We recently connected with Mark Winkler and have shared our conversation below.

Mark , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.

I’ve just finished a new album which will be out in January “The Rules Don’t Apply’ and it’s very meaningful to me. Starting with my last album “Late Bloomin’ Jazzman” I’ve talked about my life as a creative artist who’s in their seventies but still vital, still creative and still looking to the future. Most of the songs written in the Great American Songbook were written by men and women in their 2os and 30s– and the subjects that interest someone of that age is quite different than what I’m interested in. On the last two albums I’ve talked about loving the mastery of a great jazz musician, caring for a long time friend with Alzheimer’s and falling in love again after losing my husband/partner of 34 years. On the new record, the title song “The Rules Don’t Apply” words by the brilliant Lorraine Feather- is about someone asking a friend if at this late age it is still okay to think your dreams can come true, and then the friend thinking about it for a moment and saying: ” Of course, the rules don’t apply to you.” I also take about the wisdom I’ve gained to spot the “crazies” that wander into one’s life and also to be smart enough to know when the right one comes into your life. The new album isn’t preachy or on the nose- but I think after listening to it, you see a little different perspective than you’d normally get with a Taylor Swift or a Veronica Swift.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I do a lot of things. My passion is songwriting and I’ve had over 250 songs recorded by such artists as Dianne Reeves, Steve Tyrell, Liza Minnelli, Sara Gazarek, Randy Crawford, Cheryl Bentyne and Claire Martin. But I also have 20 albums out as a jazz singer (21 in January!). My last album was my most successful, it went to #7 on the Jazzweek charts and was #1 on Amazon for Jazz Vocals–And I love performing live and connecting with an audience. I also produce artists albums and some of the artists have been Barbara Morrison, Dolores Scozzesi, Joanne Tatham and Lauren White. I also teach lyric writing at UCLA extension and The Songwriters School and for Jazzvoice online. I just love teaching- I’ve been doing it for almost 20 years and it’s one of the most satisfying things I’ve done. I have a book coming out next year called “The Songwriter’s Handbook: Power Strategies for Crafting Great Lyrics.” that I wrote during the pandemic and combines my teaching of lyrics with some real life episodes from my life as a songwriter– so I’m very excited about that.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

One of the greatest lessons I’ve had to learn is to be self motivating. When I started out in this business I was working with an amazing arranger Jimmie Haskell, who arranged “Bridge Over Troubled Water” and “Ode to Billie Joe.” I was still in high school and he was a tremendous mentor for me. Our work together culminated when we did some masters (finished records) and Jimmie shopped them around to some label contacts he had. Well, I literally waited around for him to call me– I think for about 3 or 4 months, when I suddenly realized he wasn’t going to call me. The labels he’d shopped me to had passed and he was moving on. Jimmie and I remained friends and he always thought I was great, but he saw that he and I together wasn’t working for the industry. Now, when something doesn’t pan out, I’m the first to move on and go to another option. I never just put all my eggs in one basket. Because Show Business is a no business, but it just takes one yes to make things happen. If I see an opportunity I jump on it- and if I get a rejection I go to Plan B.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

I’m so lucky to have a thriving career as an artist. When one of my songs get recorded by a fantastic singer like Claire Martin or Sinne Eeg- it’s just a joy– nothing like it– and after writing 400 songs I still love writing– Every lyric is challenging in it’ own way, and my years of experience has made writing easier and better- yes it does get better! I can tackle more complex subjects and write about them. I have a friend who has had Alzheimer’s for 11 years and I feel my journey with them has been surprising, wonderful, terrible — but terrible interesting and I finally wrote about it in a song on my last album “Late Bloomin’ Jazzman” – it’s called “Marlena’s Memories.” And when I sing for people and I see their smiling faces or crying faces sometimes- there’s nothing like it.

Contact Info:

• Website: markwinklermusic.com
• Instagram: markwinkler49
• Facebook: facebook/mark.winkler.10
• Twitter: @markwinkler
• Youtube: @winkler49
• Other: linktr.ee/markwinkler

Image Credits
Craig Levine Angie Slagg Theo Gluck Mark Winkler