GIFTED CHILD May the next 25 years be "WEIRD." Continued front page DC -2 just as Congratulations! -Hanson "I was 15 when I heard it," Child recalls. "It was very elaborate and combined ele- ments of pop, soul, rock, art music and It is a real honor and a privilege to represent Broadway." He recorded a demo and sent esmond's extensive catalog with EMI. Not only is he a it to the president of Nyro's label, Colum- worldwide bia Records. "Clive Davis was really nice," pop and rock writer, but he is a top country he recalls. "He turned me down, but he music writer, as well. As a creative person, he doesn't wrote me back. That's when I thought I see music boundaries. Something is in his heart and his could be a real professional." mind and he just writes a great song. Child moved to New York, where he stud- ied music at NYU during the day and -Gary Overton, executive VP/GM, played music at night. In 1974, he formed EMI Music Publishing, Nashville Desmond Child And Rouge with Maria Vidal, Diane Grasselli and Myriam Valle. Over the next five years, they perfected I had been aware of Desmond before knowing (tint per- intricate harmonies in every piano bar and cabaret in Greenwich Village; the pay -off sonally. Rouge was a staple on the New York scene. I was two albums released by Capitol Records actually used to sneak into clubs to see them. The rela- and a performance on "Saturday Night tionship is wonderfulfor me. First I was a fan, then I Live." became a friend, and now I work with him. That has "But I knew it wasn't working," Child The relationship between Desmond and Kiss started with a "Fight." recalls. "I wasn't making it past the clubs. been very rewarding. Desmond is one of the most talent- And that experience made me appreciate and empathize song and a turning point. Was songwriting his destiny? He ed writers and producers with whom I have ever with the guys that do make it." He dismissed the band in struck up a relationship with Bob Crewe, writer /producer worked. He has an uncanny ability to bring out the best 1980, but not before meeting the man who would change of a massive string of hits for the Four Seasons. in any artist, either by writing or producing. Maybe his luck. "When I first met Desmond, Bob Crewe was kind of his that comes from being "Paul Stanley of Kiss saw us play and became a friend. mentor," recalls Winston Simone, Child's manager since an artist himse'f. He has that per- Maybe he just liked our style," Child surmises. "We com- 1982. "I think Bob sort of picked him as a guy he could spective and sensitivity. bined rock with R &B rhythms, and Paul and I talked about write with. And here Desmond was, learning the basics from -Holly Greene, Universal Publishing, how dance music at that time didn't have any rock elements. a songwriting legend." senior VP/GM, So we made history, in a way, because we created the first East Coast operations rock -disco song." RADIO- FRIENDLY WRITER Released in 1979, "I Was Made For Loving You" remains At a Kiss concert in 1984, Paul Stanley introduced Child Kiss' best -selling single. It was Child's first gold- certified Continued on page DC -24

Desmond...

"25 years, still going strong, Keep on writing those hit songs"

Congratulations, Daryl Hall & John Oates

BILLBOARD NOVEMBER 27. 1999 BILLBOARD TRIBUTE nr.-7 3 www.americanradiohistory.com