Stephen Kalinich

Kalinich was born in Endicott, New York. He drifted from the East Coast to California in the mid-1960s, transferring from New York's Harpur College (now Binghamton University) to UCLA. Immersing himself in the anti-war movement, he began working the LA scene as a poet and performer, appearing at venues such as The Troubadour (Los Angeles). At an early age, he began writing poems and articles about World Peace. He has said, "Very early I wanted to be an influence for peace and good in the world."[3]

An album, Leaves of Grass, co-written with Kalinich's early collaborator Mark Buckingham, was recorded in 1966 but radio stations would not play it, wrongly assuming it was about marijuana.[3] At the time, Kalinich was studying and working at a gas station. As the hippie movement snowballed, the Doors and Love were exposing the dark underbelly of the 1960s dream. Kalinich's poetry rests on that pivot point.

Kalinich's works include:

• America
• America, I Know You
• A World of Peace Must Come
• Be Still
• Bring in the Poets
• Candy Face Lane
• If You Knew
• You Are the Trigger

He is also a spoken word performer often backed by original music. Titles include:

• The Magic Hand
• Galactic Symphonies

While under contract as an artist signed to the Beach Boys' Brother Records, Kalinich co-wrote several songs released by the group including "All I Want to Do", "Be Still", "Little Bird",[4] and "A Time to Live in Dreams" with Dennis Wilson.

Kalinich is the lyricist and co-publisher for Brian Wilson's duet with Paul McCartney "A Friend Like You", on Wilson's 2004 solo album release, Gettin' In Over My Head.[5]

Kalinich also has collaborated with a number of recording artists, performers, musicians, and composers including P.F. Sloan, Art Munson, Ken Hirsch, Randy Crawford, Mary Wilson of the Supremes, Fernando Perdomo, Odyssey, Clifton Davis, Chris M. Allport, and Diana Ross.

In 2016, Al Gomes conceived and co-produced, along with his partner Connie Watrous and Grammy Award-winning Beach Boys producer, archivist and historian Alan Boyd, a spoken word tribute CD called "The Works of Stephen J. Kalinich - Be Still". The collection included performances of Kalinich's poetry by Beach Boys founder Brian Wilson; actors Stacy Keach, James Michael Tyler, Ralph Brown, Jenny Jules, Rose Weaver, and Samaire Armstrong; Grammy Award nominee Lisa Haley; author and musician Tracy Landecker; along with Gomes, Watrous, and Boyd. The Recording Academy placed the album on its Official 58th Annual Grammy Awards Ballot for Best Spoken Word Album. Gomes said, "This has turned out to be one of the best projects I've ever worked on. What an incredible gathering of talent. This album is a passionate meditation on the journey of life, and also on how poetry and art affect that journey, both from the author's and the receiver of the art's point of view. Thanks to all who gave of themselves - the artists, engineers, and studios - and to all those who listen." Watrous added, "It aligned with the stars so quickly and everyone involved came into it with a beautiful spirit and worked so hard to make it happen with the purest of hearts."[6]

• Official website
• MySpace
• Light In The Attic Records
• Stephen Kalinich, Biography video clip on Vimeo
• Spoken Word Tribute Album: The Works of Stephen J. Kalinich - Be Still