Songwriting News: Rewiring (2024)

HAPPY NEW YEAR

I wanted to use this first blog of 2022 to wish you all a healthy and prosperous new year and to let you know about a major change in my life. Hope you’ll indulge me and read until the end.

70 !!

January 9th, 2022 marks my 70th birthday or as I like to call it, the 70th anniversary of my escape from the womb:-) I’ve been completely obsessed with music from the age of 14. I blame this on the Beatles, the Stones and Motown. First in garage bands, eventually graduating to a few major record deals and touring. Before long I realized that songwriting was my real, one true passion and I shifted my focus to publishing deals and writing for artists. This path has taken me on one amazing journey, even getting songs recorded by some of the very artists that started me on my path. Tina Turner, Diana Ross, Chaka Khan, Joe Cocker and many, many more. All the way through the years to writing for pop, rock, jazz and country artists with my songs appearing on more than 16 million records and a few #1s. Beyond my wildest dreams for sure.

Starting in 2011 I branched out to coaching writers from around the world, conducting workshops, mentoring and, in 2019 and 2020, writing two books about the art of songwriting. Both books continue to sell well with “Song Journey” entering the Amazon charts at #1 in six categories upon release. All things I would never have imagined starting out in Endwell, New York all those years ago.

Songwriting has allowed me to be able to travel the world, marry and raise a beautiful family, first in California, then the UK, to Indiana and finally some 26 years ago, to my current home in Nashville, Tennessee. This journey has given me some of my most cherished memories and life long friendships. A special shout out to my “second home”, the UK.

REWIRE

To my point. As I began eyeing the approach of the big 7-0 I made myself a promise that I would push myself into new territories. It has seemed like a natural time not to retire, but to rewire. I’ve always been a voracious reader and the success of “Song Journey” and “The Daily Song Journal” ignited a passion for writing books. I’ve had the germ of a novel for a few years and I’m co-writing it with one of my oldest and most talented friends. I’ve also begun working on what we hope to be a series of children’s books with my wife, Kathy. I’ve decided to follow this new passion and to do so I know I need to dedicate the majority of my time to it.

So, this will be my last article/blog. Honestly, I like to feel I’ve “emptied the tank” with the extent of my experience and knowledge of the songwriting world and never want to repeat myself or overstay my welcome. I’ll also be pulling back from much of my music related social media including interviews and podcasts. I’m proud my blog came in #3 in a recent survey of the most read blogs on songwriting in the world. You’ll still be able to access the archives, 10 years of blogs on my website www.idocoach.com anytime. I want to thank all of the magazines and songwriting groups in the US, UK, Canada and Australia who have been featuring my work as well as the major songwriting contests that have invited me to judge, Universities who’ve invited me to speak to students, but most of all… you. If you’ve been listening to my songs, reading my articles and blogs, listening to podcasts and interviews, buying my first two books, or signing up for one-on-one coaching, I can’t thank you enough for how you’ve enriched my life. You’ve given me a long career not to mention a lot of love and a wealth of encouragement.

THE FUTURE

I do intend to continue my one-on-one coaching a few days a week through 2022 but will not be taking on workshops or seminars. Coaching has allowed me to give back so much of what has been given to me and it remains a huge passion. Kathy and I are in great health and along with focusing on the new books, we plan to get back to lots of traveling when the world re-opens including spending longer periods of time living in some bucket list places. I love the phrase “adding life to our years” and it’s become a mantra for us.

I hope you’ll wish me good luck with this next stage of life and I look forward to sharing new adventures, and hopefully a book or two in the coming years. To be continued…

Again, thank you and God bless.