Clint Eastwood’s son makes name for himself in music

It’s pretty tough making a name for yourself with a famous father, especially someone as iconic as Clint Eastwood. But “Dirty Harry’s” son Kyle is doing a pretty good job of it as he comes to town this weekend with his jazz combo.

And even though he’s earned every bit of his success, he admits the Eastwood name brings plenty of baggage with critics who question his credentials.

“I think sometimes it gives people a preconceived idea of who you are, what you’re doing or what you’re about. But I just try to focus on making music and making the best music I can,” he said as we spoke ahead of his appearance Saturday night at Kirkland’s Performance Center.

Listen to Interview: Kyle Eastwood

Music was always a big part of his life. His father is a skilled jazz pianist who introduced Kyle to playing at an early age.

“My father actually taught me the first things I learned on the piano. He’s always played the piano. My mother plays music as well,” he said.

Over the years he grew into a world class musician, eventually taking to the bass as his primary instrument, in large part he said because there was always a shortage of bass players.

“So I just started picking up and it came naturally really and I just stuck with it.”

Kyle tried following right in his father’s footsteps, attending film school for awhile. But he realized music was his true love. He dropped out and began playing full time, forming a group and recording and touring.

He also got studio gigs playing on some film scores, which led to an unexpected career. He started writing pieces of music for some scenes in his father’s films, most notably the Academy Award winning “Million Dollar Baby.” That evolved into him writing entire scores for several of his father’s films including Flags of our Fathers, Gran Torino and Invictus.

“It’s a totally different thing than writing music for your own album. Obviously you’re writing music that has to support what’s on the screen,” Kyle said.

“Jazz is sort of all about freedom and writing and playing how you want and film music sort of dictates you follow certain rules and things have to fall on certain cuts so it’s kind of a different challenge in that respect but it’s fun…I enjoy doing it.”

He doesn’t apologize for the opportunities that come with being Clint’s son, especially working with the Hollywood legend.

“I really enjoy working with him. I get to spend time with him and he’s a lot of fun to work for.”

(Clint and Kyle Eastwood on the set of “Flags of our Fathers”/Photo courtesy Kyle Eastwood)

Kyle remains in awe of his father’s continued creativity and vitality at age 82, and can only hope to be going half as strong when he’s that age.

“It’s definitely inspiring to see someone still doing such great work,” he said.

Kyle Eastwood performs Saturday night April 7 at 8pm at Kirkland Performance Center.