American singer-songwriter and pianist Micah Sheveloff has released “Someone There For Me,” the lead single from his forthcoming 12-track album, Don’t You Wonder, scheduled for release on January 15, 2027. The recording features a songwriting collaboration involving Extreme frontman Gary Cherone and late jazz composer Benny Golbin.
Based in Saint Petersburg, Florida, Sheveloff brings together jazz, traditional pop and contemporary songwriting on the new track. The release also highlights a musical friendship with Cherone that began more than four decades ago in Boston.
Micah Sheveloff and Gary Cherone Revisit a Longstanding Musical Partnership
The collaboration originated in a friendship dating to approximately 1984, when Sheveloff and Cherone performed in Boston’s music scene.
Their professional paths developed separately over the following decades, but the musicians remained connected through shared musical interests.
In autumn 2024, Cherone contacted Sheveloff about recording an American Songbook-inspired composition that had existed as a demo for several years.
The original plan involved assembling jazz musicians previously associated with Sheveloff. However, Cherone’s touring commitments supporting Extreme’s album SIX delayed the proposed recording session.
Sheveloff subsequently developed his own arrangement, transforming the composition into a recording suited to his musical approach.
A Collaboration Built on Creative Friendship
Sheveloff emphasized that the project emerged naturally from a longstanding personal and artistic relationship.
“I want to be mindful that we talk about my relationship with Gary for what it really is, a friendship developed across creative commonalities that led to an eventual collaboration later in life,” he says.
Reflecting on Cherone’s influence, Sheveloff previously explained:
“I was young and had much more exposure to classical piano and choir than rock and roll at the time. But Gary has a genuine appreciation for a broad range of styles and genres, and that in itself helped bring down walls for me and turned me loose to write unabated by a false sense of lanes or boundaries.”
New Single Combines Jazz Arrangements With Contemporary Pop
“Someone There For Me” was originally co-written by Cherone and Los Angeles jazz composer and educator Benny Golbin, who died in a road racing incident.
Following Golbin’s death, his family established the Benny Golbin Foundation, an organization dedicated to supporting children’s access to musical instruments and education.
Sheveloff’s interpretation introduces several changes to the original composition, including a revised tempo, adjustments to the vocal melody and an additional bridge featuring layered harmonies.
Jazz guitarist Nate Najar also contributes to the recording, complementing its combination of traditional jazz harmonies and melodic pop influences.
The arrangement reflects Sheveloff’s broader interest in combining musical traditions rather than restricting his work to a single genre.
Upcoming Album ‘Don’t You Wonder’ Features 12 Tracks
The single introduces Don’t You Wonder, an album that draws from Sheveloff’s experience across classical music, jazz, rock and pop.
The forthcoming collection includes songs such as “City Bus” and “Tranquility,” alongside material influenced by artists including Lyle Lovett, Herbie Hancock, David Baerwald, Cheap Trick and Brian Wilson.
Classical Training Shapes Sheveloff’s Songwriting
Raised in Lexington, Massachusetts, Sheveloff studied classical piano before developing a career involving studio recordings and live performances across several genres.
His early musical experience included appearances around Boston with The Detours, Gary Cherone, Something Outside and The Voodoo Jets.
He later worked on sessions supporting country, pop, rock and metal performers, building a musical background that informs his solo recordings.
Describing his songwriting philosophy, Sheveloff said:
“My songs are a breakfast hash made from memories of Bartok and The Beatles, ’70s pop songs and a touch of Stravinsky. I write songs to be accessible but with subtle complexities and compelling dark tones.”
New Release Builds on Sheveloff’s Established Musical Career
Sheveloff’s recordings have previously attracted favourable commentary from musicians and music publications.
New York guitarist Marc Shulman described him as “a natural musician, with deep roots and a huge vocabulary,” while Chelsea Speer of Pop Shifter wrote that his voice “elevates his material to something more transporting and otherworldly.”
Mark Suppanz of Big Takeover highlighted his “vivid lyrics” for creating “picturesque, instantly relatable narratives,” while Fair Hedon described his playing as “really something special.”
“Someone There For Me” is available through digital music platforms, including Spotify, Apple Music and YouTube.
With Don’t You Wonder scheduled for January 15, 2027, the single offers an introduction to Sheveloff’s latest work and a collaboration connecting his early Boston musical relationships with his current recording career.
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