An Interview with Jerry Sprague

A twenty-two-year-old father becomes a single parent to two sons, ages three and five, abandoning his aspirations of becoming a singer-songwriter-performer. Despite eight years of mental illness, Jerry recreates himself through adversity and more than one failed marriage to later fulfill his dreams of becoming a full-time musician.

In the late 80s and early 90s, his teenage sons, now members of the band Jerry and the Juveniles, go on to perform throughout the upper Midwest for five years to packed rooms and college bars. His solo career spans thirty-five years and over 8,000 shows in college venues, resort towns, and overflowing rooms in Detroit, Chicago, Kalamazoo, Ann Arbor, and Grand Rapids.

Throughout the years of shows on the road, Jerry collects hundreds of people, each individual impacting his story and his work—friendships that endure across decades.

I Love This Song is one man’s journey through sorrow, loss, accomplishment, failure, joy, and countless laughs along the way.

Tell us the story of your book’s title. Was it easy to find, or did it take forever?

Because I have performed over 8,000 shows, it was easy to come up with the title because it is something that I hear every night when I’m performing songs. It’s not always the same songs, and it’s fascinating to find what moves each member of the audience.

How did it feel when you first saw your book cover? Or when you first held your book in your hands?

I was thrilled. It was easy to choose from the ones furnished. It’s primarily red, but the color is never the same from book to book. I like that because it’s quirky.

Who/what made you want to write? Was there a particular person, or particular writers/works/art forms that influenced you?

I knew I had a story because people told me I should write a book when I shared anecdotes of my work and life.

What other professions have you worked in? What’s something about you that your readers wouldn’t know?

I’ve been a plumber/sewer cleaner, actor, musician, painting contractor, realtor, and sailing charter captain.

What was the most rewarding/meaningful part of publishing your book?

I am proud to say that I saw it through to its full completion and publication.

If your book had a soundtrack, what are some songs that would be on it?

That would be a lot of songs to list. I sing everything from Johnny Cash to Neil Diamond, Zak Brown, Jack Johson, George Ezra, and the list goes on, including both old and new songs. My primary audience is college students.

What is one thing you hope readers take away from reading your book?

I hope that people who read my book can relate to the difficulties I endured as a single parent and my struggle with mental health. Despite all of the adversities, I soldiered through and succeeded.

What new writing projects are you currently working on? Or, other projects that are not writing?

I am writing a book about caregiving. I’ve cared for a wife who had a terminal disease, a friend who had severe dementia, and both my parents until their deaths. There’s a lot to be said about caregiving.

How was working with Atmosphere Press? What would you tell other writers who want to publish?

I can’t wait to work with them again. As a musician, I knew how to navigate my profession, but as a writer, I was clueless.

Are you a writer, too? Submit your manuscript to Atmosphere Press.