We live in such a crazy world! Life seems to get harder & harder as the years pass by. The more things change, the more they remain the same.

Family & friends are divided over politics, causing some of them not to speak to one another. Communities are marginalized for their differences. The list goes on and on!

When I heard about a new song called "Love Is Why We're Here," I was excited to hear it. After listening to the song all the way through, I found myself hitting replay for the next 30 minutes.

"Love Is Why We're Here" is a beautiful song written by Jamie Wooten, Michael Orland & featuring the vocals of Actor Sam Gravitte.

Fans of The Golden Girls, definitely KNOW Jamie because he spent several seasons writing on and producing the show. 

Remember when Sophia and Dorothy dressed as Sonny and Cher? What about when Blanche disastrously sang atop the grand piano at the Rusty Anchor bar? Who can forget when Sophia ran away from home to become a nun?

All those classic moments were because of Jamie!

In fact, Estelle Getty herself, introduced Jamie to his songwriting partner, Michael Orland, who wrote the music for "Love Is Why We're Here."

I am beyond thrilled that I got to speak with Jamie, whose television work I have been a fan of for over 30 years!

In this interview, Jamie answered my call to share:

• Why Sam Gravitte was the perfect voice to bring “Love Is Why We’re Here” to life
• How today’s divided world made this song feel more necessary than ever
• Jamie’s simple, but powerful advice for embracing our differences with grace
• The Golden Girls moments Jamie helped create that fans still quote, sing, and celebrate
• How Estelle Getty helped spark his nearly 40-year creative partnership with Michael Orland
• So much more

Connect with Jamie: Website, Facebook

"Love Is Why We're Here" is an uplifting and beautiful song about hope and remembering what truly matters in times of upheaval. This song wears its heart upon its sleeve - quite purposefully - to remind us all what we have to hold onto - love, and one another.

Embrace this poignant and timely tune as you embrace your friends, your partner, your neighbors, all of those you hold dear in your life, and know that by doing this, this world can survive anything. 

Stream "Love Is Why We're Here" everywhere you get your music!

1. You, Michael Orland & Sam Gravitte just released your new single, "Love Is Why We're Here." What made Sam the right vocalist to sing your song? Fate! When I first moved to Los Angeles in the late '70's, I went to see a show at the Westwood Playhouse. It had a large cast, but one performer stood out to me: Her name was Debbie Shapiro. She blew me away with her talent, but there was something about her I just couldn't put my finger on that fascinated me. I went back to see her a few times, and followed her career and saw her in many things. She was my favorite singer.

And it finally dawned on me that what she had that radiated off the stage was confidence. She was SO talented and knew exactly what she was doing and why and for whom. That was the quality that pulled me in.

And I knew I wanted to be that sure of my craft, whatever I ended up doing. That's the magic.  Well, lo and behold, all these decades later, Michael calls me one day and says he's found the perfect male vocalist for our new song, Sam Gravitte. I sat bolt upright and asked, 'Sam Gravitte, as in his parent's name is also Gravitte?'

Because I knew that through the years, Debbie Shapiro had married the actor Beau Gravitte. There had to be a connection. And of course Sam is her son. And of course Michael knew him, because of course, Michael knew Debbie. How fast did I say 'YES!' to Sam singing this song.  Fate, fate, fate, baby!

2. What made now the right time to release this song? Hell-o? Have you been reading the news lately? Talked to beyond frustrated friends? Traveled anywhere and discovered how people who aren't Americans feel about what is happening here? Tried to get through a Thanksgiving meal with your family hoping 'that Uncle' doesn't bring up topics that will destroy the fragile detente around the table? If not now, there may not ever be a 'when'.

3. One set of lyrics you wrote for this song that I love are, "If we only could embrace all our differences with grace." What tips do you have on ways we could accomplish this? Listen.  Something that's easy to say and hard to do. But that is the key. We have to find the respect for one another to take the time to listen to one another.

4. In addition to writing the lyrics for "Love Is Why We're Here," you are also a BMI award-winning songwriter and the writer producer of nearly 400 episodes of sitcoms including the classic TV hit comedy, The Golden Girls, specifically the scenes where Sophia and Dorothy were dressed as Sonny and Cher, Blanche disastrously singing atop the grand piano in the Rusty Anchor bar & Sophia running away from home to become a nun. And Estelle Getty introduced you to your "Love Is Why We're Here" songwriting partner, Michael Orland. What was the best part about working on these scenes? What challenges, if any, did you encounter bringing these iconic moments to life? The best part was that the women were always up for a good time and were always eager to sing. Bea was a Tony Award Winning musical theatre performer!

The only challenge was that we couldn't do it more often! Those women were so, so wonderful, and every moment I got to spend with them, both on the set and with them in our homes, was incredibly special and naughty fun was had by all!

5. When Estelle Getty introduced you to Michael Orland, how did you know you wanted to have Michael as your songwriting partner? Once Estelle knew I could sing, the three of us started doing fundraisers around town, always for AIDS awareness. And she always asked us to perform at her huge birthday bashes.

That led naturally to the deep friendship Michael & I have had for nearly 40 years, and that led to our songwriting. What a joy that man is to me!

Jamie Wooten

More on Jamie Wooten:

Jamie Wooten is not only one of America's most-produced playwrights, but he is also a BMI award-winning songwriter and the writer and producer of nearly 400 episodes of sitcoms for every network and studio in Hollywood.

Chief among his credits is many seasons writing and producing the classic TV hit comedy, The Golden Girls. Sophia and Dorothy as Sonny and Cher? That was Jamie. Blanche disastrously singing atop the grand piano in the Rusty Anchor bar? That was Jamie, too. Sophia runs away from home to become a nun? Yep, Jamie again. Oh, and his songwriting partner, Michael Orland? Introduced to him, of course, by Estelle Getty.

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