Dexter Gilman Wansel is a Grammy-winning R&B/jazz fusion arranger, musician, composer, conductor, synthesist and A&R director.
Biography
Dexter Wansel began as an errand boy backstage at the uptown theater in Philadelphia from 1959 through 1963 for his step-uncle Georgie Woods. There he met many great artists who encouraged him to pursue music. During high school, he and his best friendStanley Clarke had their first bands together. In 1970 after being honourably discharged from the United States Army, Wansel quietly joined the ranks of synthesists like Wendy Carlos and Dick Hyman, where he began programming the EMS VCS 3 'Putney' and the ARP 2600 for sessions at Sigma Sound Studios both credited and uncredited. From the early to mid '70s, Wansel also played keyboards for groups such as Instant Funk, Yellow Sunshine, and MFSB. After signing with Philadelphia International Records, as in-house songwriter/producer/arranger, he established a songwriting relationship with the lyricist Cynthia Biggs. He also collaborated with other writers such as Bunny Sigler, T. Life, Vinnie Barrett and Kenneth Gamble. Wansel produced, wrote, arranged, played keyboards and synthesized hits for artists at Philadelphia International Records as well as numerous other labels. In 1977, he produced the Grammy-winning album Unmistakably Lou by Lou Rawls. Wansel's music has been used as samples in the world of hip-hop. His 1975 'Theme From The Planets' drum beat intro, is hailed as being one of the first foundation beats of hip-hop. This beat continues to be sampled today and can also be heard on TV commercials and in movies. His sampled music has been used by Kanye West, Lil Wayne, Drake, Rick Ross, J Cole, Eric B and Rakim, Wiz Khalifa, Lil Kim, Ice-T and Ice Cube. In 1979 as conductor of the world-famous MFSB Orchestra, Wansel was the music director/conductor for the historic show at the White House commemorating the very first 'Black Music History Month' celebration in 1978. From 1978 through 1980, Dexter Wansel was the A+R Director for Philadelphia International Records where he oversaw many album releases by the label's artists under the direction of Gamble and Huff. In 1981 he wrote and arranged the song "Nights Over Egypt" for the Jones Girls. Replying to a request for info about the song on the YouTube version in March 2020, he described how the song came into being: ---------------------------------------- "I was supposed to go to Egypt and Peru with slippery rock college back in the 70s but the state department red flagged the trip for numerous reasons. So I along with Mark Douberman and Roy Smith, demoed two songs one called The Clouds of Machu Picchu and the other Nights Over Egypt. I came up with words that were based on facts along with Cynthia Biggs for..Nights Over Egypt. Then I finally went into the studio and along with Steve Green on bass, Roy Smith on guitar, and Mark Douberman on drums. I recorded my keyboards Rhodes/and synthesizers before adding the Jones Girls vocals. Afterwards I wrote the string, horn, and wind arrangement and conducted orchestral MFSB members during the final recording aspect. I have always loved Egypt and its history and have always wanted to go there. I still have not been able to, but one day hopefully I will. The other song Clouds Of Machu Picchu, I never finished, though I still have the demo instrumental". ---------------------------------------- Dexter and wife Judith Wansel have created their show called Sounds Of Philadelphia.
Personal life
Wansel is the father of Grammy-nominated music producer and songwriter Pop Wansel, and a U.S Army Veteran of the Vietnam War era. Most recently he has authored a novel entitled Shortwave, published in 2011. Dexter Wansel is the brother of author Teri Woods.
