CJ Vanston Live on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson

I could have laughed all night and still have laughed some more! What fun! Composer, producer, songwriter, keyboardist, CJ Vanston––great bit on his name to start, had me laughing to tears story upon story. Oh boy, I needed the eggs.

From his musical beginnings, locked in and listening to his dad’s cool jazz band through the floorboards, burning an oven full of their pot at age 4, the tales kept coming, one topping the next… convincing a young Richard Marx to keep and record what would become his biggest hit, when all he wanted was to sell the thing… working with Prince, sorta, blowing away Barbra… Streisand, that is… and Dolly Pardon, seemingly not impressing Don Henley, CJ making a choice that cost him but ultimately made him, and Don coming back around through Katey Segal… how Russ Kunkel introduced him to Christopher Guest, changing everything, leading to touring with Spinal Tap and scoring his films, touring and recording with Joe Cocker, a story about Ringo worth the price of admission (let’s pretend there is one), and absolute gem, likewise the opening for Jeff Beck and saving his ass, literally. We close with a fab story about Jeff Porcaro, and his storied history with Lukather and Toto, too.

The time flew. I sit here hours later, still smiling. What a joyful journey. Can’t wait for the Spinal Tap Final Chapter and that Denny Tedesco collaboration. More Caucasian Jeff, please!

CJ Vanston Live on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson

Wed, June 28th, 5 pm PT, 8 pm ET

Streamed Live on The Facebook

Replay here:

https://bit.ly/3JCKMxt