Introducing the legendary Steve Cropper (from the Blues Brothers) to President Clinton at the Salute to American R & B Music.
(Left to right) With Frances Preston and the incomparable Patti LaBelle, two of my favorite women in the world.
I call this the underachievers! What can I possibly say? Check out this cast of characters. Left to right: David Foster, me, Joe Montana, Muhammad Ali, Evander Holyfield, Wayne Gretzky, and Larry King at the Ali Foundation’s 6th Annual Fight Night charity gala to raise funds for the Ali Parkinson research center.
It’s not every day you get to joke around with three presidents. Using precious time wisely, I was advising Presidents Ford and Clinton never to play tennis against Bush Sr. for money; he was a ringer!
My amazing and inspiring friends Del and Carolyn Bryant and fellow artist and true lover of golf Nick Jonas.
At my annual MBC event with the legendary, brilliant writer and artist Dave Mason and guitar sensation Orianthi, who is on the road to her own illustrious career.
Celebrating the release of my children’s book The Secret of the Lost Kingdom with a signing at Barnes & Noble in NYC… and clearly my new haircut, which was very short!
At the “Shooting Star in the Desert Night” benefit with the legendary Alice Cooper, one of the most decent human beings I’ve ever met.
At the Atlanta Heroes Awards event with Coretta Scott King the night she was being honored by the NARAS (The National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences) Atlanta chapter. She invited me to sing, so I wrote “The Courage in Your Eyes” and sang it to her that evening.
With Chuck Norris and Rob Schneider, two friends who were there for the unveiling of my Hollywood Walk of Fame star. Ron makes me laugh my ass off and Chuck can still kick it!
My incredible and charismatic assistant Ronnie showing her emotional support on the day I first went public with my short haircut.
Me and my buddy Bree in Sydney outside the Opera House (2012). Notice Bree’s fist mid-picture. After forty-three years of sparring he just cannot help himself.
My inspired and inspiring musical cohorts David Foster, Walter Afanasieff, and Kenny G.
Me with David Foster and Dave Reitzas, the most masterful recording engineer on the planet.
Working with Stefani Germanotta (soon to be known around the globe as Lady Gaga) and Michael Mani (from the production team The Jam) on my album One World One Love.
A reflective moment between friends, more than twenty years in the making. Bill Clinton and me sharing the green during the Clinton Foundation–sponsored Humana Challenge event in Palm Desert, CA. I show up to support whenever and wherever I can, just as he has for me.
Clint Eastwood, not only an amazing writer, director, producer, and actor, but also an incredible philanthropist, showing up to support my annual MBC fundraiser in Ojai, CA.
The usual suspects at AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am (me with Kevin Costner, Darius Rucker, and Bill Murray).
Pirate so brave on the seven seas? Or a singer dressed up like Captain Jack Sparrow in a crow’s nest on Brighton Beach?
I’m reloaded! (Yes, it’s all baking powder!)
Contents
Welcome
Dedication
Introduction
PART I: The Climb
Chapter One: This Is the Tale of Captain Jack Sparrow
Chapter Two: Finding My Voice
Chapter Three: Band of Brothers
Chapter Four: Coming of Age
Chapter Five: The Epic Struggle
Chapter Six: Mad Dogs & Mites
Chapter Seven: Higher Stakes
PART II: The Rewards
Chapter Eight: The Talent I Didn’t Know I Had
Chapter Nine: Songwriter Shangri-La
Chapter Ten: Feeding the Hunger
Chapter Eleven: The Soul of It All
Chapter Twelve: Trials, Tribulations & Triumphs
Chapter Thirteen: Friends & Lovers
Chapter Fourteen: Reaching Higher
Chapter Fifteen: Singing On
Acknowledgments
About the Author
Photo-Inserts
Newsletters
Copyright
Copyright
Copyright © 2012 by Passion Lit, LLC
All rights reserved. In accordance with the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, the scanning, uploading, and electronic sharing of any part of this book without the permission of the publisher constitute unlawful piracy and theft of the author’s intellectual property. If you would like to use material from the book (other than for review purposes), prior written permission must be obtained by contacting the publisher at [email protected]. Thank you for your support of the author’s rights.
Unless otherwise noted, all photos courtesy of the author’s personal collection.
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First e-book edition: January 2013
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ISBN 978-1-4555-2366-5
The Soul of It All Page 31
