Michael Sembello

Michael Sembello was born in Philadelphia in 1954. He moved to New York City in the mid-1970s, where he started working as a session guitarist and songwriter. His early credits included playing on Stevie Wonder's 'Songs in the Key of Life' and writing for artists like Chaka Khan.

In 1983, Sembello wrote and recorded 'Maniac' for the film 'Flashdance.' The synth-driven track became a massive hit, reaching the top five on the Billboard Hot 100 and earning an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song. Around the same time, he released his debut album 'Bossa Nova Hotel,' which included other songs like 'Automatic Man' and 'First Time.'

After 'Maniac,' Sembello continued to release music through the 1980s and early 1990s, putting out albums like 'Sembello' in 1986 and 'Caravan of Dreams' in 1992. He kept writing and recording, though nothing matched the commercial success of that one breakout track. Some of his later work included songs like 'Cadillac' and 'Is This The Way To Paradise.'