Chuck Wild (born September 22, 1946, in Kansas City) is a keyboardist, composer, producer, recording artist and Emmy Award-nominated songwriter best known for his series of relaxation music albums using the artist name and imprint Liquid Mind®. As of April 2021, there are 18 albums in the Liquid Mind catalog.[1]
Wild's career spans 50 years from 1972 to the present, including writing 125 songs and compositions used in TV, films, and music albums.[2] He was signed to Warner/Chappell Music and Lorimar-Telepictures as a staff songwriter in 1987[3][4] and co-wrote "You're My One And Only" with songwriter Marti Sharron, a #1 hit in Germany for Jennifer RushonPassion.[5]
Wild co-wrote the song "Starr X'd Lovers" with Michèle Vice-Maslin and Dorian Cheah for the ABC TV series One Life to Live, which was nominated for Outstanding Original Song For A Drama Series at the 2011 Daytime Emmy Awards.[11]
Wild was signed to the Real Music record label from 2004 to 2014. They remain the exclusive distributor for all Liquid Mind albums.[12]
He received a Special President's Award from Barbara Wheeler, president of the American Music Therapy Association, on November 12, 2009, in San Diego California at their 2009 Annual Conference, "In recognition for outstanding advocacy, generosity and support of the Music Therapy profession."[13]
Wild is best known for his series of Liquid Mind albums; Liquid Mind is classified by music critics and listeners as therapeutic music, sedative music, ambient music, or new-age music. For example, Liquid Mind XI: Deep Sleep charted at #1 on the iTunes USA Top 100 New Age album charts after its release on February 5, 2016.[14]Relax: A Liquid Mind Experience charted at #10 on the New Age Billboard charts on March 22, 2008.[15]
Wild discusses the inception and process of creating the Liquid Mind series in many published interviews:
The Liquid Mind series was born from my struggle with panic attacks and anxiety while co-scoring the Emmy Award-winning American Broadcasting Company television series Max Headroom with composer Michael Hoenig.[16] During the same period more than 60 of my friends, associates, and family members died of HIV and cancer. To help heal from the panic, a counselor suggested that I write music representing the way I wanted to feel. This resulted in the first Liquid Mind album, Ambience Minimus, completed in 1988.
When I discovered this music was effective in healing my own anxiety and panic attacks, and with the encouragement of fellow artist Suzanne Doucet, I decided to release it through major distribution. The ultimate compliment to me is that people fall asleep to my music. Liquid Mind is functional music, assisting us to be tranquil at those times when that may not be easy.[17]
The Pointer Sisters, drum machine, programming and synthesizer on the song Say The Word from the Hot Together album, co-written with Glen Ballard and Marti Sharron. (1986)[20]
Wild's twelfth Liquid Mind studio album, Liquid Mind XII: Peace, was released on January 19, 2018. It is unique to the series in that it is the only Liquid Mind album composed by Wild with a specific theme. Titles of the eight tracks on the album represent steps in the process of conflict resolution.
Extensive liner notes and a music video were made available on the album website,[25] including the following commentary by Wild (track titles are italicized):
"No one is born hating another person; people can and do change every day. Peace between differing ideologies and cultures, though not impossible to achieve, may be challenging to attain. However, peace on a person-to-person basis is possible between any two willing individuals, regardless of their backgrounds.
Even the smallest step taken by one individual as a peacemaker can build a bridge of hope, encouragement and understanding which will grow in a harmonious way. The titles of the compositions on this album are steps we can each take towards conflict resolution:
We begin by acknowledging that At the Center Is Love. Where there is a capacity for love, which all humans share, there can be peace. The peace process begins with respectful Communication between two people, Person to Person, which leads to a discovery of their Shared Values. These shared values create a willingness to Surrender to Love, and we are able to move forward together as a measure of Trust develops. As trust grows, we become aware of our Oneness, and the Spirit of Peace prevails. It is the process of engendering peace to which this album is dedicated."[26]
^In the Studio with Michael Jackson by Bruce Swedien and Michael Jackson. Published by Hal Leonard Corporation, 2009. ISBN1423464958, 9781423464952, page 55
^Let's Make HIStory: An insight into the HIStory album by Brice Najar. Published by CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, September 20, 2016. ISBN1533296723. ISBN978-1533296726. Interview with Chuck Wild, pages 112-116
^MJ: The Genius of Michael Jackson by Steve Knopper. Published by Scribner (imprint of Simon & Schuster, Inc.), October 6, 2015. ISBN1476730377. ISBN978-1476730370. Pages 227, 228, 241, 396, 398
^American Music Therapy Association awards for individuals who "have made significant contributions to AMTA through education, service, clinical practice, and/or research." 2009 Special Presidential AwardArchived 2017-07-12 at the Wayback Machine
