Stephen Kalinich


Stephen John Kalinich is an American poet mostly known for his songwriting collaborations with Brian and Dennis Wilson of the Beach Boys. In 1969, he recorded his only album, A World of Peace Must Come, with production by Brian Wilson. It was unreleased until 2008.

Biography

Kalinich was born in Endicott, New York. He drifted from the East Coast to California in the mid-1960s, transferring from New York's Harpur College to UCLA. Immersing himself in the anti-war movement, he began working the LA scene as a poet and performer, appearing at venues such as The Troubadour. At an early age, he began writing poems and articles about World Peace. He has said, "Very early I wanted to be an influence for peace and good in the world."
An album, Leaves of Grass, co-written with Kalinich's early collaborator Mark Buckingham, was recorded in 1966 but radio stations would not play it, wrongly assuming it was about marijuana. At the time, Kalinich was studying and working at a gas station. As the hippie movement snowballed, the Doors and Love were exposing the dark underbelly of the 1960s dream. Kalinich's poetry rests on that pivot point.

Poetry

Kalinich's works include:
He is also a spoken word performer often backed by original music. Titles include:
While under contract as an artist signed to the Beach Boy's Brother Records, Kalinich co-wrote several songs released by the group including "All I Want to Do", "Be Still", "Little Bird", and "A Time to Live in Dreams" with Dennis Wilson.
Kalinich is the lyricist and co-publisher for Brian Wilson's duet with Paul McCartney "A Friend Like You", on Wilson's 2004 solo album release, Gettin' In Over My Head.
Kalinich also has collaborated with a number of recording artists, performers, musicians, and composers including P.F. Sloan, Art Munson, Ken Hirsch, Randy Crawford, Mary Wilson of the Supremes, Fernando Perdomo, Odyssey, Clifton Davis, Chris M. Allport, and Diana Ross.

Tribute albums

In 2016, Al Gomes conceived and co-produced, along with Grammy Award-winning Beach Boys producer, archivist and historian Alan Boyd, a spoken word tribute CD called "The Works of Stephen J. Kalinich - Be Still". The collection included performances of Kalinich's poetry by Beach Boys founder Brian Wilson; actors Stacy Keach, James Michael Tyler, Ralph Brown, Jenny Jules, Rose Weaver, and Samaire Armstrong; Grammy Award nominee Lisa Haley; author and musician Tracy Landecker; socio-musical researcher and minister Connie Watrous; along with Gomes and Boyd. The Recording Academy placed the album on its Official 58th Annual Grammy Awards Ballot for Best Spoken Word Album. Gomes said, "This has turned out to be one of the best projects I've ever worked on. What an incredible gathering of talent. This album is a passionate meditation on the journey of life, and also on how poetry and art affect that journey, both from the author's and the receiver of the art's point of view. Thanks to all who gave of themselves - the artists, engineers, and studios - and to all those who listen." Watrous added, "It aligned with the stars so quickly and everyone involved came into it with a beautiful spirit and worked so hard to make it happen with the purest of hearts."