New CD collection from Dave Koz celebrates fatherhood

A touch of serendipity accompanies the April 26 release of Golden Slumbers: A Father's Love, a collection of songs by such artists as Dave Matthews, Michael McDonald, Phil Collins, and Smokey Robinson. "Things happened along the way that showed me that we were on the right track with this album," says executive producer Dave Koz, who contributes saxophone on four tracks. When the out Koz asked Kirk Whalum to contribute to the compilation of love songs from fathers to their children, Whalum told him of a song called "My Little Man" that he had written the day he buried his son. He put the song away in a drawer 20 years ago. "He said it had just been waiting for this project," Koz says. This and other original tracks, like McDonald's "When Scarlett Smiles"--written for his daughter--join classic love songs like "You Are So Beautiful" and "You'll Be in My Heart" on the Rendezvous Entertainment/HUM Recordings compilation. The album is a follow-up to 2002's Grammy Award-nominated instrumental set Golden Slumbers: A Father's Lullaby. A portion of the CD sales will benefit the National Fatherhood Initiative, which aims to improve the well-being of children through programs that encourage responsible fathers. "It's a very symbiotic relationship, because having their logo on our CDs spreads the word about them, and for us, the partnership gives our album a sense of purpose," Koz says. The release date is timed around NFI's third annual National Golden Dads campaign, in which volunteers scour malls, parks, zoos, and other recreational areas on Father's Day weekend to recognize dads for spending quality time with their children. Winning dads receive a Golden Slumbers sampler and prizes like baseball tickets and gift certificates. The new album marks the first vocal release for Rendezvous. "We wanted something distinctive from the first project," says Rendezvous president Hyman Katz, who believes the vocals will attract a larger audience. "It wasn't that we were trying to reach a different demographic, but by its very nature, it definitely has a broader appeal." With the exception of Matthews's "Baby" and Collins's "You Touch My Heart," each cut was produced specially for the compilation. The set also includes less mainstream artists like Solomon Burke, who contributes "Life Is Just a Matter of Time." "He was someone that we felt was an awesome force," Katz says, "and bringing him to a wider audience is something we're very proud of." Given the longevity of the first Golden Slumbers, Rendezvous is optimistic that its follow-up will also outlast Father's Day. "We definitely see a project that can be enjoyed for years to come." Katz says. (Margo Whitmire, via Reuters)