Count It Off!

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...

Count It Off Ep 45 - Matt Stell Country hitmaker  Matt Stell  joins the podcast to talk about the road from small-town beginnings to landing  two #1 Billboard hits . He shares the stories behind his biggest songs, playing the Opry , the lessons learned chasing success in Nashville , and what’s next in his evolving music journey. A candid conversation about grit, growth, and staying true to your so...

Count It Off – Episode 44  welcomes acclaimed musician and composer  Tom Lieberman  for an in-depth conversation spanning a remarkable career. Tom reflects on his  ten-year tenure with  A Prairie Home Companion , shares insights from his work on  Disney’s  Bear andthe Big Blue House , and discusses the evolution of his jazz trio  Rio Nido . The episode explores the discipline, creativity, and coll...

Count It Off Ep. 43 - Jeffro checks in Hey everyone, welcome back to the show! With the holidays in full swing, I thought this was the perfect time to do a little check-in. Things are busy, a little chaotic, hopefully cozy—and I'm just taking a moment to slow down and catch up. Whether you’re wrapping gifts, traveling, or hiding out with a warm drink somewhere, we’re really glad you’re here. L...

Ep 42 - Ryan Story: "The artists that thrive can still play live." Today we’re talking with Ryan Story — LA-based pop artist, songwriter, and all-around good vibe generator. Ryan’s got a great story. He grew up on the east coast of Florida, sharpened his craft in Nashville and finally made the big leap to the bright lights of Hollywood. In this episode, we check out some of his great pop s...

EP 41: "Why isn't this guy a major star already?" This week we’re hanging out with Rusty Van Sickle and his 19-year-old son, Whitley—two generations of songwriters cut from classic country cloth. We'll hear a few great songs and explore everything from the legends that shaped Rusty’s sound to the Nashville scene today, with a special nod to Keith Whitley, young Whitley’s namesake....

Count It Off Ep 40 : Russ Pahl - steel guitar master If you’ve listened to country radio anytime in the last 25 years, odds are you’ve heard the unmistakable shimmer of Russ Pahl’s steel guitar—whether you knew it or not. Nashville may be full of pickers, but Russ is the guy other players point to when they talk about tone, taste, and pure musical magic. Raised on the warm hum of the folk era, hoo...

Ep. 39 - Chris talks Garth In this episode, Count It Off sits down with legendary guitarist Chris Leuzinger—the man whose playing you’ve heard on  every Garth Brooks album and across countless miles of tour dates. Chris takes us back to those early days in the studio, sharing how the very first Garth tracks came together, the sparks of creativity that shaped them, and the moments none of them real...