TOP TALENT with Richie Phillips

"Why did you climb that mountain? Because it was there". You've heard the saying.  Well, this was a real stretch on my part.  To try to put music to someone else's lyrics.  Especially if it's a computer's!  This was very bizarre, but I would love you to listen.  Plus a discussion (with myself) over the pros and cons of this new transformational technology.  Try ChatGPT for yourself.    Right now i...

 This was a special thrill and honor to have this gentleman on here.  You know him from the number one country hits "I Don't Have To Be Me Til Monday", and "Sunshine" plus many others.  Time to catch up with this TOP TALENT to find out what he's doing down in Mississippi - you may be surprised to learn that he now is the author of the Mississippi state song- plus lots of other cool goings-on.   Hi...

Is it possible that there is a choir group that you can join with no experience and no need to even audition? Yes! It’s called ROCK VOICES! Plus you get to sing awesome music… Nate Altimari is my TOP TALENTED guest-Director of the Capital Region chapter.   This is such a great community service. I think you’ll enjoy the conversation.. If you’d like more information about the group.. Nate@rockvoice...

Mark Pierre has always had at least one foot firmly planted in the country music genre for all the years I've known him (we used to be neighbors!) . Successful Investment adviser by day/ country singer and songwriter by nite!  He has played for countless audiences in our area here in Upstate NY.    Mark has been chosen by show producer Kevin Richards, along with talented singer Jenna Sue and yours...

Jenna Sue is one of the artists, along with Mark Pierre and yours truly performing at a show we are doing honoring the great Randy Travis here in Glens Falls New York on 9/11. This was recorded right after a practice for our version of “I Told You So”…   

My talk with Capital Region country radio legend KEVIN RICHARDS and his new venture …an UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL concert with RANDY TRAVIS and other famous 80’s and 90’s country artists to be named.  I also have an exciting role in this show… playing and  his hits right in front of him!   Gulp….

Not often do I get to interview an INTERVIEWER,EMMY AWARD-WINNING newscaster, journalist and author JOHN GRAY.   John is a veteran news anchor here in Albany NY on NEWS 10 ABC. When he's not covering the pressing events of the day, he's burning the midnite oil writing newspaper columns and books!  His Book CHASING CHRISTMAS in fact has been picked up to become a made for TV movie in fact.   All hi...

Interesting discussion with another traveling tribute troubadour…His name is JOHN COZOLINO, and he fronts a BILLY JOEL tribute band called THE RIVER OF DREAMS TRIBUTE SHOW.  He is coming to our Capital Region area on April 1st, 2022.  You most certainly will be hearing this later…Big shoes to fill..or to pay tribute to.. to say the least. What is his background? How did he learn all of those incre...

Talk about a PROJECT!  How would you like to be in charge of recreating the iconic sound of  superstar singer/songwriter Joni Mitchell?  Well , Singer, Songwriter KATIE PEARLMAN took on the challenge and the results are pretty darn impressive.  the JONI PROJECT is coming to Cohoes Music Hall here in the Albany area on April 2nd, and if you are getting to this after the fact, she will also be at Da...

This is my talk with L.I. husband and wife team Barbara and Ken Oranskywho pooled their TOP TALENTS and started their own INTERNET RADIO STATION-  called NY TALENT MEDIA.  Wow!  What a task to take on....   You have to give them credit!  They actually have 4 different genres that you can listen to!  We find out how they did all this, what their mission is, and how YOU as an independent struggling...

Stop what you are doing!  Would you like to hear a piano virtuoso? What if I told you he was only going into the 9th grade as of this writing?  His name is PAUL BRAULT, and in my endless quest to find and raise awareness of talent young and old either living or coming to Albany, NY's Capital Region, well- I happened to be in the right place at the right time - a piano store!  It was in www.hiltonp...

This was a particular thrill for me, having been interviewed on Bob Cudmore's hugely successful nite time radio show back in the early 80's on AM powerhouse, WGY radio in Schenectady, NY. (there's audio to prove it, as you will discover by listening.)  So I figured -what better way to bring full closure, and shake things up in my gastrointestinal tract at the same time than to nervously attempt to...

We continue the conversation and former cast members of the Sean and Richie morning show pop in to reminisce. The morning show (mullti-award winning, I might add) was on WGNA radio in Albany NY from 1999-2016.    Please refer to part one's show notes for more detail.       

This episode is very very different in SO many ways.  For one, it's become a 2 parter, because once we got going there was no stopping. For the uninitiated, Sean was my partner for 17 years on radio station WGNA in Albany, NY, between 1999 and 2016.  We were the SEAN AND RICHIE SHOW, and  pretty much a #1 rated morning show for all that time -even winning a national CMA award!  Sean was in the "bi...

A quote from Apple Music best describes my next podcast guest "Playing modern country music with an undercurrent of rock and roll energy and a commitment to entertaining the crowd"   His talent and business savvy has really propelled him as a singer songwriter in Nashville.  He's written a number one hit for Randy Houser, co-written songs for Hootie and the Blowfish and others, and has several sma...

I absolutely LOVE having her on. Amazing talent--a super nice, humble and appreciative person.  We're lucky to have her here in the Capital Region of Upstate New York (although with her talent, she might not be here for too long! )   We talk music, the challenges of the business, and she debuts a new song that is DYNAMITE, and really personal - titled "18".  It's available on all the streaming pla...

“SHIRT MEETS MASK- IT’S A SHMASK!”.  That says it all.  A mask connected  to the shirt so your kids (or you)  don’t forget it or lose it!  BRILLIANT!    I happened to see the ad for this on Facebook and thought it was GENIUS. I contacted owner and mother of 3,  KARINE NISSIM , and we had a great chat about her inspiration (uh..3 kids...what do you  think?..DUH!)  They are also available for adults...

This was the audio from my first video podcast with a great, talented group of guys from the ELECTRIC CITY CHOROUS in Schenectady, NY.   Of course this was recorded during the ongoing pandemic, so there is no way to get them to harmonize in sync during a Zoom call, which was disconcerting, but we had a great conversation nonetheless.    How do you keep a chorous going when they're all disconnected...

“With patience, persistence, passion, prayer and POSITIVITY, you can  achieve ANYTHING” (including hiking 46 area mountains!). Yep, she did that too! That’s Paula Fidalgo’s mantra!   So If you’re in a “funk” lately-be it from the result of the pandemic or anything else in your life right now..take a listen to this episode.  It runs a little long, but I kept it all in so you can hear her enthusiasm...

In this one, we gather up several very talented educators to discuss changes to the teaching profession and survival strategies in the era of Covid-19.  We have two teachers from Albany's Capital Region - Jamie Pink and Tracy Trainor, a local guidance counselor, Lexie Phillips, and educator from Brooklyn, NY, and my niece, Jessica Lorenz.  There is also a little warning for all teachers put to mus...

For those who are still hesitant, what is it like to get your haircut in the age of Covid?  I found out.  I actually did this interview during an actual haircut with Albany veteran stylist "Chaz" from UPPER CUT.  You'll hear some buzzing and clipping sounds.  It's all real. And so is our discussion.  What precautions are being taken?  Is it really all that different than before? (I'll already tell...

Although a very serious topic, I will admit this was an amazing experience to be able to undertake- a Zoom conference with great friends from Spain, England,  a newcomer from Atlanta, Georgia (who was in Finland for a year studying) , and here in Albany, NY. Kelly Jo Hearsey is a photographer and "Super Recognizer) for law enforcement.  Her husband Glenn installs and maintains cash register system...

Another great discussion under less-than-happy circumstances.   We talk to Carmen Lookshire, Jeff Brisbin, and Joe Kulewicz of Skeeter Creek about how these popular Albany Area, Capital Region musicians are dealing with being unable to pursue their live performances. But we do talk in the positive as well and describe how they are coming up with clever alternatives in spite of the coronavirus.  He...

If you are fans of these TOP TALENTS-  Erin Harkes, Chris Dollard, Sonny Daye and Perley Rousseau- and there are PLENTY of them in Albany's Capital Region and beyond, I ask that you take 1/2 hour or so of your time and listen to this discussion.  We all need entertainment and music in our lives, and these folks have been impacted bigly from this horrific pandemic.   They discuss their trials and t...

  Mark Fleischer is the grandson of renowned animation pioneer Max Fleischer, and CEO of Fleischer Studios in California. .  Our connection here is that Max's sister was my brother Bill and my grandmother.  So this is a thrill in many ways to connect with him.   Thanks again to Ginny Mahoney Max’s granddaughter) for connecting me with Mark in the first place.  It made for a fascinating look into t...