The Paul Leslie Hour

202 - Costaki Economopoulos Stand-up comic Costaki Economopoulos is the biggest name in comedy. The renowned comedian is also a joke writer who has written for such personalities as Jay Leno and Bette Midler as well as television networks like MTV. Economopoulos is known for his many television and radio appearances, in particular the nationally syndicated Bob & Tom Show . He's released a come...

201 - Steve Tyrell Steve Tyrell is a singer of the great classics from the American Songbook. This interview with Mr. Tyrell was taped and broadcast on the radio in part to promote "I'll Take Romance" (Concord Records, Release date: February 7, 2012) his collection of love songs. Seeing Steve Tyrell in concert at City Winery in Atlanta was the inspiration for bringing this interview out of the arc...

200 - Billy Joe Shaver Billy Joe Shaver , a legend in music joins us for the 200th episode of The Paul Leslie Hour and along the way we present some advance recordings from his upcoming 24th studio album. Billy Joe Shaver is one of the greatest songwriters in American music and a singer, storyteller, entertainer & recording artist. Billy Joe Shaver is a 5-time Grammy nominee and received the S...

199 - Vincent Pastore Vincent Pastore is a well respected actor of stage, screen, television and radio. He is most known for his portrayal of Salvatore Bonpensiero (better known as "Big Pussy") on the award-winning HBO series The Sopranos . Prior to his success in acting, Pastore was in the club business. His first major motion picture was the Nancy Savoca film True Love . He has since expanded to...

198 - Brad Upton Comedian Brad Upton is a rare comic talent. He is among a handful of comedians who appeal to all crowds. This likability factor is a part of the reason for his diverse audience which ranges in age from 18 to 80. His stand-up comedy has brought him around the world and in concert with some of the biggest names in entertainment, from Johnny Mathis, Dolly Parton and Smokey Robinson i...

197 - Livingston Taylor Livingston Taylor is a singer-songwriter, pianist, guitarist and teacher. This interview was recorded in Taylor's hotel room prior to one of his concert performances at Eddie's Attic in Decatur, Georgia. His career has included songwriting, performances and teaching, but he thinks of himself first and foremost as a teacher. His brothers and sisters Alex, James, Kate and Hug...

196 - Antonio Sánchez Drummer, composer, performing and recording artist Antonio Sánchez was performing with the Pat Metheny Quartet at the Atlanta Symphony Hall. He graciously invited me backstage to record an interview before the concert. A number of topics were broached: his early years growing up in Mexico City, his grandfather the legendary actor Ignacio López Tarso, moving to Boston, perform...

195 - James Schneider Has there ever been a more gregarious and jovial musician than James Schneider ? A pianist, bassist and world music multi-instrumentalist, he's pursued a lot of things in music from performing, teaching, recording, tour management, and more. Schneider's love for music is infectious. He's played for an audience of 60,000 people in Beijing, China, but put the same heart playing...

194 - Pat Metheny It's the first episode of 2019! We’re welcoming an artist of great cultural and personal relevance. Pat Metheny is a musician. He’s been called one of the greatest guitarists of our time. Metheny is a prolific composer and recording artist. Few artists have performed as many concerts around the world. A 20-time Grammy award winner, Pat Metheny has also collaborated with a wide va...

193 - Chuck Klosterman It's an honor to welcome a brilliant writer and pop culture deconstructionalist. The last interview guest of 2018 is best-selling author Chuck Klosterman , he's written several acclaimed works of nonfiction including Sex, Drugs and Cocoa Puffs , Fargo Rock City , I Wear the Black Hat , as well as works of fiction: Downtown Owl and The Visible Man . A music critic and sportsw...

192 - Louise Goffin Grammy-nominated musician Louise Goffin is a singer-songwriter, recording artist, multi-instrumentalist and record producer. She released her debut album in 1979 and has released eight, including the most recent record "All These Hellos." The daughter of songwriters Gerry Goffin and Carole King, Goffin is an expressive singer and evocative writer. Louise Goffin with Paul Zollo...

191 - David Hooser Actor, writer and videographer David Hooser is an Atlanta-based actor of film, television and commercials originally from Ohio. With an unbridled work ethic, willingness to learn and penchant for experiences, Hooser brings a lot of personality to any set he works on. The Paul Leslie Hour was delighted to invite David Hooser into the studio for a fast-paced, authentic talk about...

190 Mark Holland of Autumn's Child There aren't many Christmas-oriented interviews in the Paul Leslie catalog. This interview was recorded in December 2008 at Smoke Rise Baptist Church in Stone Mountain, Georgia. The guest Mark Holland of Autumn's Child is a Native American flute player, composer and recording artist. Performing with Peter Mayer on his annual Christmas "Stars and Promises" Chrismt...

189 - Charles L. Granata Author, producer and historian Charles L. Granata penned the award-winning book Sessions with Sinatra: Frank Sinatra and the Art of Recording, which has been identified as one of the most important studies of Sinatra the recording artist. Charles Granata is also producer of “Nancy for Frank,” a radio program heard on the Sirius/XM channel “Siriusly Sinatra.” He’s contribut...

188 - The Bengsons The Bengsons are a renowned folk-rock duo consisting of Shaun and Abigail Bengson, a married couple and creative partners. They have released the cast album of their stage musical Hundred Days. The musical tells the tale of their courtship and inevitable marriage. Their musical received rave reviews including The New York Times - “The Bengsons offer luminous hope that a new gene...

Scott Ryan is a man of much enterprise: book author, magazine publisher, podcast host, short story writer and writer/director of independent films. This episode of The Paul Leslie Hour focuses on his book The Last Days of Letterman, a meticulously researched oral history of the final 6 weeks of the famous late night television talk show The Late Show with David Letterman . Ryan's book includes in-...

Bill Zehme is a best-selling author of several books including The Way You Wear Your Hat: Frank Sinatra and the Lost Art of Livin'. A man with many claims, all of them to fame. He's the "King of the First Sentence" and the magazine writer who gets to know the unknowable. Zehme is a man who once (or twice) said "I do not believe in celebrity." Yet somehow the biggest icons of the 20th Century invit...

It's the SINATRA 103 episode of The Paul Leslie Hour . Returning guest Robert Davi is an actor, singer and recording artist. Most known for his acting, he always stands out and can be seen in the classic films The Goonies, Showgirls , and the Bond film Licence to Kill, just to name a few. A renowned vocalist, his debut album Davi Sings Sinatra: On the Road to Romance produced by Phil Ramone receiv...

Stand-up Comedian Tom Dreesen is a man who has found the recipe for good health and happiness. His prescription is that you do it 10 times a day. He wants you to laugh. Like the song popularized by his friend the late Frank Sinatra, Tom Dreesen “took a few blows,” but he definitely “lived a life that’s full.” In this archival interview Dreesen shares his story with us, and it is an inspiring one....

Rose Kingsley is an Opera great turned jazz great. A singer and recording artist, she's performed at the Metropolitan Opera, Carnegie Hall, Steinway Hall and the Houston Grand opera to name a few. Her debut album This is My Life has been released to great audience and critical acclaim. It's a wonderful chat with a storytelling vocalist and performer. Look no further, Rose Kingsley is next on The P...

Shecky Greene is the most famous night club act. Even the name “Shecky” is synonymous with comedian. As a headliner in Las Vegas, his shows have been seen by millions. Shecky Greene is a man with many stories, like how about the time Elvis Presley opened for him? Or his many times as a guest on Johnny Carson’s Tonight Show, or The Merv Griffin Show. Shecky Greene is rightfully a legend… a comedian...

Antonia Bennett is a jazz/pop singer and recording artist joined The Paul Leslie Hour to discuss her musical upbringing and career, influences, as well as interactions with Count Basie, Rosemary Clooney and Ella Fitzgerald. The daughter of legendary jazz singer Tony Bennett, Antonia Bennett's recording career as a singer of both standards and original material will be explored on the program along...

Johnny Mandel is a composer, arranger, record producer, bandleader and musician. His whole life has been comprised of musical achievement. As a trumpeter and trombonist he played in the bands of Artie Shaw, Jimmy Dorsey, Count Basie, and Woody Herman. He transitioned into arranging. As an arranger, Mandel worked with Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Chet Baker, Peggy Lee and Andy Williams…the greatest...

Singer-songwriter and run-away beauty queen Rhonda Coullet gave an in-depth and very personal interview.  She was the first beauty queen to ever resign her title. Her life journey has been an interesting one and has included work on the stage, in recording studios and on-camera. She's worked with everyone from John Belushi to Meat Loaf. Jimmy Buffett recorded a song she wrote "Bigger than the Both...

It's a pleasure to welcome a man known by a single name: Kostas. A native of Greece, he moved to the United States when he was 7 years old. Kostas is a singer-songwriter and has been writing songs for 40 years. Although h released an album entitled XS in Moderation on Liberty Records, he's most known for the songs he wrote recorded by other artists. His first #1 hit song was “Timber, I’m Falling i...