Please let us know the details about the recording of your new album called “OUT THERE”.
“Out There” is a project that my writing partner and bandmate, Bill Bentley, and I embarked on during the pandemic, which was focused on songs that reflect a sense of shared experiences and common humanity. I write about things I’ve experienced and things I’ve observed in my years as a journalist, a musician, and an American. I bring Bill lyrics and melody and he brilliantly sets them to music. We work easily together and have a connection and friendship that lends itself to great collaboration. We work hard on our songs, but we have an awful lot of fun doing it.
Which was your vision for this album?
In a word, authenticity. I wanted to record a collection of songs that ring true, both for me as a singer/songwriter, and for listeners as well. These are songs that I believe people will find familiar, meaningful, and a lot of fun. These are songs you can rock out to, dance to, and songs that also have something to say.
Who are the other musicians that participate on this album?
The long-time drummer for Y@T, Mike Vanderhule, brought his remarkable skills to each song, giving drive and swing when appropriate and a sotter touch when needed. Renowned soul singer, Cornell Carter, took the background vocals to new heights, lifting each song with his gorgeous voice. Ben Flint, who toured with Isaac Hayes and performs live in the band, added his keyboards to “Lucky Stars”. My sister played violin on a couple of tracks. My wife, Angela, and Bill’s wife, Angelina, added background vocals on a number of tracks. It’s a great team!
The title track “Out There” is related to your fascination with the universe, how do you explore your “inner” and “outer” universe through the lyrics of the album?
I’ve been fascinated with the cosmos and astronomy ever since I was about 10-years old. There is something about the enormity of it all that is so deeply interesting to me. How can it possibly be so vast? Where does it end? Does it end? And, of course, the constant question; is there life out there somewhere? The title track of my album, “Out There”, asks some provocative questions about whether there is other intelligent life in the universe and, if there is, have they found a better way to co-exist. As the lyrics ask; “Out there is there war, out there is their pain, out there is there even much to gain by tearing each other down like this theater in the round”. In other words, have they solved some of the problems of sharing this planet that have plagues human beings from the dawn of time?
The track “We Stayed Home” reflects the lockdown situation, how did you experience the lockdown era?
What a strange period we have all been through for nearly two years now! I wanted to write a song about our shared experience during the pandemic, but not a song lamenting the challenges we all faced, rather, celebrating how we coped together. “We Stayed Home” is an anthem for our common commitment to look out for each other by staying home during the lockdown and for our ability to adapt and make the best of a tough situation. We did indeed stay home and protect ourselves and our community. And, as the song says; “ain’t no six feet every gonna keep us apart”!
You are a journalist and news anchor for ABC7 – KGO Bay Area TV, how do you combine the role of the artist and the TV personality?
I think the two roles have a lot more in common than one might think at first. As a journalist for more than three decades, I am, in essence, an observer and a storyteller. I bring that same experience and sensibility to my songwriting and my performance. I tell stories in song about our common humanity and our triumphs, tragedies, hopes, and aspirations. The two hats I wear seem to fit quite comfortably and naturally!
Have you managed to place your music in any TV program?
I have performed my original songs on several television programs and am always very happy to share what we’ve created with the television audience.
How does the role of TV affect the “the undeniable feeling of love, connection, and gratitude that comes with being with the perfect person for you” as you mention in the lyrics of the track “Lucky Stars”?
I’m a very big “attitude of gratitude” guy! Being grateful for the positive things in life is a much happier and healthier way to go through this world and I try to keep that in mind in everything I do. No matter what is going on with any of us, someone always has it much worse. Certainly, in television news there is a lot of difficult things that I have to report it’s easy to see how you might become hardened or jaded. But I’ve never really let that happen because I have always found that the good in people always outshines the bad that others do. “Lucky Stars” is about that sense of gratitude but, more specifically, it was written for my incredible wife, Angela. I literally woke up at 2:30 in the morning one night and, as I watched her sleeping, my heart was filled with gratitude for what she has brought to my life. I wrote the whole song right then!
What is exactly the “Rock the CASA Foundation” and what about its mission?
I have been fortunate to be able to do a great deal of philanthropic work over the years as part of my role as a television news anchor. I started Rock the CASA, a 501c3 non-profit charity, to help underserved children in need through several wonderful organizations that I support as a board member. Court Appointed Special Advocate and Friends of Camp Concord are the two major beneficiaries, with Big Brothers Big Sisters and Boys and Girls Club as smaller beneficiaries. With Friends of Camp Concord, we have sent more than 10,000 underserved kids to summer camp at Lake Tahoe, all expenses paid with money raised from a golf tournament that I’ve hosted with the founder, Dave Goldman, for the past 26 years. Rock the CASA is an annual concert I produce that raises money and awareness for all of these great organizations. I’ve had amazing headlines over the years since we started; Eddie Money, REO Speedwagon, Cheap Trick, Melissa Etheride, Patti LaBelle, Rick Springfield, and Chuck Leavell of the Rolling Stones. It’s a great night for a great cause!
What are your next plans in music?
We are excited about this album and so pleased at the response and really look forward to live performances next year as we move past the pandemic. I’ve been getting a lot of requests to perform and we can’t wait to get this material in front of the audience. In the meantime, I’m already working hard with Bill on new songs for the next album. Stay tuned!
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