SEPTEMBER 30 • 2021 | 39

often is called ‘Jerusalem,’
which I actually wrote in
Jerusalem, and it’s the one
people seem to want to
hear the most,” says Bern,
who musicalized thoughts
about the Messiah and
helping oneself. “My sister,
Jennifer Bern-Vogel, was
studying to be a cantor at
the time I visited there.”
Helping oneself has
been important to Bern
since his last visit to
Michigan. Due to a snow
blower accident, he lost the
tips of two fingers. At the start
of recovery, he found it more
comfortable to play piano
than guitar and took up that
instrument before returning to
strings.
“It was kind of a silver lining
to add piano to my arsenal,”
explains Bern, whose early
musical interests placed him at
classical cello before he became
a folk fan. “Things happen, and
sometimes they work out.”
One experience that worked
out was connecting with
viewers during his virtual
shows. He liked being able to
have texts come in on the spot
and then respond to them.
“I homeschooled my
daughter throughout sixth
grade, and it was one of the
most wonderful things I’ve
ever gotten to do,” Bern says.
“Some of the songs came out of
exercises we did.
“When my daughter was
born, I made a record of little
lullabies I was writing for her
and called it 2 Feet Tall. There
was a sequel called 3 Feet Tall
as she was growing. We just
released a recording called 4
Feet Tall and Rising, and she
kind of takes over.”
Writing for young people is
a special interest shared with
Kaplan, who teaches literature
classes at Farber Hebrew
Day School in Southfield.

He also has written about
the pandemic, but his focus
audience has been young
people. He put fun and lessons
in his song “Keep Your Mask
Clean.”
“I’ve watched shows at The
Ark many times, but this
will be my first time there as
a performer,” says Kaplan,
whose latest family release, The
Hippopotamus and the Creature
from the Swamp, is more of a
one-act musical. “I’m looking
forward to appearing with Dan
again for an adult show.”
Kaplan, playing acoustic
guitar and harmonica styles
learned from Bern, will include
numbers from his album
Perfect Gentleman, which has
spiritual themes presented in
country-influenced folk tones.
Tracks delve into following
false prophets and dealing with
love and loss.
“I’ve traveled with Dan
through Illinois and Minnesota
to open for him, and he’s been
the most original thinker
I’ve ever met,” Kaplan says.
“We like to hash things out
philosophically.”
Both entertainers enjoy
looking for new topics to add
to their composition repertoire.
“I think my musical style is
changing all the time,” Bern
says. “Lately, I’ve been adding
beats, playing bass and
doing harmonies. I think
I’mbeing more daring than I
ever have.”

Randy
Kaplan

PHOTO BY MATTHEW MURPHY

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