My Influences – Part 3

As a product of the 60′s, my biggest influence is – and always will be – The Beatles. They received some kind of Divine Inspiration. They always found the perfect words, matched them with the perfect melody, and presented it in a perfect arrangement. Every single time! Even their “throw-away” songs that they gave to Ringo are classic and timeless.

No other band could possibly even consider words such as “She came in Through the Bathroom Window” or “Happiness is a Warm Gun” or even “Yellow Submarine” – no less make a quality song out of them!

The Beatles taught me that songs are supposed to sound natural – like a part of Nature. Like they were always meant to be. Timeless.

While he was part of my mother’s generation, I had to study Frank Sinatra when I attended a Jazz Music College. I was blown away! His phrasing was impeccable! Nobody even comes close to how he phrases a melody. And his music arrangements were perfect. There could not be a better arrangement to any of his songs.

There are many ways to sing – and play – any song. Sinatra taught me to look for the way that elevates a song to its next level.

Check out the perfect arrangement and crisp vocals on Summer Wind. And they didn’t do overdubs back in those days!

To write theme song for commercials, you have to be a master! You have 15 seconds get a catchy memorable tune that appeals to the masses. Barry Manilow wrote and sang the famous jingles for State Farm Insurance (“Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there…”), and Band-Aid (“I am stuck on Band-Aid, ’cause Band-Aids stick on me!”), for which he adopted a surprisingly convincing child-like voice. His singing-only credits include Kentucky Fried Chicken, Pepsi, Dr Pepper, and the famed McDonald’s “You Deserve a Break Today” campaign.

In 1978, five of his albums were on the best-selling charts simultaneously, a feat equaled only by Frank Sinatra, Michael Jackson, Bruce Springsteen and Johnny Mathis.

Manilow taught me there’s a science to a song. There are tools that can be used. Tricks of the trade. You don’t always have to use a chord your ear is expecting to hear, which helps give a song its flavor. One tool I stole from him is modulation, which is changing keys at the end to add suspense. Just about every song I’ve ever recorded changes keys on the final verse.

Billy and Bobby Alessi were twins from Long Island, where I grew up. Like Manilow, they wrote spot on commercial jingles – so they had talent!

They specialized in harmony. They added so many vocals to a track, resulting in some of the lushest sounds I’d ever heard! When I write, I “hear” 50 backup vocals, but my niche stipulates I can only use maybe four harmonies.

From the “It’s a small world” file: The person who taught me how to play guitar was Jackie “The Jokeman” Martling. Most people know him from his days on The Howard Stern Show. At the time, he worked at a recording studio in Douglaston, NY. Which is where Alessi would record. When they would go home for the night, Jackie would call me and we’d record with Alessi’s gear!

Here’s one of their first hits, Oh Lori, that showcases all the vocal harmonies:

My final early inspiration was The Eagles. They took the “We can write a classic song about any topic” from The Beatles. They did crisp vocals and dead-on arrangements like Sinatra. They used all the musical tricks that Manilow used for mass appeal. Then they added killer harmonies like Alessi.

In short, they created perfect, timeless songs. They also taught me the importance of enjoying what you do!

Those are my roots! My early influences. Probably not what you expected – LOL! So when did I go Country?

Stay tuned. The next installment will be how a Classic Rock radio station changed its format – and my life!

All My Best,
Billy Kay

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