Hayden Grove – “If I Can Dream” – a passion for the music of the Great American Songbook

Hayden Grove grew up in the era of boy bands and hip hop, but it was love at first listen when the sounds of Frank Sinatra, Bobby Darin, Elvis Presley and more hit his ears. As he grew up and his voice matured, his love for the music developed into a style of his own, using his baritone to pay tribute to his idols, while keeping the music fresh and alive. His passion for entertaining through these standards is unmatched and it shows in each and every performance—most of which are in the Northeast Ohio area. He’s in the process of releasing his third album, “Feeling Good,” after “Christmas” and “Hayden: The Album.”

When asked about why he chose to record “If I Can Dream”: “This is the most special song on the album,” Grove said. “As I was going through selections and songs to cover, I was looking at Elvis’ catalog. Elvis was my idol growing up. I wanted to be him, to move like him, to sing like him. On this album, I wanted to pay tribute to him and maybe prove to myself that I can authentically cover some of his incredible music in my own way. So, as I was venturing through and singing through random songs on a TikTok Live, my manager, Rebecca Oswalt, loved the way I sang, ‘If I Can Dream.’

The song was one that has always been special to me. I had a lead role in my sophomore year when our school performed the Elvis musical, ‘All Shook Up.’ That show and experience was one I still cherish to this day. It was truly one of the best times of my life, singing Elvis’ music and performing with dear friends. It was magical. For that reason, It meant a lot to be able to record this song, one that focuses on hope and love. It’s a beautiful song with a beautiful message and it’s one that will always mean a lot to me. I couldn’t be more thrilled I was able to record it.”

His passion for the music of the Great American Songbook is extremely evident when you hear his voice. You can feel his soul with every note. He has a way of making you feel something with every song and it is always a pleasure to hear him.