Live music performances at New York City venues like The Cutting Room, The Bitter End, Rockwood Music Hall, The Living Room, Arlene Grocery, Makor, Pianos, and Fontana's. Film, books, word games, crossword puzzles, spending time with my wonderful friends, dining out, walking around Manhattan, ocean views, pro fooball, the Yankees and more...
Music
Here is a message for all of you who want to write for a living: "Faith is believing that one of two things will happen: that there will be something solid for you to stand on, or that you will be taught to fly." Choose to fly. Better yet, choose to SOAR!
Movies
Cinema Paradiso, Night of the Shooting Stars, The Lives of Others, Once, Moulin Rouge, What the Bleep Do We Know, Waking Life, 8 1/2, Caro Diario, Pan's Labyrinth, The Saddest Music in the World, Lars & the Real Girl and so many more...
Television
The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, House, Pro Football, CNN, 60 Minutes.
Books
Fiction by Paul Auster, Don DeLillo, John Fante, Tom Robbins, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Umberto Eco, Jonathan Lethem, Steve Toltz and Daniel Quinn, to name a few. Spirituality and mysticism are among my favorite topics and I have an extensive library on these subjects by such authors as Daniel Pinchbeck, Terrence McKenna, Gary Zukav, Neale Donald Walsch & Marianne Williamson.
Heroes
Anyone who is successful at what they love doing. Anyone who believes that one person can make a difference. Anyone whose heart is open to love. Anyone who chooses to soar.
About me: Currently, I am taking a much needed break. From December 2007 to December 2008, I was the Event Coordinator for Borders flagship store in the Time Warner Center at Columbus Circle in Manhattan. Events that I have overseen include music performances and CD signings (Aretha Franklin, Jackson Browne, Idina Menzel, Suzanne Vega, Lisa Loeb, Kate Voegele, Janis Ian, Sam Phillips, Cassandra Kubinski, Kenny G, Tony Joe White), book signings (journalists Roger Mudd, Jonathan Alter and Ira Glass, actors Gene Hackman, Danny Aiello, Adrienne Barbeau, Danica McKellar and Tori Spelling, tennis star Billie Jean King, bestselling authors Jackie Collins, Emily Giffin, Oscar Hijuelos and Sherrilyn Kenyon, sportscaster Jim Nantz, psychic Lisa Williams), DVD signings (Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., Ricki Lake) and panel discussions. From July 1988 through September 2006, as National Projects Director for the Songwriters Hall of Fame and its parent organization, the National Academy of Popular Music, I produced and hosted 59 New Writer Showcases and executive-produced four critically-acclaimed CD compilations. I also organized 270 songwriting workshops, ranging from beginner to master levels, and scores of open mics and networking meetings. John Legend, Joan Osborne, Lady GaGa and Lizzy Grant were among the participants in these programs for new and developing artists. I have conducted on-camera interviews with Stevie Wonder, Smokey Robinson, Alicia Keys, Rob Thomas, Phil Collins, John Fogerty, Don McLean, Bill Withers, Hal David, Brian May of Queen and many others.
From 1982 to 1988, I served as the National Projects Director for the Songwriters Guild of America, an organization for which I also served as membership director. I conducted weekly song critique sessions, taught and organized workshops and moderated Ask-A-Pro sessions.
From 1976 to 1982, I was the principle songwriter and keyboardist for the RCA Records rock band Flame (featuring Marge Raymond), which was produced and managed by Jimmy Iovine, currently CEO of Interscope/A&M Records (Universal Music Group). During this time, I worked with such esteemed artists as Stevie Nicks, Bruce Springsteen, Tom Petty, Patti Smith, Don Henley and Steve Van Zandt, among others.
I have co-produced two showcases for On Stage Italian American Artists (OSIAA), a Manhattan-based Italian Amerian arts organization, for which I served as vice president in 2007.
In addition, I produced a showcase for CLEF: Composers & Lyricists Education Foundation in April 2007.
A longtime active voting member of the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences (NARAS: The Grammy folks), I have been an affiliate member of Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI) since 1976, and was the first male ever elected to the board of directors of Women In Music.
Who I'd like to meet: I am always interested in meeting writers, especially songwriters. "Ring the bells that still can ring/Forget your perfect offering/There is a crack in everything/That's how the light gets in." (Leonard Cohen)
I wanted to send a note (a day early) to wish you the Happiest of Birthdays! I hope this year brings you everything you wish for & that all is wonderful in your world.
Love you so much Bob. Isn't it strange to hear Gaga on the radio. You have had such a monumental impact on so many people. And if any one ever decides to listen to me, I'll tell em so. Let's see each other soon. I wanna see Brea too . Love, l
BOB !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WHAT'S UP BROTHER...IT'S BEEN TOO LONG AND WE HAVE TO RECONNECT AND TALK SERIOUS BUSINESS ;) CHECK YOUR EMAIL FOR MY # AND SEND YOUR BACK AS WELL CAUSE I HAVE A NEW PHONE...I DON'T KNOW IF YOU BEEN GETTING MY BULLETINS BUT LET'S JUST SAY THAT THE SESAC DEAL THAT YOU WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR GETTING ME IS PAYING OFF TREMENDOUSLY IN THE LICENSING GAME....
HIT ME BACK A.S.A.P - BROOKLYN BABY !
LOVE YOU 4 LIFE L*A*W: THE MOST TALENTED KID IN THE MUSIC BIZ !
