Gwendolyn Sanford

Gwendolyn Sanford is an American singer-songwriter and composer. She is best known for her performances with Gwendolyn and the Good Time Gang and for her contributions to the scores for Weeds, Orange Is the New Black, and other films and plays.

Biography

Sanford was born in Philadelphia and raised in Sierra Madre, California.{{Cite news|url = https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-140746073.html|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160220132534/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-140746073.html|url-status = dead|archive-date = February 20, 2016|title = Tunes for Tots: are L.A.'s own Gwendolyn and the good time gang the next wiggles?|last = Himmelsbach|first = Erik|date = January 1, 2006|work = Los Angeles Magazine|access-date = January 27, 2016|via = HighBeam Research}} Sanford studied acting at the Los Angeles County School High School for the Arts.{{Cite news|url = http://variety411.com/article/from-childrens-songs-to-orange-is-the-new-black-composer-gwendolyn-sanford-4143098/|title = Children's Songs To "Orange Is The New Black" – Composer Gwendolyn Sanford|work = Variety 411|access-date = January 27, 2016}} While in school, she learned to play guitar and at age 27, formed Gwendolyn and the Good Time Gang. The group was first noticed at a 2003 street fair in Los Feliz.

In addition to her solo works, Sanford, and her husband Brandon Jay, recorded four albums of children's music as Gwendolyn and the Good Time Gang.{{Cite magazine|url = http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/6598242/orange-is-the-new-black-composer-season-3-final-scene|title = 'Orange Is the New Black' Composer Talks Scoring That Emotional Final Scene|last = Strecker|first = Erin|date = June 16, 2015|magazine = Billboard|access-date = January 27, 2016}}

Film, TV, and stage

Sanford, Brandon Jay and Scott Doherty compose music for Netflix's original series Orange Is the New Black.{{Cite news|url = http://www.musictimes.com/articles/41415/20150623/orange-new-black-music-composer-gwendolyn-sanford-talks-season-3.htm|title = 'Orange is the New Black' Music Composer Gwendolyn Sanford Talks Season 3 Netflix Episodes, Characters' Stories & More|last = Niles|first = Jon|date = June 23, 2015|work = Music Times|access-date = January 27, 2016}} Prior, Gwendolyn and Brandon Jay composed the score for Weeds.{{Cite news|url = https://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2015/06/24/music-on-tv-listen-to-original-tracks-from-orange-is-the-new-black-season-3-exclusive/|title = Music on TV: Listen to Original Tracks From 'Orange Is the New Black' Season 3 (Exclusive)|last = Danton|first = Eric R.|date = June 24, 2015|work = The Wall Street Journal|access-date = January 27, 2016}} At least two different versions of Gwendolyn's song "Freedom of the Heart (Ooodily, Ooodily)" are prominently featured in Mike White's 2000 film Chuck & Buck.{{Cite news|url = http://collider.com/orange-is-the-new-black-season-2-gwendolyn-sanford/|title = Composer Gwendolyn Sanford Talks Orange Is the New Black Season 2; Calls it 'Darker' and 'Pretty Heavy'|last = Cook|first = Tommy|date = June 5, 2014|work = Collider|access-date = January 27, 2016}} She and Jay composed music for the play, Gruesome Playground Injuries.{{Cite news|url = https://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/01/theater/reviews/01gruesome.html?_r=0|title = Love Hurts, and for Some Couples, That's the Point|last = Brantley|first = Ben|date = January 31, 2011|work = The New York Times|access-date = January 27, 2016}}

Sanford wrote the music and lyrics for Romy and Michele's High School Reunion the musical,{{Cite news|url = http://www.broadwayworld.com/los-angeles/article/ROMY-AND-MICHELES-HIGH-SCHOOL-REUNION-Musical-Set-For-LA-Concert-78-20150629|title = Romy and Michele's High School Reunion Musical Set for LA Concert, 7/8|last = Cerasaro|first = Pat|date = June 29, 2015|work = Broadway World|access-date = January 27, 2016}} which first premiered June 15, 2017, at The 5th Avenue Theatre in Seattle, WA.

Awards

In 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2020 she received an award BMI for her work on the Netflix show Orange Is The New Black.

In 2007, she received an award BMI for her work on the TV show Weeds.

In 2003, Sanford was recognized at LA Weekly Music Awards as the Best New Genre/Uncategorizable Artist. Also in 2003, Gwendolyn won KFPK radio's The Music Never Stops No. 1 Album of the Year" award for Dew{{citation needed|date=November 2010}} and Amoeba Music named Sanford as their "Homegrown Artist Pick".

Discography

=Solo=

To date, Gwendolyn has recorded four solo albums

Ultrasounds (2000)
Dew (2003)
Lower Mill Road (2007)
Bright Light (2011){{Cite news|url = http://www.pasadenaweekly.com/cms/story/detail/variety_is_the_spice/11103/|title = Variety is the Spice|last = Bowen|first = Bliss|date = March 22, 2012|work = Pasadena Weekly|access-date = January 27, 2016|archive-date = February 3, 2016|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160203051428/http://www.pasadenaweekly.com/cms/story/detail/variety_is_the_spice/11103/|url-status = dead}}