LOS ANGELES — "American Idol" fans know Paula, Simon, Randy and Ryan. But there's a fifth star who's rarely seen: Rickey Minor, the man behind the music.

Minor made a major change in the show when he took over as its musical director in 2005, ditching the karaoke-style canned tunes in favor of a live band. Each week, he oversees a staff of 45 musicians, arrangers and copyists. He also was instrumental in bringing some certified superstars to the "Idol" stage, including Prince, Mary J. Blige and Al Jarreau.

"Working on 'Idol,' we have the kids, and the experience varies," Minor says. "Some are musicians, like Taylor Hicks had his own band already, so he had experience working with a band. Kelly Pickler had never sung with a band in her life. Carrie Underwood lived on a farm, so she just sang at home walking around with the cows."

As a teenager, Minor walked away from a scholarship at University of California-Los Angeles for a chance to tour with Gladys Knight and the Pips. Next came a gig with Lou Rawls, then a chance to build a band for an aspiring singer named Whitney Houston.

Now 47, Minor has earned some serious industry clout. He's worked with heavy-hitters including Christina Aguilera and Stevie Wonder. Since the millennium, music mogul Clive Davis has tapped Minor to handle the music each year at his famous pre-Grammy party.

Minor also brought his skills to music's biggest night, serving as musical director for the Grammys in February.

He will be "Idol"-focused until the show's finale on May 23, but he'll still find time to take on two other big tasks in April: handling musical duties at the TV Land Awards and producing a weekend-long concert festival in Tobago featuring Elton John, Al Green, Diana Ross and Mary J. Blige.