It was magic.
There I was at my friend Jane’s piano. Sitting next to me is the beautiful pop star Corina. She had agreed to guest star on my show on the 19th and this was our first real rehearsal.
Could we find common ground? Her big dance pop chart hit, “Temptation” was nothing like my music. Also, she was born in the South Bronx, Puerto Rican — her new album is called Spanglish! — and I’m a white guy from a rural town in Texas.
But then we started to sing together and yes, it was magic. I'll cut to the chase and link to the video I made of our rehearsal. Just listen to it and I'll tell the full story below of how all this happened.
https://youtu.be/qiUY1DzfKWY
Total New York story. Gavin Gold, my partner in our Beatles act, was busking alone in a subway station playing guitar solos. Corina heard him from across the tracks and eventually ran up to him and said how she'd love to work with him. She and her husband, filmmaker and actor Joachin, had us over for a beautiful meal and we all became fast friends.
As we sat together and planned how we might work together on a show for her in September featuring her material, I casually mentioned I was doing a show on June 19th and would she be open to being a guest singer. She immediately said yes, but then I wondered what songs of mine would work for her.
When we finally met, I ran through a few numbers and we bonded as if we'd been singing together for years. We settled on my two newest songs, both of which I've released over the past month or so. But it was "Something I Meant To Do" -- the song I released only a week ago -- that really sealed the deal. It was so powerful and beautiful.
So now June 19th is all set. We do our final rehearsals this week and then next week, whoever comes is going to be truly blessed by what we've put together.
In BEATLES news, Gavin and I have been having a blast in Central Park when we're not getting rained on. Last Saturday evening, the sky was clear and we had a huge crowd when suddenly a rainstorm passed over us. It didn't drown us, but we did get wet and everyone flew away. But it passed quickly and by the time we started back up -- in our new pink and green jackets -- the park was filled again with Beatles fans.
On Sunday, we sang a set at a Jewish senior center and that was really rewarding to watch the faces light up as each new song brought up memories in their faces. Smiles and laughter and dancing! It was so fun.
RESERVE YOUR TICKETS for June 19th at Don't Tell Mama!
https://tinyurl.com/steve-dont-tell-mama
[This is the hand-crafted non-bot newsletter of Steve Schalchlin. If you wish to be removed from the list, send me an email. If someone sent you this and you want to be added, write me at steveshack@gmail.com]--
Steve Schalchlin
Living in the Bonus Round
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