Jim Babjak, guitarist/vocalist, co-founded The Smithereens in 1980. The band was inducted into the New Jersey Hall of Fame in 2018. Throughout the years, the band has released over a dozen studio albums. After lead singer/guitarist Pat DiNizio passed away in 2017, the other original members of the band have incorporated "guest vocalists," Marshall Crenshaw and Robin Wilson of the Gin Blossoms to help persevere and carry on the bands legacy. Ray White, multi-award winning program director, caught up with Jim in December of 2022 to talk about the latest studio release from the band - The Lost Album. The songs were recorded in 1993, but finally released in 2022. He also shared the latest about his entrepreneurial venture (you'll have to listen to find out.) Don't miss our tribute to Pat on Episode 30, too. In our showcase segment, we feature the latest from the bands' "guest vocalists." Marshal Crenshaw re-released Miracle of Science in 2020 with"new" songs and Robin Wilson with the Gin Blossoms released Mixed Reality in 2018. Rock 'n' Roll at its' finest on The CAT!
Kim Simmonds formed Savoy Brown in 1965 and was one of the pioneers in the Blues Rock genre. The bands' heyday was in the early 1970's. Considered one of the premier guitarists, Kim and Savoy Brown have released nearly 50 albums throughout his career. In this tribute to Kim, who passed away on December 13, 2022, we reach back in our archives and share our April of 2007 interview with him. Award-winning program director Ray White talked with Kim about his Steel album, performing as a power trio and touring throughout the world. In our showcase segment, we pay tribute to guitar guru Jeff Beck, who unexpectedly passed away on January 10, 2023. A two-time Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee - with The Yardbirds and as a solo artist, Jeff also won 8 Grammy awards during his illustrious career. On the Top 10 on most everyones "greatest guitarist of all-time" lists, Jeff's last album released before his death was titled 18, and was joined by his friend Johnny Depp. Legendary musicians, who come along just once in a lifetime - you'll find them on Classic Artists Today.
Waddy Wachtel is recognized as one of the "go-to" guitarists in the rock world. He's also an elite composer and record producer. You'll find his work showcased on many albums by Linda Ronstadt, James Taylor, Stevie Nicks, Jackson Browne and Warren Zevon - just to name a few. In 2020, he co-founded a unique group of iconic musicians who have played together for decades but never had their own band, until The Immediate Family. Waddy shares his insights with multi-award winning program director Ray White on his start as a professional musician, and how he and his buddies - Danny Kortchmar, Leland Sklar, Russ Kunkel and Steve Postell, launched the new band. Their upcoming album is titled Skin In The Game. In our showcase segment we feature several top classic rockers in 2022. John Mellencamp who released Strickly A One-Eyed Jack and Fierce Bliss the latest from Heart's Ann Wilson. Musician's at the top of their game, on the CAT!
Jim Babjak co-founded The Smithereens in 1980, and joins us on our Holiday Special! Jim just released the 45 single (and streaming of course) of his "It's Love on Christmas Day" tune. The Smithereens released their Christmas with the Smithereens album in 2007. Peter Mayer, lead guitarist and vocalist for Jimmy Buffett's Coral Reefer Band, also hangs out with us to talk about the season and holiday music on his A Junkman's Christmas and Stars and Promises releases. Jimmy, and his Coral Reefer buddies, released Tis the SeaSon album in 2016. Train is featured in our showcase segment, too! Their last christmas album was Christmas in Tahoe in 2015. Bringing you holiday cheer in 2022, from your friends at Classic Artists Today.
Billy Sherwood first started performing with YES back in 1994, becoming a full-time member in 2015. Billy's been involved with all aspects of the music business during his career and launched several other bands including Arc of Life, Circa, Lodgic, World Trade and The Prog Collective - just to name a few. He's performed on dozens and dozens of albums and led many tribute projects, too. Multi-award winning program director Ray White caught up with Billy in January 2021 to capture insights from him regarding his solo work, producing tribute albums, styles of music he performs and his wide spectrum of projects throughout his career. You'll find more from this amazing musician on Episode 98. In our "showcase segment," we feature the legendary Christine McVie of Fleetwood Mac, who passed away on November 30, 2022. Christine was an amazing songwriter, singer, keyboardist and the glue that kept Fleetwood Mac together throughout the decades. The ultimate from rock musicians today, we feature a wide spectrum right here on the CAT!
Deborah Holland along with music icons Stewart Copeland (Police) and Stanley Clarke formed Animal Logic back in 1987 and went on to record two albums over the next several years. After 30+ years...they're back! Singer/Songwriter Holland joins multi-award winning program director Ray White to share her insights on their new music , playing with the rock and jazz legends, and starring on the late night talk shows plus much more. Deborah's latest solo project was Fine, Thank You! She's also working on a new project with the Refugees, In our "showcase segment" we feature the latest on the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame members Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, whose latest album is Changeup. Also, eight-time Grammy nominee Avril Lavigne is in our spotlight. Her latest release is Love Sux. The world's greatest musicians and performers can be found right here...Sittin' in with the CAT!
John Wetton left his footprint on many of progressive rock's greatest bands: Asia, King Crimson, U.K., Roxy Music, Uriah Heep and Wishbone Ash, just to name a few. A singer, songwriter and bassist, his greatest fame came as frontman of the 1980's supergroup Asia. John passed away, much too young, on January 31, 2017. On this episode we celebrate John and the 40th anniversary of the debut Asia album that sold over 10 million albums worldwide and was Billboard magazine's #1 album of 1982. We feature multi-award winning program director Ray White interviewing John in May 2011, where he talks about Asia's Phoenix album, that brought together all four of the orginial members in the studio for the first time since 1983. John also shares his insights on fellow band member Steve Howe and his collaborations with another Asia band member, Geoff Downes, in the band Icon. You'll find more of our interview with John Wetton on Episode 14. In our showcase segment, we feature the British progressive rock stalwarts and Grammy winning band Jethro Tull, who recently released their first new original material album since 1999, titled The Zealot Gene. The premier British progressive rock bands, we have them on the CAT!
Robin Lane launched her career in the late 1970's fronting her band, The Chartbusters. Iconic music producer Jerry Wexler (Aretha Franklin, Allman Brothers, Led Zeppelin, Dire Straits), signed the band to Warner Brothers Records. Throughout the years Robin has released 13 albums - 5 with The Chartbusters and 8 as an solo artist. Her latest release is Dirt Road To Heaven. We talked with Robin about Jerry's work with the band, working with Neil Young and Susanna Hoffs of the Bangles, and her latest album. In our showcase segment, we keep the focus on the ladies of rock, featuring three of the best! Stevie Nicks, who has a new single out, Tedeschi-Trucks Band whose latest album is I Am The Moon and Kate Bush who updated past songs on Selections From The Other Side. Brought to you by multi-award winning program director Ray White and Classic Artists Today.
Brett Scallions was the original lead singer and guitarist for Fuel, who produced multi-platinum albums in the late 1990's and early 2000's. He was with the band for 23 years, until 2020. His latest band, Melody Brothers, are planning on releasing an album during the late Fall of 2022. Multi-award winning program director Ray White caught up with Brett before a show in June of 2014 to talk about Fuel's latest ablum, Puppet Strings, and the bands many songs featured in the movies along with meeting two of his favorite idols. Today, Fuel is led by founding member Carl Bell and their recent album is titled Anomaly. We have triple artists featured in our "showcase segment" on this episode. Billy Idol whose latest EP is The Cage, Nickleback who will be releasing Get Rollin' in November of 2022 and The Boss - Bruce Springsteen who also will be releasing an album of soul covers in November called Only The Strong Survive. Rock at its' best on Classic Artists Today!
David Freiberg took his music career to a higher level in San Francisco as a founding member of Quicksilver Messenger Service in 1965. A multi-instrumentalist and vocalist, David went on to spend a little time with Jefferson Airplane and ultimately co-founded Jefferson Starship in 1974. Multi-award winning program director Ray White hooked up with David in September of 2022 and ventured back to his early years - hooking up with members of Quicksilver, the transition to Jefferson Starship and the bands' latest album Mother of the Sun. In our showcase segment, we feature Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Ozzy Osbourne, who co-founded Black Sabbath in 1968. His latest album is Patient Number 9, which has been receiving many accolades from the music critics. We're back to the 60's on this episode, presented by Classic Artists Today.
Todd Park Mohr of Big Head Todd and the Monsters launched the band back in 1984. After releasing several albums the band hit it big with the Platinum selling release Sister Sweetly in 1993. Today, after producing over a dozen albums, the band is still playing dozens of shows each year and dropping new singles on a regular basis. Mult-award winning program director Ray White caught up with Todd backstage to talk about the bands rise to fame, insights into their million selling album Sister Sweetly, opportunity to write and perform a song for NASA, the role of Blues music in his career and insights into his Black Beehive album. The "Red Rocker," Sammy Hagar is featured in our showcase segment. Launcing his career in 1973 with Montrose, Sammy went on to join Van Halen in 1985 - serving as their frontman for over a decade. Sammy's released numerous solo albums with various line-ups throughout his career,with the latest including his band Circle. Their latest album is Crazy Time. The best in adult album alternative music, presented by Classic Artists Today.
Carmine Appice is a legendary drummer that's influenced many of rocks' most famous drummers. He launched on the music scene back in 1967 as a founding member of the ground breaking band, Vanilla Fudge. His storied career included launching Cactus, Beck/Bogert/Appice and playing with Rod Stewart on 4 of his albums. You can find Carmine playing in numerous other bands and on nearly 100 albums. In September of 2014, award-winning program director Ray White sat down with Carmine at his hotel to talk about several of Carmine's recording projects and his future plans at that time. His latest albums are Guitar Zeus 25th Anniversary, Tightrope (Cactus) and Vanilla Zeppelin. In our showcase segment, we feature a musician known as "Slowhand," - Eric Clapton. His latest release is a live album, Nothing But The Blues, which features some of the blues' greatest songs, recorded at The Fillmore in San Francisco in 1994 during his "From The Cradle" tour. Eric had won a Grammy award for Best Traditional Blues Album the following year. This episode gives you two legendary musicians whose careers were heavily influenced by the blues. The best of blues rock on The CAT!
Richie Furay, a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame band Buffalo Springfield, launched his music career with the Au Go-Go Singers in the early 1960's. One of rock's premier singer/songwriters, Richie's career continued to prosper with country rock legends Poco and also the Souther-Hillman-Furay band. Releasing 9 solo studio albums along the way, his latest is In The Country. Multi-award winning program director Ray White hooked up with Richie in June of 2022 to talk about his latest album, his beginning in the music industry, playing at one of the top music festivals of all-time and the reunion of Buffalo Springfield. Our showcase segment features Richie's Buffalo Springfield bandmate Stephen Stills, who released an album in 2017, with his former sweetheart Judy Collins, titled Everybody Knows. The legacy continues...on Classic Artists Today!
Audie Desbrow has been a steady force, as drummer in Great White since 1985. In the bands' early days you'd find them on tour with Kiss, Bon Jovi, Whitesnake, Alice Cooper and many other mainstream rock bands of that time. After several vocalist changes and 13 albums, Great White is still rockin' audiences today! Multi-award winning program director, Ray White, caught up with Audie in November of 2012 to talk about his favorite drummers of his youth, how he hooked up with Great White, the bands' Grammy nomination, their album Elation and much more! Great White's most recent album is Full Circle. In our showcase segment we feature the latest from an esteemed audio engineer, songwriter, musician and record producer who launched his career in 1967 at Abbey Road Studio - Alan Parsons. This Grammy award winner has a new release out, From The New World that includes guests Tommy Shaw (Styx) and Joe Bonamassa. Covering a wide-spectrum of great rock 'n' roll music, we lay it on you right here on Classic Artists Today.
Tab Benoit has a heritage from the deep south in Louisiana. He's an amazing guitarist, vocalist and songwriter who parlays his roots into an awesome sound of blues and blues rock music. A Grammy nominee, Tab's also garnered numerous other accolades including B.B. King Entertainer of the Year awards along with many Blues Music Awards, You'll also find him in the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame. Multi award-winning program director Ray White hung out with Tab at his tour bus in May of 2022 to talk about his Legacy release, music making style, his record company and much, much more. In our showcase segment we feature the queen of blues rock - Bonnie Raitt who continues her string of hit albums with Just Like That. We close out the show with music icon, Delbert McClinton. Known as the "Godfather of Americana Music," he's just released his 27th studio album Outdated Emotion. Three of the best blues rock musicians in the business... all right here on Classic Artists Today.
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!