Michael Boddicker

☆ Save On Wikipedia ↗
Michael Lehmann Boddicker
Michael Lehmann Boddicker
Boddicker In 2025
Born
Michael J. Boddicker

(1953-01-19) January 19, 1953
Cedar Rapids, Iowa, U.S.
EducationCoe College,
University of Wisconsin,
University of Iowa
Known for
  • Music composer
  • film composer
  • sessions musician
Style
Spouses
    Cassandra Lee Jensen
    ​
    ​
    (m. 1972; div. 1980)​
      Edie Lehmann
      ​
      (m. 1995)​

      Michael Lehmann Boddicker (born January 19, 1953) is an American film composer and session musician, specializing in electronic music. He is a three times National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (N.A.R.A.S.) Most Valuable Player "Synthesizer" and MVP Emeritus, he was awarded a Grammy as a songwriter for "Imagination" from Flashdance in 1984.[1] He is the president of The Lehmann Boddicker Group.[2]

      Michael Boddicker Modular System exhibited at Winter NAMM 2015[3]

      Early life and education

      Boddicker grew up in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.[4] His parents, Arlene Estelle (née Reyman) and Gerald "Jerry" Valentine Boddicker operated a music school and store in Cedar Rapids, which served students in all of Eastern Iowa.[2][5][6] His mother was a nationally recognized accordionist.[7][8]

      While still attending Jefferson High School in Cedar Rapids in 1971, Boddicker enrolled full-time at the local Coe College, studying electronic music.[9][10] By 1972, he continued studies at Coe College, focused on music composition and he started taking jazz studies at the University of Wisconsin.[9] By 1973, he enrolled in 20th-century composition at the University of Iowa.[9] That same year in 1973, Michael purchased a powerful portable semi-modular synthesizer, the ARP 2600.[9]

      By 1974, Michael moved to Los Angeles and found Paul Beaver as a mentor.[9]

      Career

      He was able to purchase a Minimoog and a Moog System 15 modular synthesizer by 1975.[9] As a result of his purchase, he was asked by Bob Moog (the founder of Moog Music) to demonstrate their newest synthesizer, the Polymoog, at the 1975 summer NAMM Show.[9]

      He quickly found work as a session musician, and by 1977 appeared playing synthesizer, vocoder, accordion and keyboards on albums by many notables such as Quincy Jones, Randy Newman, The Manhattan Transfer and The Bee Gees.

      One of Boddicker's earliest soundtrack collaborations of note was a score for a short experimental claymation film made by Gumby creator Art Clokey entitled "Mandala" (released in 1977). Soon after that he entered the mainstream with work on such films as Saturday Night Fever, Battlestar Galactica and The Wiz.

      Boddicker is a Board Member of The Society of Composers and Lyricists (SCL), of Beverly Hills, California.[11] He owns an audio post production facility, Sol7 (aka Sol Seven), in the Sherman Oaks neighborhood of Los Angeles, California.[11][12]

      In 2019, he co-founded the Los Angeles synthesizer music festival, Synthplex.[13][14]

      Personal life

      Boddicker was married to Cassandra Lee Jensen, from 1972 to 1980, ending in divorce.[15][16] Boddicker officially changed his name to Michael Lehmann Boddicker when he married singer/conductor/actress Edie Lehmann on October 15, 1995 in Hollywood, California.[17] He has four children, two of the children he had were with Edie Lehmann. They live in Southern California.

      He sued Michael Jackson's estate in 2016, alleging that he was unpaid for work and services provided early in his professional relationship with Michael Jackson.[1]

      Awards

      He was awarded a Grammy Award as a songwriter for "Imagination," from the movie Flashdance in 1984.[1][18]

      Boddicker was voted most valuable synthesizer player in 1981, 1982, 1984 by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences.[18] In 1991, in recognition of his achievements, contributions and furtherance of electronic music in the recording industry, he was presented with an honorary doctorate of music from Coe College.[19] In 2003, Boddicker was inducted to the Iowa Rock 'n Roll Hall of Fame.[7]

      Film music

      Among his film score credits as a composer are The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension (1984),[20][18] the score for The Adventures of Milo and Otis (1986),[21] and additional music for Bulletproof (1996),[22] The Magic Egg: A Computer Odyssey (1984) an animated film,[23] Get Crazy (1983),[24] White Water Summer (1987),[25] F/X2 (1991) with Lalo Schifrin,[26] and Starfire (1992).[27]

      His contributions as a composer can also be heard in the film Battlestar Galactica (1978) which include the Battlestar Galactica theme song produced and arranged by Michael Boddicker.[28] Freejack (1992), Michael Jackson's "Black or White" (music video), and "HIStory" (music video) video produced by and additional music underscore and "THE FLY" eleven cues to augment or replace the original score.

      Artists that have recorded his songs and compositions include Lani Hall ("Go For The Heart"), Earth, Wind and Fire ("Opening Raise Tour"), Patti Austin ("Oh, No Margarita"), Michael Jackson ("Captain EO & HIStory Unveiling"), Isao Tomita's & YMO's Hideki Matsutake ("Automatic Collect", "Automatic Correct & Plan"), Kitaro ("The Silk Road"), Laura Branigan (Imagination) and David Hasselhoff.

      He also performed on soundtrack of the Horizons attraction Walt Disney World's Epcot theme park.[29]

      Performer

      As a session musician he played synthesizer on, among others, Michael Jackson's This Is It, HIStory, Thriller, Bad, Off the Wall', Dangerous, Black or White, and We Are the World; Earth, Wind & Fire's Let's Groove; Lionel Richie's Hello, You Are, Running with the Night; Dazz Band's Let It Whip; Randy Newman's The Natural and Short People; Kenny Loggins' Footloose; Cyndi Lauper's The Goonies 'R' Good Enough; Barbra Streisand's Somewhere; Cheap Trick's Surrender; The Jacksons' Shake Your Body; Pointer Sisters' He's So Shy; and Diana Ross's Missing You.[30]

      Select list, as performer
      Year Song Album Artist(s) Performed Notes
      1976 I Heard That!! Quincy Jones [31]
      1976 I'll Be Good to You The Brothers Johnson
      1977 Roots (1977 miniseries) soundtrack Various Synthesizer With Quincy Jones, performed on keyboard.
      1977 Little Criminals Randy Newman Synthesizer named as "Mike Boddicker"[32]
      1977 Superman Barbra Streisand named as "Mike Boddicker"[33]
      1978 Sounds...and Stuff Like That!! Quincy Jones Synthesizer [34]
      1978 Please Don't Keep Me Waiting Totally Hot Olivia Newton-John Synthesizer
      Dancin' 'Round and 'Round
      1979 Rock With You Off the Wall[35] Michael Jackson Synthesizer Synthesizers with Greg Phillinganes.
      Off The Wall
      I Can't Help It
      1979 No One Home Lalo Schifrin
      1979 One Voice One Voice[36] Barry Manilow Synthesizer
      (Why Don't We Try) A Slow Dance
      Rain
      Ships
      You Could Show Me
      I Don't Want To Walk Without You
      Who's Been Sleeping In My Bed
      Where Are They Now
      Bobbie Lee (What's The Difference, I Gotta Live)
      When I Wanted You
      Sunday Father
      1979 It's Money That I Love Born Again[37] Randy Newman Synthesizer
      The Story Of A Rock And Roll Band
      Pretty Boy
      Mr. Sheep
      Spies
      Half A Man
      William Brown
      Pants
      1980 He Who Rides the Tiger Bernie Taupin Synthesizer, keyboards, programming [38]
      1981 Landslide Physical Olivia Newton-John Synthesizer
      Stranger's Touch
      Falling
      Love Make Me Strong Synthesizer, piano, vocoder
      Silvery Rain Synthesizer
      Carried Away PPG Wave 2
      The Promise (The Dolphin Song)
      1982 Let It Whip Dazz Band
      1982 You Are Lionel Richie Lionel Richie
      1982 Muscles Diana Ross Synthesizer
      1982 Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' Thriller[39] Michael Jackson Synthesizer, background vocals
      Baby Be Mine
      Billie Jean Emulator
      Human Nature
      P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing) Emulator, vocoder
      The Lady in My Life Emulator
      This Is It Michael Jackson
      1983 I Love L.A. Trouble In Paradise Randy Newman Synthesizers
      1984 Chicago 17[18] Chicago [18]
      1984 Missing You Diana Ross
      1984 Penny Lover Can't Slow Down[18] Lionel Richie [18]
      Running with the Night Synthesizer, vocoder [18]
      Stuck on You [18]
      1984 1100 Bel Air Place Julio Iglesias Keyboards [40]
      1985 We Are The World USA For Africa, various Synthesizer, programming (Grammy Award Winner).[18]
      1985 The Goonies 'R' Good Enough Cyndi Lauper Cyndi Lauper Synthesizer
      1985 Greatest Love Of All Whitney Houston Whitney Houston [39]
      1985 Somewhere The Broadway Album Barbra Streisand (Grammy Award Winner)[39]
      1986 Chicago 18 Chicago
      1986 They Don't Make Them Like They Used To Tough Guys (movie soundtrack) Kenny Rogers
      1986 Dancing on the Ceiling Lionel Richie (Grammy Award Winner)
      1987 Bad Michael Jackson [39]
      1989 Back on the Block Back on the Block[35] Quincy Jones drum machine
      Setembro (Brazilian Wedding Song) M1 pads, synth pads
      I'll Be Good to You Synthesizer, programming
      The Places You Find Love
      Birdland
      1991 Black Or White Dangerous[41][39] Michael Jackson
      Jam
      Heal the World
      Will You Be There
      Keep The Faith
      Gone Too Soon
      1995 Earth Song (single)
      1995 HIStory: Past, Present and Future, Book I
      1996 They Don't Care About Us

      Music department for television

      Select list, as music department for television
      Year(s) Television series Performed Notes
      1982–1983 St. Elsewhere Synthesizer 22 episodes
      1982–1985 Knight Rider Synthesizer 43 episodes
      1984 Night Court Synthesizer 13 episodes
      1985–1986 Family Ties Synthesizer 24 episodes
      2001 Michael Jackson: 30th Anniversary Celebration (television special) Keyboards 1 episode
      2002–2003 Will & Grace Synthesizer 24 episodes
      2003 Boomtown Synthesizer 6 episodes
      2004–2005 The Simpsons Synthesizer 21 episodes
      2014–2015 Scandal Synthesizer 22 episodes

      References

      1. "Grammy Award-Winning Composer Suing Michael Jackson's Estate". CBS News. 2016-05-06. Retrieved 2019-03-02.
      2. "NAMM Oral History, Michael Boddicker". National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM). 2013-08-07. Retrieved 2019-03-01.
      3. "Bob Moog Foundation Modular Legacy at NAMM: in 2015, the Michael Boddicker modular synthesizer". Bob Moog Foundation. January 20, 2015.  (See also: Exhibition panel, Winter NAMM 2015 in photos, From Bob Moog to Michael Boddicker)
      4. Michael Boddicker profile @iowarocknroll.com Retrieved 5-19-2011.
      5. "Former music teacher Arlene Boddicker dies at 81". The Gazette. Retrieved 2019-03-02.
      6. "Gerald Valentine Boddicker". The Cedar Rapid Gazette. Aug 6, 1998. p. 22 – via Newspapers.com.
      7. "Michael Lehmann Boddicker". iowarocknroll. Retrieved 2020-01-27.
      8. "A Legacy of Music For Retired Teacher". Newspapers.com. The Cedar Rapid Gazette. 21 October 2010. p. 5. Retrieved 2021-03-25.
      9. "Bob Moog Foundation Modular Legacy at NAMM: in 2015, the Michael Boddicker modular synthesizer". The Bob Moog Foundation. 2015-01-20. Retrieved 2019-03-02.
      10. "Around the town". Newspapers.com. The Cedar Rapid Gazette. 31 August 1980. p. 72. Retrieved 2021-03-25.
      11. "The Sounds Of Analog Synthesizers with Michael Lehmann Boddicker". The Society of Composers and Lyricists. 2017-10-12. Retrieved 2019-03-02.
      12. "Artist Profile: Michael Boddicker". Intel Corporation. Retrieved 2019-03-02.
      13. Hernandez, Marilyn (27 February 2019). "Synthplex, L.A.'s First Synthesizer Festival, to Debut in March". EDM.com - Electronic Dance Music News. Retrieved 2019-03-02.
      14. Halperin, Shirley (2019-04-19). "Synthplex Conference Draws 2,500 Electronic Music Enthusiasts to Burbank". Variety. Retrieved 2020-01-27.
      15. "Miss Jensen to Wed M. J. Boddicker". Newspapers.com. The Gazette. 18 June 1972. p. 47. Retrieved 2021-07-07.
      16. "Michael J Boddicker in the California, U.S., Divorce Index, 1966-1984". Ancestry.com. Center for Health Statistics, California Department of Health Services, State of California.
      17. "Lehmann–Boddicker". Newspapers.com. The Cedar Rapid Gazette. 22 October 1995. p. 103. Retrieved 2021-03-25.
      18. Rexroat, Dee Ann (27 February 1985). "C.R. Native Doesn't Win A Grammy This Year But Has Role In Two Others". Newspapers.com. The Cedar Rapid Gazette. p. 12. Retrieved 2021-03-25.
      19. Winter Courier 2004 Archived 2008-04-14 at the Wayback Machine, p. 22, PDF. Coe College. Retrieved on 9 March 2008.
      20. "The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across The 8th Dimension". Library of Congress. Retrieved 2019-03-02.
      21. Holden, Stephen (1989-08-25). "Review/Film; Cat and Dog Are Friends In a Tale of Real Animals". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2019-03-02.
      22. "Bulletproof". Library of Congress. Retrieved 2019-03-02.
      23. "The Magic Egg: A Computer Odyssey". Encyclotronic. Retrieved 2019-03-02.
      24. Maslin, Janet (1983-10-14). "'Get Crazy,' Rock". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2019-03-02.
      25. "White Water Summer". www.nndb.com. Retrieved 2019-03-02.
      26. "F/X2". Variety. 1991-01-01. Retrieved 2019-03-02.
      27. "Starfire". collection.tiff.net. Retrieved 2019-03-02.
      28. "Theme From "Battlestar Galactica" (Long Disco Version)". Discogs. Retrieved 2019-03-02.
      29. ""EPCOT Center: A Profile". Walt Disney Company. 1982. Retrieved 2022-05-27.
      30. A complete discography is available at Discogs - Michael Boddicker.
      31. "Quincy Jones - I Heard That!!". Discogs. 1976. Retrieved 2019-03-02.
      32. "Randy Newman - Little Criminals". Discogs. 1977. Retrieved 2019-03-02.
      33. "Barbra Streisand - Streisand Superman". Discogs. 1977. Retrieved 2019-03-02.
      34. "Sounds...And Stuff Like That!! - Quincy Jones | Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 2019-03-02.
      35. Mayes, Alison (January 11, 1990). "Keyboard Wiz Aims For The Top". Calgary Herald (Calgary, Alberta, Alberta, Canada) – via Newspapers.com.
      36. "Barry Manilow – One Voice". Discogs. 1979.
      37. "Randy Newman, Born Again, (1979, Vinyl)". Discog. 1979.
      38. "Records, Pop/Rock". Logansport Pharos-Tribune (Logansport, Indiana). February 8, 1994. Retrieved 2021-03-25 – via Newspapers.com.
      39. "Artisans - Michael Boddicker". Spectrasonics. Retrieved 2019-03-02.
      40. Admin (6 May 2016). "1984 Julio Iglesias - 1100 Bel Air Place". sessiondays.com. Retrieved 2021-07-07.
      41. Shaw, Ted (November 23, 1991). "Pop: Dangerous by Michael Jackson". The Windsor Star (Windsor, Ontario, Canada).