Billy Jay Stein, also known as “Strange Cranium,” is a Manhattan-based keyboardist, composer, electronic music designer, record producer and mixing engineer. Stein is also the co-founder and co-president of Strike Audio, one of the largest independent production music libraries in the U.S.
Stein won a Grammy in 2015 for his work in producing and mixing “Beautiful: The Carole King Musical”. He was the composer, music producer, and arranger for “The Radio City Rockettes NY Spectacular”.
Stein’s keyboard programming and performance credits include: Bono and The Edge, Jon Batiste, Carole King, Elton John, Ray Charles, Phish, Jimmy Fallon, Carly Simon, Joe Budden, and Burt Bacharach.
On Broadway, he has been the Electronic Music Designer for over 20 productions including MJ: The Musical, Shucked, Mean Girls, Parade, Kimberly Akimbo, Britney Spears: One More Time, Paradise Square, The Band’s Visit, Fun Home, Spider-Man Turn Off the Dark, and Jekyll & Hyde.
Stein’s cinematic and television compositions have been featured on shows and movies like Sex and The City, Nurse Jackie, 90 Day Fiancée, and Pawn Stars.
He has one of the largest collections of vintage and modern synthesizers in the world, as featured in Keyboard and Electronic Musician Magazines.
