It seems as if you both were destined to make music. Can you each describe how you got your breaks as musicians?

Michael Sembello: It was really by accident that I auditioned to play guitar in Stevie Wonder's band. A friend of mine had come over early one Sunday and convinced me to go the audition with him. I was hesitant because I really didn't know who Stevie was. I was studying with the great Pat Martino and really wanted to be a jazz player. I honestly just went to the auditions to support my friend. Everyone there knew Stevie's stuff and some even had his song books. I remember one guitar player asking Stevie, "What song of yours are you going to play?" and he said, "Just follow me, I don't know what's going to happen , it's all about jazz now." Lucky for me we were both heading in the same direction. He played a lot of the complex jazz progressions I was already studying and very few of his songs. By the end of the day I was the only guitar player left standing.

I believe in serendipity and that there are no coincidences in the universe. I actually told Stevie that I couldn't go out on tour with him right away because I had some weddings to play the following weekend. His management just laughed and said, "If you want the gig kid, you better show up to New York day after tomorrow." When I stood on that stage with him for the first time, I realized who he was, the great "Stevie Wonder" and the next seven years where the most wonderful musical years of my life.

Danny Sembello: Michael was musical from an early age, but I wasn't as sure that the music business was the right place for me. It took me a little longer to realize that I wanted to make music. My cousin was playing with the Jackson 5 in Philly and he had invited them over for dinner before the show. Sitting around my cousin's table eating pasta, Michael [Jackson] began to egg me on saying that your brother bragged about how great of a keyboard player I was. I replied, " Well, I'm actually a better basketball player but I'll play something if you want. So I played "Shake Your Body Down to the Ground" then I segued into "The Secret Life of Plants" a song I learned in the studio with my brother and Stevie Wonder. Michael became captivated with the melody and asked me to play it at least a half dozen times. Each time I played, Michael leaned a little further over the piano to watch my hands. That night was truly magical for me. The day Michael died my brother and I both lost a great friend and inspiration.

Michael, what was it like going on tour with Stevie Wonder so young?

MS:I actually didn't have a suitcase when I left home. My mom had packed an ACME grocery bag for me full of clothes. I went off to New York and started to practice with the band. Stevie liked to practice in basically old folks homes because they never complained. Getting an elevator would take forever. (Smiling) Everyone was getting in and out with their walkers at an incredibly slow pace. Sometimes it would take a half hour

How did playing in that band change you as a musician?

MS: Stevie helped me hone my skills as a guitar player. One night after a show he pulled me aside and told me tone it down. I remember thinking how I was playing my heart out each night and how I didn't know what else to do. Stevie taught me to use my solos to play meaningful lines, not just rip on the guitar. He helped me refine who I was as a musician.

Danny, Stevie was an important figure in your musical career as well. Can you describe your relationship with him?

DS: At 15, I was in a rhythm and blues band called MYX, which Stevie produced.  Stevie inspired me to channel my creativity into songwriting. By the age of 17, I had my first song recorded by Donna Summer and produced by Quincy Jones. By the time I was 22, I had just won my first Grammy.

Michael, Stevie gave you advice when it came to songs - more specifically "Maniac," the song which earned you a Grammy.

MS: I left touring with Stevie to put out my solo album Bossa Nova Hotel. That album contained "Maniac," which became a huge hit. This is a song that always surprises me. After getting placement on the soundtrack to Flashdance, it went on to be a huge radio hit and has been placed in numerous TV commercials. I just found out that its chorus is used on the new Timbaland album, Shock Value II, on the song, "The One I Love" featuring Keri Hilson.

Michael Sembello and Stevie Wonder talk about the writing of "Maniac".

I understand you guys have some pretty rare recordings of Stevie Wonder live with Michael playing guitar. What do you plan to do with those?

DS: Those were recorded off a cassette deck on Michael's amp in the 1970s. He would set it up during the concerts so he could practice off of them later. I found them a few years ago and knew I had to do something with them. I've been using RX Advanced to restore them, and so far I'm amazed with what we have been able to do. As for what's going to happen with the restored recording, you'll have to ask Stevie.

Michael Sembello playing guitar at 17 in Stevie Wonder's band.

Danny, Lets talk about your success as a song writer. You have such a huge catalog of hits.

DS: I've written for artists from Celine Dion to Brandy to Cyndi Lauper to George Benson to The Pointer Sisters to New Edition to Boy George and the list goes on. I co-wrote "Why oh Why" which was placed on Celine Dion's Let's Talk About Love album. It was the album that had "My Heart Will Go On" and has sold over nine million copies world wide. My most known song is probably "Neutron Dance" which was recorded by The Pointer Sisters. It was one of the musical highlights of the movie Beverly Hills Cop, and won special recognition from ASCAP as one of the years most performed songs.

Danny, one of your recent projects involves using music as a conflict resolution tool with young kids. Could you tell us about RevolutionOfTheSpirit.Com?

DS: After writing for artists for such a long time, in 2000, when my publishing deal was about to come up, I was looking for a new direction. I was talking to my cousin Sharon Silver one night she began to tell me how the students in her class were singing rap lyrics during class breaks. It was almost like a light went off in my head and my focus turned from writing music for artists, to writing music for students. I wanted to give the kids a way to express themselves, but with music that was appropriate for them. I took off four years to write the album Revolution of The Spirit with my cousin, and to this day it's the product that I am most proud of.

Where can we find the album?

DS: You can find it on iTunes.

Being that you both knew Michael Jackson; Danny having played piano for him early in his career and Michael writing "Carousel" which was released on the Special Edition of Thriller, what went through minds when he passed away earlier this year?

MS: I immediately called Danny. I was going through a rough spot in my life and Michael's passing truly broke me heart. I had the opportunity to work with him when he was picking songs for Thriller. At the time, I had written "Carousel," which Michael loved and actually recorded a demo of. It was slated to be on the album, but then the orders came down from Quincy [Jones] that there was only room for one song on the album with that kind of groove and "Human Nature" won that slot. "Carousel" was released on the Special Edition of Thriller a few years ago, and in Quincy's commentary he talks about the song and my time with Michael. He will always be a legend to me.

DS: To be honest, I cried. Playing piano for Michael is a memory I never forget. Having him respond the way he did made me want to be a musician. It was the first time I felt I had inspired someone and witnessed first hand what music can do. Right after that, I graduated high school and then jumped on a plane to California to become a musician.

What's next for you both? Can you give us some info on any upcoming projects?

DS: Well, musically I'm working with young talent (both artists and writers) to score music for movies and TV. Screenwriters come to me with scripts and I work with the artists to put together the soundtracks. Sync licensing is a great part of the business to be in right now.

MS: I am working on the first "Sembello Brothers" record with John and Dan. This is the first time the brothers have ever worked together on a record. I am continuing to perform live as a Global artist and remain committed to singing in other languages.

For more information on Michael Sembello, visit http://www.michaelsembello.com. For more information on Danny Sembello, contact info@sembello.com.