Songwriter to perform in RS

Since 13, Marc Berger has been playing the guitar.

Berger, who resides in New York, has been writing songs and even learned how to sing in order to put out an album called "Ride."

"I took some guitar lessons," Berger said. "I didn't really get serious at all until I went to law school."

During law school, Berger started writing songs.

"By the time I graduated, I thought they were pretty good," Berger said. "I figured I'd get it out of my system before I practiced law."

Berger went to a music publisher with his songs expecting to hear that they were just OK or mediocre, but the publisher was impressed. A publisher has the right to market the songs to get them recorded, Berger explained.

"It got kind of exciting," Berger said.

Berger's song "The Last One," became a staple in Richie Havens' concerts for over 25 years and has been quoted in the New York Times and featured on The CBS Evening News.

Berger continued to write songs and allow artists to sing them until one time he had a good song that his publisher new two artists would be interested in. He sent them the song.

The publisher never heard back from the artist, but later when this artist's new album came out, it was clear that the chorus Berger had created was stolen and used without giving him credit for it.

"They clearly stole the song from me," Berger said. "It soured me."

Berger decided that was it. He was going to continue to write songs, but he was going to learn how to sing and make his own albums.

"If I want to do this and express my point of view, I need to learn how to sing," Berger said.

That left Berger going to rock concerts and screaming as loud as he could to start training his voice and learning how to sing. Berger never took any voice lessons.

"I can't even read music," Berger said.

Berger continued to work on his voice and finally he got to the point where he started playing a lot of gigs in the New York area.

"It changed the conditions of my life," Berger said. "I love it."

When he felt he was good enough to complete an album, he started learning how to use recording equipment.

"I felt like if I could do it, and have it be what I wanted it to be, I'd be happy," Berger said.

Berger's current album "Ride" is a collection of songs that all have to do with the romance of the American West and he is happy with it. The album has received national airplay and terrific reviews and Starbucks has licensed if for world-wide, in-store airplay.

Berger said even though he lives in New York he has a love for the west and tries to visit the west as much as he can. He grew up in Philadelphia and when he turned 21 he traveled west for a vacation. The trip left a lasting impression on Berger.

"I became super obsessed with the west," Berger said.

He said the reason his album took so long to put out is he wanted it to really resemble the west he's come to love.

Berger has performed at Austin's South X Southwest Music Festival the Kerrville and Falcon Ridge Folk Festivals, and he's opened shows for Bob Dylan and other national acts. Now, he will take the stage at the Broadway Theater in Rock Springs, Friday, Sept. 29 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $10 each.

Berger is currently working on his next album with Tony Garnier, Bob Dylan's bandleader and bassist, and drummer, Dan Rieser.