Count It Off!

Episode 70 - the drive behind country singer Carolyn Miller In this podcast episode, we dive deep into the inspiring journey of indie country music artist  Carolyn Miller , a proud  Long Island, New York native  who is actively breaking boundaries in the country-pop music genre. We heard her Nashville TV performance and knew we had to have her on the show. Long before climbing the streaming charts...

Count It Off Episode 69 Get ready to bright-side your playlist! In this episode, we are diving deep into the sunny, uplifting world of award-winning West Coast indie pop-country artist Eileen Carey . Known for her infectious blend of California pop arrangements and storytelling country roots, this powerhouse independent singer-songwriter has been dominating the independent music scene with chart-t...

David Hungate was there when the Los Angeles studio scene was making history. As the original bassist for TOTO , including Jeff Porcaro, Steve Lukather and David Paitch , Hungate played on the band’s first four albums — and before that, he laid down the unforgettable bass line on Boz Scaggs’ “Lowdown,” sessions that helped define the sound of ’70s LA. But the hits are only half the story. In this...

In this awesome episode, we sit down with Gary Talley , legendary guitarist and original member of The Box Tops , the Memphis band behind the #1 hits “The Letter” and “Cry Like a Baby.” Gary takes us behind the scenes of the Memphis music scene , at American Sound studio, singing on You Were Always On My Mind with Willie Nelson , sharing stories from touring across the country with iconic acts lik...

What happens when a love of music, a family legacy, and a passion for helping artists come together? On this episode of Count It Off, we sit down with Krisita Burket, indie music publicist and founder of Dad & Daughter, a company inspired by her own father’s music career and the songs that influenced her journey. Krisita takes us behind the scenes of music publicity, artist promotion, digital...

This episode charts the incredible journey of Liverpool singer-songwriter Bronnie as she makes the leap from Merseyside to Music Row. She has already logged  millions of streams  across social media and built a passionate,  international fan base  entirely on her own terms. Now,  Bronnie  is bringing her unstoppable  positive energy  and powerhouse talent to the global stage. In this episode, we s...

Count It Off welcomes one of Nashville's most accomplished hitmakers, Keith Follesé. From penning chart-topping songs for Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, Lonestar, Martina McBride, and many other country superstars, Keith has spent decades crafting the songs that define generations of country music. In this episode, Keith takes us inside the art and business of hit songwriting—sharing his creative pro...

You never really know who you're going to meet when you travel. This week, we veer way off the usual musical path for a unique interview. I was recently in Berlin and happened to meet two guys—both named Chris. who were both teaching English to young children. in China. What made their story so amazing was this: the kids spoke no English, and neither Chris spoke Chinese. With 16 years leading...

It's Ep. 62 and we're back with Count It Off! From the first note, you know — it's his golden baritone, rich and steady, the kind of voice that echoes the great storytellers like Don Williams and Vern Gosdin. This is Darrell Clanton. His journey started at home, watching his guitar-playing father turn simple chords into something magical. That spark became a fire. As a kid in Florida,...

Ep. 61 - Chubby Carrier - "Ain't No Party Like a Chubby Party cuz a Chubby Party Don't Stop!" Stop what you're doing and spend a few minutes with one of the most energetic, positive bandleaders out there anywhere. Chubby hails from the heart of the Louisiana music scene and he's a 3rd generation Creole squeeze box man. I could talk about him but instead, I dare you not to s...

Count It Off Ep. 60 - Chris Gantry “If you can write a song that’s got a timeless message in it, you’ve done your work.” Get ready for an amazing history session with one of the true Music Row legends, our guest Chris Gantry. Chris wrote the Glen Campbell smash "Dreams of the Everyday Housewife and was the inspiration for Kris Kristofferson 's classic "The Pilgrim, Chapter 33." We...

Episode 59 features a true guitar legend— Will McFarlane . From touring the world with Bonnie Raitt to spending over 45 years as part of The Swampers (yes,  those  Swampers), Will brings a lifetime of stories, insights and soul to the show. This is a relaxed, wide-ranging conversation that moves effortlessly through music history—touching on the Stones, Little Feat, Bob Seger, Springsteen and so m...

Welcome back to  Count It Off , where every gig tells a story. This is Episode 58 , and today we’re sitting down with the unstoppable Teri Cote — a dynamic drummer who’s been lighting up stages her entire life. From her roots in Northern California in the company of Merle Haggard and Freddy Powers to the bright lights of Reno and Las Vegas casinos playing funk and jazz, and all the way to the rugg...

Welcome back to  Count It Off , where the stories behind the music matter just as much as the songs themselves. This is Episode 57 and today we’re diving deep into the rich, often surprising soundscape of the American Midwest told by a man who’s made it his life’s mission to document it all— Neal Bond . Through his MN Music History Channel , Neal has incredible stories spanning generations—from ea...

Count It Off Ep. 56 This week on the podcast, Nashville drummer Brady Spencer takes us on a fun, informative ride—from cutting his teeth in horn bands, to grinding it out in rock groups, to hitting the road across the country with the iconic pop act Orleans. It’s a conversation packed with stories, lessons, laughs and real-life Nashville experience. He offers advice to young drummers just moving t...

Count It Off ep. 55 Imagine moving to NYC in the early 80s with $300 dollars in your pocket and within a week, having an apartment on the upper West Side, landing a full-time career in the best recording studios in the city and playing the nightclubs. Well, that’s the success story of this week's guest Gregg Mangiafico. We get to hear about his work with Michael Jackson, Elton John, Billy Joel...

Count It Off - Episode 54 - David Pomeranz shares The Wisdom With more than  335 million streams on Spotify ,  22 platinum records , and  18 gold records , legendary songwriter and touring artist  David Pomeranz  has spent five decades shaping the sound of popular music. His songs have been recorded by icons like Bette Midler ,  Barry Manilow ,  Kenny Rogers , and  Freddie Mercury —a testament to ...

Welcome to Spring Break, Count It Off style! We're taking a week off from our regular schedule of guests, thanks to a monster cold and in honor of spring break. I didn't want to pass the bug along to someone else in the studio, and I want you to know I love doing these shows - so here's an all-music episode! Hope you have a great time by the beach, by the lake or by the pool - and I ho...

Count It Off – Episode 52: Tommy Williams and the Art of finding and pitching a Hit Song This week we sit down with Nashville song plugger  Tommy Williams , whose career traces the evolution of Music Row from a tight-knit neighborhood of converted houses into the global hit-making machine it is today. Tommy takes us back to his entry-level days at  EMI Music Publishing , when paying dues meant lon...

Episode 51 of  Count It Off  welcomes a true musical innovator:  Scottie Miller . Best known for his Grammy-winning collaborations with contemporary blues powerhouse  Ruthie Foster , Scottie has quite literally toured the world, bringing soul, groove, and fearless musicianship to global stages. But his story goes far deeper than the spotlight. In this episode, we trace Scottie’s evolution from a y...

Count It Off hits a milestone with Episode 50! Welcome... this week we're featuring a true heavyweight of the music world: Dave Pomeroy. With credits on more than 500 albums and decades of road stories, Dave brings a deep well of experience from touring and recording with icons like  Steve Winwood, Emmylou Harris, Keith Whitley, Vince Gill, and Chet Atkin s. From unforgettable sessions to life...

On this episode of  Count It Off , we talk with Minneapolis-based writer, producer, and musician Kevin Bowe. With songs on three platinum records and two Grammy-winning albums, Kevin has collaborated with The Replacements, Paul Westerberg, Etta James and Lynyrd Skynyrd. He tells us about discovering blues giant Jonny Lang and having his music recorded by Little Steven. His work has over 60 million...

Welcome back to  Count It Off  — Ep. 48 Today we’re sitting down with Chandler Marie, an authentic country singer and songwriter from Georgia who’s been recording and calling Nashville home for the past five years. Her songs are sharp, intentional, and beautifully crafted, and her production is absolutely top shelf. Beyond the talent, Chandler brings a real sense of poise to everything she does —...

Count It Off – Ep. 47: Stories from the Road with some Great Artists It’s story time this week on  Count It Off . An ice storm in Nashville threw us a major curveball and pushed our next guests back a week, so we’re digging into the vault and sharing a few favorite road memories instead. From playing a black tie show on guitar with Willie Nelson , to lighting up a cigar with Michael Jackson’s lege...

Episode 46: Marcia Ramirez — Songs, Stories & Life on the Road In this episode, we sit down with  Marcia Ramirez , an accomplished  songwriter and touring musician  whose career has taken her across stages with some of music’s most respected artists, including  Rodney Crowell, Pam Tillis, Christopher Cross, and Patty Loveless . Marcia shares behind-the-scenes stories from the road, insights in...