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Michael Bearden

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Michael Bearden
Born
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
OccupationsMusic director, keyboardist, arranger, conductor, composer, record producer
Years active1980s–present
Websitemichaelbearden.com

Michael Bearden is an American music director, keyboardist, arranger, conductor, and composer from Chicago, Illinois. He is best known as the final music director for Michael Jackson, serving as the musical architect for the This Is It residency and the subsequent documentary film. Since 2013, he has served as the music director for Lady Gaga, overseeing her world tours and Las Vegas residencies. He has received three Primetime Emmy Award nominations for Outstanding Music Direction and has served as music director for the 97th Academy Awards (2025) and 98th Academy Awards (2026).[1][2]

Early life

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Bearden was born and raised on the South Side of Chicago, Illinois. He began playing piano at a young age and developed his skills through the Chicago music scene. Early in his career, he moved to Washington, D.C., where he was discovered by Stevie Wonder, leading to his first major professional opportunities in the music industry.[3][4]

Career

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Early work and collaborations

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Bearden has worked as a keyboardist, arranger, and music director for numerous artists spanning multiple genres. His collaborations include Madonna, Whitney Houston, Herbie Hancock, Stevie Wonder, Sting, Carlos Santana, Lionel Richie, Chaka Khan, Lenny Kravitz, Destiny's Child, Brandy, India Arie, and Prince. In the jazz genre, he has worked with Rachelle Ferrell, Herbie Mann, Will Downing, Marion Meadows, Regina Carter, and Quincy Jones.[3][5]

He contributed keyboards and arrangements to Marion Meadows' album Pleasure (1998), serving as arranger and conductor on the project.[6]

Michael Jackson and This Is It

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In 2009, Bearden was selected by Michael Jackson to serve as music director for the This Is It concert residency planned for London's The O2 Arena. Following Jackson's death on June 25, 2009, Bearden served as music director, supervisor, composer, and associate producer for the documentary film Michael Jackson's This Is It (2009).[7][8]

Lopez Tonight

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From 2009 to 2011, Bearden served as bandleader and music director for the late-night talk show Lopez Tonight on TBS, hosted by George Lopez.[3]

Lady Gaga (2013–present)

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Since 2013, Bearden has served as the primary music director for Lady Gaga. His work includes the Joanne World Tour (2017–2018), the Chromatica Ball (2022), and her Las Vegas residencies Lady Gaga Enigma + Jazz & Piano (2018–2020, 2022–2023). He directed music for Gaga's Super Bowl LI halftime show (2017), earning a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Music Direction, and for the television special One Last Time: An Evening with Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga (2021), earning a second Emmy nomination.[9][7]

He appeared as a super group keyboardist in Gaga's film A Star Is Born (2018).[7]

Academy Awards

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Bearden served as music director for the 97th Academy Awards (2025) and 98th Academy Awards (2026), the latter described by Rolling Stone as his return "to helm the award ceremony's sound for the second time."[10][11] His work on the 97th Oscars earned him a third Emmy nomination for Outstanding Music Direction.[2]

Film and television scoring

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Bearden's film scoring credits include Michael Jackson's This Is It (2009), American Blackout (2006), High on the Hog: How African American Cuisine Transformed America (2021), Hip Hop Uncovered (2021), Kevin Hart & Chris Rock: Headliners Only (2023), Outlaw Johnny Black (2023), and Gaga: Chromatica Ball (2024).[7][5]

Awards and nominations

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Year Award Category Work Result Ref.
2017 Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Music Direction Super Bowl LI halftime show with Lady Gaga Nominated [1][2]
2021 One Last Time: An Evening with Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga Nominated
2025 97th Academy Awards Nominated
2026 98th Academy Awards Nominated

References

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  1. ^ a b "Michael Bearden". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Retrieved March 3, 2026.
  2. ^ a b c "As music director for the Oscars, Chicago native Michael Bearden brings elegance, spontaneity". WBEZ. March 7, 2026. Retrieved March 7, 2026.
  3. ^ a b c "The Bio". Michael Bearden Official Site. Retrieved March 3, 2026.
  4. ^ "Little Known Black History Fact: Michael Bearden". Black America Web. June 25, 2019. Retrieved March 3, 2026.
  5. ^ a b "Raj Kapoor and Katy Mullan Return as Executive Producers of the 97th Oscars". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Press Office. October 28, 2024. Retrieved March 3, 2026.
  6. ^ "Marion Meadows – Pleasure Credits". Discogs. Retrieved March 3, 2026.
  7. ^ a b c d "Michael Bearden". IMDb. Retrieved March 3, 2026.
  8. ^ Gallo, Phil (October 28, 2009). "Michael Jackson: This Is It Review". Variety. Retrieved March 3, 2026.
  9. ^ Tangcay, Jazz (August 15, 2022). "How Lady Gaga's Music Director Helped Tony Bennett Find the Magic". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved March 3, 2026.
  10. ^ "Let's Go Move Some Souls: Inside the Music of the 2026 Oscars". Rolling Stone. March 15, 2026. Retrieved March 15, 2026.
  11. ^ "Michael Bearden Is Back As Music Director Of The Oscars". Essence. March 15, 2026. Retrieved March 15, 2026.
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