"My name is Michael Caruso.
I am a successful commercial songwriter and songwriting consultant in Los Angeles. I help promising songwriters and singer/songwriters like you become hit songwriters, by helping you polish your material.

Having spent 25 years in the music business as a professional, award-winning songwriter, I have inside knowledge of the music and music-publishing business of as well as every aspect of its creative side!

I have worked with many famous rock and R&B artists, musicians and producers. People like Joan Jett, Ritchie Sambora and Bill Champlin. I even co-wrote songs with the late great songwriting legend Sammy Cahn.

I work by phone and e-mail with talented songwriters who, I feel, have the talent to make it all the way to the Top 40, but just haven't gotten there yet. Many artists are awesome musicians and stage presence, but don't quite have the material yet, which is usually why they don't have deals. By sharing your material with me, I can give you my unique insight to help you change all that. I have made deals with music publishers and record labels. Who knows? Maybe I can help you be the next Grammy winner!

I myself had a Grammy nomination for "Best R & B Vocal" in 1996 for the Vanessa Williams song "Love Is" which appeared on the original soundtrack of Beverly Hills 90210-as well as Joan Jett's cover of "Long Live The Night" included on the motion picture soundtrack"Days Of Thunder" staring Tom Cruise.

I got my first record deal as a recording artist with R.C.A. 25 years ago with my band "Hyde Your Daughters". After a year with Homegrown Music I worked in-house at Geffen Records. I went on from there to spend 4 years with Sony Music, followed by 4 years with Chrysalis Music Publishing.

I am currently under contact to RuffNation Records, a cutting-edge label that represents contemporary talents like Lauren Hill, the Fugees, Cypress Hill and Outkast.

My rate for phone Consultations is a very reasonable $0.99/min when you consider that my standard consulting fee is $400 per hour. By offering this service I hope to be able to make my services available to talented people who do not have the resources to fly to Los Angeles and consult with me in person. Therefore I am making myself available to those who might otherwise never have had the opportunity to seek my advice. I was once a struggling unknown artist and I would like to think that I have never forgotten where I came from.

I look forward to hearing your work and talking with you soon!

- Michael A. Caruso (Los Angeles, CA December 2000)