Himmelman is comfortable where he's at

Medina Gazette - April 27, 1999

By JOHN PATRICK GATTA
Special to The Gazette

CLEVELAND -- A relaxed Peter Himmelman seems to be dealing well with all the changes in his world -- signing with another record label, working with a new group of musicians, touring and giving interviews to promote his latest release, "Love Thinketh No Evil," and getting used to the new confines for himself, his wife and their four kids.

"I'm comfortable with new beginnings, especially once they begin," he said during a recent telephone interview. "This is a big step, a new house. Got a new studio, it's under construction. I'm pretty excited about it."

The life Himmelman leads right now is where he wants to be. Sure, selling a few more units of his eighth album would please him, but he refuses to go out of his way and promote it in a manner that undermines his personal integrity. This is something that cuts to the heart of Peter Himmelman -- the musician, songwriter, film composer, father and husband.

For years, critics have praised his catalogue of songs, calling his layered work among the best of this nation's singer-songwriters.

But to them, it is an affront that Himmelman doesn't go that extra mile in order to become a household name, to embrace the fame that they feel is his due.

They blame this on his strict practice of the Jewish faith, which includes his resistance to perform on the Sabbath. An album reviewer in People accused him of managing to "elude stardom."

"I haven't been trying to elude anything," Himmelman protested. "I don't want to give up my life and things that I feel are important for fame. I'd like to be the kind of guy that everyone thought was such an artist that he didn't really care what anyone thought."

"I guess what maybe that writer was referring to was the certain things that I hold dear, that I don't play on Friday nights. There's certain things that I'm willing to do and not do and I've drawn a line in the sand. But that doesn't mean that I don't want to be very successful, continuing to grow in that way."

Himmelman successfully moves forward on "Love Thinketh No Evil." The album contains a loose instrumental feel that highlights his character studies. While a sense of hardship runs through many of the songs, he allows the album's closing track, "Gravity Can't Keep My Spirit Down," to playfully end things on a positive note.

He admitted in the album's press release that much of the material was "born out of frustration," from a period three years ago when all was not so well in his career.

A self-described optimist he said, "I look at 'em as just little expositions on feelings that I have. Where the feelings derive from that might be varied."

Any negative feelings that may swell up in Himmelman and become fodder for songwriting can be derived from a number of daily matters.

Still, one source that nags at him is the perception of success. Following a recent period during which he pursued film scoring, he regained his passion for his own work. Planning to incorporate some of the styles and arranging methods from film on to his future studio albums, Himmelman understands a job well done will find its own rewards.

"The reason that I feel successful in the record business is that I have an ardent fan base, an international fan base. I can continue to put out work, which is not restricted creatively by anything or anybody, and make a good living."


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