Hal Willner

Hal Willner (born 1957, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) is an American music producer working in recording, Films, TV and live events. He is well known for assembling tribute records featuring a wide variety of artists and musical styles (jazz, classical, rock, Tin Pan Alley). He is often credited as the inventor of the 'modern' tribute record with Amarcord Nino Rota in 1981. He has also produced records for Marianne Faithfull, Bill Frisell, William S. Burroughs and Allen Ginsberg, among others. He produced a live tribute concert to American singer-songwriter Tim Buckley, that ultimately launched the career of Tim's son Jeff Buckley.

Tribute albums

• Amarcord Nino Rota (1981) is a tribute to Italian composer Nino Rota, and features interpretation of his music for Federico Fellini films by jazz musicians including Wynton and Branford Marsalis, Carla Bley, Muhal Richard Abrams, Bill Frisell, Steve Lacy, and Jaki Byard, and pop musicians, including Deborah Harry.
• That's The Way I Feel Now: A Tribute to Thelonius Monk (1984) features musicians ranging from John Zorn to Peter Frampton.
• Lost in the Stars: The Music of Kurt Weill (1985) includes performances by Sting, Lou Reed, Charlie Haden and many others.
• Stay Awake: Interpretations of Vintage Disney Films (1988) features performances of songs from Walt Disney movies by a large cast of artists ranging from Sun Ra to Michael Stipe, Ringo Starr and Ken Nordine.
• Weird Nightmare: Meditations on Mingus (1992) is a tribute to Charles Mingus, featuring instruments designed and built by American composer Harry Partch, on loan from his estate. Performers include Bill Frisell, Vernon Reid, Henry Rollins, Keith Richards, Charlie Watts, Don Byron, Henry Threadgill, Gary Lucas, Bobby Previte, Robert Quine, Leonard Cohen, Diamanda Galás, Chuck D and Elvis Costello.
• September Songs: The Music of Kurt Weill (1995) re-creation of the previous Weill tribute as a Canadian TV special directed by Larry Weinstein. A CD was issued and includes performances by Nick Cave and P J Harvey.
• Stormy Weather: The Music of Harold Arlen (2005) Another Larry Weinstein TV program. The CD includes performances by Rufus Wainwright, Debbie Harry, David Johansen, Eric Mingus and Sandra Bernhard