Sheryl Aronson, a multifaceted psychotherapist, journalist, and photographer, has added yet another dimension to her creative repertoire—songwriting. Her heartfelt composition, “On the Road to Your Heart,” made its debut at her 70th birthday celebration, bringing together the essence of her career as a therapist and her passion for the arts. In this exclusive interview, Sheryl shares the inspiration behind her song, the collaborative efforts that brought it to life, and her plans to develop the piece into a full-fledged musical. We sat down with Schmooze Jazz’s event editor Sheryl Aronson and learned a whole lot about her new single, her other career(s), and so much more!
Schmooze Jazz: You composed a song that premiered at your birthday party last year. Tell me about the song and what inspired it. What was your role(s) in its creation?
Sheryl Aronson: “On the Road to Your Heart” was inspired by my work as a relationship therapist for over 30 years. As I wrote the lyrics, I reflected on what makes relationships both challenging and rewarding, and how, despite the heartbreak, we still choose to take the chance on love. In every relationship, we’re walking down the road to each other’s heart, sometimes feeling lost or detoured along the way. It’s also a journey of self-discovery as we understand what love means to us individually.
In 2001, I completed my musical called On the Road to Your Heart, which I developed during a playwriting seminar at South Coast Repertory in Costa Mesa. I wrote the song as the showstopper for the musical. At the time, I was taking private piano lessons and a songwriting class at Saddleback Community College in Mission Viejo. For our final project, we recorded our song in a studio—I played the piano on the original cut, and my piano teacher’s wife, who had a beautiful voice, sang it.
Schmooze Jazz: Talk about the people involved in making the song. Please discuss their roles.
Sheryl Aronson: “On the Road to Your Heart” became a group project thanks to my amazing friends. First, I approached Dr. Gail Jhonson, an incredible artist, keyboardist, and producer, with my original recording. I asked her to produce the song for my 70th birthday party. Gail collaborated with Britt Prentice, a talented vocalist, and together they updated the original to give it a more contemporary feel. I also brought in Terry Wollman, a brilliant guitarist/producer; Jerome Randall, a bassist who’s backed many smooth jazz artists in Southern California; and Bryan Thompson (aka B. Thompson), who currently tours with Babyface as a sax player and backup singer. Gail recruited Castella to sing a duet with Britt Prentice, bringing her stunning vocals into the mix.
Schmooze Jazz: How do you know Gail Jhonson, and is “On the Road to Your Heart” your first collaboration?
Sheryl Aronson: Gail is one of my dearest friends. We met 10 years ago when I started my career as a music journalist, and we’ve worked on many projects together since. I completely trusted her with my song because I knew she would produce something outstanding. Gail’s musical style, a sophisticated blend of smooth jazz, funk, and R&B, is always on point. She’s worked with renowned musicians like Norman Brown, Brenda Russell, and Jermaine Jackson, and she leads the all-female group Jazz in Pink. Gail has an impressive background, with a B.A. in composition from Berklee College of Music, a master’s degree in music business, and recently earned her doctorate. She produced “On the Road to Your Heart” with that signature golden touch.
Schmooze Jazz: Talk about your career as an entertainment journalist and photographer.
Sheryl Aronson: My career as a music journalist actually began when I was 24 years old in Boston. I wrote my first article on 13-year-old jazz prodigy Terri Lyne Carrington for Soul Teen Magazine. Later, I had the opportunity to interview Grammy-nominated Maynard Ferguson for Modern Recording Magazine, and in 1980, I interviewed Herbie Hancock for their cover story. After that article, I stepped away from writing until 10 years ago.
Interestingly, I ran into Terri Lyne Carrington again in 2014 when she was playing drums for Herbie Hancock at a Harvard concert. This was after she had won multiple Grammys. We reconnected, and I asked to write about her again—this time, I got to interview her at the Gdańsk Jazz Festival in Poland, alongside Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, and Esperanza Spalding. That interview reignited my passion for music journalism, and since then, I’ve been writing for publications like Agenda, Schmooze Jazz, and Chic Compass. I’ve interviewed artists such as Melissa Manchester, Keiko Matsui, Jeffrey Osborne, Sheila E., and Dave Koz.
Journalism
“I wrote my first article on 13-year-old jazz prodigy Terri Lyne Carrington for Soul Teen Magazine.”
Sheryl Aronson
I also started photographing concerts and events, and in 2020, I launched a photography and video company called Sasaphotos with my partner, Sherman Alford.
Schmooze Jazz: You are also a psychotherapist. How does that play a role in your creative pursuits?
Sheryl Aronson: Being a psychotherapist is a very creative process for me. I became a therapist because I’m deeply interested in the journey we each take to discover our identity. Writing and interviewing are just extensions of that. I’ve always been fascinated by the psychological and spiritual development of people, which is something I explore in my therapy sessions as well as in my writing and photography. These creative outlets give me a way to express my thoughts about the human condition and the intricacies of relationships.
I’ve been a psychotherapist since 1985, and it’s a career I remain passionate about. My personal journey, particularly surviving breast cancer and depression, has given me a renewed sense of purpose and joy. When I turned 70, I wanted to celebrate all that I’ve overcome and the beautiful moments I’ve experienced. That’s why it was the perfect time to introduce my song “On the Road to Your Heart”—it’s a reflection of everything I’ve been through.
Schmooze Jazz: Congratulations on the release of your first single. It’s a beautiful song, and I understand it’s now on iHeart Radio. How does it feel to have success so soon?
Sheryl Aronson: The success of the song is a result of the collective effort of all the talented people who contributed to it. I’m incredibly grateful to each of them for their hard work and dedication. This project was a true collaboration, and I’m happy to share the success of “On the Road to Your Heart” with everyone involved.
Schmooze Jazz: What musical projects are you working on next?
Sheryl Aronson: I’m currently developing On the Road to Your Heart into a theatrical musical. My goal is to collaborate with artists from the musical theatre world that I’ve connected with throughout my journalism career. The musical will not only tell a story but also offer an experiential interaction for the audience. I’ve written the book and lyrics, and I’m looking forward to collaborating with a composer to bring the music to life.
