The Paul Leslie Hour

Peter Erskine is a lifelong drummer known for the diversity of his work. He's appeared on over 700 albums and film scores, 50 albums have been recorded with Erskine as bandleader or co-leader. Some of the bands and artists he's worked with include Weather Report, Joni Mitchell, Steely Dan, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Diana Krall, Pat Metheny, and many more. In addition to being a drummer, he is a recor...

Eric Andersen is a singer-songwriter and recording artist. Since his 1965 debut album, he's recorded more than 2 dozen records. His songs have been covered by the likes of Johnny Cash, Judy Collins, Linda Ronstadt, The Grateful Dead, Bob Dylan and others. 2018 saw the release of the double CD set The Essential Eric Andersen . Rolling Stone magazine said “Andersen is the most elegant of singers.” T...

Patrick Williams was a musician, composer, producer, conductor, arranger, big-band jazz leader and music educator. Born April 23, 1939, he sadly passed away Wednesday morning (July 25, 2018). Prolific is a word defined by Webster’s as producing abundantly. When it came to Patrick Williams, the word suited him. He composed the music for over 65 feature films, 100 television films, 25 television ser...

Tony Arata is a singer-songwriter originally from Savannah, Georgia. Songs he wrote have been recorded by other recording artists including Trisha Yearwood, Patty Loveless, Emmylou Harris, Don Williams, Randy Travis and Bonnie Raitt. However, he's most known as being the writer of "The Dance," the hit song of musical artist Garth Brooks. This interview was originally broadcast on the radio. It was...

Make way for the King! Larry King , that is. How did a kid from Brooklyn grow up and become perhaps the most famous radio and television interviewer of all time? Curiosity. This curiosity, has never gone away. Larry King still interviews people almost everyday on his talk show Larry King Now . In this breezy chat, Larry King talks about his early days in Miami, who he has always wanted to speak to...

Mark D. Sanders is a songwriter with more than 200 songs cut by recordings artists, 50 have been singles and 14 number one songs. Some of his songs are instantly recognizable. His most famous song "I Hope You Dance" was recorded by Lee Ann Womack and other noteworthy songs "Victim of the Game" by Garth Brooks, "Money in the Bank"by John Anderson and "Blue Clear Sky" by George Strait and many other...

Heywood Gould is a screenwriter, novelist, journalist and film director. Born in the Bronx and raised in Brooklyn, he penned the screenplays for many films including Rolling Thunder, The Boys from Brazil, Fort Apache, The Bronx, Streets of Gold and Cocktail , the classic film starring Tom Cruise. Enjoy an in-depth and honest discussion with a down-to-earth writer with a life full of experiences. P...

JD Souther is one of the greatest songwriters of our time. He's released several albums to international acclaim and wrote and recorded the hit song "You're Only Lonely." The songs of JD Souther have been recorded by Eagles ("Heartache Tonight," "Best of My Love," and "New Kid in Town") Linda Ronstadt, Bonnie Raitt, James Taylor and Jimmy Buffett. As a vocalist he's contributed to the records of a...

Ken Williams is a major influence and innovator in the music industry. He is a prolific songwriter, the publisher of more than 300 songs. Some of the other hats Ken Williams has worn include singer and record producer. Songs he wrote would include the signature hit song of The Main Ingredient: "Everybody Plays the Fool (Sometime)," which was also recorded by Aaron Neville. "Love, Love, Love" by Do...

Woody Allen is an international icon: a film director, writer, actor, comedian and playwright. Most known for his motion pictures, including such classic films as Annie Hall , Sleeper and Manhattan , this interview focuses on his love of music. Woody Allen is one of the most celebrated personalities in film, but many have noted the the incredible use of music in his films. The soundtracks have all...

Lambert Davis is an illustrator and artist. Born in Oahu, Hawaii Mr. Davis spoke to us by telephone from his home in Australia. Most likely this interview was taped in 2008. Lambert Davis illustrated many books, including Trouble Dolls and Jolly Mon written by famed author Jimmy Buffett and his daughter Savannah Jane Buffett. His behind the scenes look gives us a good idea of the formation of thes...

Colbie Caillait is a singer-songwriter and recording artist from Malibu, California. Her songs could be described as acoustic pop and have a mellow vibe. This interview was recorded approximately 9 years ago. Her hit singles "Bubbly," "Realize" and "Lucky" her duet with Jason Mraz (which she co-wrote) were getting heavy airplay on the radio. "Lucky" would go on to win a Grammy. We're pleased to pr...

Sarah Tollerson was a special guest on my radio show back in 2008. We're bringing this interview back out there for your listening pleasure. Singer-songwriter Sarah Tollerson earned the praise of a past president of the Georgia Music Industry Association has a growing number of fans, performances in countless venues from Atlanta, Georgia to Boston, Massachusetts and had just released her debut rec...

Wyatt Durrette is an award-winning, hit songwriter. He's the co-writer of a dozen number one songs and is the recipient of BMI, SESAC and Country Music Association Awards. The songs of Wyatt Durrette have been recorded and/or performed by the Zac Brown Band, Jimmy Buffett and Alan Jackson. Wyatt Durrette is also a performing artist and one of the people behind the apparel line Livin' Life Man whic...

Henry Butler has been called the "pride of New Orleans" by Dr. John. A jazz and blues pianist, Butler is a composer, arranger, performing and recording artist. His eclectic music is a variety of styles ranging from jazz, pop, classical, blues, R&B and Caribbean. This interview from 2010 is being made available for the first time since the original radio debut. It is presented here raw and uncu...

Barefoot Man is a musical legend of the Caribbean. He's a singer, guitarist, recording artist and songwriter. Of the approximately 2,000 songs he's written, he's recorded about 500. He's also author, writer for several publications and photographer. Barefoot Man makes his home in the Cayman Islands and has entertained countless people. We're pleased to welcome him here on The Paul Leslie Hour.

Steve Dorff is a songwriter, composer and recent inductee of the Songwriters Hall of Fame. He's also an author, his book I Wrote That One, Too: A Life in Songwriting from Willie to Whitney was published in 2017. Some of the most legendary artists of all time have recorded Steve Dorff's songs: Barbra Streisand, Celine Dion, George Strait, Kenny Rogers, Ray Charles, Anne Murray, Garth Brooks, Mel Ti...

John Poveromo is a comedian born in Brooklyn, but raised in Jersey. He's been featured in the New York Times and the Asbury Park Press and has performed his standup at the Jersey City Comedy Festival, The New York Underground Comedy Festival. He's also the author of the book Drawings from a Nobody. Meet John Poveromo, right here on The Paul Leslie Hour . Support The Paul Leslie Hour by contributin...

Ralph MacDonald was a percussionist, producer, songwriter, performer and Grammy-award winner who lived from 1944-2011. He had roots in the Caribbean, but was born in New York. His songs were recorded by artists like Bill Withers, Grover Washington Jr, Roberta Flack, Harry Belafonte, Jimmy Buffett and others. The son of Calypsonian MacBeth the Great, Ralph MacDonald was a member of Harry Belafonte'...

Michael Bonfiglio is a very accomplished and innovative filmmaker, an Emmy-nominated director, producer, writer and camera operator. He has directed or co-directed a number of documentaries and television specials, in the world of music May It Last: A Portrait of the Avett Brothers and Nine Days and Nights of Ed Sheeran. In sports there's Doc & Darryl about baseball players Dwight Gooden and D...

Ben de la Cour has been called a "master storyteller," a "true troubadour," "an enigma," and a "revitalizing force." A singer-songwriter, guitarist and recording artist, his album The High Cost of Living Strange is out now. The artist is interviewed here on The Paul Leslie Hour , and performs a few acoustic songs for you.

Gene Wilder was born June 11, 1933. He was an iconic actor and director, but also a writer and painter. He passed away on August 29, 2016 and today would have been his birthday. Known for such films as Young Frankenstein, Blazing Saddles and Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, in his later years he wrote several books starting with the autobiographical Kiss Me Like a Stranger . He wrote such wo...

Todd Snider is one of the most insightful, humorous and clever singer-songwriters in American music. The first radio station to air one of my interviews was Jimmy Buffett's Radio Margaritaville, which may explain some of the context for things Snider said. The interview was recorded at the old Georgia Theatre, before it burned down. This short backstage conversation took place on November 25, 2006...

Jerry Jeff Walker is a legend in country and folk music and is known as a songwriter and also interpreter of other artists' songs. He is well known as the writer of the song "Mr. Bojangles." This interview was recorded back in 2006 for an early incarnation of this talk show. A small digital recorder was used right on the ocean in Key West, Florida. It was a good interview and I hope you enjoy.

Cesária Évora was an internationally known singer and recording artist from Cape Verde, an island country off the coast of West Africa. She was known as "the Queen of Morna," morna being the national music of Cape Verde and was also called "the Barefoot Diva" for performing without shoes. Cesária Évora left the world on December 17, 2011, but her music is still an influence on many artists around...