Jim Brickman "The Love of My Life"

That's the voice of Christian artist Michael W. Smith in Jim Brickman's "The Love of My Life". Up until this ballad, Brickman had typically teamed up with female vocalists (Anne Cochrane, Martina McBride). The song that sounds like it was pulled from a wedding reception was a Top 10 hit on the Adult Contemporary Chart in 1999.

Jim Brickman "Destiny"

It's your first day working as Program Director of an upstart Adult Contemporary radio station in Chicago. You're driving an unfamiliar route to work on the expressway when --BAM!-- your truck slams into the luxury car in front of you. After cursing a few choice four-letter words, you exit your vehicle to talk with the person whose car you just struck. Imagine the surprise when the person driving that car is the General Manager of the radio station! You can classify this as a memorable first day of work for both parties. My Program Director at that radio station once shared that story with me (after a few cocktails).

Jim Brickman & Anne Cochran "After All These Years"

"After All These Years" featured the vocals of Anne Cochran with Jim Brickman playing piano. The song not only was a Top 10 hit on the Adult Contemporary Chart, but it helped to launch Cochran's career as one-half of a duet. She went on to sing with Donny Osmond, Dave Koz, and Michael Bolton (among others).

Jim Brickman & Jane Krakowski "You"

Remember that time Jane Krakowski had that song on the radio?  No?  Well to refresh your memory, it happened in late 2002 when she teamed up with pianist Jim Brickman.  Brickman made a career with a simple formula of: "I'll play the piano while a sweet sounding female sings" (see: "Valentine", "Simple Things", and "The Gift").

Jim Brickman - "Simple Things"

What do you do when you have a big Adult Contemporary hit that's released just before Christmas?  You put some sleigh bells behind it and re-release it as the "holiday mix" so that all-Christmas music stations will continue to play it.

Jim Brickman & Martina McBride - "Valentine"

Shame on me for forgetting this song for Valentine's Day.  Then again, I've tried to bury the memory of Jim Brickman.  When I was a young 24 year-old morning show producer, the morning show host thought it would be funny to tell our musical guest (Jim Brickman) that I was a HUGE fan of his (known as a "Brick-head").  Convinced I was a big fan, Jim later gave me his business card and tole me that he would be in Chicago over the summer to shoot a music video for an upcoming song.  The video included a bunch of shirtless guys playing volleyball on North Avenue Beach.  He said I could be in the video. Hmmm.....