Christian music.
Notable Recordings by Michael Omartian
Michael Omartian began his career in Los Angeles as a highly regarded session keyboardist during the late 1960s and early 1970s. Classically trained and fluent in jazz and pop idioms, he became a regular contributor to recordings by artists including Steely Dan, Loggins and Messina, Seals and Crofts, Al Jarreau, and Peter Cetera. His role on Steely Dan recordings was strictly as a session musician, not as a band member.
By the mid to late 1970s, Michael Omartian transitioned into production and arranging, where his musical leadership became more prominent. His most significant commercial and artistic success came through his collaboration with Christopher Cross. Michael Omartian produced Christopher Cross’s self-titled debut album, released in 1979, which achieved multi-platinum status and swept the major categories at the 1981 Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year, Record of the Year, and Song of the Year.
Alongside his mainstream work, Michael Omartian became a central figure in contemporary Christian music. Michael Omartian became President of Sparrow Records in the early 1980s and played a major role in shaping the label’s musical and production direction. During the 1980s, he produced key releases for artists such as Amy Grant and Michael W Smith, helping raise production standards within the genre while maintaining crossover appeal.
Michael Omartian continued to balance production, songwriting, and executive work across subsequent decades, maintaining a reputation for musical integrity and consistency rather than trend-driven output.
