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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