Bernie Chiaravalle (Michael McDonald band). Part I - Don't forget to subscribe.

This is my conversation with Bernie Chiaravalle. It took place on 4/22/2022 from his home in Texas.

About Bernie
Growing up in Northern California, Bernie Chiaravalle began writing songs as a means of expression at age 13. He describes his first song “High Signs” In the key of A as very Byrds inspired, but admits, “It was God awful, but I had to start somewhere.”
Bernie played with his Marin County band, Logos for 10 years and then another 5 with Page One.
Eventually Chiaravalle relocated to Los Angeles in 1984 and a chance meeting with Kansas lead singer John Elefante brought him to the attention of musician David Pack of Ambrosia. When Pack left his gig playing guitar and singing backgrounds with Michael McDonald to begin a solo career, he recommended Chiaravalle for the position in Michael’s band. He treasures the relationship they’ve built.  Bernie holds the guitar position in Michael's band since 1988 to this day.
“I love that Michael responds to my ideas when I show them to him,” Chiaravalle says. “If he likes something he’s very enthusiastic about it. He always brings something that I would never expect. There really truly is nobody like him. Lyrically, I love writing with him because he’s going to take me to places I never thought of going and musically. And he treats me like an equal. There’s no ego involved. He’s just my friend. I love him as a person – his sensitivity, his depth. He makes me a better person and a better writer.”

Chiaravalle has worked on many McDonald albums, notably Blue Obsession on which he played, wrote four songs, and produced two. Other noteworthy projects include David Pack and Ambrosia. Chiaravalle recently produced, engineered and played guitars and keyboards for a new band called The Midtones that he describes as alternative rock. He is also proud of Amy Holland’s Journey to Miracle River, which he produced and wrote many of the songs. Judy Collins went on to record the title track, "Miracle River" for her Strangers Again album.

On Amy's album he had the opportunity to work with Vince Gill who assisted on vocals on a song written by Holland, Jon Vezner and himself called “Everybody Wants to Be Your Friend.”
“He was unbelievably humble and gracious,” Chiaravalle says. “I actually asked him to re-do a couple of lines that I felt could have been better. I felt so weird working him a little like that but I think he really appreciated my honesty and hugged me after we were finished.”


Bernie has either shared the stage or recorded with many artists including, The Doobie Brothers, Pat Simmons, Hall & Oates, Tommy Sims, Wilson Phillips, Chaka Khan, AWB, Billy Preston, India Arie, Toto, Christopher Cross, Cher, Marc Cohn, Jeff Bridges and many more..


While these days he’s missing the live performing (due to the pandemic) with his friend Michael McDonald, Chiaravalle says it’s been a very creative period to write (“songwriting is who I am”) and to record (“I love the entire process”).  “The silver lining of this period of time is that I am creating more music than I ever have,” Chiaravalle says. “This CD was very inspired.”
Since January 2020 Bernie has released 3 albums of new music… “This Is What I See”, “Maybe One Day” and his most recent, “Long Before I Knew You You”.