At 84, singer-songwriter Papa Bruce is proving that it is never too late to follow a creative dream. His third studio album, Don’t Do That, is a 12-track collection built from songs he originally wrote between 1991 and 1996.
For nearly 30 years, the lyrics remained stored in a briefcase after Papa Bruce wrote them on scraps of paper during a challenging period of his life. The songs reflected heartbreak, grief, joy, and other personal experiences. Years later, watching his daughter Marissa play guitar brought those forgotten songs back to his memory.
Although Papa Bruce could remember only 11 of the original melodies, he created new melodies for the remaining songs, turning the project into a rewarding new chapter. With encouragement from his family, he eventually recorded all 26 songs across two albums before releasing Don’t Do That.
The new album includes collaborations with his daughter, Marissa Sasak, on “No Ordinary Day” and “If I Could Only,” as well as a co-write with Tiffany Carvalho on the title track. The release continues a remarkable musical journey that shows creativity truly has no expiration date.
