Scott Stern:
"I came out
of the
womb and
got on the
piano."
/MIL
MO MI
I=M
MN
•••
ELIZABETH APPLEBAUM
Assistant Editor
A
t first, the music stu-
dio is quiet. The re-
cording tapes sit
silent, unmoving. The
microphones are off. A man-
nequin, whose only function
is to add to the room decor,
stands near a fireplace. On
the wall is a picture of
Marilyn Monroe. Everything
seems to be waiting.
Then come the first notes,
a few chords on the piano.
They grow louder, faster,
heavier. Soon the whole
studio is filled with the song,
a snappy number called "I
Mess Around."
At 23 years old, the song's
composer and singer — in
the midst of recording a
demonstration tape — is al-
ready a seasoned profes-
sional. He's a member of a
jazz band, has written music
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INA
MIMOW ENE&
Scott Stern of West
Bloomfield is working on a
movie soundtrack, a record
album and plays regularly
with a jazz band. And those
are just the opening notes.
for numerous plays and is
composing for a new movie
soundtrack. His name is
Scott Stern.
"I Mess Around" is one of
12 songs on the tape he
hopes will lead to a recor-
ding contract. Signs of
success are good: he just
signed with a major produc-
tion company, whose clients
include Michael Jackson and
win•-7
Barbra Streisand.
Scott Stern, who lives in
Farmington Hills, has
always loved music. "I came
out of the womb and got on
the piano," he says.
Most of his skills are self-
taught, though he took a few
piano lessons as a child. His
entry to the world of profes-
sional music came with the
encouragement of his father,
Norton, who today serves as
Scott's manager.
In 1979 Norton Stern
began "following a dream
I've had my entire life: to be
in the music business." He
started his own record com-
pany, Safe Harbor, which
brought him into frequent
contact with leading repre-
sentatives of the music in-
dustry. Though music is no
longer his full-time profes-
sion, Norton maintained ties
with friends and acquain-
tances in the business. This
acumen in the music in-
dustry would serve Norton
well when he decided to take
on his most important client:
his own son.
Meanwhile, Scott Stern
was making a name for
himself as keyboard player
with the Brian Krinek Band,
whose music members de-
scribe as a fusion of jazz, pop
and rhythm and blues.
Scott was majoring in
THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
67 •