The Indie Sound with Jimmy Star

The Indie Sound With Jimmy Star - Desmond Child

12 min
Nov 12, 20257 months ago
Listen to Episode
Summary

Jimmy Star features Desmond Child, a legendary songwriter and producer inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame, discussing his career writing hits for major artists like Bon Jovi, Cher, and Ricky Martin. The episode highlights Child's own music catalog, particularly his romantic ballads 'You're the Story of My Life' and 'Love on a Rooftop,' showcasing his talents as both a performer and songwriter.

Insights
  • Successful songwriters often transition from performing to behind-the-scenes production, leveraging their artistic credibility to write for major commercial acts
  • Romantic ballads remain a timeless format in popular music, with emotional storytelling as a core driver of listener connection
  • Cross-genre songwriting (pop, rock, Latin, dance) demonstrates the versatility required of top-tier music producers in the modern industry
  • Independent artists with major industry credentials can maintain relevance by releasing retrospective catalogs and reinterpretations of their own work
Trends
Songwriter-producer hybrid careers as dominant model in modern music industryRomantic ballad resurgence in streaming era despite genre fragmentationLatin Grammy recognition expanding influence of Latin music in mainstream songwritingCatalog reissues and deep cuts gaining listener interest through podcast discoveryMulti-genre songwriting as competitive advantage for top producers
Topics
Songwriting and compositionMusic productionRomantic balladsCareer transitions in musicSongwriter Hall of Fame recognitionLatin music influenceAlbum retrospectivesIndependent music careersGrammy and Emmy nominationsMusic catalog management
Companies
Elektra Records
Released Desmond Child's 1991 solo album featuring 'You're the Story of My Life'
People
Desmond Child
Legendary songwriter and producer, Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee (2008), wrote hits for Bon Jovi, Cher, Kiss, Joa...
Bon Jovi
Major artist for whom Desmond Child wrote and produced songs
Cher
Major artist for whom Desmond Child wrote and produced songs
Ricky Martin
Major artist for whom Desmond Child wrote and produced songs
Kiss
Rock band for whom Desmond Child wrote songs
Joan Jett
Rock artist for whom Desmond Child wrote songs
Alice Cooper
Rock artist for whom Desmond Child wrote songs
Ronnie Spector
Artist who recorded 'Love on a Rooftop' written by Desmond Child on 1987 album 'Unfinished Business'
Quotes
"Many of you probably know him as a songwriter and record producer. He was inducted into the songwriters Hall of Fame in 2008. He's been nominated for four Grammys and Emmy. And he won a Latin Grammy."
Jimmy Star
"I think he's done songs for Kiss, Joan Jett, Bon Jovi, Eros Smith, Cher, JoJo Siwa, Alice Cooper, Ricky Martin. So he's done stuff for a lot of people."
Jimmy Star
"I think it is literally the most romantic song, Ballad I've ever heard ever."
Jimmy StarRegarding 'You're the Story of My Life'
"You're the Story of My Life. You're the one that got me through the night."
Desmond ChildFrom song 'You're the Story of My Life'
Full Transcript
Hey, everybody. Welcome to the Indy Sound with Jimmy star. Your backstage pass to the global independent music scene. So today we're going to do something a little bit different. The artist I picked out is Desmond Child. Many of you probably know him as a songwriter and record producer. He was inducted into the songwriters Hall of Fame in 2008. He's been nominated for four Grammys and Emmy. And he won a Latin Grammy. So it might not think he's Indy, but before he did all of that, he put out an album as a singer. I guess he didn't think he was good as singing or I don't know what because he stopped singing and started writing songs for others, but he's an amazing singer. And he put out an album. I don't even know when it came out, but I bought it years ago. And I think he's a phenomenal talent. And I also think he has one of the most romantic songs ever written by anybody. So I think that what I wanted before I do that, let's just say he's done songs for Kiss, Joan Jett, Bon Jovi, Eros Smith, Cher, JoJo Siwa, Alice Cooper, Ricky Martin. So he's done stuff for a lot of people, but when he came out with his own, his own discography, he came out with a great song and a great album. And I don't even know the name of the album, but he did a song. It's called You're the Story of My Life. I think it is literally the most romantic song, Ballad I've ever heard ever. So check this one out. I think you guys will love it. It's Desmichal, You're the Story of My Life. It's been you through all the changes I've been through. It was always you that I make me be strong and helping me to hold on through it all. It was your love that got me through the night. No one's ever known me better, baby, through your eyes. I can feel the fear of my soul. You're the Story of My Life. You're the one that got me through the night. You've been right in my side. When I needed you, when I needed you, you were never making right. If I grow to look you deep in every light, it's for all time. You're the Story of My Life. When I think about tomorrow, there'll be joy and there'll be sorrow. But I know that I will follow you, because I'm lost without your love. I'll be there there when you need me there. Like the dairy and you're breathing, you're my blood. Oh, my love. You're the Story of My Life. You're the one that got you through the night. You've been right in my side. When I needed you, when I needed you, you were never making right. If I grow to look you deep in every light, it's for all time. You're the Story of My Life. You're the Story of My Life. You're the Night. You've been right in my side. When I needed you, when I needed you, you were never making right. I can see the mirror of my soul. You're the Story of My Life. You're the one that got me through the night. You've been right in my side. When I needed you, when I needed you, you were never making right. If I grow to look you deep in every light, it's for all time. You're the Story of My Life. You're the One that got you through the night. When I needed you, you were never making right. If I grow to look you deep in every light, it's for all time. You're the Story of My Life. You're the Story of My Life. You're the Story of My Life. You're the Story of My Life. That's Desmond Child. You're the Story of My Life. This album came out on Electra in 1991. He also wrote the song Love on a Roof Top for Roni Spector's album, Unfinished Business in 1987. Later, it was included in Shares Studio album, Heart of Stone. He also did his own version of Love on a Roof Top since he wrote it. It's a little more upbeat. It's a great song. Also, to check out Desmond Child's Love on a Roof Top. Music We used to talk forever on a time. Now we live together never find the time. We used to walk as lovers on a sand. Now we're working full time on a lifetime plane. We never stop to see the moon at night. We're the two physical leaders, complicated lives. Whoa! I remember all the new times. I couldn't make the love stop. We were given all that we got. Whoa! I remember all the nights so tight. Whoa! I remember all the new times. We used to walk as lovers on a Roof Top. Whoa! Look at us now. We're all grown up. We got it all together. Got it all son of us. But is this all? All we'll lead out to is to be just run out of dreams. Let all our dreams come true. Whatever happened to those endless nights. When we were having a little young and foolish lives. Oh, I remember that all the room comes Could it make the love stop? We rocked in an all we got Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa I remember all the room, you're so tight Ooh, I guess I'll ask it all night Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa I remember all the room, you're so tight Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa I remember all the room, you're so tight Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa I remember all the room, you're so tight Ooh, whoa, whoa, whoa Just to visit me, then come with your life Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa I remember all I've owned on rooftop Couldn't make the love stop We were given all that we got Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa I remember all we've been so tired You went this way, I said all night Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa No time, no time, no time, no time Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa No time, no time, no time, no time Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa So that's Desmond Child, Love on a rooftop That's it for today's Any Sound with Jimmy Star Thanks for tuning in And thanks for continuing to support the show We're number three on Music Commentary Podcasts on Apple Podcasts So I appreciate that so much Every day we'll see you next time, bye-bye