MY TIMELINE

  • 1960
    1960
    Born in New Haven, Connecticut.

  • 1977

    Played bass guitar in off-Broadway production of “The Web”.

  • 1980

    Wrote national jingle for Thomas’s Toast-r-Cakes English Muffins.

  • 1981

    First song, "Like A Rose", published by Chappell Music Co.

  • 1960
    1982
    Graduated from Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire.
  • Oh Baby Poster

    1983

    Moved to New York City.

     

    Wrote the musical score for the Off-Broadway show, “Oh Baby! A Lamaze Odyssey”.

  • 1985

    Wrote the song “After All” for Air Supply. Album goes Gold around the world.  

    Signed worldwide publishing agreement with Chappell Music.

  • 1960
    1987
    Co-wrote “Tell it to My Heart” for Taylor Dayne which went to #7 on the Hot 100 Billboard chart and #1 around the world.
  • Prove Your Love

    1988

    Co-wrote “Prove Your Love”, Taylor Dayne’s 2nd single which went to  #7 on Hot 100 Billboard chart,  #1 on Billboard Dance chart and Top 5 around the world.

  • 1960

    1988
    Received ASCAP songwriting award for  “Tell it to My Heart” being amongst the most played songs on the radio in 1988.

    “Tell it to My Heart” and “Prove Your Love” on Billboard’s year-end Top 100 Singles of 1988.

  • 1988

    Co-Wrote “Homeboy” for Jane Weidlin of The Go-Go’s for her album “Fur” which reached #48 on the U.K. charts.

  • 1960
    1990
    Co-wrote “Tear it Up” for Michael McDonald which went to #27 on Billboard’s Adult Contemporary chart.       

     

    Signed a new publishing agreement with EMI Music Publishing.

     

    Moved to Los Angeles.

  • 1991
    1991
    Wrote “Love is a Beautiful Thing” for the debut album of Charles & Eddie which went gold around the world.

  • 1992
    1992 Wrote “Not Gonna Be The One”, one of four new songs recorded by Olivia Newton-John for her Greatest Hits album, “Back to Basics -- The Essential Collection”.

  • 1992

    Co-wrote Celine Dion’s single “Did You Give Enough Love” which reached #17 on the Canadian pop charts.

  • 1994

    First child, Julian Charles, born.

  • 1994
    1994
    Started baseball memorabilia collection.

  • 1995
    1995 Al Green records “Love is a Beautiful Thing”. Released as a single, it charts in the U.K. at #56. In 2002, the song is included on L-O-V-E: The Essential Al Green greatest hits collection.

  • Baseball Letters
     
    1996
    First book, “Baseball Letters — A Fan’s Correspondence With His Heroes”, published by Random House.
     
    “Love is a Beautiful Thing” featured as the theme song in the Gwyneth Paltrow movie “The Pallbearer”.

  • 1996
    1997
    “Baseball Letters" becomes a national bestseller.
     

  • 1997
    1997
    Tina Turner records “Love is a Beautiful Thing” for the 5-times platinum “Princess Diana Tribute” album.

  • 1999

    Wrote the song “Instant Pleasure”, sung by Rufus Wainwright, which is featured in the Adam Sandler blockbuster “Big Daddy”.

  • 1999

    Second book in Baseball Letters trilogy -- “Every Pitcher Tells A Story”-- published by Times Books and becomes a national bestseller.

  • 1990
    2000
    Acquisition of the infamous baseball that went through Bill Buckner’s legs in game 6 of the 1986 World Series. Often referred to as “The Buckner Ball”.

  • 2001

    Krystal Harris records ”Love is a Beautiful Thing”  as the theme song for the Reese Witherspoon movie, “Legally Blond”.
     

  • 2002

    Second child, Luke Daniel, born.

  • 2002

    “Love is a Beautiful Thing” (Al Green’s version) featured as theme song in the movies “Two Weeks Notice” and “Sorority Boys”.
     
    Kelly Llorenna version of “Tell it to My Heart” charts at #9 on the U.K. pop chart.
     

  • 2003
    2003
    Third book in the Baseball Letters trilogy -- “Something To Write Home About”-- published by Crown Books.

  • 2004

    Third child, Daisy Claire, born.

  • 2004

    First solo album, “Instant Pleasure” released.
     
    Revlon cosmetics uses  “Love is a Beautiful Thing” for their worldwide marketing campaign. Song also featured as theme song in the movie “The Cookout”.
     

  • 2005

    “Instant Pleasure” awarded Album of the Year, Los Angeles Music Awards.
     
    Signed new publishing agreement with Sony Music.
  • Tell It To My Heart Barneys

    2006

    Jewelry designed by Fallon with lyrics from “Tell it to My Heart” introduced at Barney’s.

  • 2006

    Precedent-setting Swirsky v. Carey (Mariah) decision handed down by the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, where it is now the standard for proving copyright infringement.
     
    Formed pop band, The Red Button.
     

  • 2007

    The Red Button releases first album, “She’s About to Cross My Mind”.
     

  • 2007
    2007
    The first single from The Red Button record, “Cruel Girl”, chosen as “The Coolest Song in the World this Week” by Little Steven’s Underground Garage, Sirius radio program.

  • 2007

    “The Last Giant”, a short form documentary is an official selection at the National Baseball Hall of Fame Film Festival and The D.C. International Film Festival.

  • 2010

    Second solo album —“Watercolor Day”— released. Wins Best Single (for the title track) at The Hollywood Music and Media Awards.

  • 2011

    Directed and produced the documentary “Beatles Stories” which had its World Premiere in Paris at The European Independent Film Festival. Other festivals where it was an Official Selection include Newport Beach, Bend, New York Gold Coast International, Las Vegas and 15 more.

  • 2011

    Second album by The Red Button — “As Far As Yesterday Goes”— released. The single, “Caught in the Middle”, chosen as “Coolest Song in the World this Week” by Little Steven’s Underground Garage, Sirius radio program.

  • 2011
    2011
    Sang National Anthem at Wrigley Field before Cubs-Braves game.
     
    Featured as “Songwriter of the Week" in the Nov/Dec issue of American Songwriter magazine.

  • 2012
    2012
    Baseball memorabilia collection sold through Heritage Auctions.

  • 2012
    2012
    “Beatles Stories” premieres in the UK at same theater as The Beatles’ “Yellow Submarine” in 1968. Premieres in the U.S. at the Egyptian theater, Los Angeles.

  • 2013
    2013
    “Beatles Stories” debuts on Sky Arts channel in Great Britain and the RAI channel in Italy.

  • 2013
    2013
    Earned  Master’s Degree in Clinical Psychology.
  • Cheetos Ad

    2015

    “Tell it to My Heart” used by Cheetos in an ad for Super Bowl 49. Watch it »

  • 2016

    Release of third solo album, “Circles and Squares”, named 2nd best record of the year (out of 125) on The International Pop Overthrow year-end list.

  • 2017

    Fourth book — “21 Ways to a Happier Depression: A Creative Guide to Getting Unstuck from Anxiety, Setbacks and Stress” — is published by  Sourcebooks. 
     
     

  • 2017

    Recognized with two entries and two honorable mentions in the book “Shake Some Action 2.0: An Updated Guide to the 200 Greatest Power Pop Albums, 1970-2017."

  • 2017

    Third album by The Red Button, “Now It's All This!” (JEM Records), released. Two singles, “Can’t Let Candy Go” and “Tracy’s Party”, chosen as “Coolest Song in the World this Week” by Little Steven’s Underground Garage, Sirius radio program.

  • 2018
    2018
    Directed video and composed song (“Ooh Girl”) sung by Peter Noone of The Herman’s Hermits. Video premieres on Billboard.com
  • Shh Your Toes Are Sleeping

    2021

    Release of children’s book, “Shh…Your Toes are Sleeping”
  • Exhibition of paintings at Margarita Mix Studio

    2021

    Exhibition of 37 original paintings at Margarita Mix Studio, Santa Monica, as Artist-in-Residence.

  • 2021

    Sony releases Greatest Hits album.
    Available on amazon.co.jp »
  • Songs from the Green Couch on Lolipop Records

    2022

    Release of 4th solo album on Lolipop Records

  • 2022

    Release of single, Christmas Eve.

  • 2024

    "Beatles Stories Volume II" documentary to be released.

    Original stop motion animation film "VanTongerloo’s Dream" to be released.

Stories »