Ari Gold

He started out as a child. Ari Gold was but five years old when he first sang in public at his brother's Bar Mitzvah. From there it was first prize at a Children's Song Festival and the leading role in a CBS record production of Pot Belly Bear: Songs and Stories. Ari's lead role spawned two careers that day. Ari became a child star and his father became a children's talent manager. In the years that follow Ari found himself juggling a full time career as a child actor and a little Yeshiva boy. (A Yeshiva is a Jewish school that offers a doule load of Classes in English and Hebrew.) All during the 80's nearly every time a child's voice was heard on a TV commercial it was Ari Gold's voice. Ari said that he lost count somewhere along the way but he figures that he made somewhere between 400 and 500 commercials. A lot of adults were relying on me for their livelihood. That's a lot of pressure for a kid,: said Ari. Many of Ari's commercials are being rebroadcast on VH1 as a part of I Love the 80's Strikes Back.

Little Ari has grown up and while he occasionally makes a commercial Ari has found a more important task singing to the world about being happy with who you are. If you can't e happy with yourself, you can't be happy with anyone else, said Ari. Ari said that he knew from a young age that he was different. He liked playing Barbie dolls with the girls. I have always had a strong sense of who I was, said Ari. And Ari's music reflects his attitude. You can't let others define who you are, he adds. Ari is a gay male. He sings about his life as a gay male. He's on My Team is a song based on a true story about a guy and a girl who are fighting over the same guy. But Ari believes that his music is for everyone. We can all find commonality in our struggles, said Ari.

Ari's first CD won Ari Out Music's Outstanding Debut Recording Award. He has a new CD coming out in January. Space Under Sun is about everyone finding his own space no matter where they may be. The new CD is dedicated to the children. While Ari acknowledges some of his lyrics are not appropriate for younger listeners, Ari wanted to dedicate the CD to all the children who feel different. Ari feels a strong attachment to children and toys. Ari's music and other merchandise including a calendar can be found at Ari's website www.arigold.com. In October Ari will release his fourth album "Transport Systems".

As a singer Ari is in the public eye. The exposure has led him to being a fashion model and doing fashion spreads in magazine. The exposure has led to something else too Ari the role model. Ari says that there are not many openly gay singers out there so many gay men look to the divas. Ari will talk to anyone who will listen. He lets his music do the talking. Ari doesn't feel he is a gay roll model, but if that is what he becomes then he will embrace it. I'm only myself, said Ari. Ari feels that the music industry does not support queer musicians, but with greater visibility gay men should look to themselves for role models.

Ari stresses honesty in his music and his life. Ari came out at the end of high school. His honesty made his mother proud and gave Ari direction as a singer. Raised an Orthodox Jew, Ari stopped observing when he came out because he felt that the Jewish community didn't support him as a gay male. However; being a Jew is a big part of Ari's life so he is still observant with his family. Ari's mother wanted her son to be a Cantor, but she is proud of her son the singer.

The young Yeshiva boy has grown up, but he has not forgotten who or what he is.