Not So Famous in NJ - Coffee Talk and Candid Conversations With Lucille

Two years ago I was lucky enough to attend an event at Rutgers Living History Society where Juliana Richardson was honored with an Oral History Award. Her claim to fame? Her work with the History Makers, a project she started 24 years earlier to document Black history in America. . . the largest effort to record the African American experience since the WPA Slave Narratives of the 1930s. She - and...

Greg was one of my first interviews during Covid, out on my deck and sufficiently spaced apart. A former prosecuting attorney, Greg talks about how his experience in that field helped with his acting, and vice versa. So, he not only prosecuted murderers, he actually played them!

Some people give up when they face a crisis in their life. Some - like Jim Kelly - decide it's better to live. Here's part two of our conversation. 

Barely out of his teens, Jim Kelly suffered a devastating and life changing accident that paralyzed him. His road to partial recovery helped him see life differently - and perhaps was the impetus behind his success as an educator and, eventually, writer. And, yes. I had a crush on him in high school. . .  This is part one of our recent conversation. You can find his books at jmkellyauthor.com

Less than a week ago, Michael Kroll - husband, actor, director, friend - passed away quietly at home. His death is a huge loss to all who knew him. Michael so totally exemplifies the "best of," and I wanted to honor him by rebroadcasting our talk from 2021.

What the hell is a Tardis? What is the Dr.'s actual name? You may not find the answers here, but you will hear a continuation of our spirited discussion about the TV series, Dr. Who. The Doctor, you may already know, is a Space Lord who travels through space and time, usually with a companion and always encountering impossible situations. Impossible. . . except for the Doctor. Click through to hea...

She is a powerhouse of a singer, but that description doesn't do Bridget Larson justice. With a combination of blues, rock, country and, yes, Christian music, she hits all the right notes. Don't let the Christian music fool you. She can get downright secular!

If you're a sci fi fan - or even if you aren't - you may have watched an episode or two of Dr. Who. I've gathered a few Dr. Who aficionados to basically nerd out on this epic show, which has been around forever. The Doctor - as he is known - travels around time and space and. . . oh, just listen to Rob, Ellie, Nika, Nora and I have a completely normal conversation about our obsession.    [Sorry if...

Most of the musicians I've featured on this podcast are mainstream. Joe Malone is not. I spoke to Joe back in 2022, and realized I hadn't featured his interview as a "best of."  My mistake, Joe is talented and entertaining. What more could you ask for?

Maybe it's just me, but it seems like everyone knows who State Senator Vin Gopal is. But if you don't, no reason to fret. This conversation between Vin and me doesn't dwell on the obvious. . . politics. I get him to talk about his secret talents and who would be the first person he'd call if he ended up in the slammer. 

If you've ever been to Barnacle Bill's for the great food, you may be surprised to learn that it's keeping live music alive in NJ, thanks to owner Todd Sherman. That's because Todd's real love is music. Not only does he give local musicians a place to do their thing; he also is quite accomplished himself as a musician and composer. We spoke back in 2020, and I'm reviving it because he's such an in...

Can you become a rock legend if you grew up on country music and tipping cows? NJ took the Kansas out of Glenn Alexander, and in part 2 of our conversation (because I just couldn't make it any shorter!) he explains how the music he grew up with had so little to do with the path his chose. Oh. And I did my best to embarrass him (and I think I succeeded!).

Glenn Alexander isn't a household name. . . but you've certainly heard him play. His guitar riffs are legend, but his ego is all but hidden in his humble demeanor. From Southside Johnny to Peter Gabriel to Bob Dylan, those "in the know" know he is the cat to call when you need an awesome . . . may I say?. . . guitar god.

Five years ago I interviewed a young chap who was making a living as a musician. A week ago I attended his latest album release party at Asbury Lanes, and wow! I can't rave enough about his band, We Used to Cut the Grass.  We talked about Frank Zappa's influence on his music - and Zappa's misogyny - as well as his attitude toward different music genres, from rap to classical to country. His opinio...

Back in 2020, I was interviewing people on my deck, maintaining a nice, safe distance. One of the first was bassist Chris Plunkett, a founding member of Line Drive and the guy who was half of their groove. And like Paul McCartney, Chris started as a guitarist and became a bass player almost by default. 

In my second interview with North Jersey shore artists, Lynn McKittrick and I talk about what makes a great chef.

Don't let Oria Alexander fool you. She's not just a singer. Her debut CED, titled “Yellow Paint,” was completed before her 17th birthday and featured 13 original songs. She recorded her first album singing a duet with legendary soul rocker, Southside Johnny, and had written and sung her own compositions all around the world. . .in addition to being an accomplished flutist. But she still sang with...

He may downplay his success, but Pat Guadagno is probably the perfect example of a local musician who has found his place in the music industry. His unique sound and creative reinterpretations of some classic rock puts him in a category of his own. In this episode, one of my best from 2020, we talk about his collaboration with Big Joe Henry, his short lived stage career and his thoughts on the mus...

Nika Stewart  isn't just an actor or a singer in a rock band or a video producer or a writer. She's also probably the only person you'll meet who believes that that getting cancer was something to celebrate. But she just may convince you.

If you've been in theater or seen a production in NJ, there's a good chance you've rubbed shoulders with Kathy Reed. As the woman who practically invented dinner theater in NJ and made murder mystery dinners a real "thing," Kathy has launched more acting careers than she can count, including Middletown's own Billy Van Zandt.

He's a full time father and music hobbyist with a background as diverse as it gets. After working with hip hop artists Andy B. Bad and Salt-N-Pepa, his journey took him through rock, pop, country and even faith-based music. His passions? Music, his sons and . . .  affordable housing. . . really!

Death. Polio. Burt Bacharach. Not terms you usually associate with the founder of Holiday Express. But nevertheless, Tim is a complex guy and we delve into these issues and more. As well as him being the worst soldier ever.

Does anyone other than bass players like bass solos? I love to tease Tony about this, but he actually has an answer that you might not expect. This freewheeling conversation is from 2021 - over Zoom - but that didn't hold either of us back!

Yes, you may know a lot of things about Tim McLoone. But if you really think you know him. . . well, you don't. From his solitary childhood to his life as a philanthropist and restaurateur, the story of Tim McLoone may just surprise you.

Can rape be funny? Part two of my conversation with comedian Vinnie Brand hammers away at this and also some misogynistic male comedians - Louis CK, Bill Cosby (of course) - but some good guys like Ray Romano & Eddie Murphy as well. There's a reason why a certain comedian is the only one no longer welcome in his clubs, and it might surprise you. Can comedy be like sex? What drove his mother cr...