“That’s My Son” by Anthony Melillo

Hello Friends:

”That’s My Son” by Anthony Melillo is the twentienth song to be featured on my Blog as part of my mission to provide you with inspiration through songs that have been performed by musicians on Alive with Clive in the past couple of years.

Anthony, who has appeared on Alive with Clive twice, the first time with his brothers, Joe and Nick, and the second time on his own, performed “That’s My Son” during his first interview on Alive with Clive with his brothers on February 22, 2008. Together, they are developing a following as The Melillo Brothers.

This is what Anton Evangelista, President of Comprehensive Films, has said about Anthony:

“Every once in a while, a talent comes along and everything clicks – voice, lyrics, music, performed by a young man who makes it all look so easy. Be on the lookout for Anthony Melillo – a singer/songwriter who brings together all the elements of great original music, beyond his young years!”

As revealed in their first interview and as mentioned in the Bio on their MySpace page at www.myspace.com/melillomusicpro:

It all began for Anthony Melillo and The Melillo Brothers when Joe, who was an accomplished baseball player throughout his youth, began beating on a set of drums at the age of 14 or 15 while Nick, two years younger, started to play the guitar. After a couple of years, the two decided to switch roles. At the age of ten, to participate with his older brothers, Anthony began to play with a bass guitar, but replaced that instrument after one year with an acoustic guitar, and has been writing songs ever since.

From the age of 13, Anthony has had an uncanny ability to use intricate lyrics to draw in his listeners. Musicians and producers alike are left amazed at the depth and perception that comes from his young, creative, mind. He is a unique personality being well rounded, yet passionate about his music and songwriting. An avid actor, singer and dancer, the energy he gives every project is nothing short of electric. As a result, his fan base spans all ages and is enjoying his debut album, Just Gettin’ Started, which includes “That’s My Son.”

More recently, Joe has studied entrepreneurship at Pace University and Nick majored in theater at SUNY, New Paltz. Anthony will soon begin studying music composition, songwriting and vocal studies at Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA.

In recent months, the 18-year old Anthony has been performing to a growing base of fans at venues in Westchester, Manhattan, and other surrounding areas on his own and with Joe, who is now 23, and Nick, who is 21.

They were the headlining act at the first Alive with Clive Top 20 concert held at Waltz-Astoria in Queens, New York, on May 30, 2009, where they performed after Jessica Labus and Serotonen, and most appropriately ended the evening with a wonderful rendition of “That’s My Son.”

For several months, Anthony and The Melillo Brothers owned the top spot on The Alive with Clive Top 20 Chart, and remain high up on the Chart in second place.

In February 2009, another song from Just Gettin’ Started, “Kiss Me Sweetly” was voted The Alive with Clive Valentine’s Day Love Song For 2009. To see the Press Release announcing this accomplishment, click here.

Among other successes, as noted on their MySpace page, in the first round of a recent JanSport Battle of the Bands contest, The Melillo Brothers finished in third place out of 2,400 contestants! In addition, in the 2009 UK Songwriting Contest, out of 6,000 submissions “Kiss Me Sweetly” and “That’s My Son” were semi-finalists and “Never Slow Down,” another song from Just Gettin’ Started, was a finalist.

Anthony’s goal is to have his music be enjoyed and appreciated by music lovers all over the world. While he continues to write new songs, he looks forward to seeing his existing fans and meeting new fans at his upcoming appearances and shows.

Personally, I regard the song, “That’s My Son,” as a masterpiece. In my view, it’s a song every son wants his parents to hear, and the same can be said for every daughter too. I get goose bumps every time I hear it. It touches on a motivating force that underlies, usually unwittingly, so many choices we make and actions we take in our lives – and yet it’s a force people so rarely mention in their conversations with others. In essence, the song is about noticing that we want our parents to be proud of us, and as parents we want to be proud of our children. That sentiment is expressed eloquently and beautifully in the song.

To give you a sense of what I mean about the song, here’s the chorus:

I said I’d work real hard and I’ll do everything that you say

Cause all I wanna be is someone you look at, be led to say

That’s my boy, that’s my son

That’s my baby, my flesh and my blood

And he’s grown into someone that I can be proud of

That’s my boy, that’s the one

Doing his job and he’s having some fun

And you both look at me and be proud to say – yeah –

That’s My Son!

Needless to say, with “That’s My Son” and everything else Anthony, Nick and Joe are accomplishing at such a young age, they are making their parents, Joanne and Ray, very proud!

Here’s the video clip for you to enjoy of Anthony Melillo and The Melillo Brothers singing “That’s My Son” on Alive with Clive: