One of my fondest memories that still stand out in my mind is getting a call at home one day from Robert inviting me to come to his recording studio to meet Keith Emerson. Now, how many times will that happen in someone’s lifetime?

Not only am I fortunate to have Robert as a friend but now he has joined forces with another group of friends that I consider an extended part of my family "AMBROSIA".

I have envisioned this venture for longer than anyone can imagine. For years I pictured it and heard it in my head. When I first approached Robert with my idea Ambrosia seemed to be at a crossroads. I felt the collaboration would be perfect because all of these talents were cut from the same mold...all are talented, professional and captivating. Every single one of them cares about their fans and the people around them. And like Ambrosia, Robert's career started as a progressive rock musician and went more toward the straight rock thing as it progressed.

Not since the original lineup have there been so many possibilities for Ambrosia fans. The progressive material is rockin' again. The rock songs are powerful and aggressive and the lighter tunes are played with a new energy that brings them alive with a whole new feeling.

There is not enough paper or ink for me to tell you just what type of person Robert is, but I'm sure as the band tours and you all get the chance to meet and talk with him, you will all know exactly what I'm "Talkin'Bout"

For more in-depth information on his achievements visit.

http://www.robertberry.com/

I am extremely proud to introduce my friend ROBERT BERRY.

Q.) After walking off stage the night of your first
"Live" show with the band what was going through your mind?

That was some kind of show. I had no rehearsals. Just met the guys in person for the first time. It was David Lewis' first gig back with the band. And to top it all off, Burleigh had hurt his hand and wasn't going to be there
(Chris Ralles-from Kenny Loggins, Christopher Cross, etc..filled in). Besides being a great drummer, he sings alot. So here I was going for my first gig having to sing all these great songs but not knowing what the entire unit would be ready for. And of course they weren't at all sure that I would be ready. We hit the stage running and never looked back. At the end we all wound up in the tour bus just floating on air. It really came off better than expected and the whole band was relieved. I personally felt a very close tie to the music after that show. My first professional band Hush, played a mixture of progressive and pop/rock music. The members of Hush were all great musicians and good people. So to have this experience with Ambrosia made me feel like I had come home. Great musicians, good people and right up my alley style wise. At the meet and great afterwards I had quite a few people come up to me and tell me they were surprised to see me and that they had some of my albums. It was mostly through the progressive connection. The response I received that first show let me know that with a little time I would fit in just fine.

Q.) Being around you at the studio has opened my eye's
to the recording process, most of us think the
band goes in as a unit, meets and records as a set
group. Things have changed a lot in this process. How
does it effect the recording and writing collaboration
with every one being spread out?

Most of the projects I produce at the studio are done by musicians that are located around the world. My December People Christmas album is a good example. I did all the music tracks at my studio then I hired people like John Wetton from Asia who is located in England and Steve Walsh from Kansas who is located in Kansas to do vocals. The new Ambrosia promotional DVD we just finished was done a bit like that. I put together guide tracks before the band came in to the studio. Joe came in early on the studio day and we did his vocals and mine to the guide track. Then the full band showed up and we did the music tracking. While some of the guys went to get set up for the video shoot Burleigh and Doug did their vocal parts. It is a very efficient way to record. As long as everybody is a pro the result sounds great. For a band album it does take a certain amount of rehearsal and weeding out the parts. But especially with the latest ProTools studio environment anything can be done. As far as writing, doing it long distance has been an incredible benefit. It's really great to work through some ideas, send them back and forth and then get together and work out the bugs as a band. With the latest technology you can actually set up a virtual rehearsal over the internet as long as everybody has a high speed connection. With everybody's schedule in Ambrosia being so full I am hoping that the band uses this new technology to its fullest and collaborates on a lot of songs towards the new album.

Q.) The new line up is what I feel to be an extremely
talented,powerful and productive unit, Do the members
of Ambrosia appreciate how talented each person is as a
player? And is this why the band has continued to
carry on when most bands have dissolved.

I'm not sure about this question but with you being so close to the band I can see your interest. I can only tell you that I am totally amazed by the musical abilities of the members of this band. I am constantly in awe of Doug's guitar ability. He is a really fine player. Plays all styles proficiently and more importantly with feeling. The other thing that has impressed me about Doug is his hi falsetto harmony. Have you heard his solo album? Wow is all I can say. The long time fans are very aware of Joe's incredible bass playing. But being inside of the band I have come to really appreciate the ease at which Joe pulls off some of those really difficult bass lines. While singing and moving around on stage. Vocally I have heard Joe do things with the songs that nobody previously could ever do. The warmth and feeling he has in his voice are unmatched. Everybody knows Burleigh's complex drumming styles. He can make the simplest song groove or make the most complex timing feel like it passes by smoothly. I think he is probably the one responsible for that progressive edge Ambrosia is known for. But he is also a great songwriter and producer. I've heard some of the things he has worked on for clients of his studio and besides the perfect rhythm feels he has a great musical sense. His side band Tin Drum combines a lot of these Burleigh elements and it's really good. I went to see them live in Sacramento last year and it was a really good show. Chris was kind of the icing on that cake for me. I had only seen Ambrosia a few times when my band Hush opened for them in the early 80's. I loved the keyboard stuff on the albums but I wasn't aware of the heart and soul Chris put into the music. Especially in a live performance situation. To play synth parts on progressive and pop songs takes a lot of piano lessons and practice. It is hard stuff. But to play from the heart like he does, and let his passion for the music come out uninhibited in his live show is much more of a challenge. He truly inspires us with that talent. I haven't heard David Lewis's previous band Shadow Fax. I hear they were really great. But what I do know is that David brings those parts to Ambrosia that put the final paint on the canvas. David is a master at the synth sounds. He has a programmed card that holds the sounds he has created for many Ambrosia albums which he programmed himself. Everything is custom. If you have heard us play recently, his re-entry into the band has added a solid, fat keyboard foundation plus some really amazing soloing work. The one thing I can say about everybody is that the personalities compliment each other. Being in a band isn't always about being the best player. Even though these guys are. It's about how each member brings his talent and personality into the group and fills in that missing puzzle piece. I feel like this puzzle is very complete.

Q.) Do you feel that by the members of Ambrosia
recording and touring with other artists it takes away
from the bands input into itself? almost as if some of
the music and recording is benefiting others and not
the band Ambrosia?

Hmm! Do I feel disappointment in that question? Have you been hoping Ambrosia would put out a new album or something? LOL There has been a struggle within Ambrosia to focus on the talent and the name that Ambrosia has always had. I think it must have been very dividing not being sure a member would be available for a concert. I think this is the strongest lineup since the original band. We all want to escalate the bands career. We are all very busy but the priority for 2005 is to raise the bar. New album, better venues and a consistent line up and show. And with the incredible support of some of the closest fans we are feeling like a team again.

Q.) What do you feel is the strongest input that you
bring to the Ambrosia table?

You know that is hard to say. I always tell the guys I am just happy being a member and I am having a great time. But I do know a lot of people in promotion and booking. I like to get involved in projecting and fulfilling new ideas. I like to write a lot. I love recording and I am into doing recording side projects with band members if that opportunity comes up. But for now I think just injecting a new energy and showing the guys how much I value the opportunity brings the most to the table for me.

Q.) What would you like to see the band accomplish in
2005?

1. New Album
2. Focus on promoting the shows
3. Finish next years Christmas album

Q.) What is the most embarrassing thing that has
happened to you on stage in all your years of touring?

It wasn't on stage. I got off the bus at the Canadian border when 3 was touring. I did a quick bathroom run. When I came out the bus was gone. I thought it was a joke but a hour and a half later when they came back for me I wasn't laughing. Keith was hanging out the front of the bus with his video camera video taping the whole thing. He thought it was a riot. I can laugh at it now but I wasn't sure they would come back in time. The other great memory I will have of touring just happened last summer. Ambrosia was touring the east coast and we were leaving the hotel for a sound check. Burleigh was driving and he backed into the desk clerks brand new Scion. Right into the door. We went to sound check a little down. We didn't get the added insurance coverage to cover things like that so we all felt a big bill was on its way. When we got back to the hotel after sound check I went up to the clerk and asked him if he had a plumbers friend suction device. He was a little hesitant but got me one. I asked him for a few towels and he got those. Then he saw me heading toward his already damaged car. I could tell he was a little worried. I cleaned off the car where the dent was, pushed that plunger right on the door panel and gave a tug. I wasn't' sure it would work but when I wiped off the door you couldn't even tell we had hit it. That would have been a good time to get a new Ambrosia promo picture with all of us smiling. At least the band knows that if my voice gives out I still have a purpose as a member.

Q.) Do your children seem to be affected by having a
parent that is well known through out music? Do any of
them show signs of wanting to follow in Dads footsteps?

The only effect I think they see from me being a musician is that their friends kind of look at me funny. I'm not sure if they will follow in my foot steps or not. But whatever they choose I will be right behind them supporting their choices. (Oh I hope they make good ones)

Q.) What is your favorite Robert Berry song?

It would have to be Talkin' Bout. I wrote that for my then girlfriend and now wife. I never thought of it as a hit but when it hit number 9, I was so honored. And now to have us play it in the set is really cool for me.

Q.) You and Keith Emerson seem to have a special
relationship, You told me a story about your first
time going to his home in England and the way he
greeted you. That to this day still makes me laugh!
Can you please re share that meeting?''

Carl and I took the train out to Keith's mansion in Sussex. I had met Keith for lunch only once before and he was interested in starting a band. So we were headed out there to practice in his music barn. He had a few 9 foot Steinways in there. Probably every synth he had ever used and it was a nice rehearsal space. When we came up the driveway to his main gates (which were about 100 feet from the house) we heard this voice saying, "Hey there, come on in, I'll be right down". When we looked up at the middle window of the house there was Keith's' ass poking out the window and him speaking to us with his butt cheeks. This is how I found Keith to be over the years. Not the mad scientist keyboard player I had imagined, but a fun loving, always joking, friendly guy and one hell of a musician.

Q.) If there was one person in music being alive or
not with us any longer that if you given the chance to
sit and talk with or even jam with who would that be?

I have a few. I never do answer the question exactly do I. LOL
I would love to talk with Jeff Beck. I love his guitar playing. One I couldn't do even if they were both alive is sitting down with Paul McCartney and John Lennon together. That would be incredible. I don't want much do I?

Q.) When presenting your ideas to other band members
for a song is it hard to take that idea and share it
with the others to augment upon when in your head you
hear it a certain way? And how do you know when to
trust someone else's judgment?

I am an idea guy. I don't believe all my ideas are the best but I have lots of them. My theory is put down the idea no matter how you feel about it being a complete and defined thought. It is easier to fix something than it is to get the initial idea flowing. So I just go for it. I also believe there are two right answers for every issue. If I hear a song differently I am still capable of giving it a little time in somebody else's hands and try to get with their vision of it. I have been in bands where somebody wants to change something just so they can get a piece of it and that doesn't sit well with me. So if I really believe I have a better idea I can be known to fight for it. But I am the kind of guy that can go with the majority decision easily. Man, that all sounds a little wishy washy to me as I read it back. But songwriting is a process and how it gets to the final version can be a mystery.

Q.) Is there an Ambrosia song you prefer above all the
others? One you would like to do, or maybe has it not
been written yet?

Life Beyond L.A. is my all time favorite. I love the song and I love singing it. I do have a new song that I think could be a hit for Ambrosia though. It's yet to be seen if the guys want to do it or not. Stay tuned.

Its truly amazing to me, how someone I've known
for what seems an eternity has gone so far and done so
much in a profession we all would love to be in, and
to know there is so much more yet to come from Robert.
This interview has given me a whole new respect
level and reintroduced me to something I have taken
for granted, the talent, the charm, the humor and pure
energy of this one of a kind man.
No matter what type of music you enjoy, you need
to treat yourself to a performance by Robert and
Ambrosia. You will walk away wanting more and
that I guarantee.

This next year will bring excitement and pleasure
for all Ambrosia followers
I will end this with something that Robert said in
the course of this interview....."Stay Tuned"

AMBROSIA ON TOUR 2005

Patrick Rossi
"ACCESS ALL AREAS"
Click Here For Robert Berry's Ambrosia Demo CD!!

For Questions or Comments
Contact
PATRICK ROSSI
@
prossi@ambrosiaweb.com

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