Picking up the MB clues
Hi everyone, this blog will be an attempt to keep my friends and other site lurkers updated on what’s been going on in our little MB world. I only want to write about newsworthy items relevant to his career and life when it’s appropriate. The main reason I’m doing it is to stop repeating myself and stop having to search for previous posts. Since I’m on the site on a regular basis, I thought it would be helpful. :D Take care and hugs to all, sincerely, Sylvie :D
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Comment by sylvie boisvert on December 3, 2015 at 1:08am
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Hi everyone, here's an article Gail posted. We're not learning anything new, but you gotta love how Michael answers questions in such detail... XD That's it for now, thanks for reading, sincerely, Sylvie :D
Michael Bolton is just getting started-Chicago Tribune
Genesee Theatre / Handout
Michael Bolton will perform at the Genesee Theatre in Waukegan on Dec. 8.
Sheryl DeVore, News-Sun 11:11 am, December 2, 2015
Grammy award winner and songwriter Michael Bolton is known for his rich, soulful voice, which he's used to sing many genres including blues, the '60s and contemporary rock.
The iconic crooner has released 17 studio albums, five of which have been certified multi-platinum in the U.S. His greatest hits include "How Am I Supposed to Live Without You" and "When A Man Loves a Woman," which Bolton promises to perform when he comes to the Genesee Theatre Dec. 8.
The News-Sun recently asked Bolton about the ups and downs of his career, his musical influences, his new album and his dedication to several charities.
News-Sun: Singer. Songwriter. Which defines you the most and why?
MB: As much as I will always be a songwriter, I still consider myself a singer first and will record any song that I feel emotionally and creatively drawn to. There is a legacy in a great song that lives on far beyond its singers, but each interpretation breathes new life into it. Hits from the Motown catalog, for example, have been covered multiple times by a wide range of artists from the Beatles to the Stones. Those are also all artists who are incredible songwriters in their own right, but as singers and musicians they can't resist recording and performing great material.
News-Sun: Growing up, was becoming a songwriter and singer on the top of your list of what you wanted to do with your life?
MB: I was drawn to music as early as I can remember. My mother was a big music appreciator and used to play the piano. My brother was always turning me onto new bands and the latest rock or rhythm and blues musicians. As a family we would gather around the TV and watch musical performers on "The Ed Sullivan Show," and I remember being able to sing along with just about any melody on the radio. As a kid, a lot of what I was hearing on the radio was Motown, coming out of Detroit. Singers like Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, those were some of my earlier influences. And of course the songwriters and producers behind the Motown machine — like Holland-Dozier-Holland, Ashford and Simpson — they were churning out hits that would get recorded and played the world over. I was writing lyrics at a young age just to have a vehicle for expressing myself. But I didn't know songwriting was a career until much later. All of my teenage years were more focused on singing and I was signed as a recording artist at age 15. But then I was dropped two years later and therein began the very long road to ever having success as a singer. Somewhere along the way, I was introduced to the concept of writing songs for other artists, and it was something that I immediately had success with. CBS Songs signed me to a publishing contract and it seems like everything I wrote was getting recorded by a major artist — from Kenny Rogers and Conway Twitty to the Pointer Sisters and Joe Cocker. The big breakthrough came with "How Am I Supposed to Live Without You" for Laura Branigan and after that I was writing comeback hits for Cher, Barbra Streisand, KISS and others. I've since written with artists as diverse as Lady Gaga and Bob Dylan, and had my own recordings sampled by Jay Z and Kanye West.
News-Sun: Did you sing in school choirs, musicals? What are your memories of those times?
MB: I would basically just sing to anything I heard on TV or the radio, or on a new album that my brother would bring home. It was just what I did and what people came to expect. And then we put together different bands and I would perform at birthdays or bar mitzvahs or anywhere that people would listen. I was performing in bars before I was old enough to drink in them! I was busing from Greenwich Village to the Yale campus. Those times were all memorable because there was a real environment of music.
News-Sun: You started your career in the hard rock/heavy metal genres. What was that like and why did you change to your rock ballad style?
MB: The first genre of music that I started performing was actually the blues. I was only 15 or so singing in bars and people thought I was an older black musician from just hearing me sing. It wasn't until my 20s when Ted Nugent's management company took me on that I was formed into a hard rock band, going by the name Blackjack and I was the lead singer, with Bruce Kulick on guitar. Production-wise, the "wall of sound" was what we were going for and my vocals just had to be heard above it. We put out two albums on Polydor that flopped. Bruce later went on to play with KISS while I went on to pursue a solo career. I was still songwriting on the side, basically to make money to support my family since Blackjack wasn't exactly making ends meet. When we came to the end of our recording contract, I was expecting to be dropped, just as I'd been so many times before. But much to my surprise, the president of the label, Al Teller, sat me down and said he wanted to give me another chance, but this time as a solo artist and he wanted me to start recording the songs I was writing for others. Apparently the secretaries in the office were all listening to my demos and passing them around. That was the first sign of what would become a core fan base.
News-Sun: Tell us about the success of your rendition of "Dock of the Bay," in 1987 and how it affected you and Otis Redding's widow.
MB: I learned from recording the Otis Redding classic to follow my instincts musically and — rather than be intimidated by the huge footprints of these vocal giants who inspired me in my youth — to step up and most respectfully deliver my interpretation. If you're inspired by the music and the definitive version that moved you, it's likely you'll bring a new audience to the work and artistry that contributed to enrich your life as an artist. Meeting Zelma Redding was a life altering experience and confirmation to go with my gut. The song won another most played song award and Steve Cropper (who wrote and produced "Dock of the Bay" with Otis) and I became friends as well. Always go with your musical instincts!
News-Sun: Tell us how you came to sing a ballad for "Fathers & Daughters" and what it meant for you to do this. It's been your first release since 2011. What was it about this particular songwriting/singing opportunity that compelled you to do it?
MB: It was around this time last year that I was invited to a screening of a new film starring Russell Crowe and Amanda Seyfried. I didn't know what to expect but as I sat alone in the dark empty screening room, I was immediately gripped by the movie that unfolded and left in a pile of tears by the end. The movie, "Fathers & Daughters," resonated with me on such a deep level, having three daughters of my own, and I immediately had in mind a theme song concept. Collaborating with the writing/producing team Eman Kiriakou and Evan Bogart, the song came to fruition quickly and became the end title.
News-Sun: Who has been the biggest influence in your life and why?
MB: There are so many people who have encouraged, guided and inspired me. Enough in fact to write an autobiography, which is what I did! But seriously, I've had some incredible mentors and muses and sometimes they don't even know the impact they have on me, each in unique ways. But I would say it all started with my parents, who never doubted me and always supported me to follow this dream.
News-Sun: You are working on a new album? Can you tell us when it's due and what fans will get to hear when it's released?
MB: We haven't chosen all of the songs for the album yet. I'm actually using the Pledge Music platform to source ideas from my fans and they've offered up some great suggestions so far, like "Stand By Me" and "I Will Always Love You." I really just wanted to find songs and movies that were beloved around the world so that I could share them with my audiences in every country. I would say with music from the movies there is an added layer of connectivity that you're looking for as an artist because people can relate back to a memory or experience they had around that musical moment in the film.
News-Sun: What are you singing for your fans while on this tour, which will bring you to Illinois? Are there certain pieces your fans request, and if so, why do you think they like those particular songs so much?
MB: I'm always conscious that my lifelong fans are coming to hear the greatest hits. I also like to introduce my audience to new genres and musical guests. The repertoire is always evolving. I like to make the concert into a real musical journey and tell stories along the way. The audience likes to chime in, we joke around and we always have a lot of fun together. There are several fan favorites that strike a chord with different experiences or feelings — like with "How Can We Be Lovers" or "Time Love & Tenderness." Those songs really get people revved up, while songs like "Said I Loved You" or "How Am I Supposed to Live Without You" get them quiet and more emotional. But I think a big crowd pleaser is still "When a Man Loves A Woman" because the way we position it comes as a special surprise during the show.
News-Sun: What do you feel is your greatest accomplishment in your career and in your life in general?
MB: I never dreamed that one day I would share the stage with icons like Luciano Pavarotti, Ray Charles, BB King, that I would meet and even work with so many of my heroes, from Bob Dylan to Lamont Dozier, that I would meet the Queen of England and perform in front of Princess Diana, that I would play golf with Bill Clinton and Clint Eastwood. And certainly not that I would become a viral video sensation with over 140 million YouTube views from dressing up like a pirate! Of it all, though, I honestly can say that having my three daughters and now seeing them create their own families is one of the most gratifying parts of my life.
News-Sun: You are working on several causes including assisting women and children at risk for the effects of poverty and abuse, plus bringing the greatness of the city of Detroit to light. Why are those causes so important to you and what others are you working on or would like to be working on?
MB: Early on as a struggling artist trying to support a wife and three daughters, I was continuously facing the risk of homelessness. That was terrifying. But I had no backup plan. I vowed that if and when I ever came into success, that I would find ways to bring support to women and children at risk. It was in the process of exploring the shelters around my hometown in Connecticut that I discovered that domestic violence was a leading reason women and their children were driven to seek safety in the shelters. Being the father of three daughters, it was just unthinkable to me that a man could ever raise his hand to a woman or child. It's just not how I was raised. So I became very personally involved in legislation around VAWA (the Violence Against Women Act). I also realized from performing at various fundraisers that celebrity is a kind of currency and so I started fundraising around my own foundation, the Michael Bolton Charities, now in its 22nd year, which disperses funds to organizations around the country that are addressing this critical issue of women and children at risk. The Detroit connection is quite a different initiative and passion, but also relating back to the values of my upbringing. I always had this vision of the American Dream, and at the time that image was very much related to the Motor City, the backbone of America's economy and the arsenal of democracy, the home of Motown music and the first march of Martin Luther King. We grew up believing in civil rights and the right to work. I didn't realize it at the time but Detroit was the embodiment of these ideals — until a series of complex circumstances created a domino effect toward its downfall. I believe the comeback of Detroit is both a symbolic and tangible reality that we all should be invested in.
News-Sun: Is there anything you haven't done in your life that you'd like to accomplish? What is it and how do you plan on accomplishing it?
MB: There are too many things to list that I intend to do. As I said in my book, I feel like I'm just teeing off on the back nine.
Currently, I'm very excited about the ABC scripted comedy that we are developing with Gail Berman and Ricky Blitt. We're calling it "House Sitters" and it revolves around a very unlikely and funny dynamic between myself and two girls who go from house sitting to becoming my assistants. The clash of our worlds and perspectives creates some very hilarious scenarios. There is a slate of other TV and film projects that I'm in development or production on, including the documentary we just completed on the revitalization of Detroit. I'm continuously writing and recording new music, touring around the world, showing up for charity events and also expanding the initiatives of my own foundation
News-Sun: What have your fans meant to you over the years?
MB: I would be nothing without my fans so what can I say, they mean everything to me.
Sheryl DeVore is a freelance writer.
Michael Bolton
When: 7:30 p.m. Dec. 8
Where: Genesee Theatre, 203 N. Genesee St., Waukegan
Tickets: $48-$68
Information: 847-782-2366;
http://my.chicagotribune.com/#section/-1/article/p2p-85206496/
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Hi everyone, well I don't know if Michael has decided to change the rules about divulging info for the new CD, but he's tweeted yesterday that he'd be recording "Heard it through the grapevine" (which he already had in the September Uruguay interview), plus he posted today on FB that he'd be recording "Moon river". We're now up to 8 songs Michael has mentioned in various places outside of PledgeMusic. In any case, that's the news for now, thanks for reading, sincerely, Sylvie :D
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Hi everyone, I came across this video while rummaging on YouTube. It’s kind of news-related, which is why I’m posting it. The video description says: “an imprompptue jam happened on Friday October 3 at Cliffs Bells when Michael Bolton hosted an after party for his documentary about Detroit. The band Spare Parts backed up Michael on WAMLAW and the Contours provided backup vocals.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cFF36LlU6yo
Enjoy! that’s again, the late news for now. Thanks for reading, sincerely, Sylvie :D
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Hi everyone, I have a couple of late items today. First, an article posted last Thursday about Michael’s trip to Tel-Aviv:
62-Year-Old Singer Michael Bolton Celebrates Impromptu 'Bar Mitzvah' at Western Wall
| Jewish & Israel News Algemeiner.com
http://www.algemeiner.com/2015/11/18/62-year-old-singer-michael-bol...
Then a show Sylvia had described, but we hadn’t had the link to and Brigitte G from Germany found the link:
Michael Bolton @The One Show U.K. Nov 11 2015:
http://www.tudou.com/programs/view/BFOI9Wu9B9A/
I guess they thought it would be fun, but Lord have mercy: that horse is dead people, get with the program! That’s the late news for now, thanks for reading, sincerely, Sylvie :D
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Hi everyone, well we’re not sure if this is old info and hopefully, Gail can help us sort it out, but according to a link Florin found:
http://www.visionfilms.net/Details.aspx?id=6250c655-9449-e411-88c5-...
...we might get a new DVD release soon. According to the details, it sounds to me as if this would be the HSN concert Michael gave on February 98 2013, just before the release of “Ain’t no mountain high enough”. The info is different from the old one we had on this page:
http://www.vmiworldwide.com/Details.aspx?id=f8268688-4033-e211-a8d1...
Hopefully, Gail can help. In the meantime, sit tight! That’s the news for now, thanks for reading, sincerely, Sylvie :D
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Hi everyone, the BBC just aired an interview Michael pre-recorded in October on the Marc Carter show. The only new info we got from this interview was a short list of songs Michael mentioned being on the album, so here they are: “Stand by me”, “As time goes by”, a new version of WAMLAW, “I will always love you” and indeed the theme to “Fathers and daughters”. That’s a bit more than we’ve had so far! It’ll be interesting to hear how Michael will change WAMLAW and having heard Michael sing SBM before, no big surprises so far on interpretations, but you never know. That’s the news for now, thanks for reading, sincerely, Sylvie :D
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Hi everyone, all right, it seems our Michael has decided to include the December North American tour in the contest for M&G’s. So you need to have pre-ordered the new CD on PledgeMusic before November 19 and you have a chance and fans who have already pledged are included as well. Now second item of interest: don’t know what it looks like, but our Michael is doing another commercial! Here is the link my friend Katia shared with me:
Michael Bolton Wants You to Order a Filing Cabinet Full of Pizza Hut – Eater
http://www.eater.com/2015/11/11/9716222/pizza-hut-triple-treat-box-...
It’ll be fun to hear Michael’s voice again on TV during the holidays! Now here’s the YouTube link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q9qXLmArsWs
Okay, I just got another one, fresh off the presses:
40 Years Of GMA's Top Musical Moments – YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=POxHftwoY1c
Gail told us she saw it and I looked it up. Michael is in only a few seconds, but he of course sounds amazing so well worth it. That’s the news for now folks, thanks for reading, sincerely, Sylvie :D
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Hi again everyone, Sylvia posted this video earlier today. It’s an excerpt of Mitch Albom in conversation with our Michael, at his book launch, November 8 2015
As a reminder, Mitch Albom’s book is called: “The magic strings of Frankie Presto”and he mentions Michael in it, who is one of the celebrities crossing paths with his fictional character. BTW, I’ve checked out the companion CD to this book and there aren’t any Michael songs on it. Also, for those interested, there are a couple more videos from the same event on YouTube: one of "Sweet home Chicago" and one of "Lean on me". That’s again, the news for now, thanks for reading, sincerely, Sylvie :D
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Hi everyone, here’s an item of interest for U.K. fans admin just posted:
"Hey everyone! When I'm back on tour in the UK in April I’ll be playing cinema songs from the new album. So I want to give pledgers the opportunity to MEET ME BACKSTAGE at some of the shows. All you have to do is pre-order my record from smarturl.it/MichaelBoltonPM
before December 1st and we'll be picking people at random to win this exclusive experience! Looking forward to meeting you!!!"
I don’t know if this includes U.K. fans who have already pledged, but good luck to all! That’s the news for now, thanks for reading, sincerely, Sylvie :D
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Hi everyone, Gail just posted the link to Michael singing “Living on a prayer” as a backup for the Chris Evans show, with Scouting For Girls:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p035dttd
You only have 10 more days to listen, so make it count! That’s the news for now, thanks for reading, sincerely, Sylvie :D
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