"O.C." Star Bares Memphis Soul

When you think of soul music, Peter Gallagher of The O.C. is not exactly the first image that comes to mind.

But Epic Records is betting on the actor's Otis Redding-inspired vocal chops, and will release an entire album of soul songs interpreted by Gallagher Nov. 8.

Fans of the Fox drama may remember last year's episode in which the Broadway-trained actor performed a Solomon Burke song. One of those fans happened to be an Epic executive's wife, who suggested her husband sign Gallagher on the spot.

"Epic approached me about making the record after I had sung 'Don't Give Up on Me,' last season on The O.C., Gallagher tells E! Online.

"The label suggested I record an album of songs like that and sent me a 10 CD set of recordings from the Stax era. I thought it was a great idea, but I also wanted to do some songs for my generation that while not [exclusively] from Memphis, might work with the Memphis sound."

Indeed, Gallagher's forthcoming studio set, 7 Days in Memphis, is more for "his generation" than for fans of his current show. There's not a single Death Cab for Cutie or Phantom Planet cover to be found on the track list that includes renditions of "Don't Give Up on Me" along with Carla and Rufus' "When You Move You Lose" and Sam and Dave's "Something Is Wrong with My Baby." The closest thing to modern rock is a version of Lucinda Williams' "Still I Long for Your Kiss."

While the 50-year-old Gallagher is an accomplished stage and screen actor, with credits like Noises Off and sex, lies and videotape under his belt, he has no illusions regarding his fame on the Fox hit--and how it made his solo debut possible.

"Getting a record deal at my age is nothing anyone in their right mind could anticipate or hope for in this day and age...It's one of the most extraordinary things that's ever happened to me professionally," he says.

"In an age when the popular culture is geared almost exclusively to very young people, it can be a little alienating if you're an adult to be so conspicuously ignored. I wanted to do songs that would address love and loss in a way that might resonate with people who have really experience those things and that might also expose younger audiences to some great songs and artists."

Gallagher started singing professionally in the first Broadway revival of Hair more than 20 years ago. Until now, his greatest musical success came in the Tony-winning revival of Guys & Dolls, where he starred opposite Nathan Lane. Gallagher can be heard singing the classic "Luck Be a Lady" on the Grammy-winning show album. Still, it's The O.C. that exposes him to his biggest audience--and based on his performance of "Don't Give Up on Me" last season, there could be more crooning in the Bait Shop during the show's current third season.

"I've noticed a few singing references in the scripts so far, so it's possible," Gallagher hints.

Of course, Gallagher is also cognizant of fellow actors like Bruce Willis, Don Johnson, Billy Bob Thornton, Kevin Bacon and David Hasselhoff, whose musical forays have wound up in the remainder bins.

"I know for a fact that there will be people who won't take my music seriously because I'm an actor on a TV show," he says.

"But while I'm a newcomer to the recording business I've been singing my whole professional life and have put together some great songs so hopefully there will be some people out there who will enjoy them. Plus, there is no response in the world that could lessen the really wonderful experience I had singing these songs with these amazing musicians."

Gallagher's 7 Days in Memphis showcases some A-list session musicians--including guitarist and Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Steve Cropper, a founding member of Booker T & the MG's and architect of the Memphis sound.

"It is a truly great band and singing with them was one of the highlights of my life," says Gallagher.

And if 7 Days fails to set the Billboard 200 on fire in November, Gallagher says he always has a day job to fall back on. But due to the grind of his weekly series, Gallagher doesn't have any immediate plans to tour in support of his album.

"For the time being while The O.C. is in production there really isn't much time for anything else," he says. But, he adds, "If I could make singing and touring a regular part of my life, along with acting, I would."