What People Are Saying About
Life In The Key of Rubini

“I think anyone with even a passing interest in what it was like in the music business in Hollywood during the ‘60s and ‘70s should rush to read this book. Having known Michel for over four decades, I can say with complete certainty that he has lived a life like no other person I know. You will find your mouth hanging open while madly turning the pages of this vivid, engaging and entertaining memoir. Get ready for a wild ride...some of which I experienced firsthand.”

- SUZANNE DE PASSE, PEABODY, EMMY AND GOLDEN GLOBE AWARD-WINNING FORMER PRESIDENT OF MOTOWN PRODUCTIONS AND CURRENT CO-CHAIRMAN OF DE PASSE JONES ENTERTAINMENT

“Mike Rubini (that’s the name he used when we met) was the best piano player I’d ever seen when I was sixteen and the first real “legit” guy I got to know in the music biz. We’ve made a lot of great music together since then, had a lifetime of laughs, and also chased a few females during our fifty-plus years of friendship. Honestly, as talented as Michel is, in my opinion, he is even a nicer person. His book is honest, entertaining, and a great read!”

- MIKE POST, MULTI-GRAMMY AWARD-WINNING MUSICIAN, PRODUCER AND COMPOSER

“Michel Rubini’s unflinching honesty, gift for storytelling, and sheer number of jaw-dropping escapades combine to make Life in the Key of Rubini simply impossible to put down.”

-KENT HARTMAN, BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF THE WRECKING CREW AND GOODNIGHT, L.A.

Reviews

Excerpt from Book Review of LIFE IN THE KEY OF RUBINI

"Life In The Key Of Rubini" tells the story (in his own words) of Michel (Mike) Rubini, a key member of The Wrecking Crew … as well as musical director for acts as varied as Sonny and Cher, Nancy Wilson and Johnny Mathis.

It's a fascinating tale that never gets boring (hell, the guy gets laid about every third page!!!) of Michel's adventures from child prodigy to highly-regarded session man to musical arranger to composer and conductor of soundtrack music.

Because of his uncanny ability to instantly sight-read any new piece of music set in front of him … as well as improvise perfect parts that captured "the feel" of whatever he happened to be recording at the time when told to just "do your thing," Michel became a very in-demand musician. Along the way he worked with everyone from the aforementioned Sonny and Cher (even appearing as their musical director on their CBS Television Series

... DIDJAKNOW that two of the original founding members of Toto got their start as teenagers playing in Sonny and Cher's back-up band??? You'll find ALL kinds of fascinating facts like this in Michel's book!), Nancy Wilson and Johnny Mathis to sessions with Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, Jim Nabors, Leon Russell, Barbra Streisand, Harry Nilsson and more.

Ironically, one of his first assignments was arranging something for Raquel Welch, a then struggling, unknown singer / actress, only to find himself working with her again a decade and a half later when she was not only a star but considered to be one of the sexiest, most beautiful women in the world. Along the way, he would also date Lynda Carter, TV's Wonder Woman, on and off for several years.

The book moves along at a fun and interesting pace as Michel recounts some of his favorite adventures. He was encouraged to write his memoirs by none other than Kent Hartman, who wrote the book on The Wrecking Crew, who became fascinated by all the incredible stories Michel was able to tell him while being interviewed for his own book.

I, for one, am glad he followed through … as this is a fun trip down memory lane, taking a look at the "lifestyles of the rich and famous" in the anything goes '60's and '70's.

See the complete review at: http://forgottenhits60s.blogspot.com/2018/08/life-in-key-of-rubini.html

Kent Kotal

forgottenhits.com

Buy The Book

Life in the Key of Rubini is musician Michel Rubini’s high-flying, heartfelt and often down-right gripping memoir about his days of hit-making, hell-raising, and skirt-chasing in a Hollywood sadly long gone.

From playing on classic songs such as “Strangers in the Night,” “I Got You Babe,” and “Unchained Melody” to involvements with gorgeous film and TV actresses such as Raquel Welch, Joanna Moore, and Lynda Carter (i.e. Wonder Woman), Rubini has led a life that will astound."

Michel Rubini, an acclaimed pianist and composer, was a member of the legendary Wrecking Crew session musicians in Los Angeles during the sixties and early seventies. In addition, he served as Sonny & Cher’s longtime musical director and composed the soundtracks for dozens of films and TV series, including Manhunter, Tales from the Crypt, and the long-running Hitchhiker mystery anthology on HBO. Rubini, now retired, lives in Palm Springs, California.