More Than the Music: Michael Omartian on Faith, Creativity and a Legendary Career

In this episode, Wayne welcomes longtime friend and legendary producer Michael Omartian for a wide-ranging conversation spanning decades of music, friendship, faith, and some of the most memorable records in popular music history.

From discovering his love of music as a child in Chicago to packing his belongings into a 1967 Camaro and heading for California, Michael reflects on the unlikely path that led him into the heart of the recording industry. He shares stories from his years as an in-demand session musician—including playing accordion on Billy Joel’s “Piano Man”—and recounts how being the one person in a Warner Bros. A&R meeting willing to champion an unknown Christopher Cross ultimately led to a landmark album and multiple Grammy wins.

But behind the remarkable career is a story deeply rooted in faith. Michael opens up about his Armenian heritage and how he found Christ as a young man, before sharing how his relationship with God influenced the way he approached both his work and the people he encountered along the way. Wayne and Michael discuss what it meant to carry their faith into the music industry without treating people as projects, reflecting on the need for greater grace and mercy in a culture increasingly defined by judgement and division.

The longtime friends also review how music-making has changed over the years, from the collaborative energy of musicians creating together in a studio to the increasingly individual and AI-influenced landscape of today. Through stories of their own work together and the lessons that come with age, Michael offers a perspective that reaches far beyond records and awards: that a meaningful legacy is ultimately less about what we accomplish than how we love and treat the people God places in our lives.

00:00 Welcome to the Wayne Watson Podcast

03:16 The Yacht Rock Sound: Creating Musical Magic

06:55 The Power of Creative Community

14:06 Piano Man and Billy Joel: A Session Player's Life

17:13 From Chicago to LA: Following the Music

22:37 Faith and Family: Armenian Heritage and Coming to Christ

30:31 Faith in the Studio: Working with Pop Icons

38:35 The Christopher Cross Record That Changed Everything