The running joke on Fox?s The O.C., is that Sandy Cohen, played by Peter Gallagher, has ? aside from bushy brows ? a fondness for belting out show tunes. But viewers may be surprised to learn that this is one joke that has more than a bit of truth to it.

On November 8, Gallagher is hitting music store shelves with 7 Days in Memphis, a studio album of soul covers released by Epic Records. It will include the Broadway-trained actor?s renditions of Solomon Burke?s “Don’t Give Up on Me,” Carla and Rufus’ “When You Move You Lose,” Sam and Dave’s “Something Is Wrong with My Baby,? and Lucinda Williams? ?Still I Long for Your Kiss.?

Epic Records signed Gallagher after he was seen serenading his TV wife, Kirsten Cohen, with ?Don?t Give Up on Me? on episode eight of last season?s The O.C.

“The label suggested I record an album of songs like that and sent me a 10 CD set of recordings from the Stax era. I thought it was a great idea, but I also wanted to do some songs for my generation that while not [exclusively] from Memphis, might work with the Memphis sound,” Gallagher tells E! Online.

Gallagher says he has been singing his whole professional life. He made his musical debut 20 years ago in the first Broadway revival of Hair. However, he knows convincing new listeners won?t be easy. “I know for a fact that there will be people who won’t take my music seriously because I’m an actor on a TV show,” he says.

But he?s excited about the album, which will feature guitarist and Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Steve Cropper, known for crafting the Memphis sound. “Getting a record deal at my age is nothing anyone in their right mind could anticipate or hope for in this day and age…It’s one of the most extraordinary things that’s ever happened to me professionally,” he says.

He also adds that Sandy Cohen may be able to flex his singing chops some more this year as The O.C. enters its third season. “I’ve noticed a few singing references in the scripts so far, so it’s possible.?

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