Call a Songwriter and Things Happen: Ken Ascher and Paul Williams (Part II)

Part II of II

By Bob Deakin

Like songwriters, authors think differently.

I reached out to author T.C. Boyle when I was getting near the end of Unruly Mix. I couldn’t come up with a title and a one-sentence description. He’s been a best-selling author for 40 years with both novels and short stories in a style that I like. I once interviewed his illustrator, Bascove, so I had a common thread attached to him.

One of T.C. Boyle's best known works before adopting both initials

If the River Was Whiskey

“I've named all my collections after my favorite story of the batch,” he said. “That could work for you - or you could invent a title that reinforces the music theme, perhaps lifting it from music terminology or the title of a song.”

So I named mine after my favorite story of the batch, which ended up as an apt description of a bunch of loosely connected stories. Once you have a title (and a cover) in mind, it keeps you on target.

From there, I finished the project and began marketing and getting back to reality. I built a simple website for book info and blogs, and sent copies to friends who I knew would give me feedback.

I revamped my resume, LinkedIn, and all that boring stuff too. I wasn’t expecting to work full-time again at a writing job, but sure enough, at the end of the summer I was recruited as a writer working remotely. Perfect.

What Would Ken Ascher and Paul Williams Do?

Although wholly engulfed in my new job, I learned to allocate time to my personal projects, including more about Ken Ascher and Paul Williams. Among many other pieces, they also co-wrote “Rainbow Connection” and the entire score of The Muppet Movie.

Another benefit of the book is my friendship with Ken Ascher. I've since brought my girlfriend to see the Birdland shows many times and sit with Ken after the show. The more I see him the better I get to know him and realize what down-to-earth, hard-working guy he is. He practices classical piano two hours a day and looks forward to the Friday night gigs at Birdland.

I can also now ask him all of the John Lennon questions that I want, although I never ask more than one or two since the answers are so extensive and fascinating. I haven't even gotten to Paul Simon and James Taylor yet, as well as Woody Herman, Meatloaf, Carly Simon, Phoebe Snow, Frankie Valli, and the hundreds of others he's played with or arranged for.

Ken Ascher with David DeJesus on sax at Birdland

Planet of the Apes and Friends With John Lennon

All this because I wrote a story about his song. I'm friends with a guy who was friends with John Lennon. I've yet to meet Paul in person, but through Ken he knows I'm out there. Perhaps soon I'll be able to say I'm friends with Virgil from the original Planet of the Apes.

Ken Ascher and Paul Williams

I’m still trying, but Paul lives on the West Coast, so I’ll have to be creative. A couple more of their songs may pop up in a story one of these days. As I progress, narrow my plot lines, and incorporate more musical references, Unruly Mix Volume II is becoming less unruly.

Call a songwriter and things happen.

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