10 Questions with ... Scott Grimes

BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:

• Actor: Co-star of TV's "ER," American Dad," "Party of Five."
• Movies: "Band of Brothers", Robin Hood."
• Music: "Livin' On The Run" (2005) featuring the Top 20 hit "Sunset Blvd."
  "Drive" (2010) featuring the NEW single, "Hide"

To view Scott's recent Entertainment Tonight clip, click here.

1) What led you to a career in the music business?

You know, it really comes down to having the talent and you have to like singing and playing instruments. It's that instant gratification you get from any job. When you're singing a song it's great to watch how people react and it is very powerful! To make a long story short you wanna be a rock star!

2) What was your favorite station to listen to when you were a kid?

I didn't really listen to much music when I lived in Boston. When I moved to New York that was when I really started listening to the radio. I'd usually tune into Z-100 or WPLJ.

When I moved to Los Angeles, I listened to KIIS-FM, and KOST. I'd listen to KOST at night and KIIS FM during the day. Now there are many options available with satellite radio. But back then, you didn't have that many choices.

3) What are some of the artists we might find on your MP3 player?

I've got everything! I've got everything from Springsteen, to Miley Cyrus and Hannah Montana.

You know, there's not a genre of music I don't like! So you're going to find I'm big into movie things. I also love Classical. My daughter is now 11, so I listen to everything she listens to. Sometimes it's not so good, but sometimes it's great. But I try to give everything a chance. If it's out there and it's on the radio, I trust that it's going to be good. I probably have the most diverse collection of music on my iPod just because I have everything form a lot of TV theme songs from the 80's, to a couple of Heavy Metal things which I love. It just depends on the mood I am in?

4) What's the longest road trip you've ever been on, and where did it take you?

When "Sunset Blvd." came out we took a little five week tour. I drove the Winnebago myself with the band and it wasn't easy. But we toured for five weeks from LA to Memphis, to Nashville, through Canton Ohio and Cleveland, and down to Texas. That took us all over the nation. It was an unbelievably awesome tour in the middle of summer. It was the longest, greatest road trip ever!

5) Do you think that showcases, artist visits, and conference room concerts are all viable in getting new acts introduced to radio? Are they worth the investment?

Showcase are definitely worth the investment because I believe that if you tell one person and they like it, they'll tell another person, and soon there will be a stream of fans based on word of mouth.

Showcases are a good way to perform for those people who listen to hundreds of CDs a day. A performance is a great way to meet people and show them that you are genuine. I think that kindness and a good ole fashion handshake really goes a long way in any business.

I've done a lot of showcases and they can often be nerve racking. There are often some people who you can tell are thinking, "Ok, who am I gonna see today?" But in any business (never mind the music business), I think it is important to meet people who are supportive of you. Again, a good ole' fashioned handshake goes a long way.

6) What was the most embarrassing thing that ever happened to you at a radio station or artist meet & greet?

When I was in Memphis Tennessee, WRVR had been very supportive of my first single "Sunset Blvd." which had become a big hit there. I was doing an 11 song showcase outside at a new mall. But I didn't realize that there was going to be a record signing after the show.

The night before, I had written a song called "Meet Me in Memphis" with my writing partner Dave Harris and my guitarist Jay Gore. I said, "Ok everyone, this is the last song, and then we performed "Meet Me In Memphis." As soon as the song ended, the crowd of about 700-800 people got up like they were going to leave. But they were actually headed over to get in line for the signing. And I had forgotten to sing "Sunset Blvd." so I'd forgot to sing the freaking single, and that was the reason I was there! So I said, "No! Wait! Everyone come back! I forgot to do Sunset Blvd!" Everyone obviously laughed, but they didn't come back. They just stayed in line. So I sang "Sunset Blvd" to a line of 700 people, with no one in front of the stage, because they all wanted to get a good place in line.

Obviously if I hadn't performed the single, WRVR PD Jerry Dean would have been upset very because he had flown me out to Memphis to perform "Sunset Blvd."

7) Who is your favorite artist that you have ever met or worked with?

Billy Joel! He's an amazing live singer and a stickler on pitch. If you're going to make a record you've got to be able to do it live in front of people. If you can't, you're selling something that doesn't exist. Billy Joel is always so good at that. When you go out there, it's good to change it up a little so it's always new and the pitch is perfect. Billy Joel is a singer songwriter, and he is also like me because he doesn't look like Brad Pitt. So he has to be good!

8) Looking back, which years hold the best musical memories for you and who were your favorite acts at that time?

I am a huge fan of 80's music because I always thought it was consistently great. Whether it was dated sounding or not it didn't matter. And there was no such thing as auto-tune back then. There were no computers, so what you were hearing on those tracks was pure and great.

I think that when the 90s came in people started to doctor the production up, especially in the new millennium. You don't know what to trust anymore? But it's all still great. I think that singing live is important because of the Milli Vanillli and Ashley Simpson issues.

My favorite acts are the ones who got up on stage and sang about nostalgia. Artists like Bruce Springsteen, Bryan Adams, Billy Joel's, and Elton John. Today I like Coldplay and other similar sounding acts.

9) If you had the opportunity to work any artist from the past, present or future who would it be?

I have been fortunate to work with a lot of great people in my career. I did get to sing with Bob Hope and many others. I would have also loved to have performed with Frank Sinatra. And of course, it would have been nice to work with Lennon and McCartney.

Regarding the future, it depends on who would like to sing with me? I would love to work with Miley Cyrus because my daughter would flip out! I'm a big fan of her voice. I think she is a great singer live. I would love to do some sort of show or duet with her. I think it would be great!

10) How do you balance your family life?

My family's got great patience and great respect for what I do because it's not easy to tell your kids that you are doing this, or to shush them when you are recording or writing. But they understand that it really has to do with them more than me. You have to be a little selfish when you are a musician and an idea comes to you. You need to record it as soon as possible but you might be in the middle of doing something with the kids when an idea comes.

Sometimes I try to incorporate my family into what I am doing. When I get up in the morning to do radio interviews, they're sometimes right there because they get up too. They'll sit there and listen to daddy doing his radio interviews. As long as you are spending time with them they love it because they know that daddy is on the radio even if they can't hear it. As long as you can make them a part of it and travel with them as much as you can, it all works out.

Bonus Questions

1) What was the first concert you ever attended?

Kenny Rogers at the Boston Garden.

2) Do you remember the first record that you ever bought?

It was the "Grease" Soundtrack. That's the thing I love about the "Hide" single that we recently sent to radio. The artwork reminded me of the sleeve that a vinyl album would come out of, except that this was for a CD. It was really exciting getting all the CD singles for "Hide" because it reminded me of a vinyl record only smaller.

3) You are the remaining survivor on a remote tropical island with no chance for rescue. You have a CD/DVD player with endless power. What five CD's are a "must" to have with you? What five movies?

CD'S: "The Essential Billy Joel," "The Essential Shania Twain," "The Essential Beatles," "The Essential Bryan Adams," and "The Essential Bruce Springsteen."

MOVIES: "Eddie and the Cruisers," "Lord of the Rings Trilogy," and I guess "Castaway," so I can figure out how to live there.