Larry Whitler

For me, it's all about the song. That mysteriously magical thing that happens when a lyric is married to a melody. The writing process is invigorating and exciting while simultaneously being exasperating and difficult. It is that moment when music is being composed and a lyric is being written when I am truly the "artist at his easel."

The creative process continues when the song is brought into the studio to be recorded because, as in writing, the production and arrangement processes also have their own sets of challenges. Those challenges are always dictated by the song itself and the task at hand at that moment is to be true to the song and carefully craft a recording that reflects what the song is about.

Part three, for me, is to then take that song and perform it. It is the purest form of displaying this work of art called a song and is the only place where the magic of the creation is reflected back to me from a room full of interested listeners. And at that moment it is only as magical as the audience makes me believe it is.

My CDs are all available on CDBaby.com.

As I mentioned earlier, I am half of a children's duo called "Robin And The Giant". I teamed up with Robin MacBlane to create music for children after my own son was born. He was born in 1986 and Robin and I began creating music together the following year. In the early 70s I was half of another duo with Jeff Denlea. We called ourselves "The Bologna Eaters" for a short while and then changed our name simply to "Whitler And Denlea". Jeff and I played a lot of clubs on Long Island and around the New York City area. In 1977 we went to Los Angeles and tried to pitch our songs (we are both songwriters) and I ended up hanging around the offices of a producer named Phil Gernhard. I did lead sheets for Phil and learned a lot of the realities of the record business. It was in that office that I also met a successful songwriter named Dick Holler who had written some hits (including "Abraham, Martin, And John"). I learned a lot from Dick Holler and will always be grateful for the warmth I felt in those days. Later in the 70s and in the early 80s I worked as a college performer playing schools on the east coast of the U.S. I had recorded several singles which received only very little airplay and signed a few publishing contracts which basically went nowhere. I met my wife around that time and we were married in 1981. I had been on the road too much and decided it would be wise to "settle down" and get a real job. I ended up working for the State of Florida for a few years and then got a job in radio. I've been doing radio (mostly) for the past 18 years. One of the great things about the radio shows is that I get to interview and showcase local recording artists. There is a lot of incredible talent out there!!!!! I never really left the music totally. I had the "Robin And The Giant" projects (which I am very proud of) and I also went into the studio every now and then. Still, I'm looking forward to whatever doors might open for me in my newest "incarnation" as a recording artist!

Yes. I have performed in colleges and coffee houses mostly and put that all aside many years ago when my son was born so that I could be a father. Now he is all grown and has become quite a talented singer and songwriter in his own right! In fact he sings one of my songs with me on this site called "Sailor And Sculptor." So it is time for "the old man" to get back to my first love which is creating music both live and recorded.

I was greatly influenced by the Beatles. Collectively and individually I am sure their writing had a great impact on me. I also was influenced by Elton John and Bernie Taupin. Other writers who influenced me include Paul Simon, Bruce Springsteen, Stevie Wonder, Randy Newman, Harry Nilsson, Andrew Gold, and I'm sure many others that I'm forgetting right now.

I record with a PC software program from SONY called Acid Pro 6.

My CDs are available at CD Baby: http://cdbaby.com/group/12stringpoet

Here is my MySpace site: http://www.myspace.com/larrywhitler