Jim Brickman’s fans know him as the man who plays lyrical, soothing melodies on the piano, including his well-known compositions sung by Olivia Newton John, Michael Bolton and other famous musicians.
They might not know, however, that he can get quite stressed.
In fact, he wrote a book about it, called, “Soothe: How to Find Calm Amid Everyday Chaos.”
“The music isn’t stressful. It’s the business that’s stressful,” said Brickman, who will perform for a full house May 7 at College of Lake County.
“The business is really competitive, and continuing to evolve and learn is a stressful pursuit,” said Brickman, who’s been nominated for two Grammy awards, produced four gold albums and hosts a weekly radio show heard in 80 North American cities.
His father died two years ago, and that prompted him to write the book and evaluate how he was reacting to the stress, he said.
“I began to experience a sense of calmness, not thinking about what to do next, how everything should happen. I still worry, but I trust my gut more than I ever did before,” he said.
“My father was a happy-go-lucky guy. Nothing bothered him,” and Brickman said he found deep down he could do the same.
“It’s not like I turned from being neurotic to some yoga guru. I still want to eat bad things, but I notice it now and say, ‘I don’t want to make this choice,’ so I’m eating better, getting more sleep, and keeping the cellphone away from my bed at night.”
His mother, Sally Brickman, who lives in Deerfield, “is extremely tenacious and very strong-willed, and she really helped me. “
She’s a writer who worked at the Deerfield Library for a long time, he said.
Brickman began tinkering on the piano when he could barely walk, and his mother said she knew right away he had talent. He began taking piano lessons, and said “I had ideas going around in my head” about writing music. “Then I found an amazing teacher when I was about 11 years old who really taught me about the whole sensibility of the way I play now.”
He said he’s doing what he was meant to do.
“It’s not something you decide. It is completely intuitive, and it’s one of the only things I do well.”
He loves to talk, too, he said.
More Top Picks Mop Refill
“I tend to be very self-deprecating on stage. My sense of humor comes out,” he said, adding sometimes he jokes that his mom should not sit in the front row because she laughs too loud during the performance.
“When I perform, there’s a sense of camaraderie, a conscious common thread among the people in the audience. I love to perform. It remains my favorite thing to do. It’s so incredibly comfortable for me.
Brickman’s music has been categorized as new age, but he said, “If someone asked me in the elevator, what kind of music do I play, I’d answer, ‘Hopeful, inspirational, melodic, idealistic and hopefully beautiful.'”
Brickman added, “I’m just so appreciative that live performance is still robust. Even with on demand entertainment, people still seem to value going out for a nice evening, being entertained and having a unique experience that will only happen in that way that night.”
Sheryl DeVore is a freelance writer.
An Evening With Jim Brickman
When: 8 p.m. May 7
Where: James Lumber Center for the Performing Arts, 19351 W. Washington St., Grayslake
Tickets: $30-$35
Information: 847-543-2431, go to jlc.clcillinois.edu