'60s '70s '80s - Warm, Candid, Classic, Rock Interviews with Music Legends - A BREATH OF FRESH AIR

Spencer Davis was a British rock musician and bandleader who became a major figure in the 1960s British Invasion, most notably as the founder of The Spencer Davis Group. Born in Swansea, Wales, Davis began his musical journey at a young age, inspired by American blues, jazz, and skiffle music. After moving to Birmingham to attend university, Davis immersed himself in the city's burgeoning musi...

Coco Montoya is a celebrated American blues guitarist and vocalist, recognized for his passionate performances and mastery of the blues genre. Born in Santa Monica, California, Montoya began his musical journey as a drummer, and his career took a pivotal turn when he met the legendary Albert Collins in the 1970s. Albert Collins became his mentor, teaching him the fundamentals of the blues and urgi...

Charlie Musselwhite and Elvin Bishop, two towering legends in the blues world, have carved their places in music history through decades of innovation, collaboration, and a shared love for the blues. Both emerged from the heart of Chicago’s thriving 1960s blues scene, though they took distinct paths that would eventually lead to an unforgettable partnership. Musselwhite, born in Kosciusko, Mississ...

The Allman Brothers Band, established in 1969 in Georgia, stands as a cornerstone of Southern rock and American music history. Founded by brothers Duane and Gregg Allman, along with Dickey Betts, Butch Trucks, Berry Oakley, and Jai Johanny "Jaimoe" Johanson, the band was instrumental in blending rock, blues, jazz, and country music into a genre-defining sound. Their innovative use of dua...

Burton Cummings' voice has been rated among the finest in rock music. Today he continues at the top of his game as performer, singer, songwriter, poet and recording artist. As lead singer and songwriter for Canada’s original rock ‘n’ roll superstars, The Guess Who , Burton scored an unprecedented string of international hit singles and albums including “American Woman,” “These Eyes,” “Laughing...

Born in New York City and raised in the Caribbean as Richard Gerstein - Richard T. Bear boasts a career that spans more than 40 years, one that led to a string of acclaimed solo albums and collaborations with a number of influential icons, including  Al Kooper ,  Stephen Stills , f ormer Rascals Gene Cornish and Dino Danelli, Kiss ,  Pat Benatar  and many more. He has shared stages with artists su...

UB40 , a reggae band from Birmingham, UK, emerged in the late 70s from humble beginnings, with members scraping by on unemployment benefits. The band's original lineup consisted of friends from Moseley School of Art and local schools: Robin and Ali Campbell, Earl Falconer, Brian Travers, Jimmy Brown, Norman Hassan, and later, Michael Virtue and Astro. They named themselves after the unemployme...

Has Gerry Beckley retired? Does he still sing with America? Who influenced the band America? All these questions answered this week. Gerry Beckley is a singer/songwriter best known as a founding member of the classic soft rock outfit  America. Alongside bandmates  Dewey Bunnell and  Dan Peek , Gerry first gained recognition for hits like 1971's "Horse with No Name," 1972's "...

Where is TIm Finn today? What's the relationship between Tim Finn and Neil Finn ? Who did Tim FInn replace in Fleetwood Mac ? Answers to all of these questions and more: Tim Finn is renowned for his work with Split Enz , Crowded House, and as a solo artist. His musical journey began in New Zealand, where he developed a passion for music at a young age, inspired by the Beatles and other rock le...

Remember Hugh Cornwell who fronted English band, the Stranglers? Wanna know what he's up to today? Tune in to find out! Best known as frontman of the Stranglers, one of the most long-lived and internationally popular bands from the original wave of British punk, Hugh Cornwell is also enjoying a successful solo career, that began with his debut solo album, Nosferatu in 1979 and continues long a...

Wondering who wrote 'Hopelessly Devoted,' "You're the One that I Want" or "Magic" for Olivia Newton- John ? Tune in to find out ... John Farrar is an iconic Australian producer, songwriter, and musician whose influential career has left an indelible mark on the music industry. Renowned for his pivotal role in shaping the careers of many artists, John is perhaps best...

Want to know what '60s megastar Tommy James is doing today? Can you name Tommy James and the Shondells biggest hit? Would you like to know Tommy's life story? Tune in here because few stars had a better run on the pop charts in the '60s than Tommy James. As the leader of his group the Shondells, Tommy had a way with upbeat pop tunes that packied a solid rock & roll punch. The creat...

Ever wondered what Slade's Noddy Holder is doing now? Curious as to whether he still sings? Or how he survived a terminall cancer diagnosis? Tune in to find out. Neville ‘Noddy’ Holder is one of the great institutions of British rock. As the garishly trousered, top-hatted frontman of West Midlands glam yobs Slade, he helped soundtrack the early 70s with a string of Top 10 hits that peaked with...

Want to know what happened to Paul Carrack ? Why he left Mike and the Mechanics ? Which song he wrote for the Eagles and what he's doing now? Well, tune in and find out! English singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, Paul Carrack has been a member of several bands including Ace , Squeeze , Mike + The Mechanics , and Roxy Music. He's been a session and touring musician for several others inc...

Phil Manzanera is one of the UK’s best-known musicians and record producers, having shot to prominence in the early ‘70’s as the lead guitarist with the seminal band,  Roxy Music . He is widely acknowledged as one of the world’s leading guitarists and remains in huge demand.  Roxy Music were inducted into  the US Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2019 and recently Phil was awarded the Order of the Bri...

Do you know the name Bruce Sudano? Perhaps you've heard of him as the late DONNA SUMMER's husband and collaborator? They sure made beautiful music together. Bruce is a celebrated musician, songwriter, and producer renowned for his extensive contributions to the music industry. With a career spanning several decades, he has written chart-topping hits for legendary artists like Donna Summer, Michael...

Guess who was behind hits like the Turtles' "Happy Together" or CSN&Y's "Ohio?" It was renowned drummer Johny Barbata who sadly passed away unexpectedly last month. Johny's extraordinary talent and versatility made him a pivotal figure in rock and pop music. Starting his career in the 1960s, Johny first gained prominence as a member of The Turtles, where his dynamic drumming powered hits like...

Don McLean III is an American singer-songwriter, best known for his 1971 hit song "American Pie", an 8.5-minute folk rock "cultural touchstone" about the loss of innocence of the early rock and roll generation (US #1 for four weeks in 1972 and UK #2). Though some of his early musical influences included Frank Sinatra and Buddy Holly , as a teenager, Don became interested in fol...

Martha and the Muffins is a Canadian new wave band formed in Toronto in 1977. Known for their eclectic sound that blends post-punk, art rock, and new wave influences, the band achieved international success with their hit single " Echo Beach " in 1980. Martha and the Muffins was formed by two art students, Martha Johnson and Mark Gane , at the Ontario College of Art. They were soon joine...

As a founding member of the Grammy-winning, platinum-selling rock band  TOTO, songwriter/keyboardist Steve Porcaro had huge pop hits with "Hold the Line," "Rosanna," and "Make Believe." He also co-wrote "Human Nature" which is featured on Michael Jackson' s 30 million-selling Thriller album. Steve's other band mates in Toto were his brothers Jeff and...

Born in 1952, in Virginia, Stewart Copeland - the son of a CIA agent - spent his formative years in the Middle East but attended college in California before settling in England in 1975. He joined the progressive rock outfit Curved Air , working first as their road manager then as their drummer. In early 77, he founded the Police  with singer/bassist Sting and guitarist Henri Padovani (soon replac...

Pat Arnold (born Patrica Ann Cole in 1946 in Los Angeles), professionally known as P.P. Arnold, is a soul singer who enjoyed considerable success in the United Kingdom in the 60s and beyond. Born into a family of gospel singers, PP married early, had two children, worked a series of menial jobs until the early 60s, when her friends contacted her with an offer she couldn't refuse. The girls had...

Brian Cadd is an Australian singer-songwriter, keyboardist, producer and record label founder, a staple of Australian entertainment for over 50 years. As well as working internationally throughout Europe and the United States, he has performed as a member of numerous bands including the Groop , Axiom , T he Bootleg Family Band and in America with the Flying Burrito Brothers before carving out a so...

John McEuen was born in 1945 and spent his high school years in California’s Orange County. He and lifelong high-school friend Steve Martin both got a job in 1963 in the magic shop at Disneyland when they were just 16. When John saw Missouri bluegrass group The Dillards in an Orange County club a couple of years later, his life changed forever. He knew he wanted to be “a traveling music man”. As a...

Leland Sklar has been a prominent figure among Hollywood session bassists dating back to the 1970s and ever since. Born in 1947 in Milwaukee, Lee has more than 2000 albums to his credit (and still counting), and is considered to be one of the "A" players in the highly selective L.A. rock music community where the competition for recording dates is fierce, and where only the strongest sur...