The song was almost complete and by this point I was learning so much from my new mentor Karen that it was apparent that she really got me. I also learned something about myself as that all through this process I was guiding the track. Karen and Jason I guess had been talking and came to the conclusion that I was somehow producing the track. Not truly clear on what that meant they explained it in the studio and humbly I was feeling complete in an odd way.
I had been staying at Karen's home and was so grateful for the time, upon arriving they're the first night after studio time a cassette tape (didn't know they were around anymore.. lol) was on my pillow in the guest room. All it stated was "Roger" Lisa Aschmann 85'. This tape would take me to places I didn't dream of. Lisa Aschmann is the co-writer of "The Life That's Chosen Me" and is a mother of which one of her children is autistic. She heard through Karen the situation and wanted me to listen to the track for consideration.
Early that following morning I was rummaging around Karen's living room looking for a cassette player and while Karen was there played the track for the first time. It was Lisa singing it accompanied by a single acoustic guitar. I could immediately hear my oldest son Kyle in the lyrics.. I could even place the vocalist - my friend Gerald White from LA. One of the finest singers in the world belting it out.. and out of that came this magnificent story about my Kyle. The story of this song will come later as that finishing Karen and Lisa's first song for me was in order.
Back to Orlando I went with this new track in my mind, I thought it was wonderful but realized it needed something extra. We used programmed drums and I have always preferred live instrumentation more! I headed to Phoenix shortly there after in December 08' to meet up with my partner Jodi Floyd of which we had been invited by a good friend/music manager Tom Garrett. Tom had listened to the track and was very interested in me meeting his business partner Gardner Cole.
I knew of Gardner's career but didn't know everything, I guess the first thing after googling his name was picking my mouth up off the floor. I had been lucky enough to see him perform with A-Ha all those years ago in the 80's and had remembered a guy with white gloves on keyboards bopping around. I was excited to meet him at this private party for a local band called Hollywood Heartthrobs and with that brought Jodi with me. He had been relayed the track we had worked on in Nashville with Karen and was eager to meet us too apparently.
Gardner's career goes back into the 70's and yet at a very young age he was able to successfully do music as a full time gig. Upon meeting him at the party I was impressed at how humble he was. I had expected someone with a career that big to be ego driven. My first impression was "is this the guy I had seen all those years ago?" and after meeting we were inseparable for hours. Jodi, Gardner and I stayed fixed in our spots talking, connecting and he loved what he heard of Karen's and Lisa's song.. he thought it was brilliantly written. Some subtle suggestions were offered (synth ramp up's, live drums, live bass) and with that we started talking regularly via phone and then email.
It became a relationship that I have cherished from day one, his support like Karen's and so many others has been exemplary of why I love working with them and just shooting the breeze. The Life That's Chosen Me song title comes from a phrase that Lisa Aschmann added to the song and became the theme for the whole album content.
Gardner added some synth parts, Mike Fix on drums and the mighty Freebo on bass guitar! The song was tweaked and final outcome is what you hear. I love that it blends many talents and styles but the lyrics just fly and accompanied by the fabulously rich vocals of Karen it has a unique connectivity that many caregivers find comfort in. After all it's not often that an amazing grammy nominated artist takes the time to listen to a story from a caregiver.
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