Today we’d like to introduce you to Alan Shapiro.
Hi Alan, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I was born and lived in Brooklyn until I moved to Los Angeles in 1980. My passion is music and in the late 1970’s had a band called, “Clear Sky.” We performed often and in 1980 we had the opportunity to go to LA. The band disbanded and I went to LA alone.
Doing my music, and needing a job, I installed carpeting and worked as a “singing waiter” at the Great American Food and Beverage Co. (Hi Pockets) in West Hollywood. I made many dear friends and a few became writing partners. We continued writing and getting our songs to artists but alas the music business did not pan out so instead of starving for my art in 1983 I joined the Los Angeles Police Department. I didn’t give up my music as I would perform when off duty.
In 1989 I was selected to perform on the “People’s Choice Awards Show” as part of the opening musical number.
In 1990 I transferred to the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Dept and again continued my performing. I was a regular act at Mitch’s Java and Jazz in Newhall, CA.
I was married in 1989, became a father to a son Daniel in 1990 but a few years later separated and officially divorced in 1997. As fate would have it, I was set up on a blind date with Aurora Mostow, a single Mom with two teenage boys Adam and Aaron. The only reason she agreed to the blind date is because her friend didn’t tell her what I was doing for a living, instead she told Aurora I was a musician. We married in 1998 and she immediately became my “muse.”
In 1998 while Daniel was in school he heard his teachers talking about a musical project that was educational in nature, that would teach through music. My son told them I was a songwriter. They got in touch with me and I became involved in their project called, “Perfect Harmony.” I wrote all the songs and became a performer for the show. The show never came to be.
In 2015, after 32 years of police work, I retired.
Still having my love for music in 2019 I placed and ad in the local social media and found a drummer and bass player. “Clear Sky” was reborn. I had a catalog of music and really wanted to showcase my songwriting. At 64, I showed my music to the band, they loved it and we decided to perform my songs.
We performed monthly at many venues in the Oxnard/Ventura area and we were one of the only original bands being booked. Covid put an end to that.
Daniel and Aaron both encouraged me, while the world was locked down, to get my music on social media. I did and started a Youtube show called, “Locked Down Songwriting,” Their idea was to show a new song each week. I set up my camera and did videos talking about the new song and then sang it. Well, 45 songs later we were all released and I had a back log of songs. They also told me how to get my music distributed on streaming services throughout the internet. Because to that I released two albums. One is full of the children’s music I wrote for the children’s show. The album is called, “A Child at Heart.” And then I released an album of love songs called, “Time For Love.” And currently my songs are released as singles over time and can be found on my artist page on Spotify, Apple Music, and Youtube.
Getting the band back together and performing was a bit more difficult than before Covid. We still performed but not at the same frequency. Especially since we were closing in on 70 years old and our schedules were more inclined to be that of retirees which meant a lot of cruises and vacations.
One of my songs was chosen to be used in a TV movie but the movie has yet to be released.
Most recently my songs were heard by a female singer who lives and performs is in Las Vegas. She contacted me and there is the possibility that she and her husband will record an album of my songs.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Life always has it’s twists and turns, it’s ups and downs but we work through them and persevere.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a singer/songwriter. My songs have been sung by Eric Lowen (Lowen and Navarro, writers of Pat Benatar’s hit, “We Belong”).
My songs, “Take Me Back to New York” and “That I Would Not Change” have been played on WSGI in Robertson County, TN by Radio Personality, Steve (Daddio on the Patio) Jarrell, and “Shore Sounds Radio,” in New Jersey and currently my music can be heard throughout the days as my songs are on the playlist of KDABradio.com in California.
Competition is tremendous but the accolades I receive tell me my songs are very good. I submitted one of my lyrics to the Ventura County Poetry Project in 2021 and awarded “third place” in their “Defining Moments” poetry contest.
My band, “Clear Sky,” still performs in the Ventura area.
How do you think about luck?
In 1979 Clear Sky was a hopeful band to be signed to a record deal with Midsong but it fell through.
In 1980 my song “Ballerina” was heard by singer Anne Louise Hanson and there was talk about her recording it but it didn’t happen.
In 1998 I was part of the children’s TV show project “Perfect Harmony,” and that didn’t materialize.
In 2023 my song, “I Want To Believe” was selected to be used by Gemelli Films for their film “Holiday In the Hamptons.” The film was never released.
The good luck was my choosing Law Enforcement as a career. I had a wonderful 32 year career. I started in 1983 and have great memories like; being assigned to the UCLA dormitory area protecting the athletes during the 1984 Olympics, being assigned to work at the Los Angeles Sports Arena when Bruce Springsteen performed there, singing the National Anthem at a few events and many others. The job allowed me to continue doing my music off duty. Most importantly it gave me the ability to take care of my family.
Contact Info:
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_elz5vf95Z1U8GCiyipdnQ
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5hwG5bwbRUYHkoKLdJWu1t?si=FIEawndxTB-212NAX3-uPA
