The Sonny Melendrez Show

Two time Grammy award winner, Rebecca Valadez visits with Sonny, sharing her inspiring journey to musical stardom beyond her wildest dreams. You'll hear.. How she landed an international TV commercial Her chance meeting with a hair stylist who suggested an audition that would change her life How she has dealt with an anxiety disorder all her life How she landed the job as backup singer for Janet J...

Sonny discovers the talent and brilliance of two superstars in the world of magic and music. Harris the III is a world class illusionist who presents live experiences that awaken wonder and change lives. His story goes beyond the world of magic and will inspire you to crush cynicism, choose wonder over worry, and discover a magical life beyond your wildest imagination. Ruben V is one extraordinary...

Patsy Torres  is one of the most important and influential Tejano entertainers of our time. She has performed for live audiences of more than 100,000 people, appeared on national television for millions of viewers, and traveled all over the world winning countless awards for her musical talents and community works. What is, perhaps, most inspiring about the powerful story of this music icon is the...

Regarded as one of the leading marketing experts in Hollywood,  Dean McFlicker is a top-level television executive and international keynote speaker.  At NBC, Dean is Senior Vice President and Creative Director of Live Events and Promotional Programming for the Original Production, Entertainment Marketing group. He is an award­‐winning producer and director of countless campaigns for some of the m...

Jesse Cole is the owner of the Savannah Bananas. The Savannah Bananas currently have sold out every baseball game for three straight seasons and have a waiting list in the thousands for tickets. In this nugget-filled episode, Jesse chats with Sonny about how to take a business from nothing (he started with 2 season ticket holders) to one of the fastest growing companies in America. Jesse reveals:...

Best selling author, Gavin Edwards, shares his fascinating insight into the world of Fred Rogers. In this very special show, you'll hear about: The subtleties in Mister Rogers Neighborhood that helped to prepare children watching for a life of learning 10 ways we can live more like Mr. Rogers today Celebrities and celebrities-to-be who appeared on the show  The french opera Fred wrote in college a...

Susan Bennett never set out to land what has become "a gig of a lifetime." In fact, she had no idea she was creating one of the most famous phone characters in the world of AI: The voice of Siri for the Apple iPhone. Sonny caught up with her at her home in Atlanta to chat about her fascinating career as a jingle performer, singer (she sang backup for the great Roy Orbison, voice over artist and ho...

Stephanie Scheller is a "disruptive growth designer." After three years in corporate America, she ramped up her sales training and coaching business in only four and a half months to completely replace her corporate income and walked away to run Scheller Enterprises, a company focused on disrupting the way the world goes into and stays in business. As attention shifted to creating a global impact,...

It was November 2010. While hosting a conference in Ft. Worth, I reconnected with my dear friend, Brad Stewart. After dinner, he invited me to a rehearsal for his church choir. When we arrived at the small church in Arlington, he asked me to come and sit in the choir. I said, "Brad, I don't sing." He said, "You don't have to. Just sit with us." As they began to sing, I closed my eyes and there, in...

Gary Mule Deer has been making audiences laugh hysterically for for 58 years and he's just getting started! He has shared the stage with over 100 show biz icons, from Sinatra to Willie Nelson and Johnny Carson to Johnny Mathis, all of whom have considered Gary their peer. Sonny chats with and is entertained by his longtime friend about "the hungry years" of comedy in Los Angeles when David Letterm...

In February of 1977, my friend, singer/songwriter, Alan O'day called and asked if I wanted to premiere his new song, " Undercover Angel ," on my radio show on KMPC in Los Angeles. When I heard the song, I told Alan, that it was a "mega-hit" and said I had an idea of how we could have some fun with my listeners. After playing the song on the air, I predicted that it would reach the top of the Billb...

Kerry Valderrama is an award-winning producer, director, writer and actor. From his first film, "Garrison," which was released nationwide to his current comic book/animation project, Kerry defies all odds with his relentless ability to bring his ideas to life. He chats with Sonny Melendrez about his remarkable movie and TV success. In this fast-moving episode: The mistakes most often made by begin...

Sonny Melendrez welcomes Grammy winning singer, musician, teacher and visionary, Juan Ortiz and world-famous Mariachi Campanas de America to the SonnyRadio studios. Sonny has shared the stage with Juan and the Campanas, at countless events, including the White House Hispanic Heritage Awards Gala in Washington, D.C.. In this entertainment and inspiration filled episode: Juan shares how his childhoo...

Sonny visits with San Antonio College student, Angela Quillian , Deborah Martin from Alamo Colleges and broadcast veteran, Arch Campbell who helped start the Jean Longwith Endowment - a scholarship fund for students seeking a career in broadcasting. Angela is a former recipient of the Jean Longwith Scholarship.  Sonny and Arch were in Ms. Longwith's first class at San Antonio College all those yea...

Sonny visits with his longtime friend, Wink Martindale ! He had the pleasure of working with Wink on America's greatest personality station in the 70's, KMPC Radio in Los Angeles. You'll hear: Wink's priceless conversation with a young Elvis Presley His appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show The funniest moment of his game show career The secret to being a perfect game show contestant from the biggest...

Burt Ward connected with Adam West within 5 minutes of meeting him as they auditioned together for the roles of Batman and Robin. It was an American television series that would become a worldwide phenomenon.  In this exclusive interview, Burt talks with Sonny about his amazing career, resulting from the role of a lifetime.  You'll hear about.. His performance on ice at age 2 The serendipity that...

Kevin Gershan is a producer/director for CBS Television Distribution based in Entertainment Tonight, working on major syndication shows, including Jeopardy, Wheel of Fortune,Dr. Phil, Rachael Ray and others. Celebrating 40 years with CBS, Kevin's broadcast career began as a youngster, making his debut as one of the precocious children on Art Linkletter's House Party (Kids Say the Darnest Things!)....

Phil Bohlender is the real deal. He has been instrumental in turning around divisions within six Fortune 100 companies. I know you'll find my visit with him as fascinating as I did, whether you are a business owner, a parent or a 13-year-old with a brother or sister who looks up to you. We are all leaders. In this fast-paced episode: Phil reveals.. What the Dalai Lama, Stephen Covey and Phil's Spa...

Pam Grout is a world traveler, a loving mother, a #1 New York Times best-selling author and an inspiring witness to everyone she meets. She has written 19 books, and counting, including E-Squared, which has been translated in countries around the world. Pam shares with Sonny: The meaning of FP (Field of Potentiality) and how it can work for you Her first thought every morning that sets the stage f...

Gary Garcia is known as Gary the Showman for a good reason. His Las Vegas style of performing has audiences cheering and shouting for more. Listen as Sonny chats with Gary about why it took him 20 years to become an "overnight-success". Gary shares: The serendipitous adventure that took him from San Antonio, Texas to Hollywood What it takes to stay motivated for each "give it everything you've got...

Sonny Melendrez chats with four icons in the world of sports & entertainment. ✯Award-winning actress Rita Moreno shares secret to overcoming obstacles in her career spanning 7 decades! ✯World famous actor and successful business man, Jerry Mathers , reveals the hilarious story of how he landed the starring role in what has become the longest running show in television history. ✯Grammy winning musi...

Mitch Stephen is a Texas original. As a real estate guru, he has been lauded by his professional peers locally and nationally. He is the author of My Life & 1000 Houses: Failing Forward to Financial Freedom. It is a book filled with the life of properties and the properties of life. And, Mitch has a creative side as a prolific songwriter, having penned more than 100 heart and thought-provoking cou...

Pete Heinlein's first job was working at public library for $1.05 an hour El Paso, Texas. His only connection to the world was the books that surrounded him. Little did he know that his life as a broadcaster would take him to the far corners of the globe. I had the good fortune to meet Pete when we both attended the University of Texas at El Paso as communications majors. Together, we also began o...

It's a long way from San Antonio to Nashville, 937 miles to be exact. However, that journey can last a lifetime when you are traveling by way of the music business. It's a journey that my guest and dear friend, began and accomplished, joyfully arriving in the music capital of the world and recently appearing on the greatest stage in country music, The Grand Ole Opry! Fasten your seat belt, you're...

Lisa Hurst uses Experiential Education along with Applied Improv to facilitate collaboration and innovation for corporate, medical, and student organizations. For more than a decade, she has been an active member of the improv communities in San Antonio and Austin. Her consulting company Improv To Grow,  offers dynamic personal and professional development programs in all aspects of life.