He just last month released a 16-song children’s album, which includes three interactive bonus tracks. He is a record producer, film and TV composer, songwriter, arranger, musical director, and bandleader who splits his time between Music City and Los Angeles. On Spotify alone he has well over 213 thousand monthly listeners and his top five tracks on there have gotten a combined total of over 41 MILLION streams. Last year he produced a four-song EP for the legendary Johnny Mathis, who he has done work with in the past. In 2022 he also worked with Jackie Evancho and the record label he had then released her full-length album. He was previously a guest on this show in December 2021 on Episode 412. BE SURE TO LISTEN FOR THE OFFER HE MAKES AT THE END OF THIS INTERVIEW.
“Every morning I would go down to my studio, and, first thing before I did anything, I’d write a new song for this particular record.”
“My mandate on the first of these albums a couple years ago was, right in the heart of the early pandemic days and… I was making a record for the little children. I wanted to make it to give them some light that they could look towards during a very dark time and a time when they were isolated and when frankly there was a lot of worry and fear.”
“I produce artists for – not just children’s music, obviously – I produce everyone from Johnny Mathis to Kristen Chenoweth lately and all sorts of wonderful artists that I’ve been producing for years.”
“My job as a record producer and arranger is, when I’m working with an artist is, to fulfill their vision and to direct the album… but also what’s really important is that I make decisions. That’s my job. Every single hour of the day when I’m making a record there’s a new decision to be made.”
“I’ve been making music in the studio and making records since I was 18.”
“When I produce records… you are working really hard to make a record that people will absolutely pay attention to and really put all their focus on and love. And so, you’re actually trying to get people’s attention and really get them excited.”
“I work with John(ny Mathis), now, this is the third album – we’re actually finishing, we did a four-song, sort of, teaser EP – and now we’re finishing that Christmas album, which will come out in October and that’ll be the third album that I’ve produced for John. The first two actually got GRAMMY nominated… It’s one of my greatest honors in life to produce someone like John Mathis. He’s about the closest thing I can ever get to what really is the most legendary of all singers.”
“The Jackie Evancho album that I did… I still think is an unheralded masterpiece. I think Jackie’s one of the greatest singers. She’s only 21 but she’s absolutely a monster. And I thought our album was wonderful… That was one that was ignored by the GRAMMY organization, so I wasn’t so thrilled with that… I thought we deserved possibly getting a nomination.”
“Chris (Stapleton) and I go back a long way. I would hire Chris in Nashville for background vocals when he was struggling, and I also had him sing on a bunch of Disney projects ‘cause he’s absolutely brilliant.”
“I think the U.S. and Canada are going to outlaw TikTok… I think a year from now we may not be talking about TikTok.”
“Anytime these days that you can get your music out there, we have to play the game. And the game is that music is free, basically… Therefore, any… social media format is important.”
“My musical life has been wonderful, and I’ve gotten to work with so many incredible talents and I’m so, just, honored that I’ve had this life that has allowed me to work with everyone that is listed on my résumé page, I guess.”
“Be My Valentine”
“At Christmas”