The most famous anonymous singer in America Joe Cerisano (TSO, Silver Condor) and hit songwriter Marc Blatte (the Four Tops, Celine Dion, Kenny Rogers, Bruce Springsteen) have teamed up for The Distant Thunder. This duo not only shared responsibility for “Hands Across America” but also were critical to the success of the most iconic commercials–GE, Army, Navy, Sprite, Miller–you have ever heard. Now they have come together and created an amazing slice of Americana with standout tracks like “Healing Hand” and the latest single, “I’d Rather Be Dancing.”
Blatte has penned the Grammy nominated Top 40 song “When She Was My Girl” by the Four Tops as well as songs by Celine Dion and Kenny Rogers. “When She Was My Girl” will also be making an appearance on the brand-new Bruce Springsteen covers album, Only the Strong Survive, due out in November. As Blatte states, “Bruce singing my tune “When She Was My Girl,” which was a hit by The Four Tops forty years ago, is nothing short of miraculous. I’ve always been a huge fan of his. Early in both of our careers, we spent some time, just Bruce and I, watching The Honeymooners at the Power Station, yucking it up like a bunch of knuckleheads!”
Cerisano started his career on Columbia Records with Silver Condor alongside guitarist Earl Slick (David Bowie, John Lennon). He went on to do duets with Gloria Estefan and Plácido Domingo. He was guest vocalist with Blue Öyster Cult and Korn. Cerisano fronted Trans-Siberian Orchestra during the early years that led up to their massive worldwide appeal. Joe reflects back on that time, “Being one of the founding members of TSO was one of the best experiences of my career. From being on the first two albums to touring for four years and seeing it grow, from small theaters to Madison Square Garden was amazing. To be inside of that was something to behold. Paul O’Neill and Bob Kinkle, the creators, were geniuses on top of being my friends. Just watching them was a treat.”
The Distant Thunder album is out November 18. They strip it all down for a real rootsy American album filled with emotion and heart wrenching lyrics.
It was a pleasure and honor for me to have the amazing Marc Blatte on the Interview to talk on The Distant Thunder and some great stories of his life he shared with me, Check out the below YouTube video and watch the one and only Marc Blatte.
The Distant Thunder Tracklist:
“Healing Hand”
“I’d Rather Be Dancing With You”
“Like Father Like Son”
“Reasons”
“Distant Thunder”
“Put the Gun Down”
“Ain’t That What Praying’s for”
“Looking Through the Eyes of Love”
“Breakthrough”
“The Bridge Is Burning”
Music Video
Distant Thunder Is
Marc Blatte
Grammy Nominee Best R&B Song
Winner The ASCAP Award for Most Performed Country Song
Recipient of The Ralph Peer Music Lifetime Achievement Award
Multiple Clio Award Winner and Finalist Winner of the Ad Age Award for Best Music in Advertising
Author of “Humpty Dumpty Was Pushed,” a novel.
Co-writer and co-producer of The Distant Thunder on Deko Records.
Songs Recorded By Artists:
Bruce Springsteen, The Four Tops, Kenny Rogers, Celine Dion, US Army Band and Chorus, Richie Havens, Willie Nile, Laura Branigan, Molly Hatchet, Dottie West, The Manhattans, Marie Osmand, Carol Lynn Townes, and many other successful artists have recorded my songs. The songs have appeared on popular TV shows like Saturday Night Live, David Letterman, and The Simpsons, been sung in French, Portuguese, Spanish as well as English, and have been international hits. I’m a Grammy Nominee for Writer of Best R&B Song “When She Was My Girl” the #1 record by The Four Tops, winner of The ASCAP Award for Most Performed Country Music Song for “Read My Lips” #3 record by Marie Osmond. I am also the grateful recipient of The Ralph Peer Music Publishing Company’s Lifetime Achievement Award for writing “Hands Across America”. Much of my early success came from colloborations with my dear friend Larry Gottlieb. He is a master of feel and groove, two things that allow songs to bypass intellect and speak to the soul. Thank you, Larry, for sharing these magical elements of songcraft with me.
Joe Cerisano
Joe Cerisano has the distinction of possessing one of the truly unique voices in America. Joe has developed a singing style that absorbed and combined a wide variety of musical influences, including Rock & Roll, Pop, Country and Soul, all mixed in with his native rual West Virginian dialect. The resulting combination makes for the classic and original American singer’s voice.
Joe’s career is the benchmark that all session/professional singers strive for. His career spans 40 years from local gigs in West Virginia to being a Columbia Records recording astist in LA to being lead singer for Black Sabbath for a day…..ya’ can’t make this stuff up…….. plus a lot in between and into the now.
