Marv Ross is a producer, songwriter, and guitarist with extensive experience in co-ordinating tours, event creation and stage production. In 1981 with his wife, vocalist and saxophonist, Rindy Ross, he formed Quarterflash. Their award-winning debut album, which featured Marv's hit single, Harden My Heart , went platinum with four top-forty hits. Along with Quarterflash's four albums, Marv has also written for film, the stage, and TV with songs in Nightshift, Gremlins, Fast Times at Ridgemont High, and Visionquest.

From 1981 through '89 Marv produced Quarterflash's live shows with tours around the world with Elton John, Linda Ronstadt, and The Beach Boys. It was during these years that Marv's expertise in tour production was developed along with stage management, sound reinforcement, light design, and entertainment co-ordination.

In 1985 Marv was contracted by the Portland Trail Blazers to oversee and revitalize their game presentation. He implemented a new sound system for the Portland Coliseum and developed a new philosophy of game production that integrated the latest sound and wireless technology with the immediacy of live music performers. Many of the new production ideas that Ross implemented in the 80's for the Blazers are still being employed today.

In 1991 Marv was commissioned by the state of Oregon to write and produce a musical for the Sesquicentennial (150th year) of the Trail. Voices from the Oregon Trail was Marv's debut in writing for theatre and received a strong reception from critics and audiences alike. Marv wrote and produced the show and tour from 1991 through 1993 which involved moving 22 people, props, two trucks and a bus around the state - performing in a different venue every night. From 'Voices' came the formation of a new group based upon traditional string and brass ensembles of the 1800's called The Trail Band, whose popular Christmas and Oregon Trail shows have toured across the country and overseas. In 1994 Marv produced An Old Fashioned Christmas With The Trail Band for Oregon Public Broadcasting. This television special is still shown annually on OPB.

In 1995 Marv was commissioned to create an original work for the grand re-opening of the historic Granada Theatre in The Dalles, Oregon. Originally built in 1929, Marv developed "Radio Daze" - a show that re-created the theatre's original opening night gala with a simulated live radio broadcast from the theatre. A 17-piece orchestra complete with period costuming, songs from 1929, and radio ads were all part of this critically acclaimed show.

In 1997 and '98 Marv produced the entertainment for Cycle Oregon. Hiring and co-ordinating sound, lights, talent, and staging for this imposing event that required 8 hours of entertainment a day for 2000 cyclists traveling across the state. Marv was responsible for moving and coordinating production gear on a 24-hour a day schedule with a different stage show presented every day in a different city for seven consecutive dates.

Marv is currently working on a new musical theatre piece, Celilo, based upon the history of the native River People living and fishing on the Columbia. Marv produced a preview of Celilo in May of '98 to a sold-out audience at the Aladdin Theatre to a strong ovation and excellent reviews.

Celilo will be produced in 1999 as a full musical theatre production.

If you are interested in finding out more about Ross Productions or would like references or related materials, contact: marvross@rossproductions.com