Influences on his songwriting included Cole Porter, Rodgers & Hart, and Gershwin, although Kadison's melancholic brand of adult contemporary pop was just as indebted to Elton John. After his mother's death, he left his Hollywood Hills home and resettled in Nashville, where he signed a contract with SBK Records. His debut album, Painted Desert Serenade, was released in 1993 and went platinum within two years, largely driven by the Top Ten single "Jessie." The song was also a hit in Europe, where Kadison's subsequent albums found a more welcome audience than they did at home. ~ John Bush