This art’s vocal, not martial

A CD arrived recently with nothing identifying the artist or any credits information, just song titles and a note from a publicist that the name of the performer would come as a surprise.

It was a male singer with a strong, understated voice, in the realm of Jack Johnson but with more energy. The songwriting was accomplished and the production credible, incorporating singer-songwriter elements, dance-hall and Indian instrumentation. One song featured a harmonica solo sounding uncannily like Stevie Wonder.

So who is the mystery man? A veteran star taking off in a new direction? A former teen-popper trying to resurrect a career? The publicist’s answer: Steven Seagal.

Yes, that Steven Seagal -- action-movie star, martial arts master and, it seems, musician.

“I’ve been playing my whole life,” says Seagal, speaking from his part-time home in Ghana, where he has set up a foundation to deal with AIDS/HIV issues. “It’s my first life. I’ve written about 150 songs. My momma died two years ago, and before she did, she said, ‘Son, you’ve got a lot of songs. Put them out. People like them.’ ”

Seagal grew up in a Detroit-area neighborhood full of people who had migrated from the South, bringing blues music with them. He learned guitar from some of them and studied such luminaries as Albert Collins, Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown and Lightnin’ Hopkins. Even when acting became his career focus, he continued with music, playing alongside such figures as Brown and B.B. King and exploring other directions during stays in Jamaica, Africa and India.

At 54, Seagal has made music a top priority, having recorded his belated debut album, “Songs From the Crystal Cave,” with help from Jamaican stalwarts Tyrone Downie and Al Anderson (both formerly of Bob Marley’s Wailers), Lt. Stitchie and Lady Saw, Indian singer Kavita Subramaniam and some veteran American musicians. And it is Stevie Wonder playing harmonica on the pointed “My God.”

But Seagal is acutely aware of the baggage he carries. He’s seen how credibility issues have dogged Don Johnson, Bruce Willis, Russell Crowe, Minnie Driver and other actors who have made albums. Hence the nameless mailing to the music press.

“I’m of course afraid of that,” he says of the prospect of being seen as a dilettante. “But that’s only in America, and I think we can prove to everyone that this is real.”

His manager, Doug Banker, was skeptical when first brought into the project, and he has been honest with Seagal about difficulties they face.

“I explained to Steven that it was an uphill battle,” says Banker, a veteran manager working with the McGhee Entertainment firm on the careers of KISS and Ted Nugent, among others. “He said, ‘How difficult?’ I said, ‘Directly in proportion to how big a movie star.’ ”

The album is already out in Italy and France, selling particularly well in the latter country, according to Banker. Asia, where there seems to be no problem with movie stars crossing over to music, is the focus for the next few months, with Sony Music set to release the disc in October. The company’s U.S. wing has the option for the U.S. and the rest of the world.

Tentative plans call for a U.S. tour next spring. However it goes, Seagal says, he’s prepared.

“As a Buddhist, we look at life literally as the ocean of suffering, not expecting anything to go particularly smoothly,” he says. “One day sunny, a couple of stormy days. Whichever way, I’ll be writing songs about it.”

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It was time to take on a rookie

Manager Jon Landau has not worked with a lot of acts. Outside of his three decades with Bruce Springsteen, he’s handled only the careers of Shania Twain, Natalie Merchant and Train -- all established veterans before Landau got involved.

So his newest artist comes as a bit of a shock: Alana Grace, just 17 years of age.

Grace came to Landau’s attention two years ago through his associate, Sue Berger, who had heard the young singer. Grace and her mother, Shary, were invited to Landau’s office, where the teen sang live for him over a tape of recorded backing tracks.

“I was astounded,” Landau says. “It wasn’t just a fabulous voice, but she had amazing self-assurance and poise and confidence.”

What also impressed him was that to his ears, the best of the five songs she had was the one she had written herself, and he insisted that she write or co-write all the songs for an album.

The demo of those first five songs, though, was impressive enough to score a recording contract. That came when Landau had lunch with longtime friend Donnie Ienner, president and CEO of Columbia Records (Springsteen’s home). Landau had the tape in his pocket, and after lunch they repaired to the executive’s car and had a listen. Landau says he was stunned when he got home and found a deal memo from Ienner waiting in his fax machine.

Grace is making her official debut with “Black Red Roses,” a song on the soundtrack for the movie “The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants.” On Wednesday she’ll make her first national TV appearance, performing the song on NBC’s “Today” show. Grace’s album, with production by Don Gilmore (Linkin Park, Good Charlotte) and John Fields (Switchfoot, Pink), is due later this year.

Meanwhile, Landau is enjoying the different approach to managing a new, young artist.

“I feel that we can do a great job for her,” he says. “And in an age like this we can help her not only do what she wants to do but do it in a real positive way, avoid some of the foibles that have happened to some young artists.”

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Small faces

* The Gap Band’s music has been recycled as samples and inspiration for several generations of urban music stars. Now some are returning the favor, with R. Kelly serving as executive producer for a solo album by Gap Band co-founder Charlie Wilson, with production by Kelly, Justin Timberlake and Will.I.Am of the Black Eyed Peas. The album, following Wilson’s recovery from years of drug addiction, is due from Jive Records on Aug. 16....

* Righteous rock band P.O.D. is working on a new album with producer Glen Ballard (Alanis Morissette, Dave Matthews), with sessions set to continue through early June at Ballard’s Encino studio. A release date is to be determined....

* Former Warner Bros. and DreamWorks Records executive Lenny Waronker is teaming for the first time with his son, producer-musician Joey, on another family’s affair: a debut album by brother-sister act Judd & Maggie. Dad Waronker (who in the past has produced Randy Newman and James Taylor) is executive producer of the album, due June 14 from RCA Victor, while Joey (who’s worked with Beck, Elliott Smith and others) is producer and drummer on the project....

* Fans of KROQ-FM (106.7) history might want to check out Sirius Satellite Radio’s First Wave channel. The DJ lineup is a reunion of ‘80s KROQ regulars Richard Blade, Dusty Street, Freddy Snakeskin and Swedish Egil, focusing on music from that era. Fred Schneider of the B-52’s also contributes a Friday evening show called “Party Out of Bounds.”