Listen: Sam Gravitte, Michael Orland, Jamie Wooten Unite for 'Love Is Why We're Here'
Golden Girls writer Jamie Wooten and American Idol veteran Michael Orland co-wrote the new single.
A new single "Love Is Why We're Here" has been released by singer/actor Sam Gravitte (Wicked, Frozen, Deceived, Starstruck, Almost Famous, Sweeney Todd) with music by renowned music director, songwriter, vocal coach and producer Michael Orland (American Idol) and lyrics by BMI award-winning songwriter and famed writer and producer Jamie Wooten (The Golden Girls).
"Love Is Why We're Here" is an uplifting and beautiful song about hope and remembering what truly matters in times of upheaval. "Chaos raging all around...ships of dreams have run aground...what's forgotten in our fear...is love - love is why we're here". This song wears its heart upon its sleeve - quite purposefully - to remind us all what we have to hold onto - love, and one another. Embrace this poignant and timely tune as you embrace your friends, your partner, your neighbors, all of those you hold dear in your life, and know that by doing this, this world can survive anything. When the music makes a difference, what could be better for us all?
Listen to the song below!
About the Artists
Sam Gravitte is an actor and writer based in New York. As an actor, credits include Wicked, A Walk on the Moon, Frozen, Deceived, Starstruck, Almost Famous, Sweeney Todd, Joseph... Dreamcoat, and more. His plays have been developed with Life Jacket Theatre Co and Monson Arts, and he has publications with Broadway Licensing and the Licensing House. Sam is a Princeton grad and a Proud Lifetime Member of The Actors Studio.
Michael Orland is one of Hollywood's most sought-after music directors, vocal coaches, arrangers, and pianists, best known for his 16-season run on American Idol. As Associate Musical Director, Vocal Coach, Arranger, and Pianist, Michael helped shape thousands of unforgettable performances across both the FOX and ABC eras of the groundbreaking series, working with aspiring artists as they became household names.
His television career also includes serving as a vocal coach and pianist on the first two seasons of America's Got Talent, as well as Little Big Shots and Forever Young, both hosted by Steve Harvey. Along the way, Michael has made frequent television appearances on The Oprah Winfrey Show, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Entertainment Tonight, Access Hollywood, Live with Kelly, Today, and numerous national broadcasts, accompanying American Idol finalists during their post-finale media tours and live performances.
Beyond television, Michael has collaborated with an extraordinary roster of acclaimed performers across Broadway, film, television, and the recording industry. His credits include working with Barry Manilow, Ariana Grande, Kristin Chenoweth, Idina Menzel, Katharine McPhee, Patti LuPone, Bernadette Peters, Jennifer Holliday, Kristen Bell, Cheyenne Jackson, Amber Riley, Eric McCormack, Sam Harris, Debbie Gravitte, Marilu Henner, Lesley Ann Warren, Erich Bergen, Maureen McGovern, David Foster, and many others. Earlier in his career, he performed with legendary entertainers including Ann Miller, Kaye Ballard, and the iconic Wayland Flowers & Madame.
Michael's Broadway and theatrical credits include Forbidden Broadway, Ruthless!, and When Pigs Fly in Los Angeles, and he made his Hollywood Bowl debut accompanying MGM legend Ann Miller. More recent projects include serving as Associate Musical Director for NBC's Hairspray Live!, rehearsal pianist for Netflix's The Prom, and appearing alongside some of today's biggest stars on The Jennifer Hudson Show.
Whether coaching an emerging artist before a career-defining performance or collaborating with Broadway royalty and Grammy-winning performers, Michael is known for his musical excellence, infectious energy, and ability to bring out the very best in every performer he works with.
Jamie Wooten is not only one of America's most-produced playwrights, but he is also a BMI award-winning songwriter and the writer and producer of nearly 400 episodes of sitcoms for every network and studio in Hollywood. Chief among his credits is many seasons writing and producing the classic TV hit comedy, 'The Golden Girls'. Sophia and Dorothy as Sonny and Cher? That was Jamie. Blanche disastrously singing atop the grand piano in the Rusty Anchor bar? That was Jamie, too. Sophia runs away from home to become a nun? Yep, Jamie again. Oh, and his songwriting partner, Michael Orland? Introduced to him, of course, by Estelle Getty.
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