Bernie Chiaravalle’s new CD Maybe One Day is a perfect example of how great artists reflect the times in which we live. Chiaravalle captures a clear snapshot of 2020’s upheaval of isolation, division in the country, social injustice, a cry for peace and tolerance and a prayer for hope.

Maybe One Day is Chiaravalle’s 11th solo project that he has managed to execute in between his “day job” as Michael McDonald’s guitarist for the past 32 years. He played all the instruments, sang all the parts, recorded the project himself and mixed it during the early days of shelter in place, 2020. All songs were written by Chiaravalle except two co-written with Bill Lloyd and one co-written with McDonald.

Growing up in Northern California Chiaravalle began writing songs as a means of expression at age 13. He describes his first song “High Signs” In the key of A as very Byrds inspired, but admits, “It was God awful, but I had to start somewhere.”

Eventually Chiaravalle relocated to Los Angeles in 1984 and a chance meeting with Kansas lead singer John Elefante brought him to the attention of musician David Pack. When Pack left his gig playing guitar and singing backgrounds with McDonald to begin a solo career, he recommended Chiaravalle for the position. He treasures the relationship they’ve built.

“I love that he responds to my ideas when I show them to him,” Chiaravalle says. “If he likes something he’s very enthusiastic about it. He always brings something that I would never expect. There really truly is nobody like him. Lyrically, I love writing with him because he’s going to take me to places I never thought of going and musically. And he treats me like an equal. There’s no ego involved. He’s just my friend. I love him as a person – his sensitivity, his depth. He makes me a better person and a better writer.”

Chiaravalle has worked on many McDonald albums, notably Blue Obsession on which he played, wrote four songs, and produced two. Other noteworthy projects include David Pack and Ambrosia. Chiaravalle recently produced, engineered and played guitars and keyboards for a new band called The Midtones that he describes as alternative rock. He is also proud of Amy Holland’s Journey to Miracle River, which he produced and wrote many of the songs. Judy Collins went on to record the title track, "Miracle River" for her Strangers Again album. 

On Amy's album he had the opportunity to work with Vince Gill who assisted on vocals on a song written by Holland, Jon Vezner and himself called “Everybody Wants to Be Your Friend.”

“He was unbelievably humble and gracious,” Chiaravalle says. “I actually asked him to re-do a couple of lines that I felt could have been better. I felt so weird working him a little like that but I think he really appreciated my honesty and hugged me after we were finished.”

Bernie has either shared the stage or recorded with many artists including, The Doobie Brothers, Pat Simmons, Hall & Oates, Tommy Sims, Wilson Phillips, Chaka Khan, AWB, Billy Preston, India Arie, Toto, Christopher Cross, Cher, Marc Cohn, Jeff Bridges and many more..

While these days he’s missing the live performing with his friend Michael McDonald, Chiaravalle says it’s a very creative period to write (“songwriting is who I am”) and to record (“I love the entire process”). 

All of that is evident on the lyrically prolific and musically lush Maybe One Day. 

“The silver lining of this period of time is that I am creating more music than I ever have,” Chiaravalle says. “This CD was very inspired.”

~ Robyn Flans