← Celebrity Jobber Podcast with Jeff Zito
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- [00:00]
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- [00:59]
Jeff Zito
Foreign hey, it's Jeff Zito and thanks for listening to another episode of the Celebrity Jobber podcast, now in our fourth year. I can't believe this is the fourth year. It seems pretty crazy, but thank you so much for listening and making this one of the top podcasts on Apple. Podcast Music Interviews chart streaming on all platforms, whether it's Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart, wherever you listen to podcasts, please subscribe. We'd love a five star rating and of course leave a review. It's very helpful. Past guests and episodes are online@celebrityjobber.com and pretty much we look at the lives of these celebrities early on, like before they were famous, you know, they weren't always just stars. They, they, you know, were regular people, held regular jobs. So we talk about what that, what their regular jobs were before they were famous, their first job and maybe the big break, the moment that really, you know, made their career take off and what they're doing today. Michael Damian Weir, born into a very musical family, he has had one hell of a run as Danny Romalotti on the soap opera the Young and the Restless. He also appeared in a few episodes of the Facts of Life, landed the starring role on Broadway for Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, and had a number one single back in 1989 with a cover of David Essex. Rock on. You know, I had no idea that before the Young and the Restless, Michael Damian was really involved in a family business, which we're going to find all about. Plus a lot more. Plays the role of Danny Romolatti on the soap opera the Young and the Restless. Michael Damian is my guest this week.
- [03:10]
Celebrity Jobber Podcast Announcer
On Celebrity Jobber, the Celebrity Jobber podcast with Jeff Zito. If you like what you hear, please subscribe, give a five star rating and leave a review. Check out all our past episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or where. Wherever you put. What if these celebrities weren't famous, what would they have become? What was their first job? We're about to find out.
- [03:34]
Jeff Zito
Hey, how's it going, Michael? How are you? It's been a long time and I, I feel like, I know, I feel like we're old friends because, you know, I, I've known of Danny Romalotti since I was six years old because my, my mother and my sister. Sister or huge fans. And, you know, and then I just, I guess by osmosis, you know, I kind of got sucked into it myself. That's. I think that happens to a lot of guys.
- [04:04]
Michael Damian
I love it. And I want to thank your family for getting you sucked into the show.
- [04:09]
Jeff Zito
Well, I, I did. I met with my mom yesterday, who, by the way, just. She, she fell and broke her hip in three places. But I told her, I said, hey on the, on my podcast. She's okay, though. She's doing okay. Thank you. She. I said, I said on my podcast this week, I got a surprise for you. You'll. You'll freak out when you. So I didn't tell her it was going to be you, but this is going to be a lot of fun. You know, Michael, congratulations, first of all, on. I mean, I don't know what you guys are doing on the Young and the Restless. I'm looking at a picture here. Malcolm, Cricket, you, Jack Abbott, used to look exactly the same for the last 35 years.
- [04:51]
Michael Damian
Well, you're, you're very kind. Well, I will say that, that I think that, yeah, I definitely think that Cricket is de. Aging. I'm a, I'm trying to get her secret. She will not, she will not tell me. I'm like, what are you doing? What, what, what is the, what is the, your ritual? But, you know, just, it's a really great group of people and I think everybody on the show really takes care of themselves. Just, just trying to, you know, really stay relevant and stay, you know, stay healthy and, and keep doing great stuff. And it's, I'm really blessed to be.
- [05:26]
Jeff Zito
A part of that, man. It's pretty incredible because I feel like I hit a wall right at 35 and here you guys are. So, you know, before, you know, when I first found out that you were going to come on, I'm like digging in a little bit, looking at some bio from Michael Damian. I know a lot about you, but I had no idea that when you were a kid, you were in, for lack of a better description, a family band like the Partridge Family. You and your brothers and sisters were in this family band when you were a young kid. Tell me a little bit about growing up and how that even happened.
- [06:02]
Michael Damian
Well, my mother was a concert pianist and she taught us all. I have eight brothers and sisters. There's nine of us. And we all play multiple instruments and sing. And we had a family band for many years. We didn't have a nice cool bus like the Partridge Family, but we were. Yeah. And so we had been performing for years and years. And we moved to la. We're from San Diego county. And then we moved up to L. A. And then I recorded a single and, you know, had the great fortune of performing it on Dick Clark's American Bandstand. And that's when the producers of Young and the Rest of saw me on American Bandstand and wrote the character of Danny Ross Melodi, the singer. And so that's sort of how the. How it all, how it all progressed. And that's the genesis of everything.
- [06:55]
Celebrity Jobber Podcast Announcer
The Celebrity Jobber Podcast with Jeff S.
- [06:58]
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- [07:26]
Jeff Zito
B R-I K.com this is the story of the One.
- [07:31]
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- [07:58]
Celebrity Jobber Podcast Announcer
The Celebrity Jobber Podcast with Jeff Zita what's the.
- [08:02]
Jeff Zito
Like you said, nine brothers and sisters, or you're one of nine. I mean, how many? Like, what's, how far of an age gap is there?
- [08:11]
Michael Damian
I have six sisters and two brothers, and we're pretty much one year, pretty much one year after the next. I mean, it was like, you know, there's a Gap of about a, a two year gap between me and my younger sister. And. And so. But other than that, it was like every year there was a kid.
- [08:26]
Jeff Zito
Wow.
- [08:27]
Michael Damian
So my mom was very busy.
- [08:28]
Jeff Zito
Yes, she was. Now, what is all of your other brothers and sisters, are they still in the business? Are they successful in the music business still?
- [08:39]
Michael Damian
Well, yeah, my brothers are Grammy award winning hit, you know, music producers and have top recording studio in LA called Studio City Sound. And artists like, you know, no Doubt, Eric Clapton, Rod Stewart, I mean, you name it, the list goes on and on of people that have been in there. So that's been a really great, inspirational hit factory that I've been able to tap into and work on. That's what I'm working right now on the new album. And yeah, no, my sisters still play music mostly. A lot of them do a lot of weekend church music and performing at the churches and, you know, but they all. There's still that music connection that, that will never go away right now.
- [09:28]
Jeff Zito
I gotta ask Michael. I mean, it seems like, you know, music has always been a part of your life. I mean, and I did watch the Dick Clark American Bandstand thing. You were just a kid. You're like 18 years old. I mean, so was.
- [09:42]
Michael Damian
Oh my God. Did you really.
- [09:43]
Jeff Zito
I watched it, yeah. And I was like, wow. I was just kind of amazed because I had no idea about the, the family band and the genesis of your story. And I, I was just like really impressed. So was that moment was. Would you consider that like a big break moment in your life?
- [09:58]
Michael Damian
Oh, yeah. Oh, it changed everything. Yeah. So what happened was I got on the COVID I got on in all the teen magazines and that sort of, you know, Tiger Beat and Team Beat and all that. And so it was kind of happening at the same time. And then Dick Clark, you know, invited me onto the show, which was really amazing. And that really started everything, right? I really just. Dick Clark is. He's been just so inspirational and wow, love him and really miss him.
- [10:29]
Celebrity Jobber Podcast Announcer
The Celebrity Jobber podcast with Jeff Szetto. Celebrity Jobber.
- [10:34]
Jeff Zito
So you get into this world, right? You're, you're a musician, you're on Dick Clark, an American Bandstand. They see you, you're on the magazine covers, they write a role for you, become now, you know, a star on tv. Was there. Was that like an accident? Were you just like always, did you want to just be a musician and then the acting happened or were you, were you an artist that wanted to do both?
- [11:04]
Michael Damian
Well, I was. First of all, everything was music, and everything was driven by music. But when Young and the Restless saw me on Bandstand, American Bandstand, and wrote the character, I. I've always been interested in acting, but I just never really. I. I just didn't really know how to start and didn't really have an in. And so when they said that I could do music and act at the same time, I thought, I gotta seize the moment. In fact, they asked, do you act on the phone? And I said, yes.
- [11:34]
Jeff Zito
Liar.
- [11:37]
Michael Damian
Little white lie. I'm acting. You know, I act around the house.
- [11:40]
Jeff Zito
Right.
- [11:40]
Michael Damian
You know, but I didn't tell him that. And so I came in to meet with them and they said, yeah, you know, I think we'd love to have you on the show. And. And just for the summer. And then at the end of the summer, I signed a five year contract and. And then started performing my music on the show. And that led to, you know, when I had my album done and gave them the track of Rock on, they said, oh, gosh, yeah, let's put it on the show. You could sing it, do a big concert on the Young and the Restless, and that help propel it to, you know, the top of the charts.
- [12:13]
Jeff Zito
And Michael, like, you've been doing this for such. I mean, you were famous from the time you were a kid. So I wanted to know if you ever had a regular job. Did you ever have like a regular job? And what was it?
- [12:28]
Michael Damian
Yes, I made pizzas at Garo's Pizzeria in. On 3rd street in. Right across from Cedars Sinai hospital. I was 15, 15 years old.
- [12:38]
Jeff Zito
Okay, and then your first. And then your first profess gig was.
- [12:43]
Michael Damian
The Y and R. First professional gig was. Yeah, Young the Wrestlers.
- [12:48]
Jeff Zito
Unbelievable, man. And of course, we remember the COVID of David Essex Rock on from Dream A little Dream. But I understand that you got a new song right now that's doing very well. And your brothers, you were talking about the hit makers, Your brothers, they actually produced this new song, Let Me into youo Heart.
- [13:04]
Michael Damian
Yeah, yeah, it's. It's the first of an album. I've been working on the album for over a year now, and we plan to release the full album in January 2020. And this is sort of the kickoff single. And you know what's so cool about it is that I'm performing it on Young the Restless today. So you can tell your mom that while she's probably gonna be watching it, I'll tell you, you're gonna have to tell her who you have on the show now. Because I'm not sure when this is gonna air, but it's a special episode where it's a Danny and Cricket's bachelor bachelorette party and all kinds of things go awry and music saves the day and, you know, and then, you know, Danny gets to perform with and. Which is really cool with some of the castmates.
- [13:48]
Jeff Zito
That's so cool.
- [13:49]
Michael Damian
Special.
- [13:50]
Jeff Zito
That's so cool. You know, and I just keep going back to the fact you said mom was a concert piano pianist. So what about like, did. Were they in the music bids biz, mom and dad, or was it just like a hobby? Mom and dad have regular jobs, regular gigs.
- [14:08]
Michael Damian
Well, my mom was. Was going to be. She was. She was being groomed as like one of the top concert pianist and was going to be, you know, epic. But then she ran into my dad and had nine kids, so that kind of derailed that whole thing. But my dad was a very successful, phenomenal architect and some of the most beautiful places. Yeah. So mute. But, but. But the cool thing is they met. They met because my dad joined the choir in San Diego and my mom was, you know, the choir director. So she met him. He's a really good singer, my dad.
- [14:46]
Jeff Zito
So mom and dad were both supportive of the kids and the band and everything because they definitely were connected to. Okay. Because I was just like, wow, that's a major commitment when, you know your family has this traveling professional band. Like, major commitment.
- [15:04]
Michael Damian
Yeah. They were incredibly supportive and, you know, whatever we needed, whatever we needed to do, they. Were there any instruments you wanted to buy? It was like, you know, it was incredible. My parents were so incredibly supportive. Yeah.
- [15:20]
Celebrity Jobber Podcast Announcer
The Celebrity Jobber podcast with Jeff Sido. All right, remember, the machine knows if you're lying. First statement. Carvana will give you a real offer on your car. All online.
- [15:31]
Jeff Zito
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- [15:32]
Celebrity Jobber Podcast Announcer
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Jeff Zito
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- [15:37]
Celebrity Jobber Podcast Announcer
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- [15:41]
Jeff Zito
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- [15:44]
Celebrity Jobber Podcast Announcer
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- [15:54]
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- [16:25]
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- [16:55]
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- [17:25]
Jeff Zito
Celebrity Jobber Michael Was there ever a moment in your life where you're like, okay, you know, this is great, everything's hot right now. Everything couldn't be any better. But you know, maybe I should have a backup plan. Was there ever a moment ever in your life to where you thought if this ended, what am I going to do?
- [17:48]
Michael Damian
This is probably not good advice for young people, but I did not have a backup plan because I just really knew what I wanted to do and, and my goal, I just set goals and my goal was I really wanted to have a number one record and then it sort of transferred to then I had a chance of doing performing on Broadway and was fortunate enough to have the number one box office hit on Broadway, Joseph and the amazing type of Dream Code. And so I set a bunch of high goals, but the key is that I did not want to stop until it happened, until I, till I reached them and, and not necessarily that I would stop, but that then I would set a new goal. And I think what you're, you're kind of eluding at is that I also fell in love with filmmaking and I just like being inspired. And so I wanted to understand the whole process of filmmaking and that's when I started making movies as a director, producer, writer. And now, you know, fortunately I'm fortunate to say that we've made now 20 movies.
- [18:55]
Jeff Zito
Wow.
- [18:56]
Michael Damian
And actually have the number one hit movie in the world. As of it was a couple weeks ago on Netflix. It was called the Wrong Paris. It still is the wrong Paris. And that's really cool. So, you know, those are just set goals. That's all I can say. Set goals and don't back off if you really believe in it. That's. That's what I just think. You gotta, Gotta go for it. And I'll give you an example. When I send out Rock on to all the record labels, they. I got 10 rejection letters and they said, we don't hear the hit. And I was like, well, I still think it's a hit, so maybe I'm just, you know, delusional. But we got a number one record out of it, multi gold. And so, you know, I'm just glad I didn't give up.
- [19:42]
Jeff Zito
Right?
- [19:43]
Michael Damian
They said that to me.
- [19:44]
Jeff Zito
And I guess, and I guess I do understand when I talk to people and I ask him that question, like, whether or not, like, if this didn't work out, you have a backup plan. Most of them that have been chasing that dream when they were young, there was no backup plan because they were young and they were all in on it. And so. So your response is very. Is a very typical one. Listen, man, I don't want to take up any more of your time, but it was really great talking to you. I wanted to let everybody know once again, let me into your heart. New song from Michael Damien. I'm so glad that I didn't say Danny Romalotti once during. During the whole interview. And I will say I also learned, Michael, I also learned during this interview, maybe I know why my mom likes you so much. And that's because my dad is also an architect. So maybe there's some kind of. Maybe there's some kind of connection that she figured out, you know, thanks for, thanks for your time and good luck with everything and, and have a great day.
- [20:47]
Michael Damian
Thank you. All right, thanks so much, man. Take care.
- [20:50]
Jeff Zito
And you know, after a while I'm like thinking to myself, man, I owe this guy an apology. Michael Damien. Who the hell wants to be told that their mom is a big fan of theirs? Like, I'm 50 years old. Okay? He could probably real. And you know, as a broadcaster on the radio for many years, morning show, I remember going out and people saying to me, like, hey, you know, you know, my mom is a big fan. Never makes you feel like such an old fogey. You know, my mom is a big fan of yours. Like, oh, man, so sorry, Michael Damien. But when I told my sister that, she's like, eh, it's not that bad. Worse than that is being called ma'.
- [21:34]
Celebrity Jobber Podcast Announcer
Am.
- [21:35]
Jeff Zito
So I just Learned don't ever call a woman ma'. Am. So anyway, you know, I had no idea that Michael Damien was a part of a family band. They were called the Weirs and you can look them up on YouTube. Pretty kooky band. They were really, you know, back in the 70s they were, you know, like you said, he had eight brothers and sisters. There were nine of them in the band. They're all musical people still to this day. But it seems like Michael, the biggest star of the Weir family, if you will. Some of his brothers, though, producers behind the scenes kind of guys and own a studio in Los Angeles, won Grammys and also producing Michael's new song, which is currently on the radio. It's called Let Me into youo Heart. His family, like I said, very musical. His mom a concert pianist and his father an architect. But I guess they. They met singing in the church choir, something like that. Not to mention I did see Michael's performance on American Bandstand with Dick Clark. It was that moment, big break. Exposed him to millions of people. And by chance he gets a phone call from the soap opera the Young and the Restless saying, hey, have you ever acted before? He's like, yeah, sure. And they create a role for him and he said by the end of the summer they gave him a five year contract. So, I mean, he definitely had a little bit of luck involved, there's no doubt about it, but took the ball and ran. What a career with the Young and the Restless. I mean, we're talking 45 years and the guy is 63 years old. So he was just a kid when he got the role. Not to mention a number one single. You remember the COVID of the David Essex Rock on back in 1989. Huge song, number one hit. First job making pizzas in Los Angeles as a 15 year old. Ah, it was a damn good first job, pizza boy. I'm so glad that job didn't work out for him. Really cool guy. Michael Damien, AKA Danny Romolatti from the Young and the Restless. Wish him good luck on his new song, Let Me into youo Heart. Seems like it's doing pretty good already. So that'll do it for another episode of the Celebrity Jobber Podcast. You can follow on Instagram, Celebrity Underscore, Jobber Underscore podcast and our YouTube channel, which is YouTube.com theSign Celebrity Jobber. Streaming on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Iheart or wherever you listen to podcasts, please subscribe. Very Important. Would also love a five star rating if you like the show. And please leave a review. And like I said earlier, all past guests and episodes are online@celebrity jobber.com who were these people before they were famous? What did they do? And how did it all happen? The big break? Some say it was kind of gradual, but others say, you know, it was a moment, just like Michael said. Dick Clark, American Bandstand. That really did it for him. Everybody's got a story. That was a pretty good one. So I thank you once again for listening to another episode of the Celebrity Jobber podcast. And until next week, I'll see you then. I'm Jeff Zito.