MUSIC TO HIS EARS AFTER YEARS OF SUCCESS AS A PRODUCER, WALTER AFANASIEFF'S LIFE IS IN TUNE.

Byline: Fred Shuster Music Writer

If you listened to Top 40 radio today, you probably heard the work of Walter Afanasieff.

Doesn't ring a bell?

It probably wouldn't, unless, that is, you read the small print on your CDs. If that's the case, then you've seen Afanasieff's name on hits from Mariah Carey, Celine Dion, Michael Bolton, Ricky Martin, Whitney Houston and countless others. Oh, he also produced last year's Grammy Award-winning record of the year, ``My Heart Will Go On,'' Dion's love theme from ``Titanic'' and one of the best-selling records of all time.

Known for juggling a number of projects simultaneously, Afanasieff, a triple-threat musician, songwriter and producer, has been associated with some of the most popular artists of the last 15 years. Yet, even after a dozen No. 1 records, he's managed to keep a remarkably low profile.

Maybe that's a good idea when you're known for big-budget music for the masses that's also among the most critically reviled each year.

``I'm not close-minded or stuck in one musical bag,'' said Afanasieff, who is nominated for producer of the year at tonight's Grammy ceremony at Staples Center. ``The key is still talent and hard work. To me, making records is a series of almost mathematical problems that need solving.''

As a producer, the 42-year-old Afanasieff is something of an anomaly in today's music industry. He writes or co-writes the songs, arranges the material and records all the backing tracks before even calling the singer into the studio. Normally on a major project, specialists are hired for each of those tasks.

``Generally speaking, some producers do one or two albums a year,'' he explained. ``Today, I could do 20 or 30 songs in that time by having four or five studios going at once. That's five albums of work in one year.''

In fact, Afanasieff's Grammy nod for 1999 reflects an especially busy year when he produced recordings by Savage Garden, Babyface, Marc Anthony, Kenny G, Martin and Barbra Streisand. Last week, the Afanasieff- co-produced and arranged ``I Knew I Loved You'' from Australian pop duo Savage Garden's second album, ``Affirmation,'' reached the top of the singles chart.

The albums ``Christmas With Babyface'' and ``Classics in the Key of G'' by Kenny G, along with the track ``The Animal Song'' by Savage Garden from the soundtrack to the film ``The Other Sister,'' are among the recordings specifically cited by the record academy in Afanasieff's nomination.

``He wasn't our first choice, to be honest,'' admits Savage Garden's Darren Hayes. ``We thought we wanted more of a rock-type guy. But we met with Walter and found we had a lot of the same ideas in mind. Our first album was recorded on a dime ... this was the other extreme by far.''

Born Vladamir Nikitich in Brazil to Russian parents, Afanasieff and family moved to San Francisco when he was 5 years old. Taking piano lessons as a child before moving on to the Conservatory of Music in San Mateo, Afanasieff spent a year studying classical music in Europe before returning to the Bay Area and discovering a passion for jazz.

For the next three years, he worked as jazz-fusion violinist Jean-Luc Ponty's keyboardist, eventually meeting drummer-producer Narada Michael Walden, who had just relocated to the Bay Area.

As a result of their friendship, Walden invited Afanasieff to work with him on Aretha Franklin's mid-'80s comeback album, ``Who's Zoomin' Who?'' which went to No. 13 and made Walden a highly sought-after producer. From that point on, Afanasieff worked his way up from session player to co-writer to assistant producer to co-producer. While with Walden, he programmed and co-produced material for albums by such high-profile artists as Houston, Lionel Ritchie, George Benson and Streisand.

Afanasieff worked closely with Walden until the team reportedly split over production credits to Carey's best-selling 1990 debut album.

``He showed me the ropes of writing, producing, music business economics,'' Afanasieff said. ``I owe him everything.''

After leaving Walden, Afanasieff began a long-term association with Sony Music that set him on the path to producer's heaven. His string of hits started with Carey's ``Love Takes Time'' and continued through Bolton's No. 1 album, ``Time, Love and Tenderness,'' Peabo Bryson's ``Can You Stop the Rain'' and Carey's 1991 album, ``Emotions,'' which included four Afanasieff-Carey compositions.

Afanasieff started the year with a full plate. He's writing and producing a track for Michael Jackson; penned a composition for a new California-themed Disney attraction under construction at Disneyland; is currently producing Julio Iglesias; and is working on new material for the forthcoming albums by Jennifer Lopez, Martin, Anthony and teen thrush Jessica Simpson. He will also produce the next album by rootsy Bay Area band Train.

``It's a departure from what I've been doing,'' he said of the Train record. ``Nobody is sure exactly how it will sound. I'm not thought of as that kind of producer. But there's this new wave of talent out there, and I want to be part of that, too.''

Afanasieff, who has been nominated for a dozen Grammys over the years, said his producer of the year bid carries weight because it was voted on by peers.

``The Grammys are still the king of the music industry,'' he said. ``It's what everyone strives for in the form of awards simply because it's the only awards show based on recognition from within the industry. It's not based on popularity or sales. It's based on a scrutiny of your work.''

Afanasieff's hands-on approach in the studio is perfect for many of the artists he has worked with - particularly divas such as Carey and Dion, who dub over their vocals after the track has been completed.

``We (he and his team of engineers) are totally responsible for what they're singing, for how the record sounds,'' he said. ``We sit at our keyboards, develop the song, shape the song, then literally produce the singer's vocals.

``It's a self-contained job.''

The facts

--The show: ``The 42nd Annual Grammy Awards.''

--What: Rosie O'Donnell hosts music's big night out from Staples Center. Carlos Santana is in the lead with 10 nominations.

--The stars: Ricky Martin, Santana, TLC, Dixie Chicks, Faith Hill, Whitney Houston, Kid Rock, Britney Spears, Marc Anthony, Sting, 'N Sync, Busta Rhymes, Phil Collins, Macy Gray, Christina Aguilera, Gloria Estefan, Vince Gill and Jennifer Lopez.

--Where: CBS (Channel 2).

--When: 8 tonight.

--The show: ``Live at the Grammys.''

--What: Arrivals and pre-televised awards coverage hosted by Ellen DeGeneres. Rock group Smash Mouth performs.

--Where: CBS (Channel 2) and VH1.

--When: 4 to 5 p.m. and 6:30 to 8 p.m. (CBS); 6 to 8 p.m. (VH1).

CAPTION(S):

11 photos

Photo: (1 -- cover -- color) no caption (Grammy Award)

(2 -- cover -- color) Christina Aguilera.

(3 -- cover -- color) Carlos Santana

(4 -- cover -- color) Ricky Martin

(5 -- cover -- color) Britney Spears

(6) Walter Afanasieff, who has produced numerous hits for Mariah Carey, Ricky Martin, Celine Dion and others, is nominated for producer of the year at tonight's Grammys.

(7) Savage Garden's Darren Hayes says, ``We met with Walter and found we had a lot of the same ideas in mind.''

(8) MARIAH CAREY

(9) MICHAEL BOLTON

(10) CELINE DION

(11) BARBRA STREISAND