Rex Salas


Rex Salas is a Grammy and Emmy Award nominated American record producer, songwriter, musical director, and music arranger. Best known in recent years for his work as the musical director for Janet Jackson on several of her tours, Salas has worked with many other notable artists.

Early years

Salas was born on March 16, 1962, in Prince George's County, Maryland, to parents Tomas and Mary. He left Maryland as a young child and moved to California, where he studied the guitar, bass, drums, and keyboards, eventually focusing on piano and keyboards as his main instruments.
Salas attended Carson High School in Carson, California, Salas was a cofounder of the band Tease, which recorded three albums on the RCA and CBS/Epic labels between 1983 and 1988.
Salas left Tease after the release of its first album, although several of his compositions were used in subsequent albums, and he was reunited with the band for a 1987 tour.

Songwriting and music production

As a member of Tease, Salas developed songwriting and arranging skills that would later aid him in producing recordings for multi-platinum artists including Vanessa Williams, and Boyz II Men.
Salas has also recorded and produced other legendary artists through his company Racer-Ex Productions, including Earth Wind and Fire, The Isley Brothers, The Jacksons, and the late Robert Palmer.

Music direction and performance

Through the years Salas has continued to use his expertise in musical direction and as a keyboardist, and playing keyboards on two of singer Robert Palmer's major tours in the late 1980s as well as music-directing three Janet Jackson world tours, including Jackson's 1998 HBO TV special: The Velvet Rope: Live in Madison Square Garden, for which Salas was nominated for an Emmy award in the category Outstanding Music Direction for a TV show. Salas was also the musical director for TLC's final “Fanmail Tour” as well as director for headlining tours with Maxwell, Brandy, Sheena Easton and Brian McKnight.
In 2009, Salas worked with The New York Symphonic Ensemble's 37 piece orchestra on a live tour with Boyz II Men in Japan. In 2010 the show was released on CD via iTunes Japan.

Charity work

In 2009, Rex musical-directed a show for Justin Timberlake at Elton John's Aids Charity benefit in London, England, and he also worked with Timberlake on his first Shriners Hospitals for Children benefit in Las Vegas, Nevada, in 2008, at which Salas was musical director for guest artists Lionel Richie, Rihanna, will.i.am, Leona Lewis, 50 Cent, Boyz II Men and Adam Levine, the lead singer of Maroon 5.
On July 25, 2005, Rex and wife Stacee Brown welcomed their son, London Blue Salas.

Other interests

Salas is on the Faculty of the California College of Music in Pasadena, California.

Discography

Albums

1983 : Tease – Tease
1986 : Tease – Tease
1988 : Remember – Tease
1988 : Heavy Nova – Robert Palmer
1988 : The Right Stuff – Vanessa Williams (producer on six songs

Singles/Tracks

1984: Fine Fine Fella – Patti Austin
1985 : If Your Heart Isn't In It – Atlantic Starr
1985 : You Never Know When You're Gonna Fall in Love – The Isley Brothers
1989 : You Only Come Out at Night – George Howard
1989 : All of My Love – The Gap Band
1990: Finishing Touch – Klymaxx
1990 : Just Want to Hold You – Jasmine Guy
1991 : The Comfort Zone – Vanessa Williams
1993 : It's So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday – Boyz II Men
1993 : Al Final Del Camino – Boyz II Men
1993 : Two Hearts – Earth, Wind and Fire
1994 : Separate Ways – Lalah Hathaway
1995 : Misused – The Mac Band
1996 : If Your Heart Isn't In It – Atlantic Starr

Artists worked with

Salas has produced, written, arranged, played on albums and tracks by or performed with the following singers and groups:
  • 50 Cent
  • Tatyana Ali
  • All-4-One
  • Boyz II Men
  • Mariah Carey
  • JC Chasez
  • Cher
  • Dazz Band
  • Taylor Dayne
  • Earth, Wind & Fire
  • The Gap Band
  • Johnny Gill
  • Jasmine Guy
  • George Howard
  • Miki Howard
  • The Isley Brothers
  • The Jackson 5
  • Janet Jackson
  • 3T
  • Paul Jackson Jr.
  • Rebbie Jackson
  • Joyce Kennedy
  • Klymaxx
  • Gladys Knight
  • Lakeside
  • Adam Levine
  • Leona Lewis
  • Chandy Madd
  • Brian McKnight
  • Maxwell
  • The Mac Band
  • Robert Palmer
  • Lionel Richie
  • Patrice Rushen
  • Atlantic Starr
  • Jessica Simpson
  • Nicole Scherzinger
  • Robin Thicke
  • Justin Timberlake
  • UB40
  • Will.i.am
  • Vanessa Williams
  • Stevie Wonder
  • Lenny Williams
  • Barbara Weathers
  • Aly & AJ
  • Durell Coleman
  • Brian Simpson
  • Vesta Williams
  • Level 42
  • Sheena Easton