Tony Arata

    Tony Arata wrote The Dance. Enough said.

     But I'll say more anyway. One night I performed in the round at The Bluebird Cafe with Tony, Craig Bickhardt, and Don Henry. There was a young couple sitting in the audience behind Tony, and for most of the night they were model audience members. The young man listened and enjoyed our music as he consumed large quantities of Bluebird beer and alcohol. The young woman, ever the designated driver/girlfriend, sat beside him having an equally good time.

     Tony rose from his seat, and with microphone in hand, walked over to where the couple was sitting. He stood beside them and began telling us all how his mother had dreamed he would one day become a minister or a priest. He confessed she was deeply disappointed he had chosen to become a songwriter instead. Tony went on to say he wished his mother were there to witness what he was about to do, adding he hoped it would in some way fulfill his mother's dream.

     The stage was set for the momentous event. Tony read the young man's note aloud and handed him the microphone. The young man took the mic and knelt down in front of his stunned, and quite sober, sweetheart. He professed his undying love, and asked her to marry him. On mic. In front of God and the entire audience.

     The young woman's eyes widened in disbelief. I have never heard it as quiet in The Bluebird Cafe as it was while we all waited for her to respond.  After a few tense moments, she jumped up from her seat and ran out of  the club crying with her hands over her face. The stunned young man, now quite sober, looked up at Tony and then ran out after her.

     With that, Tony rejoined the round and sang The Dance. Enough said.

    I received a telephone call from Allen Reynolds one day. He was producing a new Kathy Mattea cd and wanted to know if I'd be available to sing background vocals on a few songs for the project that later became Willow in the Wind.

     The song we worked on that day was Come From the Heart. It was later chosen to be released as a single, so a video was made. And once again I was asked to take part in a Kathy Mattea project. But this time it was not to sing, but rather to act like I was singing. And to dance. Or sway. Or whatever it is I'm trying to do in that video. Thankfully, Craig can also be seen "dancing" on stage with Kathy Mattea in the Come From the Heart video.

     Years ago I recorded a demo project for RCA Records. Mary Martin, my A&R liaison at RCA,  sent me on a quest for a "hit". Find some "great songs," she said.