My Dad was a contractor/architect. He and his company built "ALL" the "A" framed IHOP's-(International House Of Pancake's) in Southern California. Although he did not design them. IHOP's company commissioned "His" company to build them and the Copper Penny's of old. After his death in a tragic Plane crash in 1968 with his business partner Kenneth Errair of "The Four Freshman" and husband of actress Jane Withers. My mother a house wife raised us alone for the most part...........My Uncle Barry Richards (my Dads brother) was or has been a singer since the age of 15 (I idolized him and Bobby) and age 17. Teamed up with singer/song writer Bobby Hart , later of (Boyce & Hart)....... My Uncle had a Bill Board Top 50 song in 1974 called "Come Fill Your Cup Again". ..... That year Olivia Newton-John had the number 1 Spot with " I Honestly Love You".............I began my singing career in 1984, when one of the waiters I worked with ,said after hearing me sing Happy Birthday to guests... YOU have a good voice. Never having any real training.... I got some music of Lisa Hartman's and from her "Letter Rock" Lp with no vocals and secretly went to a studio and recorded some of Lisa's songs.................Then in 1986... I teamed up with David Castle, He wrote music for the Movie "Midnight Express"and whom had some moderate success in the 80's with a LP of his own, and he Wrote and Produced some music for me (Demo with 3 songs)..... Bobby, Maryann and Barry kept me going with praise. So I slowly went out and did a few shows. Singing at a party with some friends and then a club in the valley, where I sang 2 of Maryann Hart's songs from her LP..................I did a few more shows and one 1987 with one of my closest friends Geri Jewell (cousin Geri on "The Facts Of Life" and Jewel on "Deadwood"). We teamed up for a night of fun .. She opened the show with her comedy and I sang. We also did one song together. The Partridge Family's, I'll Meet You Half Way.. We are both PF fans....................Then in 1988... I hooked up wth singer/song writer Brent Hoad whom worked with David Castle and also co-wrote the song for me on my Demo.. We took a few months and co-wrote some songs together and some alone,,, I had never written before and it was apparent on some of the songs and other well kinda good. We got together and We produced my First LP called " So Quiet". Titled after a beautiful song written by Nik Kershaw, that I have and had dedicated to the Memory Of Claudia..............Bobby Hart even came in and did a remake of his 1968 hit with Tommy Boyce of "I Wonder What She's Doin Tonight". .............The following year 1989/90, I met singer/song writer David Diamond whom was in the group "Berlin" he wrote and produced some of there great songs... we became fast friends and he got me excited about music again. We did some club dates together with his band mates..........Bobby Hart then Produced 2 songs for me. One written by his good friend Dick Eastman "American Child" and David Diamond played guitar and Gene (Cher's back up singer) did backing vocals for me and we recorded "American Child" and "True Believer's"... I think it was and is my favorite songs I have recorded.......in 1992 with Thomas Griep "Riding My Summer Wave" (The Dolphin Song) which he co-wrote and another environemental song intitled "If We Just Take Some Time" that I wrote.....trying to follow in Olivia Newton-John's steps. The Dolphin song was sent to Greenpeace..So sorry if I have some of or ALL of my OLD work on here...... I just wanted to have a site now and then add new things as I can do them and or meet people to create..... Thanks in advance to all of you and your support.....
.......I wanted everyone to check out my old friends book .....................Here's The Story..Surviving Marica Brady and Finding My True Voice by MAUREEN MCCORMICK... She uses a pic I took of her at her Pink Palace and thanks Claudia and I in the back..,,,, I am more than touched she did so and means more than words can say . I love this lady and her huband Michael...................................................I am currently working on my Autobiography. If you want or can help me out.........Feel free to contact me............My surrogate Uncle Bobby Hart is also working on his book. .......That should be out by years end as well...........
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