Richard Anthony; an Illinois High School Teacher Who's Hoping to Garner a lot of Charitable Good wit

Humans, by nature, have multiple sides to them. To you I'm a writer. To my family I'm the middle child with unresolved issues. It seems we fight forever to let all our sides show, a dice (singular?) suspended in air for all to see.

Physics teacher, proud father and the next music star? Richard Anthony is currently gearing up to release his single "Even If" and drop an album when the temperatures rise. Richard has a song with a touching message and with an even more heartfelt intention. Read on to find out more about Illinois' own Richard Anthony.

Kendra Beltran: Being musical and a science guy is uncommon to me. Why physics over music in college?

Richard Anthony: I've always like science and math. It just sort of flowed that way. I was in college for a few years and still deciding what to do for a living when I tutored someone and loved the feeling of teaching someone. So I decided to teach, and knowing that I would have the summers off to work on music was an added benefit. I also didn't know where to start in order to make singing a career. If someone would have said, "You can earn a living teaching or singing," I probably would have chosen signing, but I love teaching also. I don't regret going in that direction. But my dream of making something "happen" with my music is still alive 20 years later. In that respect, I still feel like a teenager. I mean, almost every teenager wants to be in a famous band. I'm hoping that the longer the dream is alive, the more likely it is to come true. I actually considered myself a songwriter first, singer second. So if one day someone famous liked a song of mine enough to put it on their own CD, that would be a dream come true. I would be so excited to hear my words on the radio even if sung by someone else, because I would know that it has touched someone enough to sing it themselves and it can now touch others.

Kendra: That'd be great if someone you liked sang one of your songs and sang it. On that note, you're influences are classic artists like Madonna and Billy Joel, but you're also in the know with what your students are into. Do they appreciate that?

Richard: I'm not sure that they appreciate it, but they are surprised if they catch me humming a song by Bruno Mars or Katy Perry or other current artists. I think they're surprised that I appreciate a lot of musical styles and stay current with what I listen to. Although I don't try to keep up with the trends with my own music....that would drive me insane. I just do what I like and hope that it catches someone's ear. My goal is to create a song that has a timeless melody and 20 years from now someone will still be able to enjoy it and appreciate its meaning.

Kendra: A timeless part of many schools is the choir and you're in your school's faculty choir. Ever feel like Glee?

Richard: Ummm no. We don't dance haha.

Kendra: Aww, no moves? But have you ever performed original material with the choir?

Richard: I sang "Even If" last year at a choir concert and it was fun. I had a few people tell me that the song touched them and that they almost cried, so it's always nice to hear positive feedback like that. Although I asked just to be certain if it was the words and meaning of the song that made them want to cry, or was my singing hurting their ears.

Kendra: Traveling back for a second, before the choir and everything else today, can you remember the exact moment you wanted music to be more than singing along to the radio in your car?

Richard: I was listening to Billy Joel's "Second Wind" and there was a story behind it. Someone was saying how that song literally saved their life because they were contemplating suicide until the song gave them the strength to wait for their "second wind." I suddenly realized how powerful a song can be and how it can touch people so deeply. Since then I've always wanted to write songs that are more than something that just sounds good. I want to write songs that connect with a person on a deeper level. Although some of my favorite music is mindless dance music that just sounds good. I've written some songs just to play with melodies and different sounds myself, but if one of those songs of mine made it big, I don't think I'd be satisfied personally. I'd always be searching for the song that really connects to people such as "Second Wind."

Kendra: On the second note, one of your favorite quotes is by my second favorite author, Dr. Suess, "Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened." How long have you applied that to life?

Richard: I apply that every year since I've heard it maybe 10 years ago. I put it on my blackboard the last week of school each year...especially for any seniors that I have. My first year teaching, I actually cried (not in front of the students) on the last day of school. I got to know and like so many students and then I suddenly realized that I would not see many of the students ever again. That quote helped me realize that although people move on, the impact you had on each other will remain. Just because things don't last, doesn't make the time together worthless.

Kendra: A priceless moment was adopting your son, Nick, who your single "Even If" is about. Can you tell me a little bit more about the foster charities you're involved in?

Richard: I set up two sites online where people can donate. One charity is based in Chicago (I've donated to them each Christmas for about 15 years now) and the other is based in Joliet (my current hometown). I plan to give away some CD's for the singles "Even If" and "Free" and ask that if they received a free CD to consider going to those sites to donate. I haven't started asking for donations yet, but will do so sometime in March and plan to donate any itune sales I may get as well. Here are the two sites

http://www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/richardanthony/mission-of-our-lady-of-mercy.

http://www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/richardanthony/guardian-angel-of-joliet

Kendra: Sticking with moments, the moment you decided you wanted to extend your home and heart to a child who needed it?

Richard: There wasn't "a" moment. It was a long process and much thought went into that decision. I thought about having a child for years, but after a while, I started to wonder if I liked my "freedom" better. I decided to foster a child to see how that would go, and if fostering went okay, look into adopting. Nick entered my home in March of 2009 and from the very first moment he arrived, I knew I was ready to be a father. He was six years old at the time and had some issues, but I worked hard with him and he is doing so much better. At first, I thought that he would go back home one day (that was the intent of the court) but about a year later his mother signed him away, and I was asked if I would adopt him. Of course I said yes, and it was the best thing that could have happened to me. I'm actually not sure if I would foster again though (when the intent is to go back home someday), because I realized that if Nick had to go back home I would have been devastated. Although my favorite quote from above helps me deal with the end of school, I'm not sure if it would be enough to help me cope with losing a child I became so attached to. One day I may adopt another foster child who became open to adoption, but that's a few years down the road.

Kendra: Again, "Even If" was inspired by Nick. What else introduces your pen to paper to create a song?

Richard: Any strong emotion inspires me. Whatever that emotion may be. If you listen to the album, there are many emotions I tried to convey.

Kendra: You've written a whole record now. Any early favorites?

Richard: That's a tough question. I have some songs that I recorded just for me in a way. I'm not sure how other people will react to them. One of those songs is called "Lonely." I don't feel that way often, but I had one of those nights and the chorus just came to me. I had that song half done in my head for months and finally forced myself to finish it. Songs I like that I'm hoping others like as well are "Even If," "Free," "Connected," "Make Me Yours" and "We Belong Right Here."

Kendra: Speaking of, what's the name of said album and when can we expect it to drop?

Richard: The name of the album is "Connected" and it should be available in the summer of 2011.

Kendra: "Connections" is bound to have a smorgasbord of styles. If you had to describe "Connections" in a game of Pictionary, what would you draw?

Richard: I wish someone would tell me that answer. I'm trying to decide on a cover for my CD and my thought was to have pictures of many things in the shape of puzzle pieces, yet somehow they all fit together. Besides the connections between us and every living thing and the planet and universe, there are connections between the emotions inside of us. Even love and hate are sometimes connected. There are relationships where one minute they seem to be in love, and then it turns ugly. I've seen people show more anger at a friend or lover than they would ever show to some stranger. I have love songs on this CD, and then a song about telling someone to leave, and it's all about the same person...just written at different times. There are songs about feeling lonely, and songs about having a sense of belonging. The album comes from years of ideas of songs, and although they may seem unrelated, they are all a part of me. I don't think anyone will like every song, because of where they may be in life. But I'm hoping someone that understands and appreciates the song "Lonely" today, will one day appreciate the song "Free" instead. I'm hoping that someone will be able to listen to this album years later, and discover new favorites due to their new circumstances.

Kendra: You worked with producer Victor Crowl on "Connections." How'd you hook up with him and what did you love about his musical process?

Richard: I heard some of Victor's music on Facebook and it was such positive music; the songs had uplifting messages. I emailed him asking if he worked with others and found out that he had his own studio. I know I could have found studios in Chicago, but I couldn't have found someone who I connected with as well as Victor (who lives in Toronto, Canada). There were times I thought he was reading my mind. For example, we would listen to a take on a song and I would open my mouth to say something and before I'd get a word out, he'd say something like "you think we should take that sound out" and that's exactly what I was thinking. We had our differences also, but we always found a middle ground where we were both happy with the final product. He performed much of the background vocals also, and his added parts helped make the songs full. He has such a good sense of melody. He also pushed me at times to do as well as I could. When I first wrote they lyrics to "Even If" I showed him what I thought was complete, and he said it needed more. I swallowed my pride and came up with the bridge of the song, and it turned out to be my favorite part of the song. It wouldn't have turned out the same without his belief that I could do more and he was like that with every song. He always pushed me to do my best and gave me such good advice.