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We are delighted to share our esteemed 2026 Faculty for The Johnny Mercer Songwriters Project at Belmont University.

Our award-winning expert mentors will provide our 2026 songwriters unparalleled instruction on contemporary and musical theater songwriting and facilitate creative collaboration for our week-long intensive, culminating in a concert of their new work.

Keep following for sneak peeks behind the scenes this June!

#Songwriter #Songwriting #MusicalTheater #Broadway #JohnnyMercer

We are delighted to share our esteemed 2026 Faculty for The Johnny Mercer Songwriters Project at Belmont University.

Our award-winning expert mentors will provide our 2026 songwriters unparalleled instruction on contemporary and musical theater songwriting and facilitate creative collaboration for our week-long intensive, culminating in a concert of their new work.

Keep following for sneak peeks behind the scenes this June!

#Songwriter #Songwriting #MusicalTheater #Broadway #JohnnyMercer

We are delighted to share our esteemed 2026 Faculty for The Johnny Mercer Songwriters Project at Belmont University.

Our award-winning expert mentors will provide our 2026 songwriters unparalleled instruction on contemporary and musical theater songwriting and facilitate creative collaboration for our week-long intensive, culminating in a concert of their new work.

Keep following for sneak peeks behind the scenes this June!

#Songwriter #Songwriting #MusicalTheater #Broadway #JohnnyMercer

We are delighted to share our esteemed 2026 Faculty for The Johnny Mercer Songwriters Project at Belmont University.

Our award-winning expert mentors will provide our 2026 songwriters unparalleled instruction on contemporary and musical theater songwriting and facilitate creative collaboration for our week-long intensive, culminating in a concert of their new work.

Keep following for sneak peeks behind the scenes this June!

#Songwriter #Songwriting #MusicalTheater #Broadway #JohnnyMercer

We are delighted to share our esteemed 2026 Faculty for The Johnny Mercer Songwriters Project at Belmont University.

Our award-winning expert mentors will provide our 2026 songwriters unparalleled instruction on contemporary and musical theater songwriting and facilitate creative collaboration for our week-long intensive, culminating in a concert of their new work.

Keep following for sneak peeks behind the scenes this June!

#Songwriter #Songwriting #MusicalTheater #Broadway #JohnnyMercer

We are delighted to share our esteemed 2026 Faculty for The Johnny Mercer Songwriters Project at Belmont University.

Our award-winning expert mentors will provide our 2026 songwriters unparalleled instruction on contemporary and musical theater songwriting and facilitate creative collaboration for our week-long intensive, culminating in a concert of their new work.

Keep following for sneak peeks behind the scenes this June!

#Songwriter #Songwriting #MusicalTheater #Broadway #JohnnyMercer

Let the music happen. Let talent guide you. Stephen Bray and Madonna share an intuitive creative approach and have made amazing songs together. Check out Bray’s interview for Madonna Songbook Podcast on YouTube. Link in bio

#queenofpop #icon #80smusic #madonna #stephenbray

Into The Groove returns to the Top 20 UK Chart! Find out ALL about the making of this iconic Madonna song.Its co-writer and co-producer STEPHEN BRAY tells the story of a song that was recorded in a kitchen and has become a cross generational anthem! Madonna Songbook Podcast is available on YouTube and other streaming platforms.

#queenofpop #80smusic #madonna #stephenbray

“Baby Love (Regina’s Version)” Official Lyric Video • Out Now! 👶❤️

“BABY LOVE (REGINA’S VERSION)” • OUT NOW 👶❤️

I am elated to finally share with you that I reunited with co-writer/producer Stephen Bray to re-record my 1986 hit “Baby Love”! My new recording, “Baby Love (Regina’s Version)” will make its debut next Friday, November 21st!
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Stephen, co-writer Maz Kessler, myself, and mixer Michael Hutchinson originally crafted this track in a tiny East Village apartment. For this new version, Stephen and longtime collaborator Michael Verdick worked meticulously to recreate the sound you have all come to know— even bringing in musicians who worked on the original, like guitarist Paul Pesco and saxophonist David Sanborn. We hope that you enjoy our new spin on this enduring 80s gem! 👶❤️
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CREDITS:
Written by: Stephen Bray, Mary Kessler and Regina Richards 
Produced, Engineered, and Mixed by: Stephen Bray and Michael Verdick
Lead Vocals: Regina Richards
Background Vocals: Regina Richards/Stephen Bray/Kiley Dean
Drums, Percussion, Bass, Keyboards: Stephen Bray
Guitars: Paul Pesco
Saxophone: David Sanborn
Artwork by: Raymond Leslie
Photography: Luisa Pineda

Excited that Ypsilanti is honoring the man looking at me with that “Why can’t you play it the way I asked you to?” look on his face. Morris Lawrence, Jr., was a genius musician and educator, and my first and best music mentor. Sure, we had a few Whiplash moments when I couldn’t play a samba to save my life, but mostly, he was pure inspiration. Hard to believe this was 50 years ago! Thanks, Barbara Glover, for holding on to it!

RIP Sylvester Stewart.
This photo of him was taken by my brother back in the early 70s, so I was lucky to have him tacked up on the bedroom wall with my other music heroes. Stand, with Everyday People, Sing a Simple Song, and I Want to Take You Higher, was the first album I ever bought. I’d never heard topical pop music that spoke to current events and managed to groove so hard — and I still haven’t. Back in the 90s, I got to spend time showing him how to record his ideas on a Mac computer. Watching his effortless genius up close was an experience I’ll never forget, and I am eternally grateful. Sending love and light to Sly and all who knew him.

RIP Clem Burke
SUCH A GREAT DRUMMER!
Clem is one of the all-time great and he will be missed! The drumming on Heart of Glass and other gems is so relentless and full of spirit. His playing is the perfect intersection of punky attitude with precision and soul. I was fortunate to see him play a stellar set last year with the Romantics, and it reminded me why I love drummers and drumming. Wishing Clem a safe journey and sending love to all those who love him.

So sad to hear of David’s passing.
I am grateful to have crossed musical paths playing drums for him on his first post New York Dolls solo album. He was a walking talking good-natured joy factory and he will be missed.

Happy Birthday, Macintosh!
I wish I had a pic that included the 512k “Fat Mac” that was the heartbeat of my 80s NYC studio. It’s hard to believe it cost more than a modern-day MacBook Pro, but it was worth it! There have been over 200 versions of the Mac since then, and I’ve recorded music with and loved every one of them! Many Happy Updates!

For Your GRAMMY® Consideration
THE COLOR PURPLE (Music From And Inspired By)
Best Compilation Soundtrack For Visual Media
“The Color Purple has been crafting its own interconnected web of stories for 40 years — and the new soundtrack became a holy site for reunions and healing among the producers, artists, and cast.” - BILLBOARD
Listen to the album @spotify

@jdontcarroll @radiomorganrhodes
@maestrobray @blitzambassador @nicholaibaxter