Bruce Sudano

Official Biography (courtesy of Bruce Sudano)

It seems the circle of life has swung back around for me to a time of freedom. Once my children were out and on their own, I found myself surfacing from under the clouds of responsibility into a place of renewed clarity. Almost immediately, I began to focus on what had always been my passion, the need to write and sing songs that reflect the truth of what I feel. Not that I had ever really stopped (as the fact sheet will show), but now something had changed and suddenly I realized once again, the cry of my soul. Yes, I was still a husband, a father, etc., but the artist in me that I'd been ignoring for so long was still very much alive and now had room to breathe.

I was born in the shadow of the great Brill Building songwriters and educated early on in the Music Biz by the legendary Morris Levy at Roulette Records. While still in my teens, I learned to write and produce songs under the tutelage of then hit-maker Tommy James. As co-writer on the James hit "Ball of Fire," I made my first entry to the top of the charts. Soon after, my own band, Alive N Kickin, went gold with the song "Tighter, Tighter." Then, after a move from New York to LA, with neighborhood buddies Joe "Bean" Esposito and Eddie Hokenson, I formed the group Brooklyn Dreams.

Signed as the first act to Jimmy Ienner's Millennium Records, we diligently recorded our debut album, which was released to great critical praise and spawned two chart records "Music, Harmony and Rhythm" and "Sad Eyes." It was at this time I met my wife, Donna Summer. A chance meeting at mutual friend Susan Munao's apartment in Beverly Hills turned into endless days of songwriting. From this collaboration numerous songs were written including the infamous "Bad Girls." It was a whirlwind time as Donna's career was soaring and Brooklyn Dreams were caught up in the wake. TV shows, a world tour, and movies such as American Hot Wax, Thank God it's Friday, and Hollywood Knights were looking to us for music which we were more then willing and able to create. As Brooklyn Dreams we even had the opportunity to write the soundtrack for NBC's movie of the week, Police Story.

Subsequently, because of the close affiliation with Donna, Casablanca Records, her label, bought out our recording contract from Millennium. Once there, the Dreams scored a top five hit called "Heaven Knows" a duet with Ms. Summer. We produced three more albums for Casablanca but by then the pressure of it all was taking its toll and as my personal involvement with Donna continued to grow, my allegiance to the group was diminishing. Eventually, Brooklyn Dreams disbanded the same year Donna and I were married.

It was at this point I was resigned by Millennium Records to record my first solo album, "Fugitive Kind," the predecessor to the current "Rainy Day Soul." It produced one chart record "Pretenders" and also contained "Starting Over Again," a song written with my wife about the divorce of my parents. "Starting Over Again" went on to become a number one country classic recorded first by Dolly Parton and then again by Reba McEntire.

The time in between these two Bruce Sudano records was well spent parenting, writing, and producing for other artists; maintaining a marriage; touring the world as a back-up singer and guitarist; dealing with life and mid-life issues all the while seeking to develop a deeper spirituality and a greater understanding of purpose. Over the years, the motives have changed but the struggle remains and for me that has always been about freedom. A dream and passion for music once driven by a desire for success and good times is now fueled by the need for greater integrity and compassion, keeping commitment in the face of trial and truth, where real freedom is found.