Michael Bolton talks about ‘American Song Contest’ and what we can expect at his Mohegan show

Why should Michael Bolton be representing Connecticut on NBC’s “American Song Contest”? Read his 2013 memoir titled “The Soul of It All: My Music, My Life.” Throughout his long career in an industry largely based in Los Angeles and New York City, Bolton has continually returned to his home state.

He grew up in the Beaver Hills section of New Haven, where his father was active in local politics. He hitchhiked to California as a teenager to pursue his music career and returned to Connecticut just weeks later. He built his name locally as a singer in metal bands, including Blackjack, playing regularly at Toad’s Place and other local clubs. When, after decades of effort, he finally made a national name for himself first as a songwriter and then as a performer, he was still connected to Connecticut. He’s been a resident of Westport for more than three decades.

Bolton appeared in the first episode of NBC’s “American Song Contest,” hosted by Snoop Dogg and Kelly Clarkson, on March 21 singing the feel-good anthem “Beautiful World,” which he co-wrote with Justin Jesso. The competition is a U.S. version of the “Eurovision Song Contest.” Bolton was not the jury’s choice to advance to the semifinals, but he got there a week later through the other qualifying route, viewers’ votes.

On Monday, Michael Bolton returns to “American Song Contest” as a contender in the show’s semifinals. On Friday, the singer will perform at Mohegan Sun Arena. There’s a pre-show fundraiser for his Michael Bolton Charities organization, which will be raising money for its Beyond Trauma Youth Music Therapy Andie Koplik Residency programs at Riverside Opportunity Academy in New Haven and Bennie Dover Jackson Multi-Magnet Middle School in New London.

The Courant spoke to Bolton in mid-April about his Connecticut roots, what you can expect to hear on his latest tour, and what makes him laugh.

You’ve been in Connecticut for pretty much your whole life.

There are different reasons throughout the years why I spend more or less time in Connecticut. I did have access to the greatest training ground in the world, which is New York City. If you want to get tough, find out what you’re made of, work in New York. But I wound up taking that work ethic back home to Connecticut.

Over the years I’ve had a lot of friends who are aspiring artists in the state of Connecticut, and one of the things we did have in common is that it’s such an enormous uphill climb to have a career in the music business. People who are really a part of the climb of success in their careers, they know how tough it is. We know how long the road can be — for me it was 18 years.

On “American Song Contest” they showed your gold record that’s hanging on the wall at Sally’s Pizza. Did you know there’s still a photo of your band Blackjack hanging behind the counter at Mamoun’s on Howe Street?

Mamoun’s was life-altering. There was a cult that was created around Mamoun’s falafel.

Where exactly did you live in New Haven?

We actually lived in quite a few places within about a 10-block radius. We lived on the Boulevard. We lived right around the corner from Goffe Terrace. I would walk to school with my friend, and I would be the one singing the melody of the latest hit. Looking back, it was just the most natural thing to do. One of my old friends now makes a living off of creating algorithms, so we all had our different passions. Mine was music, probably from when I was 12.

Your father was a ward boss in the 24th Ward.

My brother and I would leave pamphlets under people’s doors to get congressmen and senators elected. Eventually they became big shots in the party, like Congressman Bob Giaimo or Abe Ribicoff. So every once in a while when I meet somebody like [former] Senator Dodd, outside of Connecticut somewhere, there are a lot of names who we’ve both worked with in some capacity. My brother and I helped people get elected, without knowing what we were doing.

Even then, my father was supportive of my pursuit, my interest in music. So was my mother — she actually always wanted to be a singer but, you know, mothers and housewives were not encouraged to pursue careers or do anything that would take them out of the kitchen. So in a way I helped my mother live out her fantasy by my success. Through the years, she was coming to all the shows that weren’t too far away, and I would introduce her to the audience, and she would stand up and wave, and they gave her a lot of love.

You’re playing Mohegan Sun on May 6. What’s in a Michael Bolton show now?

There are quite a few different elements. We recorded an album in Australia with the Perth Symphony Orchestra. So whenever we want, at any time during any of the greatest hits, we have the ability, we have the technology, to have that 65-piece orchestra coming through the speakers. I’ve never had a complaint from a fan or an audience member who said, “Why is there an orchestra coming out of the speaker? Why are you doing that?”

The show basically consists of my greatest hits. What I found when I went to see Bryan Adams or Fleetwood Mac, you hear 15, maybe 18 hits in a row, one after another after another and you’re singing along with them. When they suddenly veer off of the hit list, you’re polite and you clap your hands and maybe make some noise, but there’s a big difference.

My barometer is the audience. My job and my responsibility is to make them feel great about the music they’re hearing coming from me and the band. It’s not rocket science.

Is “Beautiful World” in your show now?

It’s definitely in the show, and it’s a song that has really received a lot of glowing comments from all kinds of people. I get a lot of “We really need a song like this.”

Did you write it especially for “American Song Contest”?

I didn’t write it for the show. I wrote it with Justin Jesso. We were writing about the time we’re in. We were in the thick of COVID. This is before the Ukraine experience. We were just doubling down on turning this negative into a positive. In particular, I was really feeling good about this potential of compassion we can embrace while a lot of people go through one of the toughest times of their lives. We don’t need more negativity. We don’t need more division. We need more of embracing our fellow human beings, being generous and reaching into the positive place in your life and sharing that. It turns out the song has been great for that.

How did you feel when you didn’t get picked the first week? Did you feel pretty good about your chances for making the semifinals when the viewers voted?

This may sound strange to you, but I did not watch the kettle boil. I didn’t feel it was a typical song competition. I didn’t feel like it was a vocal competition. But I did feel like I had an opportunity to reveal the music I’ve been working on for my next album. People were already responding really well to the song. That’s pretty much everything you could want, going in your favor, as part of a show.

But when people talk about it in a competitive way, like “What’s in it for you doing this?” or “I’m surprised you’re doing this,” I’m thinking: Have you guys read my bio? My songwriting took off after 18 years of trying to have an artist’s career, a career as a singer. What is it that would stop me from being excited about doing a song in a show of American songs, that was conceptually created off of Eurovision, which has been the biggest music show in the world since its inception? I’m very much about songwriting, very much about the art of, and the love of, writing music. So it made perfect sense. How far it will go, I don’t know. It’s already a super-positive to me.

You’ve done so much comedy, often on other people’s stuff. What makes you laugh?

I’m somebody who loves Robin Williams, pretty much anything he did. I’ve been known to sit in front of the TV and watch several episodes of “South Park.”

I am developing some new projects. I am finishing up mixing and mastering my newest album as we speak. I am also speaking to people about more opportunities to have fun, which usually means comedy.

Thanks for talking, and break a leg on the show.

I’m going to break a lung.

Michael Bolton performs Friday at 7:30 p.m. at Mohegan Sun Arena, 1 Mohegan Sun Blvd., Uncasville. $20 and $30. mohegansun.com. VIP tickets for a 7 p.m. pre-show reception and fundraiser for Michael Bolton Charities are $250-$15,000 and are available at michaelboltoncharities.com.

Christopher Arnott can be reached at carnott@courant.com.