Dennis Matkosky will be the featured songwriter on Tuesday March 22nd at the Curb Cafe for the 4th installment of the Writer’s Series. Some of his most well known songs include ‘Maniac’ for the movie ‘Flashdance’ and ‘You’ll Think of Me’ among others.
Dennis Matkosky, native Philadelphian, began playing professionally at age 16, doing sessions at Sigma Sound for Soul acts such as The Spinners, Teddy Pendergrass and The Stylistics. He graduated with a degree in Theory and Composition from Temple University.
He moved to Los Angeles in 1979 and began his song writing career, writing his first song, ‘Mirror Mirror’, a top five hit for Diana Ross. He soon had another hit with the song ‘Maniac’, from the movie, ‘Flashdance’. He was nominated for an Academy Award, a Golden Globe Award and two Grammys; one for Best Song of the Year and one for Best Soundtrack, which he won. .’Maniac’ has been elevated to cult status, appearing in a variety of movies, advertisements and media venues.
His production and writing credits are responsible for over 50 million records sold. He first wrote and co-produced ‘Maniac’ for the ‘Flashdance’ soundtrack, selling 20 million records worldwide. He wrote and produced a Gold record for the group Chicago on the ‘Days of Thunder’ soundtrack and has written and produced for artists including Boz Scaggs, Smokey Robinson, Kenny G, Sara Brightman, James Ingram, Eddie Money, Al Jarreau, George Benson, Sheena Easton, Chris LeDoux, Clark Family Experience, Diana Ross, Ty Hendron, Keith Urban, Steve Holy, Leann Rimes, Clay Aiken, Rascal Flatts, Cliff Richard, Teddy Pendergrass, George Duke, Stanley Clark, Kool & the Gang, Johnny Gill, Bobby Caldwell and Sergio Mendes. He has been in the Top 10 of the Billboard charts in the categories of Jazz, R&B, Adult Contemporary, Country, Rock, Pop, Christian and Gospel. He has seen #1 on The Adult Contemporary charts with ‘Heart of Mine’ by Boz Scaggs and ‘We’ve Saved the Best for Last’ by Kenny G and Smokey Robinson.
In Nashville, Dennis has enjoyed the top of the charts with Leann Rimes’ hit single, ‘I Need You’, which earned Dennis two ASCAP Awards in Pop and Country for ‘Most Performed Songs of the Year’. ‘I Need You’ spent an unprecedented 111 weeks in the AC chart and remains in the top 20 Recurrent charts. ‘I Need You’ has been on the top of the charts around the world as well as #1 on the Euro Dance charts. ‘I Need You’ is also on Leann’s Gold ‘Greatest Hits’ CD, on ‘CMT Most Wanted’ CD and has been a single for Christian artist, Christina Starling.
Dennis recently had a #1 Country Single with Keith Urban smash single, ‘You’ll Think of Me’. Dennis was awarded one of the best 10 Country songs in 2004 from NSAI and received an ASCAP Award for one of the most performed Country singles.
‘You’ll Think of Me’ is still in the Top 10 of the AC Charts and Urban’s double platinum CD, ‘Golden Road’, is currently the #1 Country Catalog CD.
Dennis also had a song on the 2003 American Idol runner up, Clay Aiken. His CD, ‘Measure of a Man’, has gone multi-platinum and Dennis’ song, ‘I Will Carry You’ was a single.
Rascal Flatts contains Dennis’ song, ‘Break Away’ on their newest platinum album, ‘Feels Like Today’.
LeAnn Rimes’ November 2005 CD release ‘What A Wonderful World’ contains a song she co-wrote with Dennis called, ‘Miss You Like Christmas’.
Dennis currently has two songs on LeAnn Rimes January 2005 CD titled, ‘This Woman’, His song, ‘You Take Me Home’ is slated to be her next single and is now the theme song for the new game show, The American Dream Derby’,
LeAnn will also be releasing a European CD which Dennis has written several new songs.
A popular European artist, Cliff Richard, has two of Dennis’ songs on his new CD,
‘Something’s Goin’ On’.
Dennis has also written and produced for Contemporary Christian artists Avalon, Philips Craig & Dean, Tony Vincent and Wilshire. He won two ASCAP awards for ”Most Performed Song of the Year’ for Carmen’s ‘Faith Enough’ and Cece Winans’, ‘Say A Prayer’ and has been nominated for two Dove Awards for Dave Mullen’s ‘Faded Blues’ and Pam Thum’s ‘Feel The Healing’. Dennis and has had eleven #1 Singles on The Contemporary Christian charts.