History of L.A. Ska: One On One Sessions

For this 2022 Year in Review Roundtable, host Junor Francis and producer Eric Kohler are joined by three key figures in the Southern California scene - musician/selector The Bubba Master (The Untouchables), singer Jackie Mendez, and promoter/record label operator Darrell Rubio (Stiff Dog).

On this milestone 50th episode, host Junor Francis and producer Eric Kohler talk with two architects of Jamaican music - percussionist Larry McDonald and bassist Val Douglas, who are both members of The Skatalites. 

Host Junor Francis and producer Eric Kohler talk with brothers Jesse and Justin Bivona from popular ska punk band, The Interrupters. 

Host Junor Francis talks with singer, musician, bandleader, journalist, and podcast host, Matt Munoz, of Bakersfield's Mento Buru.

Host Junor Francis and producer Eric Kohler talk with Don Letts, legendary British filmmaker, radio host, selector, author, musician, cultural commentator, and fashionista. His documentary, Rebel Dread, is released in the U.S. on November 1, 2022. We preview the upcoming screening of Rebel Dread and Q&A event at the Grammy Museum in Los Angeles on November 1, followed by a special Punky Reggae...

Host Junor Francis talks with legendary rocksteady singers, Keith Rowe, Phillip Texas Dixon (Keith & Tex) and Rudy Mills.  We preview their upcoming SkaMania show at La Santa in Santa Ana, CA on November 5, 2022. This will mark Rudy Mills' debut U.S. performance. 

Host Junor Francis talks with keyboardist, DJ, songwriter, producer, dub engineer, Roger Rivas, of The Aggrolites, Long Beach Dub Allstars, Jason Mraz, The First Cuts, Night Owls, and Rivas Studios.

Producer Eric Kohler talks with two masterminds behind the super group, Rude Girl Revue - Jenny Whiskey and Kristin "Lady Hatchet" Forbes. Jenny also plays in Hub City Stompers and Rude Boy George, while Kristin also plays in The Scotch Bonnets and The Players Band.  Due to technical difficulties, Junor Francis was unable to host this episode. 

Host Junor Francis and producer Eric Kohler talk with Kingston, Jamaica-born, pianist, recording artist, composer, and bandleader, Monty Alexander. Monty's latest album, Love Notes, is his first recording featuring his vocals.

Recorded in April 2021, host Junor Francis talks with Rhoda Dakar, legendary singer, musician, DJ, of The Bodysnatchers and The Special AKA fame.  

Recorded on IGTV in April 2021, host Junor Francis talks with veteran musician, band leader, writer, arranger, producer, DJ, music historian, and tastemaker, Joey Altruda, of Jump With Joey fame.

Host Junor Francis and producer Eric Kohler talk with veteran singer Persephone "Queen P" Laird of Ocean 11 and former band leader for LA Allstar Revue.  We preview Jamaica's 60th Anniversary Celebration featuring the "King of Ska" Derrick Morgan and a reunited Ocean 11 coming to the El Rey Theatre in Los Angeles on August 20, 2022.

Host Junor Francis talks with veteran singer, songwriter, musician, band leader, record label operator, Mike Park, of Skankin' Pickle, The Bruce Lee Band, The Chinkees and Asian Man Records fame.

Recorded in March 2021, host Junor Francis talks with singer/songwriter, Karina Denike, of Dance Hall Crashers fame.

Host Junor Francis and producer Eric Kohler talk with legendary singer, Jackie Robinson, of The Pioneers.

Host Junor Francis and producer Eric Kohler talk with 3 popular selectors - LadyEye La, Rude Blue and Jessica Lipsky a.k.a. Terry Dactyl.

Recorded in February 2021 on IGTV, host Junor Francis talks with Chuck Wren, long-time proprietor of Jump Up Records, DJ and promoter. 

Host Junor Francis talks with veteran San Diego-based musician, singer and bandleader, John Roy, of Unsteady and Smoke & Mirrors Sound System.

Recorded in January 2021 on IGTV, host Junor Francis talks with his longtime friend and Jamaican music legend, Stranger Cole. 

Host Junor Francis talks with drummer/percussionist Fredo Ortiz and saxophonist David Urquidi of Los Angeles' ska-meets-Afro-Cuban jazz outfit, Yeska. These two accomplished musicians have played with such heavyweights as the Beastie Boys, WAR, Los Lobos, Poncho Sanchez, Ozomatli and Gogol Bordello. 

In celebration of Women's History Month, host Junor Francis talks with 3 popular Southern California-based deejays - Elizabeth Mix It Up, Queen of Hearts and Skarina - in Part 1 of this Boss DJs Roundtable series.

Host Junor Francis talks with two members of Orange County, CA-based, Bite Me Bambi - singer/actor Tahlena Chikami and veteran trombonist T-Bone Willy.  

Recorded in December 2020 on IGTV, History of LA Ska: One On One Sessions' producer Eric Kohler turns the tables on his longtime friend, Junor Francis, legendary reggae/ska radio host, emcee, DJ, and promoter.

Host Junor Francis talks with members of Riverside, CA-based, The Debonaires. Kip Wirtzfeld (lead vocals, sax), Mano Mirande (guitar), Mike Presser (guitar), Woody Diaz (drums), Ryan Tomazin (keys), and Roberto Ronquillo (sax) share stories about their friend and bandmate, bassist Jason Napayon, who lost his battle with cancer in December 2021.

Host Junor Francis talks with Norwood Fisher, celebrated bassist for Fishbone and Trulio Disgracias.