“Sing for as many different kinds of people as you can–old folks, middle aged folks, kids, infants. And sing for people you disagree with, too. Learning how to communicate with people we disagree with is something the whole world has to learn.” Born on May 3, 1919, Pete Seeger was an iconic singer-songwriter best known […]
Continue readingMike Ragogna: What kind of advice do you have for new musicians? Mickey Hart: Don’t do it unless you really, really want to do it, unless it really means something to you, and it becomes a necessity to play music. The music business if very difficult, it’s not just the skill to play music, but […]
Continue readingMike Ragogna: You’re on tour now, right? Mickey Hart: I am on tour with the Rhythm Devils. I am in Pittsburgh, yes. MR: How is Pittsburgh? MH: It’s beautific, actually. It’s very nice. Pittsburgh is a good city. I love it here. MR: You and Bill Kreutzmann, who make up the Rhythm Devils, are on […]
Continue readingMike Ragogna: Brian, your man Rob Christie says you have a new single. Brian Ray: I sure do, it’s called “I Found You.” It’s on Sony Icon, and it’s digitally distributed wherever digital music is sold. It’s also available on my site, www.brianray.com, right now. MR: Apparently, you’ve toured for a few years with some […]
Continue readingMike Ragogna: You’re an Australian artist touring the States? Xavier Rudd: Yeah. MR: And beyond being a musician, you’re a surfer. XR: Yeah, well, I come from the southeast coast of Australia, south of Melbourne by Bells Beach. So, I grew up on the coast, and I surf and do a lot of things outside […]
Continue reading[Note: I included this exchange in the “advice” section because I felt it contained inspirational information.] Mike Ragogna: Koonyum Sun includes “Sky To Ground” which is a checklist of problems, though it has a very positive message and sets up the album’s overall theme. Xavier Rudd: Thank you very much. It’s definitely been inspired by all my […]
Continue readingMike Ragogna: I have followed your career from early on and I admire your recent Motown revisits. Michael McDonald: Oh, thanks. It was a lot of fun, those records. There was hardly any work, actually. MR: You sounded pretty natural on them, like these songs were old friends. MM: I think it was one of […]
Continue readingMike Ragogna: It’s encouraging to hear stories that illustrate how determination makes the difference. Brian Ray: On that subject, Mike, my deal is that I’m a self-taught blues-rock guitar player from Glendale, California. I didn’t graduate any music schools, and I don’t have any ungodly talents in that area. But I think what’s happened to […]
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