Detroit Free Press from Detroit, Michigan • Page 25

DETROIT FREE PRESS FRIDAY, AUGUST 3, 1990 5C Michael Bolton has stopped playing musical I II Mini I- II IL ON STAGE: Michael Bolton and Kenny G. will perform at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Pine Knob Music Theatre, Sasha-baw Road at 1-75, Clarkston. Call 645-6666, 9-6 daily. By Gary Graff Free Press Music Writer Michael Bolton has learned one secret of success in the music business.

"I don't give away the good stuff anymore," says the 35-year-old singer, songwriter and producer. The stuff he's referring to is songs. During the mid-'80s, Bolton was writing plenty of hits, but he was giving them to Laura Branigan, Cher, Barbra Streisand, Joe Cocker, Kiss, Starship, Gregg Altaian, Kenny Rogers and others. A couple of years ago, however, he started keeping his favorite songs for his own records, and before you can say "hit single" Bolton leapt from also-ran to stardom. "A lot has happened in the past year," he says with a chuckle, acknowledging his understatement.

His most recent album, "Soul Provider," has sold more than 2 million copies, been on the Billboard charts for more than a year and has spawned four hit singles. One of those, "How Am I Supposed to Live Without You," in February earned him the Grammy award for Best Male Pop Vocal. Bolton's trophy case also has been filled with honors from the New York Music Awards and even from B'nai B'rith, and he was part of a group of songwriters who last year journeyed to the Soviet Union for the "Music Speaks Louder than Words" summit. And all because, as he puts it, "I learned to hoard my own songs." "There's always the temptation, when I wear my writer's hat, to say, 'This would be great for this artist, a smash for that Bolton says. "Then I put on my artist's cap and say, That's right.

It is going to be a smash for you. Keep it, you Being a writer for hire wasn't exactly Bolton's dream when he dropped out of high school to pursue a music career. Born Michael Bolotin in New Haven, he envisioned himself primarily as a performer, writing his own songs and recording the occasional cover. But after a sluggish start for his own recording career he had a semi-hit with "Fool's Game" in 1983 the economics of giving his songs to others was attractive. "It was a whole new concept for me," he says.

"I was told I could make a decent living doing that. My rent checks wouldn't bounce for the first time in several years. It was too good to pass up." Bolton's first giveaway the writ- writing is not just going to go away; I write more songs than I record in a year. The idea is to try to get them recorded by the best artist for them, and that becomes a bit of a science finding the right voice, making sure the artist has a major commitment for the (company) at that time, making sure the song's going to be produced by the right producer." Nowadays that process is taking a backseat to other developments in Bolton's life. On the personal side is a painful divorce from Maureen, his wife of 15 years; Bolton's also adapting to spending less time with his three daughters.

For therapy, he's immersed himself in plans for his current tour, as well as the recording of a follow-up to "Soul Provider." He's already started recording the new alburrj, which he describes as "a step forward, the way 'Soul Provider' was from 'The "To me, it's honestly a tall order to be able to beat some of the vocal performances on 'Soul Bolton says. "It feels weird to say that, because I'm usually impossible to satisfy. But for the first time on an album I impressed myself. er's payoff comes from royalties rather than a standard fee was to Rex Smith, whose version of "Still Thinkin' of You" "just turned my stomach. It wasn't cut like I intended at all." But that was quickly followed by Branigan's rendition of Bolton's Grammy winner, "How Am I Supposed to Live Without You," and the Pointer Sisters' delivery of "Heartbeat," both of which hooked other performers and kept Bolton's bank account buoyant.

His performing desires weren't fulfilled, however, until his 1987 album "The Hunger." With two emotive, hits the self-penned "That's What Love is All About" and a cover of Otis Redding's "(Sittin' on) the Dock of the Bay" Bolton was marching in the mainstream, suddenly balancing demands as a performer, writer and producer. "The question is what to serve the different masters," he says. "My song- WMR, SUSPENSE, SDR giveaway "So I think I've found my niche, found the area people really wanted to hear from me, with the songs I was writing and the way I was performing them. I want to keep working in that niche, just writing better songs and giving better vocal performances." The St. Andrews Society of Detroit 14 1st Annual: Highland Games Saturday, August 4 "The Oldest Game in North America" Historic Fort Wayne West Jefferson Avenue at Livemois on the Detmit River, west of the Ambassador Bridge.

Gates Open at 9 A.M. Canadian currency accepted at par for admission TICKETS: $6.00 at gate Featuring the pipes, drums, and dancers of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlander MlUM1 Pip lull (UN) PIN MH CMMtiliNI Sola Pin in1 Dtn CmhII IIIIni HIMiiiDiiciCwnIIIni Han Aliltttc CmnIHIm ScittlsHnihrltrMictt CkllirN'l Emit Clin Tmii Scatlita Vuiart lliif SKCtfDMHUnllm 'IfflMi rife 'I 1 I WW Buna Jenkins Pakula WARMER BROS. i tn WARNER BROS. WARNER COMMNY of Canada. mm -PAT COLLINS, WWORTV BRAINY.

STYLISH." -DETROIT NEWS, Susan Stark "SPELLBINDING, PASSIONATE." -ROLLING STONE, Peter Travers "RIVETING. COMPELLING." GENE SISKEL, Chicago Tribune "GRIPPING, OUTSTANDING. HARRISON FORD IS BRILLIANT." WCBS-TV, Dennis Cunningham Michael Bolton wrote hits for other performers before having success singing his own songs. Concert scene is heating up for August From Motown to Montreux (the jazz festival, that is), August looks to be the hottest music month of the summer for the Detroit area. It gets off to a flaming start this weekend with a batch of concerts that include the following: Little Feat and John Hiatt, 8 tonight, Riverfront Music Theatre at Chene Park.

Arguably the best bet of the weekend, two dependably solid live acts with fine new music to offer in addition to well-aged favorites. It's Hiatt's first appearance in these parts in quite some time, and he's definitely one not to miss. John Hiatt: At Chene Park They Might Be Giants, 9 tonight, St. Andrew's Hall. What can you say about a band that's listed in the Esquire (magazine) Registry, praised for its "intelligence, irony and iconoclasm" and that employs a violinist who used to Back up Jerry Lee Lewis and Jimmy Swaggart? A wholly original musical experience is guaranteed.

The Party, 5 today, Four Bears Water Park. The debut act on the Disney-owned Hollywood Records is comprised of former Mouseketeers, but they won't be singing M-I-C-K-E-Y. Their album features songs by such hip personas as Jellybean Benitez, ex-Prince partner Andre Cymone and Midge Ure. Their first single, "Summer Vacation," is currently on the Billboard charts. Peter, Paul Mary, 8 p.m.

Saturday, Meadow Brook Music Theatre. This folk trio is another dependable live act, reprising timeless campfire favorites from their own repertoire as well as from the song books of Woody Guthrie and Pete Seeger. Bruce Dickinson, midnight Saturday, the Ritz. A chance to see the lead singer of heavy metal favorite Iron' Maiden in the more intimate confines of a club. Maiden fans needn't worry; he's not leaving the band, just promoting his new solo album, "Tattooed Millionaire." Sinead O'Connor and Hugh Harris, 7:30 p.m.

Sunday, Pine Knob. After a dazzling performance in May at the Fox Theatre, O'Connor takes her show outside, still riding the success of her hit "Nothing Compares 2 You" and the MTV-pumped single "The Emperor's New Clothes." By Gary Graff El; HARRISON FORD D- INNOCENT Warner Bros. Presents Harrison Ford ulia A Mirage Production An Alan Pakula Film "Presumed Innocent" Brian DennehyRaul Bedellv Pali Winfield and Greta Scacchi Evan Lottman, a.c.e. George Willis, A.S.C. i John Williams Frank Pierson and Alan Pakula tKScohTurow Bonnie lllRKTOROf PH01UJUPHY Gordon RESTRICTS! f) nunc, it FMfNT 0 AOUIT fii ITItt 1 Susan Solt tmax Sydney Pollack and Mark Rosenberg Alan I.

irrnupiHviiiiri PR')IHI 6UDI Soundtrack Album NOW Vf'" Rf- On VareseSarabaride CDs and Casselles I ll A TIME CO i 3 O'Connor At Pine Knob CHECK DIRECTORY FOR SHOWTIMES i.