Dillon O?Brian, acclaimed singer and songwriter, celebrated with family and friends in Catonsville on Monday as Baltimore County Executive Jim Smith named July 3 “Dillon O?Brian Day.”
“He is an excellent example of why Catonsville is called Music City,” Smith said. “He is a successful member of the community, and this is a perfect way to celebrate family and community.”
O?Brian, who has written songs for artists such as Mariah Carey, Shakira and Ringo Starr, is a Catonsville native. He grew up on Paradise Avenue and graduated from Mount Saint Joseph High School in 1978.
He purchased his first amplifier and guitar from Bill?s Music House on Frederick Road when he was “19 or 20,” he said. He came home for the holiday weekend in order to celebrate his mother?s 78th birthday.
“I haven?t seen him in years, but I am very proud ofhim,” Rose O?Doherty said of her son. She said the family will celebrate her birthday by watching the fireworks in Catonsville.
O?Brian, who is born Brian O?Doherty, has written theme songs for NBC hits like “The Office” and “My Name is Earl.” He also received four stars from Rolling Stone Magazine for his debut album, “Scenes From My Last Confession,” and was nominated for an Emmy for his theme song to Disney movie “The Buzz on Maggie.”
On Monday, O?Brian played a selection of songs for his friends and family, including “Fearless Love,” which was featured in the Academy award-winning film “Sideways.”
“Baltimore was an amazing cross-section of music,” he said. Inspired by the music of the 1960s, O?Brian said he never doubted that he would somehow become involved with music when he got older.
“I just always knew I wanted to be a songwriter,” he said. “Our house was full of music.” He said music was a big part of growing up; there was either ?60s protest or pop music blaring around the house.
O?Brian lives in Los Angeles where he is working on a screenplay with business partner Bob Thiele. “What a Wonderful Life” is about his partner?s father, Bob Thiele, a 1950s record producer who worked with Duke Ellington, John Coltrane and Buddy Holly.
“It?s good to be back in a town where everyone calls me Brian,” O?Brian told his admirers Monday.
