Ty Herndon – Orphans of God

By: Jamie Steinberg

Q) Who are some of your musical influences?

A) Well, I better say Kristin Chenoweth first because she’s my friend. [laughs] I love a great vocalist. My all-time favorite is Bonnie Rait. I love Sheryl Crow and Vince Gill. I love more modern artists like Carrie Underwood, who is an incredible vocalist.

Q) What made you want to cover the song “Orphans of God?”

A) I’ve been wanting to record this song forever. It’s been a staple on my playlist because I was a huge Avalon fan. Years later I met a couple people from the band and today Michael Passons, one of the original members, is my best friend. Melissa Greene actually sang on that album! Of course, I called them up and said I have wanted to do this song forever. This led to Michael finally getting to come out and tell his story, which was a good thing. It led him to sing a song that he was waiting to record and didn’t get to. It was just cool and there was so much going on. I wanted to record it the last two albums, but it just didn’t fit for the body of work that we’re doing. My album got postponed and it is not supposed to be out until 2021. This gave me an opportunity to do a Christmas record because I believed there would be no music from me this year, which was heartbreaking. The songs on this album are all from my grandmother’s Christmas recital at Calgary Baptist Church.

Q) Did you alter the song at all to make it your own?

A) I said, “Ya’ll need to change those arrangements up.” She said, “I don’t know. We like it the way it is.” So, I took all the songs and gave them facelifts. That’s how the album was born. The song is very different from Avalon because the writers went back in and put some new verses in. They kind of brought it into the secular world while still very much leaving God in it.

Q) How did you come to work with singer Kristin Chenoweth on the single?

A) She’s my friend. She’s a world-class vocalist. Do I respect the heck out of her? Yes. She has a mountain of talent and she took the time out of her very busy schedule to do this with me and she nailed it.

Q) How much of a hand did you personally have in the production aspect of the song?

A) 100%. My partner in crime is Eric [Fraley Berdon] He’s ben my guitar player for almost twenty years, but he’s a fantastic producer. We produce everything together. It was cool to create that.

Q) The song has received great praise from celebrities and fans alike. How does that make you feel?

A) Being a singer-songwriter guy, when someone is busy yet really takes the time to hear the heart…Another artist is going to hear the heart of a song, even before the fans. It means a lot. I had a call from my original boss (and he’s retired and lives in Florida now) and he asked, “Did you produce that?” I said, “I did.” He asked, “Why weren’t you producing the records before?” I said, “Because you wouldn’t let me!” [laughs] Just to have the love and the support of the community…When they know you are trying to do something special, to tell you they like it is a gift.

Q) With concerts currently on hold, are there any plans for live streaming performances?

A) Yes! I am launching a five-week series and a fifteen-minute Christmas special and the proceeds of that will go to my foundation. Hopefully, by the end of those five weeks we’ll know more about the vaccine and hopefully by the next summer we’ll be back out on the road.

Q) Who is someone you would love to collaborate with on a song in the future?

A) I would love to do a duet with Bonnie Rait, hands down. I came close. My last album Got It Covered and I did one of her songs “I Can’t Make You Love Me” written by my friend. She didn’t come sing on it, but I got an email back and said, “Don’t mess it up.” [laughs] Then, she heard it and she gave me high praise. Maybe she knows I can hit those notes with her and we’ll do something on the next record. I’m going to keep asking!

Q) What do you hope listeners take away from your album Regifted?

A) Count back twenty years – I’m fifty-eight years old now. There is still a nativity to the singing and I heard it. I’ve become over the yeas a little more seasoned singer, but I love the rawness. I didn’t change a thing on that record. Check it out. It’s not your normal Christmas record. Maybe they are normal Christmas songs, but the arrangements are pretty fun. Kristin said, “I was just going to listen to a few songs. I ended up listening to the whole thing because every time I thought you were going to go right you went left!” Well, I’ve been doing that my whole life.