Pete Caldera Journalism & Jazz

🎶 Pete Caldera — jazz vocalist, Yankees beat writer, and interpreter of Frank Sinatra–style standards — shares a remarkable journey shaped by music, mentorship, and purpose.

In this episode, Pete reflects on discovering the Great American Songbook, growing up immersed in Sinatra, opera, and classic American music, and finding his voice later in life through live performance. From spontaneous piano-bar moments with the legendary Kitty Daniels at Donatello Italian Restaurant in Tampa, Florida, to performing classic Sinatra arrangements at the iconic Carnegie Club in New York City, Pete’s story is a testament to passion, perseverance, and honoring musical legacy.

Pete also discusses:

• Writing for the Bergen Record / NorthJersey.com while traveling with the New York Yankees
• The influence of mentors including Kitty Daniels, Stan Rubin, and vocal coach John Mace
• Performing with big bands and authentic Sinatra-era arrangements
• What it truly means to “owe the audience a good performance”
• Lessons learned from live music, journalism, and creative risk
• Singing on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert after running the NYC Marathon
• Why timeless music still matters today

This conversation is about more than jazz — it’s about finding purpose, saying yes to opportunity, and carrying forward the legacy of artists who came before us.

🎤 Perfect for fans of Frank Sinatra, jazz standards, live music, storytelling, and inspiring creative journeys.

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Transcript

Welcome and hello, Pete Caldera. Hi Louise. So good to see you. It's so good to see you too. You know, I was thinking about when we met at Donatello Italian restaurant in, uh, Tampa, Florida.

You came down with the Yankees because you write for the, uh, Bergen Newspaper Bergen Record. Yep. And yep. And you were here with, um, with a group from the Yankees and, um. You got up to sing with Kitty Daniels, and I was like, oh my goodness. He sounds just like Frank Sinatra. Well, I appreciate that. I don't think anybody can sound like Frank.

You can just hope to do it in the style that people like to hear it. But thank you. Yeah, that was, I think that was in 2016. Yeah. And, and we'd been going to, uh, Donatello's and, and, uh.

And getting to, uh, to, to sing and, uh, do some wonderful music with, with Miss Kitty and Majid. Uh, even, uh, years before that, uh, you know, I would come in with, with, uh, you know, groups of, of writers, uh, of fellow writers and, and, uh, you know, I, I just got so much encouragement from my friends to, uh, uh, and, and getting that feedback.

And of course, uh, you know. Uh, just having a marvelous time, uh, with Ms. Kitty and, and, uh, getting to know her and, and, uh, of course, I mean, you know, how, how amazing a person she was and, and that great, uh, everlasting documentary you did on her life, which was, uh, so important for, uh, her legacy. And, uh, I, I personally thank you for that and I, and, and everyone should go.

Watch that if you haven't. But, uh, I mean, to experience that, I mean that some of the greatest times I've, I've ever had, uh, just, uh, experiencing that and doing that, that, that great music off the cuff, just, uh, you know. Um, calling out songs and, and, and, and then getting to hear, uh, you and, and all the other talented, uh, people around Tampa, uh, just to do their thing.

Uh, and of course Miss Kitty, uh, just a, a legend and she was, uh, just amazing to hear. So yeah, I thoroughly enjoyed those times. Me too. So whenever you come back in Tampa, I look forward to hearing you sing and when I go up to New York City, I'd love to hear you too. Yeah, you can come anytime. It's uh, thank you.

And I'm so glad Miss Kitty got to to experience it too. Uh, me too. Yeah. That was fun. That was fun. That was great. So you write for the Bergen record in North Jersey?

Yes. Traveling with the Yankees around the world. And you also sing the Frank Sinatra style standards. So I always start with a question, what is your passion or interest?

So we can either focus on one or the other, or we can talk about both. Well, you know, uh, I, I've been very lucky enough to, you know, you know, have a few passions that have been able to, uh, uh, follow those tracks and, and, and, uh, you know, have a professional, uh, life in, in both. I mean, I love baseball ever since I can remember.

And, uh, you know, if you can't play it on a high level, uh, uh, I have, you know. A passion for, uh, writing as well, obviously, and, and, uh, you know, to sort of, uh, you know, put those two together and, and, uh, and, and follow a path towards, uh, baseball writing. Is that was. One, uh, track that I always wanted to follow.

And then the, the music kind of came later, and I've been very fortunate with, uh, uh, my employers at, uh, at the record of north jersey.com to allow me to follow those, uh, uh, two paths. And, uh, it, it has led me to, uh, a really. Fulfilling, uh, you know, time just, uh, getting, uh, being able to do the music too, which I, I really love and, and fortunately been getting to do more of and, uh, you know, here in New York City at the, at the Carnegie Club and, and filling in occasionally for Steven Maglio with the, with the great Stan Rubin Orchestra, uh, uh, doing the Sinatra shows here, and then, you know, doing some jazz clubs and, and other, uh.

Uh, private events too. Uh, that's, that's, it's, it's, uh, it, it's been, it's, it's been, uh, everything I could have hoped for really, uh, when you talk about having to, uh, you know, follow those two paths along and to do it in New York City, which is, you know, my hometown. And, uh, and, uh, yeah, there, there's, there's nothing.

There's nothing like it. You know, I think it's really, I wanna call it luck that you were, um, born in, uh, Brooklyn. You were, you grew up in New York City. I mean, I can't imagine if that had happened anywhere else, but, you know, you were listening to WYNY with the Sid Mark, uh, sounds of Sinatra radio show.

There was, and w. WNEW, Jonathan Schwartz. I remember Jonathan Schwartz, 'cause I grew up in, in, uh, Northern New Jersey. Um, and he had, he was an expert on the Great American songbook and that's music from the thirties and the fifties. And yeah, he had a, a Sinatra Saturday show. But your mom also had Frank Sinatra albums?

Yeah, I kind of probably got exposed to, uh, well, I mean, and also, um, that was. The music of, uh, my, my grandparents era too. And, uh, you know, and also, you know, if you, if if you watched, uh, you know, a Bugs Bunny cartoon of those, uh, those ones that, that were made in the forties and fifties that were replayed in the seventies and eighties when we were growing up, a lot of that music was there too.

And you, you know, you had to be exposed to it. And you, and I mean it. It reached me and I loved it. But my mom had had all the Sinatra albums and, uh, and I would, I would tape, um, uh, I would put her albums to, to tape when you had a, you know, that, that, that record player, that it could also turn, you know, turn, uh, violent to cassette tapes.

And then I would also tape the, uh, the shows, uh, those radio shows for her too. And, um. And then, and then I grew to love it, uh, almost instantly. And, uh, you know, I also grew up in a home where, uh, you know, my dad had, uh, you know, he was an opera. He's an opera guy. And, uh, you know, growing up in the, in a home that, uh, was listening to, uh, uh, you know, things by Verde and Puccini and, uh, the, the, uh, live at the Met.

Uh, every Saturday afternoon, uh, that was, uh, coursing through the home. So, uh, he got exposed to that too. And my dad as, uh, big an opera fan as he is, he was a, you know, he grew up in the Elvis Presley era too, and loved that music. So it was all that, uh, that I was lucky enough to be exposed, uh, to, and it was, it's quite an education.

I remember when I met your parents at the Carnegie Club. Yeah. And I think I was talking to your dad and he said something about, it could have been him. It could have been you. It was a couple of years ago. Somebody said, you know, Pete could have just, he could have gone with Elvis Presley, but he didn't.

Right. Well, that's, no, that's true. But uh. You know, there's something about Sinatra's music that's just timeless. And, and, and when I say that, I mean, you know, that that's Sinatra, uh, interpreting the, the music of, of the, you know, the great, uh, uh, composers and, uh, and lyricists of, of, of the day. And I mean, that's the story of, uh, uh, American, uh, popular music, uh, in the 20th century.

Uh, mm-hmm. You know, Gershwin and Berlin. And, uh, of course, then moving on to all the, uh, the, the great, uh, uh, arrangers and, uh, conductors that, that Sinatra, uh, was associated with, uh, from Riddle to May to, uh, Mandel, uh, that and all 'em that, uh, I mean, that just, it, it just runs the, uh, the whole, uh, the whole course of, of, of popular American 20th century music.

So it sounds like listening to that music inspired you, and then who would give you feedback about your singing? If, you know you were young and you were singing, who would say, yeah, you know what, I really think that would be, that's something that you can do. You could sing. Yeah. No, I was, I was very shy about it.

Um, I, I really didn't come into that until my thirties and, uh, I, I didn't, you know, I was content to, uh. You know, to be in, uh, piano bars or before that, I guess karaoke and things like that, that you did in, in your twenties, just for fun. But, uh, didn't really think it was going anywhere and didn't really have any plans to have it go anywhere until, uh, you do get feedback.

And my friends and my family were very supportive of, of, of that. And, uh, and it sort of leads you to get the courage to, uh, one day, uh, call up. Stan Rubin, who we unfortunately just lost, uh, about three, three weeks ago. Uh, uh, the, the great band leader, and we could talk about him too, but, uh, very important man in my life that, uh, uh, I just called him one day and auditioned for him.

And, uh, and he liked what he heard. It was the first, uh, you know, real important musical person I was ever, uh, associated with. And, um. He was a great supporter and, um, and did so much for, uh, the sort of nightclub career, I guess I, I I have right now. Uh, you know, and, uh, that was, uh, you know, just that, that kind of feedback and encouragement was, uh, vital.

But I think Kitty Daniels did too. I remember in the documentary you had said that she really gave you a boost.

Oh, yes. No, I. Well, it, it really did start with, with Miss Kitty, um, you know, was talking about, you know, Stan was the, you know, the, he had the orchestra in, uh, in Manhattan that was, uh, at the time and still is doing the, uh, the, the Sinatra shows.

And that's sort of my, my lane. uh, but, but yes, that, that encouragement, feedback and support really did start with, with Ms. Kitty and, uh. Doing that, uh, you know, just for fun, uh, music in the San Marco lounge at the, at Donatello’s. And then, and then all of a sudden, uh, you know, word gets out and people want to hear you and they wanna know when, when are you going in there next?

And, uh, and you build a little bit of a following and, uh mm-hmm. Or, or, and, and really that's how it came from. But yes, uh, that, uh. You know, that experience with Miss Kitty was, uh, I, I'm not doing the stuff that I'm doing with the Stan Rubin Orchestra if it wasn't for Miss Kitty. Yeah, yeah. She was amazing.

You could just sit at the piano bar with her and she could tell just by looking at the way that you responded to the music that she was playing, she could tell if you were a musician or not, and I'm really glad that. That you just happened in, into that restaurant and the Yankees were here for spring training in Tampa, Florida, and that the two of you got together.

So one of the questions, well, she's such a major talent on, on her own, but you know, her, her, um, the, her spirit and her, her, her willingness to, uh, you know, wanna help any singer of any level if you wanted to do the music with her. She was patient and, and can do it with you and, and would guide you along and, and, uh, could play in any key and, and put her own, uh, magical spin on things and make you sound like you knew what you were doing up there.

Um, that was her magic and her legacy. She had a really good way of playing along with you, listening to you, but then also leading you, which is such a skill. Yeah. You don't get that with every pianist. No. She would tell you if you were in the right key. If you weren't in the right key. She would change the key midway.

She was just Yes. Unbelievable. Taught me a lot. Um, one of the things I do like to ask because um, I like to think about. We can help other people to thrive by talking about passion and purpose and perseverance. Um, I heard Mel Robbins ask, um, Angela Duckworth, who focuses on grit, which is those three, um, those three things.

Um, I heard her ask this question and I'd like to ask you as well. Would you agree that purpose. Is purpose, having a sense of responsibility and then acting with the intention of helping others, which is exactly what Ms. Kitty did. Yeah, I mean, I, I, I, I think the, the, the purpose in the, uh, is. Is in the response, uh, that you get, uh, that, you know, if you, just from a musical standpoint, if you're, if, if you're focused on, on doing this music, you wanna present it in a, in a way that, uh, is true to, um, the original, uh, and, um, and everyone that came before you that, that, uh, that presented it.

So, uh, and, and then getting the, you know, the, I, I always liked the, um. Frank Sinatra had a quote, and I think he borrowed it from, um, from Humphrey Bogart who said, uh, uh, the only thing you owe an audience is a good performance. Now, I, I, that kind of strips away everything else. Uh, you know, it, uh, you're having a bad day.

Nobody cares about, uh, uh, what, uh, what else is going on in, in your life or, or whatever, uh, opinions or biases you take to, to something you owe. The audience, whether that's a, an audience, uh, of, of readers, uh, or an audience of, uh, uh, jazz aficionados, uh, out, out there. Uh, a good performance and a good performance means doing it in, in, in a way, in the style that, uh, people are company, uh, uh, are accustomed to hearing it and, uh, and being true to the, to every aspect of, of that, of that.

Music, if you want to put it in that, uh, realm, whether it's the, uh, the fellow who wrote the, uh, the person who wrote the, the melody that, or who wrote the lyric and, um, and the, and uh, the arranger. So, um, I mean, that's my, that would be my purpose to an audience is to present it in the way that, uh. They're accustomed and, and, uh, used to and want to hear it.

Um, I don't know if that really answers the question, but that's, uh, yeah. I, I, I think you have that responsibility, uh, every time you, you, you go out there because that's, uh, that's being true to the, uh, the original and that's what we're trying to present because this music is, is timeless and, and speaking of timeless, and what you do is you bring people back to another era.

And it's interesting that you've even studied Frank Sinatra and been a member of the International Sinatra Society in Lakeland, Florida, so a long time ago. But you're dedicated, you really are dedicated to his style. When you perform in New York City clubs, you, you use the same musical arrangements and, and the same type of nightclub atmosphere with a small band.

Yeah, well, you know, we were lucky enough with, uh, you know, Stan Rubin was an incredible, incredible man. Um, and, uh, you know, he, just going back to, uh, you know, his career, which began, you know, straight out of, of, of, uh, Princeton, uh, which he attended, he somehow befriended. Grace Kelly at a, uh, at an event and got to be one of the, the bands at a very young age in his twenties to play, uh, one of the, the, the royal, uh, wedding parties in Monaco, uh, for her, her marriage, uh, uh, to Prince Rainier.

So that, uh, I mean, to have a career start like that. And, um, but you know, Stan did have, you know, he. He was a jazz guy and, and a big band guy, but he did love Sinatra. And somehow when I got to know Stan, he had countless arrangements of, of, uh, Sinatra, uh, songs that, uh, were, a lot of them were transcribed by another guy from, uh, Florida, who was a dear, dear, dear man named, uh, Bob Friedlander.

And, uh, so. I got when I started with the, the Stan Rubin Orchestra in 2006 and, and backing up, uh, Steven Maglio, who still does the show now. Uh, we're playing with the, with sort of, uh, slightly shrunken down, but true arrangements of, uh, of all those original great hits in the fifties and sixties that Sinatra did, uh, uh, that were arranged by guys like Billy May and Nelson Riddle.

So, um, just to, to. To have that alone was, uh, was, was quite something. So, um, that, uh, I mean, that only just sort of propels you that, uh, you want to do more of it and you want to, uh, you know, present that music because who else is doing that? I, I don't think there's too many bands out there that, that have those originals, uh, uh, transcribed, uh, that could perform those, uh, to a live audience.

So even with all of that, with the arrangements, did anything ever go wrong? And what did you learn from your biggest profe professional failure singing? I mean, there's, yeah. Uh, I mean, it's been said I'm sure a bazillion times, but it's true that, uh, you really only learn from, from your failures and, and, uh, mistakes.

And there are plenty of them. Um, but, uh, you know, you, you learn. You, you really do learn it, whether it's in, in baseball riding or, you know, you, you, you've got a story written, uh, and then, uh, with two outs in the ninth inning. And, uh, somebody hits a home run and changes everything. You, you, uh, you learn to adjust on the fly.

And then, uh, you know, if you're in a nightclub situation and a speaker goes out or, uh, or, uh. There's a, a lost chart or something, and you've gotta pivot to something else. I mean, you, you, you learn from all those experiences and you really learn and, and you learn too. Uh, I mean, at the Carnegie Club, which I'm fortunate to play at, that's, uh, it's a smoking venue, right?

And, uh, and you learn, uh, pretty quickly that, uh, the, the star of the show is the cigar because there's probably only a half a dozen, uh, you know, places. Indoors where you can smoke, uh, even in New York City. So, uh, uh, people are coming for, for, uh, for that experience first and maybe the music second, uh, on like a Thursday night when we're just doing the, the small band stuff.

But if people want to hear you, they'll listen and they'll, and they'll get something out of it. But you can't, uh, uh, you know, think that everybody's gonna be in rap attention, uh, listening to you when, uh, you know, you're in a, mm-hmm. Bar situation and there's conversation's going on and, uh, and, and people want to be with, with their company, but if they wanna listen, they'll listen and then, and, uh, they'll get something out of it.

So I think, you know, just all those, just all, all that experience, but I don't think there's any, I, I haven't had a better education than, than being with, uh, an orchestra. And I, I sorta learned how, well I got a understanding where, where you would hear Frank Sinatra talk about, um. Uh, his, uh, his days with the Harry James Orchestra and then after that Tommy Dorsey band, uh, how much he learned about being a musician, being an instrument in the, in the orchestra.

Because as a singer, uh, as a band singer you are, whether you can read a note of music or not, and I can. Uh, used to be able to, but I, I don't, it's been a long time since I took piano lessons, uh, that you are an instrument in the orchestra as a singer, and you learn that. And if you don't learn that, um, you're not gonna last very long.

Uh, you, uh, you're an accompanist too, uh, accompanying, uh. The, the band, you might be sort of the lead horn, uh, there, so to speak. But, uh, you are part of an organization and, uh, it is a great education and, uh, and it, it, it opens your ears. It really does. You, you listen, you follow, you react, and, uh, and the best.

Uh, if, if, if you're doing it at, at, at a, at a level that it should be doing, you, you're doing it sort of differently every time you, you, you're catching nuances, you're listening to different phrases, you're, you're, you're, um, doing a lyric a little, a little different. You're accenting a note here or a word there.

And, uh, it's just an ongoing, wonderful education. And it doesn't sound like it's that easy. You just mentioned a lot of different elements that go into singing. Um, yeah, I, I'm, you know, but if it come there, there are things that, that come that, I mean, I, you know, I'm, I'm sure, uh. It's like in any field where there are certain things that, that come naturally to you, uh, that you can then expand on, uh, through just practicing and doing it and experiencing things and, and, uh, and opening yourself to, uh, uh, different, uh, interpretations of it.

But, um, I mean that's just, uh, I, I think that's just in any walk of life too, that, uh, if, you know, uh, if you're adept at, at, at something. That, uh, probably comes more natural to you than, than than somebody else, but it could be in any field. Mm-hmm. Do you ever feel like this is too hard and something that you're doing is too hard and you decide not to do it anymore?

Well, I mean, I'm sure that yes, there's, uh, there, there's, uh. Pieces of music that, uh, you know, I, I'll, I'll pass on. Or, or, but you, you have to just do what, what feels natural and, and, uh, and good for you. It's just, you know, it's, uh, you know, it's, it's, it's like just a, you know, a a know, you know, a, you know, wearing clothes that fit you, right?

It's just this kind of thing. It's, uh, you have to do what, what suits you and, uh, and sort of, uh, you know, expand on that rather than, uh. You know, I, I'm not saying don't take on, uh, challenges, but, uh, at least musically at some point, uh, I, I think you know where your lane is. I certainly know where, where mine is.

I, I'm, I'm not gonna suddenly be doing Pavarotti, uh, uh, out here. It's a good way to look at it. So one of the things that you have done is you performed on the Late Show. Which is the Stephen Colbert show.

Yeah. He's invited you to come on and sing a couple of times, and one of the questions that he likes to ask, which I also like to ask too, is, what keeps you inspired?

Well, I mean, the feedback you get certainly keeps you inspired, but, uh, people like hearing what you do and, and, uh. You can, you can continue to do it. Uh, I mean that, that certainly inspires me. It inspires me to do, uh, you know, even more, uh, at least in the, in the music, uh, field, uh, you know, with, with, with the bands.

And, uh, and hopefully that'll, that'll continue. Uh. But yeah, I think that that aspiration, that that, uh, that that comes from the feedback he get, um, that inspiration and, uh, it certainly inspired me to want to continue doing as much of it as I can. And what are you hoping to do next? Well, I mean, I mean, if I had one at least musical dream, I would love to at, at some point go on the road with, um, uh, with a.

Like a sextet, uh, and, and do that, uh, that Sinatra music, uh, that I love so much. You know, there, there was a, there was a period in Sinatra's life. Uh, he did a world tour in 1962, and it was with the six piece orchestra that they kind of shrunk down all those great arrangements and he would do like a 20, uh, song concert and did it all over the world.

Uh. And I mean, and that's, it's a big aspiration, but, uh, if I could do anything musically, I would love to do that music with that type of band anywhere I could. And, uh, and, and it's a would be great way to, uh. To see, uh, see a lot of other places. I mean, you, you said, uh, I, I travel the world with the Yankees.

Well, I've been lucky, lucky enough to, to, uh, uh, been to Japan and, and, and London, uh, as, as, uh, uh, as a, as a writer covering the team. Uh, and I love to travel. And I love to travel. Uh, I mean, been to Paris and, uh, and London several times, but I would love to see the rest of the world and there would be no better way to see it than to do it, uh, as a performer, I think.

So we just need to find a Frank Sinatra enthusiast who would like to sponsor that show. Yes. If you've got, uh, if you've got several million dollars who'd like to sponsor a, uh, a lounge singer to go around the world with a, with a sextet? Uh, I'm your guy. Well, we just have to tell him that you had the same voice Coach John Mace as Bette Midler.

Maybe that would help to inspire them. Yes. Well, not only did, uh, uh, the Great John Mace, uh. Have be Ley had several other, I mean, he had, I mean, he had a, a, a, a Rolodex of, uh, Broadway, uh, uh, Broadway singers and, and mm-hmm. Uh, I was lucky enough to get, uh, uh, placed with him by Stan Rubin, uh, who knew him. Um, and, uh, I still do, uh, Mr. Mace's, uh, exercises, uh, every week, those vocal exercises that, uh, uh. That keep you in shape and get you ready for a performance. Um, you know, it's like a pitcher before a baseball game and you gotta warm up. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. And you gotta, uh, and you gotta stick with it and do those, uh, do those exercises, uh, uh, weekly to just maintain, uh, your instrument and, uh mm-hmm.

And I, I owe him, it was another great man that I owe so much to. Well, what would be your advice for someone else who's starting on their journey? I mean, it's another thing that's been said a, a zillion times, but, uh, you know, follow your passions. Uh, it's, uh, I've been fortunate to, to be able to follow mine with, uh, uh, and, and exercise those in a professional, uh, uh, as a profession.

But, um. You know, I, I don't think it's, uh, I, I would say that it, it is, uh, to have a, a, you know, a very, um, fulfilling experience, uh, you, you have to, you have to follow your passions, right? Uh, um, you know, why else do something? So I, you know, I just would, would say that, I mean, I don't know, uh, you know, I, I've been sort of narrow in, in, in my fields.

You know, and, and the writing and, and the, uh, and, and the music. But, um, I would just say that, uh, you know, if you really want to, uh, have a fulfilling experience, just, uh, find a way to turn your, your passion and your goals into, uh, uh, into something you can continue doing. Hmm. So speaking of continuing to do something loudly said, but no, it was, it makes sense.

It's like take what? Take what you do Well, what comes easy. It doesn't have to, it doesn't have to be something that's really hard. Yeah. Take something that comes naturally to you and if you love doing what comes naturally to you. This is, I'm just paraphrasing, I think what you said. Oh, that's, uh, much better said than I did.

Just go, go for it. Yeah. And again, I think you're really lucky that you were born in a city where you could pursue that and you had people around you that, um, that supported you. But interestingly enough, you had an amazing mentor in Tampa, Florida through your job with the Yankees. Yes. So that brought you here.

Yeah. No question that, that, uh, that's really where it started. Yep. So you do, you did mention like, do things, um, consistently and be consistent in your effort and pursue that. So what do you do consistently each day?

Uh, you know what? I don't know if I do anything really consistently each day. Uh, I, I'm not the most organized person. Uh, I'm not the most focused person in, in a lot of ways. Um, I, but, uh. You know, you, you learn to, um, you know, you know, as we said Ed before, I mean, in a lot of ways you, you learn to adapt and, and, and sort of, uh, you know, go with the flow with, with, uh, with things.

Uh, you know, the thing that I love about baseball, uh, is that, I mean, there's nothing scripted about it, right? There's, uh, you know, a game can go in any, any direction. Um. You know, it's not like watching the same Broadway play, uh, every day where you know the outcome. Um, and I, I sort of like that. I like, I like where, you know, I, I like to, to sort of, uh, you know, move where things take me.

Uh, and I get a chance to do that a lot musically, you know, to, you get a call every, every now and then, uh, somebody wants you for a, a, a show or a, or an event or, or, or something. And uh, and you get to find out how to. You know, incorporate yourself into a, a, a different area and, uh, and or, or something slightly different than, than what you've been doing.

And, and do it in, in front of a different audience. And, and then, uh, and then you learn how to do something, uh, you know, that, that you never thought you could do or wouldn't, didn't imagine before. Um, I just got a call to do a show, uh, in, in, in Florida, uh, in, in a few weeks. And it's gonna be something that's, um, you know.

Production style. I've never done that. I'm looking forward to, to doing that. I think just keep yourself open to, you know, sort of moving in any direction that, uh, you know, and don't, uh, you know, there's another thing my father told me, which, which is great advice too, is just, uh, especially when I was starting out, um, as a writer, uh, just say yes to everything and figure it out.

Say yes to everything. And you know, I mean, if it's. People want you to, I mean, just talking about, you know, in the realm of, uh, you know, professional, your boss tells you, right? Do that. If you don't think you can do it, but say yes, you might surprise yourself. Mm-hmm. Right. Yeah. I've done that before.

Yeah. Yeah. Well, I think something that you might do consistently, but I know that you ran the New York City Marathon, and that was the day before you were on the Stephen Colbert Show. So do you run every day? Not every day. And I'm certainly not running in, uh, seven degree weather, which we have in New York right now.

Um, and, uh, but uh, when I get back in Florida, that's when I start running again. And then of course, uh, I love it. It's become a, uh, an unexpected passion of mine that, uh, didn't think I had uhhuh. So, uh, yeah. And that was an interesting 48 hours running in, uh, doing the marathon and then getting a call the next morning.

When I hadn't planned on doing anything, uh, more strenuous than laying on the couch, uh, for, for the next 24 hours. But, uh, that was, uh, that was an interesting, uh, couple of days because, uh, uh, getting to go to the Ed Sullivan Theater and, uh, meeting, uh, John Batist, who is the, who was the musical director at that time, uh, for the Colbert Show.

And, uh, getting that. Uh, put together in, in a couple hours and, and getting to experience how they put out a, a, a television show like that every day and, uh, and all the work and the writing and, and, uh, the passion that goes into that. That was, uh, that was, that was quite an interesting 48 hours. I'll never forget it.

That was a great show too, because that's on YouTube and I'll add that link in the show notes. Thank you. So if, um. If our listeners would like to find out more about you, what are some of the links that they can go to online? Uh, well, uh, the, the writing is, uh, will be down for Yankee Spring training in a couple weeks.

Uh, and, uh, northjersey.com is, uh, where you can find, uh, all the Yankee stuff. Uh, I do have a, a website. I think it's petecaldera.com.

I need to update it, uh, because I'll have all the, uh, uh, the dates where I'm, I'm doing music, uh, starting with the, the, the Carnegie Club on February 5th. And, uh, filling in for Steve Maglio a few times.

Uh. Uh, a couple times coming up, uh, through March and, and, uh, there'll be things going on in the summer. And, uh, uh, really excited about the stuff we do at the, uh, Jazz Loft in Stony Brook, long Island, uh, uh, with the great Tom Manuel, who, uh, does a superb job. He's a superb musician and a great friend. Uh.

Big band, 18 piece orchestra. We do a lot of, uh, Sinatra stuff that comes up in May, and then again in November and early December. So, uh, really looking forward to that too. So, uh, go to the Jazz Loft, uh, website. You'll find all those Okay. All those dates there. I'll make sure, I'll make sure to include that in the, in the show notes.

And speaking of shows, I can't wait to see you down here in Florida, so forward to, looking forward to you. It definitely. You're welcome. Thanks Pete Caldera. Thank you. Bye.