With the holidays coming up I wanted to create a song to bring some joy and hopefully warm your heart, especially if you find yourself distanced from loved ones.
"It's Christmas Time" is a song I wrote with this spirit in mind and I hope you enjoy it all season long!!
The comeback of Detroit is poised to be the greatest turnaround story of American history. American Dream: Detroit illustrates why the history and the future of Detroit matters in the global landscape.
Grammy winning singer Michael Bolton celebrates the golden age of Detroit - featuring its native entertainment legends like Francis Ford Coppola, Jerry Bruckheimer, Aretha Franklin, Smokey Robinson, Alice Cooper, John Varvatos and many more - and reveals the landscape of the new Detroit being built by young visionaries as well as entrepreneurial moguls.
Told through the eyes of Bolton's own discovery, this important story has remained until now largely obscured by mainstream media's preference to portray only the devastation of the city's downfall. This is the story of the American Dream.
RK John Varvatos Michael Bolton and Alice Cooper
A few years back I went to the grand opening of John Varvatos' Clothing store on Woodward in Downtown Detroit. Michael Bolton was there with John and Alice Cooper. I wondered then why Michael was there. Not who I would expect to see at a Detroit Rock Fan's (Varvatos) store opening.
Michael Bolton's documentary illustrates why the history and the future of Detroit matters in the global landscape. Told through the eyes of Bolton’s own discovery, this important story has remained largely obscured by mainstream media’s preference to portray only the devastation of the city’s downfall, until now. This is the story of the American Dream.
The documentary features insights from Aretha Franklin, Smokey Robinson, Francis Ford Coppola, and Alice Cooper. Can’t wait? Here’s a preview.
Some of you may remember when I set out to make my album Ain't No Mountain High Enough: Tribute to Hitsville, back in 2012, I made my very first trip to Hitsville Studio A! And that's where this journey of exploring Detroit's incredible history began.
Over the past 5 years, I have met some of the most amazing people who are all driven by a common mission, to bring back the new Detroit and with it to rebuild the American Dream. I will introduce them to you over the next several weeks and share with you our collective journey -- in cinemas on MAY 15!
I could only capture a window into all that is going on in the new city of Detroit but I hope you get a chance to visit yourself! And most importantly, I hope you get inspired by this film to create your own American Dream wherever you may live.
Here's a private link for you to pre-order tickets to the world premiere of AMERICAN DREAM: DETROIT, in a theater near you on MAY 15 ONLY!
What an exciting evening! I was invited to the VIP opening party for John Varvatos' Detroit Store on Woodward in Detroit. Machinegun left for a short jaunt to Florida so I grabbed JT aka John Tavernier Jr. My very favorite photographers in the rock genre. JT shot Machinegun Thompson for his profile story on Detroit RocknRoll Magazine. See that story here.
Teh very famous Men's Fashion designer John Varvatos is from Allen Park originally and as such has fabulous taste in music... He loves a lot of my favorite bands too. He has featured Detroit musicians in his NY 315 Bowery Store. My pals Deniz Tek, Robert Gillespie, Scott Morgan, Al King, and Chris Taylor played 315 Bowery as Powertrane a few years ago.
On the Red Carpet, JV saw me and introduced me to Alice Cooper. I didn't realize that very very handsome guy in the center was singer MICHAEL BOLTON...I guess I just didn't expect to see him in Detroit! Alice yes but Bolton? Michael is so good looking! Way better in person as well...
Chrysler did a bang up job as the main sponsor of the night...there were gorgeous Chryslers parked everywhere out front. Plus JV had valet parking for us all...they left a package of bon bons on the seat of my JEEP for the ride back to Ann Arbor...YES
When we first arrived the first thing we saw were the massive search lights and then this huge sign welcoming JV to Detroit. There were tons of people everywhere..Just loved seeing Detroit look so cool... The corner at 1500 Woodward looked like a movie set...With the lights and dark Chryslers everywhere, it reminded me of one of the Marvel movies.
JV had the walls decorated in a really pretty color that was kind of army green meets brown tint. So much better than the typical red carpet backgrounds that are so boringly done in stark white with advertisers names.Look how tall that wall was! Very nicely done!
Here is the official badge.
The store is not quite 5,000 sq feet and I plan to make a stop there soon to see it with the fashion line displayed. Just loved the tall red brick building with the gorgeous sign on the front overhang.
John Varvatos welcomed the crowd and then introduced ALICE COOPER!
John Varvatos
ALICE COOPER
Alice and his band were fantastic! The sound was really well done. He played a lot of our favorite garage covers and ended his set with School's Out.
Patrón Tequila was a sponsor and we loved sampling their drinks...
Loved meeting David and his girl..David is a drummer with the local band Guitar Army who play in Windsor. He also is the Creative Director at Quicken Loans. We talked about my favorite drummer and show biz in Detroit...Lovely pair and hopefully I will meet up with them again soon.
Cool shot by JT...cell phones everywhere...
This was my favorite couple of the evening...and sorry names eluded me in that crowd and after a few shots of Patrón! But I remember that he is a fashion designer and hopes to make it to Project Runway soon!
Happy people were in abundance last night as JV really knows how to throw a BIG BASH
This man was stunning. I just loved his ensemble
JV had a photo booth onsite and that was fun watching all the folks jumping in and out!
JV has this HUGE chandelier which is beyond gorgeous...
Crowd central...by far the most beautiful crowd of people I have ever seen in Detroit at any event...Reminded me of Studio 54 in NYC. The energy was vivacious and refreshing to say the least. I am so happy that John chose to build a store in Detroit...! Thanks JV for the invitation! Thanks so much to JT for the great photos and Rhonda for my hair!
With the holidays coming up I wanted to create a song to bring some joy and hopefully warm your heart, especially if you find yourself distanced from loved ones. 
