Michael Caruso (musician)


Michael Caruso is an American singer-songwriter, born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on May 23, 1954. He studied both music and theatre at the world-renowned American Academy of Dramatic Arts in Manhattan then later moved to the West Coast where he was employed as a songwriter for Homegrown Music, Geffen Music Group, Sony Music Publishing and Chrysalis Music. He performed as a solo artist and as Frontman for the band "Michael's Disciples".

Biography

Caruso's most well-known work Love Is was co-written with Tonio K, John Keller; recorded by Vanessa L. Williams with Brian McKnight, and was featured on the Beverly Hills 90210 Soundtrack. It was nominated for a Grammy in the best of R & B vocal category and earned Michael a citation of achievement from BMI for garnering two million broadcast performances. It also rose to Number 1 on the Pop Music Chart and Adult Contemporary Chart in 1993. However, Caruso's career included collaborations with many other artists and writers: co-writes with Tamara Champlin and Dennis Matkosky for Chris LeDoux's "Runaway Love" and Rita Coolidge's Shoo Rah. Caruso's most recorded song was "Guns of Love" performed by Maura O'Connell, the Moffats, Pam Rose for her Album " Morpheus", was featured on Grammy Award Winner Kathy Mattea's Album "Roses", by Caruso on his 2011 EP "When The Devil Starts To Pray" and by Randy Sharp on his 2017 Release "Impossible Things".
On "You Won't Get To Heaven Alive" by Tamara Champlin, Caruso was a background vocalist, player on several tracks, co-producer on two, and co-writes included the title track, "Purple Black and Blonde", "St Anne's Wheel" & "Tragic Black" that featured Nicky Hopkins on piano. On Will Champlin's solo projects, Caruso was a co-writer on many songs from "The Goldmine Sessions", his Self Titled "Will Champlin" CD, and his EP "Killing Me With Twilight". He collaborated on Bill Champlin's solo album "No Place Left To Fall"; again penning the title track with Bill and Tamara Champlin and "Tuggin' on Your Sleeve" written with Bill Champlin and Will Champlin. Caruso also co-wrote with Joan Jett and Randy Cantor a cut featuring Joan Jett & the Blackhearts for the Days of Thunder entitled "Long Live The Night". Later, again as a songwriter, Caruso re-teamed with Tamara Champlin & Dennis Matkosky on a collaboration for Bekka Bramlett "What's on My Mind" that charted on Music Row.
In Episode 7 of the 2011 Season of Single Ladies on VH1, Lori Michael's performed the Michael Caruso & Tamara Champlin's ballad, "Pretty When She Cries", that had previously been featured on her CD "Living My Life Out Loud" released in 2008.
Michael Caruso's EP "When The Devil Starts To Pray" involved co-writers and musicians Randy Sharp; Trey Bruce, Roy Braverman, Tamara Champlin, Jeff Paris, Glenn Goss, TJ McFarland, Dennis Matkosky; Michael St.Thomas, and Moon Calhoun. A film short, Sunshine Deprivation Blues featured one of the EP's songs "Tell Me What You Will". Caruso released singles "True Love's Tears" in 2014, "Good When You're Gone" in 2015 "What A Day" in 2016, and "Another Mile" in 2017. "Good When Your Gone" became the theme song to the Rob Saul Show's Weekly Live Broadcast, repeated on the Ripped Radio Network then added to the BS Podcast Network.
Caruso and Glenn Goss were part of a Charity Tribute to the Beatles in 2017 @ Beit T'Shubah in Los Angeles, Ca. that was hosted by Ruth McCartney, Angie McCartney and directed by Martin Nethercutt.
Caruso's video of his cover of Sunny Afternoon was screened at the Arpa International Film Festival on August 2, 2019
In addition to collaborations with artists such as Lita Ford, Terri Nunn, Vixen, and Michael LeCompt, Caruso has also worked with the legendary Sammy Cahn, Eric Bazilian, Paul Williams, Dave Berg and Tom Keane.

Discography