Andy Fraser was originial member and bassist for the band Free, who were formed in 1968. He was just 15 years old at the time. He wrote the mega-hit "All Right Now" for the band and also "Every Kinda People" that Robert Palmer recorded in 1978. Andy was also briefly in John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers group. Ray White, multi-award winning program director, reached back in CAT's archives to retrieve our interview with Andy from March of 2010, 5-years before his passing, to share insights from his musical career. Andy's last album was titled On Assignment. In our showcase segment we feature two monster bands - Def Leppard whose latest project is Diamond Star Halos and Red Hot Chili Peppers who released Unlimited Love in April of 2022. Tributes and rock's greatest bands - a super mix on the CAT!
Burleigh Drummond is co-founder of Ambrosia, a band launched in 1970. His drumming and percussion work has been a mainstay in the five-time Grammy nominated group throughout the years. In our interview with multi-award winning program director Ray White, Burleigh shares with us the transition of Ambrosia from a progressive rock band to one geared more towards popular music, the bands' latest work and his band Tin Drum, that includes his wife Mary Harris - a singer and keyboardist who was in Jimmy Buffett's Coral Reefer Band. You can listen to more from Ambrosia on Episode 94 where we feature co-founder Joe Puerta. In our showcase segment, we feature a 13-time Grammy nominated (and 3 time winner) singer/songwriter and keyboardist - Bruce Hornsby, whose new album is 'Flicted. We'll also feature a band whose new album is their first in 18 years - Tears For Fears who just dropped The Tipping Point. Some great talent that withstands the test of time...presented by Classic Artists Today.
John McFee of The Doobie Brothers is nearing nearly 30 years as a full-time member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame band. This multi-instrumentalist was a co-founder of Southern Pacific and played with numerous notable musicians including Elvis Costello, Van Morrison, Huey Lewis and The Grateful Dead. In November of 2008 multi-award winning program director Ray White caught up with John at his hotel, before hitting the stage, to talk about several highlights of his musical career, life as a "Doobie," and the amazing craftmanship that only the band can deliver. The Doobie Brothers latest album is Liberte. In our "showcase segment" we feature another "brother" who played full-time with the band from 1974 to 1979 - Jeff "Skunk" Baxter. He was also in Steely Dan and has played on albums by over two dozen top performers. His brand new album is titled Speed of Heat. We close out this show with Joseph Williams who has been lead vocalist for Toto on over a half-dozen of their albums since 1986 and has nearly a dozen solo albums during his career, with the latest titled Denizen Tenant. World-class musicians...you'll find them Sittin' In With The CAT!
Bill Payne co-founded Little Feat back in 1969. Throughout the years his keyboard work, along with his excellent songwriting and singing skills, have been a mainstay of the band. These fantastic attributes has elevated him to one of the most sought after musicians in the world. You'll find Bill on records by The Doobie Brothers, Bonnie Raitt, Jackson Browne, Bob Seger, Emmylou Harris, Jimmy Buffett and dozens more. In Ray White's April of 2022 interview with Bill, he shares his insights on the newest members of Little Feat, the bands' "Waiting For Columbus - 45th Anniversary Tour 2022," relationship with The Doobie Brothers, key singers for Little Feat throughout the years and much, much more. Their tour this summer is a must see event - certainly a CAT favorite! In our showcase segment we feature two superstars of Rock: 9-time Grammy award winner Sheryl Crow whose "Sheryl" documentary was just released and Journey, a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame band that has 25 Gold and Platinum albums since forming in 1973. Their latest album is titled Freedom. Nothing but the best...that's right, it's on the CAT!!
Zephyr was a rock band with blues and jazz undertones that emerged on the national music scene in 1969 and followed with 4 albums. Candy Givens' vocals were powerful and stood side-by-side with Janis Joplin and Grace Slick as the leading ladies fronting rock bands back in the day. The legendary guitarist Tommy Bolin, also helped launch the band as his career took off. Zephyr's co-founder David Givens and band member Jock Bartley (who co-founded Firefall) shares their unique insights about the band with Ray White on this special "Blast From The Past" edition of our show. Zephyr was on concert billings with Jim Hendrix and Led Zepplin and was tapped for inclusion in the Colorado Music Hall of Fame in 2019. To close out our show we look back to several highlights in the career of Taylor Hawkins of the Foo Fighters, who passed away on March 25, 2022. Taylor also fronted his own band, Taylor Hawkins and the Coattail Riders, whose last release was Get The Money in 2019. Legacy performances...Legacy musicians, right here on the CAT!
Gregg Rolie can be found in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice! Inducted in 1998 as a co-founder of Santana and again in 2017 as an original member of Journey. Throughout his career, Gregg sang and has been keyboardist in other groups including The Storm, Ringo Starr and his All-Starr Band and has released over a half-dozen solo albums since 1985. Award-winning program director Ray White caught up with Gregg in March of 2009 to talk about his music heritage, how the blues impacted the sound of Santana, the supergroup The Storm, life as a solo artist and much more. His latest release is Sonic Ranch. In our showcase segment we feature two of the elite guitar players...worldwide! Jeffrey "Skunk" Baxter could be found in several bands throughout his career including The Doobie Brothers (in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame), Steely Dan and Ultimate Spinach. Jeff's upcoming album is Speed of Heat. We close out our show with the amazing Joe Bonamassa. With 11 #1 albums on Billboard's Blues Chart, his talent elevates him among the very best guitarists of the 21st century. He's a "must see" live in concert, when he plays near your town. Joe's latest album is a dynamo, titled Time Clocks. Rock's elite musicians can be found on Classic Artists Today!
Edwin McCain is a singer-songwriter and guitarist who hails from Charleston, SC. He hit the charts back in the late 1990's and early 2000's with four Top 40 songs. A good friend of Hootie and the Blowfish, they hit the charts about the same time. Multi-award winning program director Ray White caught up with Edwin in June of 2012 to talk about his Mercy Bound album, touring - being a "road warrior," and the importance of performing live and much more. Edwin's latest single is We're All In This Together. In our showcase segment, we're joined by Brownsville Station's guitarist Billy Craig. With the tragic situation in Ukraine, Billy's just released a song and video that's going viral throughout the world - Tears For Ukraine. Touching our hearts and soul on Classic Artists Today.
Bill Leverty co-founded FireHouse in the mid-1980's. The band, with Bill's great guitar work, was signed to Epic Records in 1989 and hit the big time with their double-platinum debut, self-titled album in 1990. The band garnered several music awards in 1991 including the American Music Award. FireHouse has released 8 albums throughout the years and Bill has recorded 5 solo projects with his latest titled, Divided We Fall in 2020. Multi-award winning program director and radio producer Ray White caught up with Bill in January of 2022 to talk about the bands rise to stardom, FireHouse's last studio album Prime Time and his solo work, too. In our "showcase segment," we honor and look back at the great career of Gary Brooker, the leader of Procol Harum, who passed away on February 19, 2022. Power ballads and powerhouse bands are featured on this episode, brought to you by Classic Artists Today - celebrating the latest from classic bands for over 15 years.
Dar Williams is one of the premier singer-songwriters in America today. You'll find her playing at many of the folk/americana festivals around the country, playing her guitar and singing her songs about life and the world we live in. She's released over 20 projects throughout her career and has contributed to over a half-dozen compilation albums. During 1995 she landed a song on the Top 20 of Billboard's Adult Album Alternative chart. Award-winning program director Ray White, "zoomed" with Dar to talk about her early interest in acting, establishing a friendship with Joan Baez, a new recording with Orleans' John Hall, and her latest album I'll Meet You Here. In our showcase segment we feature another fantastic pop/folk singer and Grammy award winner Janis Ian, whose latest release is The Light At The End Of The Line. Artists and their songs, delivered straight from their heart and soul... presented by Classic Artists Today.
Martin Turner co-founded Wishbone Ash in 1969 as their bass player and vocalist. The band was known for their twin lead guitars, melodic songwriting and complex musical arrangements. Martin's heydays with the band lasted through 1980. Award-winning program director and syndicated radio host, Ray White, caught up with Martin in June of 2013 to talk about his career highlights with Wishbone Ash, his solo career along with his book "No Easy Road - My Life and Times with Wishbone Ash and Beyond." Martin's released several studio albums and live projects thoughout the years. His latest studio album is Written In The Stars. In the CAT's showcase segment we remember Meat Loaf, who passed on Jaunuary 20, 2022. Along with his famed Bat Out of Hell albums - which sold over 65 million copies, he appeared in over 50 films and television shows. Meat Loaf's last studio album was released in 2016 and was titled Braver Than We Are. Covering the wide spectrum of rock music's heydays...and today, they're Sittin' In With The CAT!
Peter Rivera was the lead singer and drummer for Rare Earth, that was formed in the late 1960's. They had 12 singles land on the charts. This episode is part two of our conversation with Peter in February 2021. Part one can be found on Episode 099. He provides his insights into his days at Motown Records and the bands connection with Stevie Wonder, breaking barriers by recording longer songs, and his latest music - Encore. In our showcase segment, your award-winning host Ray White brings you the latest on two other legendary performers - Rod Stewart, who's latest album is The Tears of Hercules and also fellow British superstar Elvis Costello, who just released The Boy Named If. The artists who are the heart of Rock 'n' Roll, we have them right here on the CAT!
Henry Gross started as an original member of the 50's rock and roll revival group, Sha Na Na in 1969. In that same year, the band played Woodstock. After a year with them, Henry signed with a major record label and built his career ever since then. Along with his Top 10 hit "Shannon", Henry's singles have launched on the charts an additional 8 times. He has released nearly two dozen albums throughout his career. His One-Hit Wanderer show & album garnered marvelous reviews. In January of 2010, award-winning program director Ray White caught up with Henry to talk about his Sha Na Na days, highlights of his life as a solo artist and the One-Hit Wanderer production. In our showcase segment, we look back at the career of Michael Nesmith of The Monkees, who passed away on December 10, 2021. Mike had a wonderful life as a musician, singer/songwriter and media mogul. A blast from your past, right here on the CAT!
Eric Gales launched his music career signing with a major label at 16 years old. His first single was Top 10 on the "mainstream rock chart," and his career was off and running. Throughout his music career, the road for Eric has had its ups and downs, but today he's back stronger than ever - getting ready to release his 19th album. Award-winning program director Ray White hooked up with Eric backstage before a standing-room only performance in November of 2021, to talk about his start in the music business and his rebirth, including working with his longtime friend Joe Bonamassa. Crown is the title of his upcoming album and reinforces his stature among the top blues rock guitarists in the world! In our showcase segment, we take a look back at 2021 featuring the Foo Fighters, whose latest album is Medicine at Midnight, and Coldplay who recently released their Music of the Spheres project. Two "classic" bands that ended the year at the top of the CAT's charts! You better believe it, Classic Artists Today is rockin' right into the New Year!!
The Yardbirds formed in London in 1963 and launched the careers of three of the greatest guitarists in Rock and Roll history - Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page and Jeff Beck. Inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1992, the band had 5 Top 20 hits in the U.S. Their albums landed on the charts 6 times leading to the band being named by Rolling Stone magazine as "100 Greatest Artists of All Time." We sat down with drummer and co-founder Jim McCarty in May of 2010 to talk about the historic band and their last studio album Birdland. The group still performs today and their latest release, captured in concert, is titled Making Tracks. In our showcase segment, we continue the Bristish Invasion theme by featuring Paul McCartney, whose latest project is McCartney III, and the progressive rock stalwarts YES, who recently released The Quest. The British are Coming...The British are Coming, right here on this episode from Classic Artists Today!
10,000 Maniacs were mainstays in the alternative rock genre in the late 1980's through the mid-1990's. Celebrating their 40th anniversary this year, the multi-platinum selling band maintains their free-flowing sound today with their lead singer and violinist Mary Ramsey, front and center. The bands co-founder, Steve Gustafson joins Mary in huddling up on their tour bus, before performing in September of 2021, to talk with award-winning CAT host Ray White about their latest music. Steve and Mary also share insights about the history of the band, technology in the music industry and their latest release -Live at the Belly Up. Catch more about the band on Episode 082 of our show, when co-founder Dennis Drew hangs with us. In our showcase segment, we travel back taking a look at the career of Graeme Edge, who was inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2018 as a member of The Moody Blues. He was the last of the original members that was with the band until they disbanded several years ago. Graeme, who also was leader of The Graeme Edge Band throughout the 70's, left this physical world on November 11, 2021. Alternative and Progressive Rock...you'll find the latest on Classic Artists Today.
Al Stewart is a phenomenal folk-rock musician who has 16 studio albums, since the late 1960's. After releasing 6 albums he hit paydirt on his Year of The Cat release in 1976. The album was certified platinum and to celebrate its 45th anniversary, a remastered release has recently been issued which includes previously unreleased concert tracks. Ray White, the CAT's award-winning program director, sat down with Al in September of 2011 to talk about his last studio album Sparks of Ancient Light and several highlights during his storied career. In our showcase segment we'll feature Ringo Starr, who has a new EP out titled Change The World. Closing out this episode we'll remember the front man of the 60's pop band Jay and the Americans - Jay Black, who passed away on October 22, 2021. Awesome musicians who launched their respected careers in the 1960's - an evolutionary time for pop and rock music. We have them, on the CAT!
Firefall's drummer Sandy Ficca and lead vocalist/guitarist Gary Jones join us on this episode. Award-winning program director Ray White talked with the two newest members (Sandy since 1984 and Gary since 2014) in August of 2021, about the band's newest album Comet and their songwriting contributions to the first studio album by Firefall since 1994. Be sure to hear from other members of the band on Episodes 1, 15, 24, 42, 85 and 93. In our showcase segment we feature the latest by Jackson Browne - who has a new release called Downhill From Everywhere and the amazing Santana who just dropped their latest album Blessings and Miracles. From the 70's through today...the best from your favorite classic artists on the CAT!
Mike Finnigan is known throughout the world as a master on the Hammond B3 organ and plays all other keyboards too - along with providing background vocals. You'll find his work on albums and tours with bands including Crosby Stills & Nash, Bonnie Raitt, Joe Cocker, Dave Mason and even Jimi Hendrix! He's been a regular with The Phantom Blues Band for several decades. Mike passed away on August 11, 2021 and award-winning program director Ray White shares Mike's June of 2012 interview insights on this episode - including his time with Jimi and much, much more. The tributes continue with recognizing the great work of Don Everly of The Everly Brothers, who died on August 21, 2021. Two legends in the world of popular music are memorialized on this edition of the CAT.
Pablo Cruise, formed in 1973, had two platinum albums and five Top 25 singles during their career. Since the mid-1980's the band periodically played for special events and occasions. In 2017 the band started playing again on a regular basis. In our August of 2021 interview, the CAT's Ray White caught up with Cory Lerios and David Jenkins after their live performance to talk about the early days of the band, their new single Breathe and much more. In our showcase segment we feature the latest from The Doobie Brothers, who will release a new album in the fall of 2021 titled Liberte. We'll close out our show with a tribute to to one of rock's favorite drummers Charlie Watts of The Rolling Stones, who passed away on August 24, 2021 at the age of 80. A jammed packed 30-minutes of the best from Rock and Roll...we've got it on Classic Artists Today.
Jimmy Hall, co-founder of Wet Willie in 1970, has been part of the foundation of southern rock for over 50 years. The band has had 8 charting albums throughout their career. Jimmy, singer/saxophonist/harmonicist, has also released 10 albums as a solo artist or collaborator. Multi-award winning program director, Ray White, caught up with Jimmy by the oceanfront in September of 2010 to talk about his Build Your Own Fire album, Wet Willie and being one of the key bands on the legendary record labels -Capricorn Records. In our showcase segment we honor the late, and great Dusty Hill of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame band ZZ Top, who passed away on July 28, 2021. You can call it country or southern rock... we have the groundbreaking bands right here on Classic Artists Today.
Paul Cotton, a mainstay in Poco for nearly 40 years, is featured in this tribute episode. Starting his nationally recognized music career with Illinois Speed Press in 1968, he went on to replace Jim Messina in Poco in 1970. Paul, along with Poco's co-founder Rusty Young, were at the forefront of the band during their most commercially successful years. Paul passed away on August 1, 2021, just a few months after Rusty's passing (Episode103). Multi-award winning program director Ray White reaches back, revisiting an interview with Paul in December of 2006, to talk about the band's favorite place to play - Wildwood Springs Lodge, his solo work and time with Jimi Hendrix. A look back at the fabulous career by a one-of-a-kind musician, Paul Cotton. The legendary bands and their members... we have them on the CAT!
Billy Greer, bassist and vocalist for Kansas, has been a mainstay in the band for 36 years. You'll also find him leading his own band Seventh Key when not recording or touring with Kansas. Multi-award winning program director Ray White caught up with Billy on tour during 2012, just after the There's Know Place Like Home DVD/CD was released. Along with that recording, Billy also provided insights into his Native Window and Seventh Key bands. We also pay tribute to longtime Kansas member Robby Steinhardt, who passed away on July 17, 2021. Kansas' latest album, The Absence of Presence, landed in the Top 10 of Billboards' Top Albums chart. In our showcase segment, we feature the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame band, Yes! In October of 2021 they'll release a new album titled The Quest. The pinnacle of progressive rock interviews and bands, right here on The CAT!
David Lowery fronts two bands - Cracker and Camper Van Beethoven and even has several solo albums. You'll fine Cracker on the record charts, on a regular basis, during the early-to-mid 1990's. Multi-award winning program director Ray White sat down with David on his tour bus during their first stop on the concert circuit, post-Covid. David shares his insights into his new solo album Leaving Key Member Clause, the latest by Cracker - Berkeley To Bakersfield and by Camper Van Beethoven - El Camino Real. He also talks about technology and how it's changed strategy for his bands. In our "showcase segment," we feature the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame band Journey. They've just released their first new song in over a decade and features new members Randy Jackson, Narada Michael Walden and Jason Derlatka. Cutting edge and mainstream rock...you'll find it on Classic Artists Today!
Chuck Leavell, current member of The Rolling Stones also played with Dr. John, The Allman Brothers Band, and formed Sea Level, joins us on Part 2 of our interview from February of 2021. Multi-award winning program director Ray White, gets additional insights from Chuck about recording with Greg Allman on his Laid Back release while also working on The Allman Brothers' Brothers and Sisters project, the formation of Sea Level and being a member of The Rolling Stones. He also shares with us information of his recently released The Tree Man documentary film. Be sure to listen to Part 1 of our interview on Episode 101, too! We have the legacy musicians - who you listened to and saw in concert during your youth, right here on The CAT!!
John Hall co-founded Orleans in 1972 and has played a key part in the band, on and off, as a songwriter, singer and guitarist, throughout their history. John has also written songs for numerous other musicians that received airplay, especially in the 1970's through the 1980's. In our May of 2021 interview, multi-award winning program director Ray White caught up with John to discuss his history with Orleans, involvement in Musicians United for Safe Energy and his latest solo album Reclaiming My Time. In our showcase segment we feature Firefall, whose new album is titled Comet - reuniting 3 original members of the band. Two of the bands that helped make music of the 1970's great, right here on Classic Artists Today!