Michael Orland Shares His Experience

All Photos:  Alan Mercer

Michael Orland is the Pianist, Arranger and Associate Musical Director for the hit FOX-TV series 'American Idol.' Through this amazing opportunity, Michael has appeared on 'Oprah,' 'Entertainment Tonight,' 'Access Hollywood' and a record number of appearances on 'The Ellen Show.' At the end of every Idol season, Michael also accompanies the top 3 contestants to New York for appearances on 'Regis & Kelly,' 'CBS Early Show,' and concerts on the plaza for 'The Today Show.'

He has collaborated with music industry giants such as Burt Bacharach, Neil Sedaka, Diane Warren, Elton John, Dolly Parton, Martina McBride, Jennifer Lopez, and Tony Bennett all as a result of American Idol.

 He also served as a pianist/coach for the successful summer series 'America's Got Talent' (Seasons 1 & 2) and a few seasons back 'American Juniors' and has Associate Produced two hit singles, 'God Bless The U.S.A.' and 'What The World Needs Now Is Love' for 'American Idol' as well as the hit compilation CD from 'American Juniors.'

Michael began his impressive musical career in his hometown of Worcester, Massachusetts at the tender age of three, when he escorted each member of his family, one by one, to see “Mary Poppins” and then sat down at the piano and played the songs by ear. Since this auspicious beginning, he has become one of the most acclaimed musical directors on the concert, theater, and nightclub scene.

In addition to playing and conducting for many celebrities including Susan Anton, Lucie Arnaz, Kaye Ballard, Lynda Carter, Sam Harris, Jennifer Holliday, Lainie Kazan, Sally Kellerman, Gladys Knight, Barry Manilow, Maureen McGovern, Chita Rivera, Cybill Shepherd and the late Wayland Flowers & Madame, Michael played for the hit shows 'Forbidden Broadway,' 'Ruthless!', and 'When Pigs Fly' in Los Angeles. He made his Hollywood Bowl debut accompanying the legendary MGM star Ann Miller.

Prior to 'American Idol', television appearances have included 'The Rosie O’Donnell Show', 'Leeza', 'The Maury Povich Show', 'The Wayne Brady Show', and 'Geraldo'. He also appeared on the hit sitcom “The Nanny' performing an original song.

Every winter, Michael musical directs one of the touring companies of the 'Radio City Christmas Spectacular' starring the world-famous 'Rockettes.' And he is now a published author in the best-selling book 'Chicken Soup For The American Idol Soul.'

I have wanted to feature Michael Orland on this blog since I started it over two and a half years ago.  I'm glad he found a moment when we could get together so I could learn a little more about him and have a chance to take some new photos!  Not only is he so talented, but he is also one of the nicest and most grounded people you will ever meet! 

AM: Michael, even though I have known you for a while, I don't know where you grew up or much else. Can you fill me in?

MO: Sure, I was born in Worcester, Massachusetts. I saw 'Mary Poppins' when I was three years old and I came home and started playing the piano by ear, so my Mom tells me.

AM: Did your Mom want you to take piano lessons?

MO: She took me to a piano teacher when I was four years old and the teacher told my Mom I was too young. My Mom told me to sit down and play, so I did and the teacher took me on.

AM: Did your parents have to make you practice?

MO: No, my parents had to take me away from the piano so I could do my homework. It's all I wanted to do. I just loved it! When it was time for college my parents did not encourage me to study music even though they knew what it meant to me.

AM: What did they want you to study?

MO: I ended up letting them talk me into going to school to be an accountant. Two years into it I realized this is not my dream. This is not what I want for myself. I was playing on weekends at the time, making a hundred bucks and I thought, "What am I doing in school? Get me out of here." (though today I balance a mean checkbook!!)

AM: What did you do?

MO: Much to my parents dismay I dropped out of school. I only wanted music. I only wanted the piano. There was nothing else, no other alternative. I tried the accounting thing and it wasn't for me. I don't encourage anybody to drop out of school, but if you want something that bad you have to follow it. I was willing to starve, which obviously I didn't.

AM: What was the next step then?

MO: I moved to New York with three hundred dollars to my name. I met the right people at the right time and got involved with the piano bars in New York City .

AM: Even though your parents knew how important music was to you they didn't encourage you because of the difficulty in making a living playing piano?

MO: I just had this conversation with my Mom. I think if I had a kid I would be afraid too. They really thought there wasn't a good living to be made. They said I could make a good living being an accountant and then every year on April 15 after taxes were done I could play the piano for a month and relax. It just wasn't enough for me.

AM: Do you think you would have had a different life had your parents been really supportive of your music?

MO: I believe wherever you are is where you are supposed to be, though it certainly could have been very different had they been encouraging about music.

AM: In what way?

MO: A lot of the things I taught myself I would have learned in school. One of my first big jobs was playing for Wayland Flowers, the puppeteer. He got booked in the Catskills and I was up all night memorizing charts for a thirteen piece band. I was afraid if a musician asked me any questions I wouldn't know the answer. I just learned it all by doing it. I'm not unhappy about how it all worked out.

AM: You obviously had the drive and desire to make it.

MO: I think it's important to have that. I'm a firm believer that if you have the talent it will keep you going, but it doesn't open the door. I have way too many talented friends that aren't working. They're all incredible. They just haven't had their break. It has nothing to do with their talent. I think it's just where you are at the right time. Meeting the right people gets you in the door and your talent will keep you there.

AM: How did you get from New York to Los Angeles ?

MO: I was on a cruise ship with one of my best friends in the world, Celeste Simone, who I met in Provincetown, MA where they had so many great Cabaret shows. She told me I was one of the best accompanists and wanted to work with me so she was opening the show for Wayland Flowers on this cruise. Wayland told me I would do well in Los Angeles and he asked if he could move me to LA to be his conductor.

AM: When was this?

MO: That was the end of 1986 when I got my first apartment in Los Angeles . Unfortunately Wayland died in October of 1988. I knew I wanted to stay in LA since I was burned out from New York City . I was working six nights a week in the greatest piano bars (Brandy's, The Duplex, Don't Tell Mama, and later at Eighty-Eights) from 9:00 PM to 4:00 AM . It was crazy but it was great training for what I do today. I also got hooked up with the great singer, Sam Harris. Sam had the same manager as Barry Manilow at that time so I met Barry and became the rehearsal pianist for one of his tours. It was through Barry that I got associated with 'American Idol.'

AM: Who have you worked with over the years?

MO: I've worked with Chita Rivera, Kaye Ballard, Sally Kellerman, Lainie Kazan, Lynda Carter, Cybill Shepherd, Broadway fave Debbie Gravitte ....so many fantastic acts.

AM: So the big question is how did you get on 'American Idol?'

MO: That goes back to Barry Manilow when he was doing the 'Showstoppers Tour' singing show tunes. First of all, Barry is one of the most amazing and talented musicians I have ever worked with in my whole life! When I was a kid he was my idol. I was into the Carpenters, Elton John, Barry Manilow and Billy Joel. To be in the same room with Barry and playing the piano.... I had to keep pinching myself because I couldn't believe it.

AM: You never got too nervous?

MO: I probably was in the beginning but he made me feel so comfortable and that I was on his level. So during this year we did the tour a woman named Debra Byrd who was in charge of his background singers and had been with him for years, and his conductor Kevin Bassinson, were the whole music team on Season One of 'American Idol.'

AM: So you knew Debra and Kevin already?

MO: Every time Barry got a new background singer Debra would call me and ask me to come work for the day to teach them the songs. I would always come in and work for them. Now Debra and Kevin called me during the middle of Season One for Burt Bacharach week. They know how much I love Burt and that I know every song and believe it or not I told them I couldn't come in!

AM: What!?! Why?

MO: A friend of mine had asked for a favor and I did not want to back out the night before. Debra told me not to worry about it but to bug her in a few weeks because the show is huge. She said, "We'll try to get you on here because this is right up your alley."

AM: Were you watching the show?

MO: I had never even heard of it at that point. It had only been on six weeks.

AM: Obviously you called her back.

MO: Up to that point, I'd never been so good at the follow through with anything. This is such a lesson for myself. And others. Three weeks later I DID pick up the phone and left a message that I would drop everything to help them if they needed me. For the first time in my life 'I followed through!' A week later she called and told me to be at the Kodak Theater for the Season One finale with Kelly and Justin.

AM: Did you think it was a one time gig?

MO: A few weeks later they took the kids from Season One and did a big reunion TV Special in Las Vegas . They brought me with them. The first day my bosses, Ken Warwick and Nigel Lythgoe, who are the most genius executive producers I've ever worked with on television, sent for me and told me we had to put a new medley together. They had no music and were asking me if I knew that song? I'd say, "Yes I know that song. Do you know this song? No I don't, but play it for me and I'll get it." They thought they were going to have to wait all day for music to come from LA but I told them I could figure it out. So we put this big medley together.

AM: They must have been impressed!

MO: At the end of the first day I had worked sixteen hours. I told them at the end that it was the most fun sixteen hour day I had ever had in my whole life! They told me it just got me a job on the show next season!

AM: Was it a dream come true to get this job?

MO: It absolutely was and still is a total "dream job".

AM: Did you recognize it as so at the time?

MO: I knew immediately it was something huge. It turned out the be the greatest gift in the world! We have already started auditions for our eleventh season.

AM: Your part on the show has increased hasn't it?

MO: I think my responsibilities have increased. The changes are always difficult but they always work out great. I have been going out scouting for talent since Season Five. We listen to all the people and help decide who gets through because the judges can't listen to the seven to over ten thousand people in one day.

AM: How do you do this?

MO: You can sit and listen to hours and hours of bad singing but the one great singer who comes through is so incredible. Finding one great singer a day in any city is thrilling. I put three of the top 11 through last season.

AM: Is it always a surprise who wins?

MO: It is a surprise for me. I always think, "Who's the best singer? Who's the greatest performer?" The show isn't designed like that. It's about being a great performer and being popular. That's how the show goes and what it is.

AM: Do your friends ask you lots of questions about the show?

MO: I have a lot of friends who are over twenty-five and they get mad because they can't vote two hundred times like younger kids can. I used to get very upset when people got voted off too early when they were so great. When Jennifer Hudson was voted off in Season Three I was devastated. Then I realized it didn't matter when they got voted off. To have the tiniest bit of exposure on 'American Idol' is a great thing. These people have the chance to be huge and it doesn't matter where they land in the Top 10 or 12. I now tell people not to get upset and if they don't vote they are not allowed to complain to me.

AM: Do you talk about 'American Idol' all the time everywhere?

MO: I'm so passionate about it and I love working on the show so much. When we work until midnight and have an 8:00 am call time I can't wait to get to work the next morning. It is the most fun thing ever! When people want to talk about it I love it.

AM: How lucky are you? There isn't any end in sight is there?

MO: I don't think so. I think people questioned Season 10 without Simon, but there is brand new life in the show. I don't think the show is so much about the judges. I think it's about talented contestants and whatever three judges they do have if there's great chemistry between them like Steven Tyler, Jennifer Lopez and Randy Jackson had last season, if it's real, genuine and sincere, I think it will always work. I hope they all come back because I thought it was so incredible. They were so helpful and compassionate with these "kids" and I think that's why we got such great performances out of them.

AM: Do you have anything left that you want to do? We know 'American Idol' can't last forever.

MO: Yes I do! My biggest passion is my songwriting. I've had some songs on some Cabaret records. I've got two songs on an album in Mexico right now. One song plays over the closing credits of a telenovela. I've been writing up a storm with some great songwriting partners. That is my main focus this summer. I've written six songs in the last two weeks.

AM: Are you a singer?

MO: I sang with Kaye Ballard when I used to work with her. I still work with her. She is 84 and still sings up a storm. She is so much fun!

AM: You have really had a wide range of career opportunities.

MO: I've been so lucky to go from working with all these classic artists to 'American Idol.' I've had all this great training.

AM: Now you're working with the "Future Legends."

MO: Yes, absolutely. Some of these people are going be around forever. Carrie Underwood is going to be around a long time. Kelly Clarkson, Adam Lambert, Chris Daughtry aren't going away! They are all so talented. I have a close relationship with all the contestants and I want them all to do well. I'm a combination coach, parent and therapist. To be a tiny piece of their careers at the very beginning is really thrilling.

AM: What types of advice do people ask of you?

MO: I get asked advice by singers and people who want to be in the business. There is something I say to everybody. Number one is you have to want it really badly and you have to want only "it". If I ask someone what they want to do and they respond, "I want to be a singer or a lawyer." I tell them they better go be a lawyer. I want to hear someone say they want to be in this business so badly they will do anything to be in it. I encourage everyone to practice and learn every style of music. I encourage people to be out there meeting people. It is who you meet and who you know! Go to every audition even if it isn't right for you. This just gives you the experience so when it is right for you, you'll do better. Do whatever you can do to be as prepared as you can be. And we all are UNIQUE. And we need to celebrate that.

 To learn more about Michael Orland visit his web site   http://www.michaelorland.com/