Ask American Profile

The country group Trick Pony has been doing very well lately. Can you tell me something about how they got together?
—Bill F., New York

It all started when Trick Pony guitarist Keith Burns decided he wanted to form a trio made up of three distinct and unique members. At the time he was playing with Joe Diffie’s band. He approached bassist Ira Dean, who worked with Tanya Tucker, because he liked his flashy style, sense of humor and musical chops. At about the same time, singer Heidi Newfield got into a conversation with Burns’ now ex-wife. She thought Newfield would make the perfect lead singer and passed the word on to Burns. When the three finally got together to see if they meshed musically, as well as theoretically, they knew they had something. Their first single, Pour Me, proved it. “Professionally, we all share the same vision for this group and the sky is the limit,” Newfield says. “We all share a similar work ethic, which makes it easier on all three of us. And we all share a love of performing and writing . . . so though we may not always agree on songs and/or arrangements, we have learned how to listen to one another and work off of one another’s strengths. Oh, we also have bi-monthly wrestling matches, which tends to take the edge off . . . just kidding!”

I love Dr. Phil. What can you tell me about him?
—Richard J., Arizona

Phillip C. McGraw, the self-help expert who refuses to sugar-coat his advice, was born on Sept. 1, 1950, to a salesman father and stay-at-home mom. He has three sisters, which may explain his understanding of women. Growing up in Texas and Oklahoma, McGraw excelled as a football player, winning a scholarship to the University of Tulsa. He went on to earn his doctorate in psychology and open a practice with his father, who also had decided to study psychology. Though he practiced for a number of years, he never felt comfortable in the job. “From the very beginning, it wasn’t for me. I didn’t have the patience for it,” he says. Instead, he opened a business called Courtroom Sciences, which helps lawyers with behavior analysis of those involved in a trial. He met talk show host Oprah Winfrey when she hired his company to help defend her against a lawsuit by the beef industry. His no-nonsense style led to his appearance on her show, and a new career was born. As for his qualifications in giving relationship advice: He and his wife, Robin, have been married for 26 years, and they have two sons.

I remember Miguel Ferrer’s father in movies. He looks so much like his father. What can you tell us about Miguel?
—Janyth S., Ohio

Miguel Ferrer, a regular cast member of Crossing Jordan, is the son of actor Jose Ferrer, who passed away in 1992, and the late entertainer Rosemary Clooney (which makes him a cousin to actor George Clooney). At first, Miguel chose to follow his mother’s career footsteps rather than his father’s, embarking on a musical career. He worked as a studio musician, and had a band with Billy Mumy, who was perhaps best known as young Will Robinson on the sci-fi series Lost In Space. It was Mumy who lured his friend into acting, casting him in the short-lived series Sunshine. Though he still keeps a hand in music, Miguel is best known as an actor, having appeared on ER, The Stand and recently off-Broadway in The Exonerated. He and his wife have two sons. Jose Ferrer also started on a different career path, planning to become an architect before he realized that acting was his true calling. Born in Puerto Rico in 1909, Jose studied drama at Princeton University, and soon went on to Broadway. In addition to acting, he built a reputation as a director, but is probably best known for his Academy Award-winning performance in 1950’s Cyrano de Bergerac. He also appeared in the films The Caine Mutiny, The Greatest Story Ever Told and A Midsummer Night’s Sex Comedy.

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