Hi, I’m Rob Fried, and welcome to the Band Central Radio podcast for April 2025.  This was recorded live at the WPKN studio in Bridgeport on April 28th.   This show is our finale to 10 years of live broadcasting on WPKN 89.5FM. 

Today you are going to meet percussionist and music producer Marcos Torres, Jr, local nonprofit leader Christine Paine from Team Woofgang and Band Central’s very own Paola Murphy, our Director of Operations.

Here’s the run of show… in the first segment we talk about the end of the Band Central Radio era with all our reflections, emotions and thankfulness.

Next we listen to my recent release, Abigale Is My Friend.

Then I provide an update on Band Central and interview Marcos about his background, what lights him up about performing, and his current projects.  We conclude the interview with Marcos and me performing Jingo unplugged, live on air.

Then I interview Christine to understand a bit about her upbringing, the meaningful work she is doing with Team Woofgang and where her passion for helping people come from, and then conclude with reflective interview with Paola.

Thank you for listening.  

Hi, I’m Rob Fried, and welcome to the Band Central Radio podcast for March 2025.  This was recorded live at the WPKN studio in Bridgeport on March 24th.  

Today you are going to meet guitarist and vocalist Fuzz, and local nonprofit leaders Susan Schnitzer from CIRI and Dan Sheehan from Connor Sheehan Fund

Here’s the run of show… in the first segment we talk about how one’s mission can often become more than what you do, but rather a deep part of who you are.

Next we listen to Fuzz’s latest song, Love Came.

Then I provide an update on Band Central and interview Fuzz about his background, what lights him up about performing, his current projects.  We conclude the interview with Fuzz and me performing Sweet Dreams unplugged, live on air.

Then I interview Susan Schnitzer to understand a bit about her origin story and where her passion for helping refugees and immigrants come from, and then conclude with a fascinating interview with Dan Sheehan about the Connor Sheehan Fund, in memory of his son, whose mission is provide support for programs that help teens, their families, and schools to identify mental health issues and substance use disorders among young people.

Thank you for listening.  

Hi, I’m Rob Fried, and welcome to the Band Central Radio podcast for February 2025.  This was recorded live at the WPKN studio in Bridgeport on February 24th.  

Today you are going to meet smooth jazz keyboardists Jay Rowe and nonprofit leader Amanda Meeson, exec director of Sterling Community Center.

Here’s the run of show… in the first segment we talk about the music and art that has most affected who we are as people … I’m calling this your “musical pastiche”

Next we listen to Jay Rowe’s latest song, That’s What I Know.

Then I provide an update on Band Central and interview Jay about his background, what lights him up about performing, his current projects and his nonprofit that helps the Milford School System, Smooth Jazz For Scholars.

Then I interview Amanda Meeson to understand a bit about her origin story and where her passions lie.

Thank you for listening.  

Hi, I’m Rob Fried, and welcome to the Band Central Radio podcast for January 2025.  This was recorded live at the WPKN studio in Bridgeport on January 27th.  

Today you are going to meet Bridgeport Police Chief Rod Porter and nonprofit leader Marc Donald, Exec Director of Catalyst.

Here’s the run of show… in the first segment we talk about different approaches to making the world a better place, including Band Central’s approach, along with comments from Marc and Rod along with input from some of our musicians and nonprofits.  

Next I provide an update on Band Central  for 2024 and what’s planned for 2025.

Then I interview Rod Porter about his approach to law enforcement in the city of Bridgeport and what he has learned from his decades of experience.

Then I interview Marc Donald to understand a bit about his origin story and where his passions lie.

Thank you for listening.  

Welcome to the Band Central Radio podcast for December 2024.

Here’s the run of show… in the first segment I list and describe the 18 nonprofits that we gave grants to and produced live music events for during the year.  

Next we hear two tracks …. Abigale Is My Friend by Rob Fried, and Whoa Wait A Minute by Anthony Gadaleta.

Then I provide an update on Band Central  for 2024 and what’s planned for 2025.

Then we listen to Stephanie Harrison’s recording of There’s A Light from Moonrise Cartel and Carole Sylvan’s recording of Saving Up For Your Love.

After that I provide a summary of the topics we covered in 2024 on BC Radio, and we follow that up by listening to tracks by two more Band Central artists … Tommy Week’s track Bridge and Fuzz Sangiovani’s rendition of Sweet Dreams.

I wish you peace and love for the holiday season and the new year.  Thank you for listening.  

My mission is to produce music and content that inspires people to be generous to nonprofits in our community.  Today you will meet Bill Carbone from the band Max Creek and nonprofit TeachRock, and Clare Murray from cARTie.  We discuss creativity in daily life and music/arts education in our schools.  We also provide an update on Band Central, play High On A Mountain from Max Creek, and perform Lovely Day live in studio.  Thanks for listening.

My mission is to produce music and content that inspires people to be generous to nonprofits in our community.  Today you will meet local nonprofit leaders Luisa Viladas from Literacy Volunteers and Marcy Rende/Brian Kelahan from Hope Counseling.  Our guests represent the causes of 1) mental health in our community and 2) the importance of helping people achieve adequate literacy to participate in society and achieve their potential.  We also provide an update on Band Central, play Moving On from Rob Fried and Savin' Up For Your Love from Carole Sylvan.  Thanks for listening.

I'm Rob Fried, host of Band Central Radio on WPKN 89.5FM in Connecticut.  Band Central Radio aims to entertain and educate you about music and causes that enrich your life.  Today you will meet Tommy Weeks, saxophonist extraordinaire from The Funky Dawgs and nonprofit leader Tracy Flood from CLASP.  Our community benefits hugely from the contributions of people with special and differing abilities, and we have a responsibility to help people with special abilities get an education, learn skills, pursue happiness and integrate with society. Throughout history, vast contributions to humanity have been made by people who overcame a “disability.”  We talk and write about these people decades and millennia later – Van Gogh, Beethoven and someday Greta Thunberg.   The following quote from Temple Grandin from her book, The Way I See It: A Personal Look at Autism & Asperger's somewhat humorously points to the vital contributions of people on the Autism spectrum; “What would happen if the autism gene was eliminated from the gene pool?  You would have a bunch of people standing around in a cave, chatting and socializing and not getting anything done.”   In today's episode we discuss this, along with the musical and professional journey's of Tommy and Tracy.  Enjoy!

Band Central founder, music director and radio host Rob Fried welcomes John Torres singer/guitarist extraordinaire from Wild & Co and Park City Music Hall and local nonprofit leader Kevin Peraino from Stamford Partnership for a discussion about programs they are each involved with for improving the well being of people in our cities of Bridgeport and Stamford.  Along with discussion and interviews, Rob and John perform John's new song, Run Crawl Walk live in the WPKN studio.