Chris Willis

The Demos Have Magic

When I tell people about this EP; they ask in wonderment "you mean the Chris Willis of David Guetta, Fergie, International EDM star fame?" So, I've nicknamed him "Yes, THAT Chris Willis!"

What a privilege to work with someone with his stratospheric talent! He makes what is challenging to us mere mortals seem effortless.

Chris was recommended to me in the early 1990s to sing a demo I co-wrote with Dwayna Litz titled "Let Me Be There For You". I met him in Nashville at the ASCAP building where he learned the song in less than an hour using the Nashville musicians' famous "number system". We proceeded to an 8 track studio on Music Row where he nailed the song in one take, I paid him, he thanked me and off he went leaving me with a performance so outstanding that not only did PATTI LABELLE and her husband fall in love with it AND Patti went on to record it on her Grammy nominated Gold album "Flame"; but she also approached Chris to join her band. Due to other committments; he was unable to do so.

Chris and I have remained friends & collaborators ever since.

Joey Melotti (keyboards, MD + more for Manilow, MBolton, Michael Jackson special, etc) & I have been co-writing since 1979 in Connecticut. He was my musical hero! I'd go to his gigs right after I finished mine & fan girl. (Joey at The Foundry, New Haven, anyone?) If Joey left all his gear in his van in sub freezing weather; then, yes! I will, too! (which explained the crack in my guitar.) I pushed for a co-write session and we were a team from then on.

The method to our music: In the 90s Joey lived in L.A. & I was in North Georgia. We would alternate visits to cowrite. Joey would create all the music, hand those brilliant inspiring tracks that you hear on this EP off to me, then I would squirrel away and create the musical "stories"; the melody & lyrics. He'd sing the demo, then I'd present to Chris Willis who would meet weekly at Bill McDermott's DOG DEN 16 track studio (16 was a big deal back then!) in Nashville where Bill engineered the vocal recordings using Joey's tracks. What a magical, relaxed, happy time in Bill's cozy home studio with dogs coming and going.

Big thanks to engineer extraordinaire jt burke for making "The Demos" sound like Masters!

We're excited for you to hear our 3 demos recorded in 1995!