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Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (Destiny World Tour)

Danny Sembello, brother of “Carousel” songwriter Michael Sembello, “iZotope” interview (2012) (mirror) (archived mirror)

iZotope: It seems as if you both were destined to make music. Can you each describe how you got your breaks as musicians?

Danny Sembello: “[My brother] Michael was musical from an early age, but I wasn’t as sure that the music business was the right place for me. It took me a little longer to realize that I wanted to make music. My cousin was playing with the Jackson 5 in Philly and he had invited them over for dinner before the show. Sitting around my cousin’s table eating pasta, Michael [Jackson] began to egg me on saying that your brother bragged about how great of a keyboard player I was. I replied, “Well, I’m actually a better basketball player but I’ll play something if you want.” So I played “Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground)”, then I segued into “The Secret Life of Plants”, a song I learned in the studio with my brother and Stevie Wonder. Michael became captivated with the melody and asked me to play it at least a half dozen times. Each time I played, Michael leaned a little further over the piano to watch my hands. That night was truly magical for me. The day Michael died my brother and I both lost a great friend and inspiration.

…Playing piano for Michael is a memory I never forget. Having him respond the way he did made me want to be a musician. It was the first time I felt I had inspired someone and witnessed first hand what music can do. Right after that, I graduated high school and then jumped on a plane to California to become a musician.