You might say that writing is in Tracy Newman’s blood.  She is an Emmy and Peabody award winning television writer.  She’s written for comedy classic shows such as Cheers, The Drew Carey Show and Ellen.  She has even co-created the ABC Comedy According to Jim starring Jim Belushi.  She’s also a founding member of the successful Los Angeles improvisation group, The Groundlings.  And if that’s not enough show business cred for you she is big sister to the original Saturday Night Live alum, Laraine Newman.

Her songwriting career has been equally rewarding with a win in the 8th Annual Great American Song Contest for her song “Waffle Boy”.  Another song on her Place in the Sun album, “Mama, I Know You Ain’t Santa” took second place in the prestigious Unisong Contest. As well as many other honorable mention accolades in the Unisong contest for many of her other songs.

When you listen to Tracy’s music you can hear the humor that she’s so well known and respected for but more importantly you hear the real life stories that pull you in and tug at your heart.  One example is my favorite song from A Place in the Sun, “Laraine.”  It’s a beautiful love song written from big sister to little sister.  You can tell how honestly Tracy admires and is proud of her little sisters’ success but she’s even more proud of the woman her sister is today. A wonderfully written song.

Recently, Tracy took some time out of her busy touring and writing schedule to answer some questions for KC Café. Here are some excerpts from our Q&A:

KCC: Tell us a bit about your background in music. When did you start playing?
TN: When I was 14.  We had a pool and I used to sit on the diving board with my little Martin guitar and play the same songs over and over again, really loud.  That’s how I learned.  Then I took a few lessons.  I still do that every once in a while.

KCC: What was the first song you wrote?
TN: “Betcha Have a Ball.”  At school I saw some girl’s name written on the bathroom wall, and I concocted a mean little story about it.  I was singing it to a boy:  “Betcha get a bang when the gang sees my number on the clubhouse wall… everyone’ll give me a call…”  Seems kind of dorky now, but at the time I thought it was great.

KCC: How often do you write?
TN: I go through spurts where I write every day… all day, and night.  When I start, I can’t turn it off.  Then I work on learning the songs and refining them, and putting some away for another time.

KCC: What is your favorite song on A Place in the Sun?
TN: I love “Night Blooming Jasmine.”  I love every part of it.  I love to sing and play it.  I love the way the audience reacts at gigs when the Reinforcements come in.  I love singing the lines “She says it’s all because of me… It’s when I turn the front door key.”  I love the fact that I set out to write something that was not autobiographical, and ended up sticking with it and enjoying it so much.

KCC: How would you describe your style?
TN: Acoustic folk with a country edge.  Hawaiian and light jazz influence.   A lot of story songs.

KCC: What comes first music or lyrics?
TN: It happens all ways.  Some songs just start with a cool riff.  Songs that start with a clear idea usually get finished soon and are the most successful ones for me.

KCC: What’s your favorite song of all time and why?
TN: That’s not a fair question.  There are too many favorites in different genres and for different reasons.  Here’s one:  Gilbert O’Sullivan’s song “Alone Again, Naturally,” always tears me apart.  I love everything about it.  Boz Scaggs song “We’re All Alone,” has the same effect on me.  I guess I like songs about being alone.

KCC: One last question….Who are your favorite writers and how do they influence your style?
TN: Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, James Taylor, Jackson Browne and Merle Haggard, to name a few.  I learned to play some of their songs, so I learned the chords and rhythms they used.  They’ve all influenced me.  I just finished a song about Merle Haggard.  It’s called “Table Nine” and it’s kind of a tribute to him.  You can see and hear me singing it on YouTube under Tracy Newman and the Reinforcements.  Someone from an audience at The Talking Stick (in Venice, California) taped us and put it up on there.