KAILUA-KONA — You might not know Jim Brickman by name but you know his hits.
You just don’t you know them.
Brickman, a songwriter and pop music pianist with six Gold and Platinum albums to his credit, is the oft overlooked creator of some chart-topping hits. The public face of the popular songs always goes to the famous bands who sing them.
Brickman even jokes about it. Ego aside, he’s gotten quite used to it.
“I sort of tease about it. I don’t blame people for that. I don’t expect people to know,” he said. “‘Oh, you’re the one who plays piano on that Lady Antebellum song.”
The country music group is one of many with whom Brickman has earned success with “Never Alone,” a 2007 hit. Martina McBride is another, “Valentine” in 1997, while Five For Fighting and Brickman topped the charts last year with “Christmas Where You Are.”
On Wednesday, Brickman is playing Hawaii Island for the first time in his two-decade touring career. A staple on Oahu, he’ll perform at 7 p.m. at the Kahilu Theatre in Waimea as part of his Share the Love tour.
Also known for his role as a radio show host, Brickman said Hawaii, and tropical locations in general including throughout South East Asia, have long been avid fans of his music. The romantic, melodic tunes have always meshed well in areas known for sand and warm breezes. Hawaii has long been home to some one of his most devout followers.
“There’s a real love for the beauty of the music,” he said of the Aloha State. “It’s kind of always been that way.”
The performance promises to be an intimate one, where the artist engages with the audience, almost as though he were playing in the center of a living room.
“Come for the comedy and stay for the music,” he joked, adding the message of love behind the tour theme isn’t reserved for romance only, either. “It’s really more of that emotional connection.”
He promises to breakout all the hits as well. Hits people know, just perhaps not their composer.
“If you’re not familiar, there are a lot of songs you know, you just don’t know they’re mine,” he said.
Tickets range in price from $25-$68 and can be purchased online at www.kahilutheatre.org.
Info: www.jimbrickman.com/tour.
