The Yale Brothers welcome pioneering rocker and singer/songwriter Cidny Bullens for part one of a two-part conversation.

Cidny is a two-time Grammy nominee with 9 albums spanning more than 40 years. He was a backup singer for Elton John and performed two lead vocals on the Grease movie soundtrack. He is one-third of a group called The Refugees with fellow singer/songwriters. Wendy Waldman and Deborah Holland.

Cidny – or Cid – began the transition process from Cindy to Cidny in 2011 – and "Walkin' Through This World" is his first album as a man.

A documentary about Cidny's life – also called "The Gender Line" – was screened at more than 20 film festivals around the world in 2019.

He created a one-person show, "Somewhere Between: Not an Ordinary Life" in 2016 – and he's currently working on his memoir, "TransElectric."

Cidny will be speaking Thursday, February 24, at Horry-Georgetown Technical College's Addiction and Recovery Lecture Series – in a virtual setting.

SHOW NOTES:

0:00 - "The Gender Line" by Cidny Bullens from his 2020 album, "Walkin' Through This World"

4;17 - Greetings, about the song and about Cidny

5:44 - Cidny (then Cindy) meets Elton John / Cherokee Recording Studios Hollywood / Robb Brothers / Bob Crewe / Neil Sedaka / John Reid

11:54 - "My name is Elton" / Initial Conversation / Connie Papas Hillman invites Bullens on the road with Elton as backup singer.

15:47 - "The hovel" at 8000 Honey Drive, Hollywood / On the road with Elton / "Rock of the Westies" album - West of the Rockies tour / "Don't Go Breaking My Heart" / "Blue Moves" / Still friends to this day

19:10 - Early life - Boston / West Newberry, MA , Maine / Family and music / Albums and 45s / Jazz / Gospel / Black Music

21:56 - First exposure to Little Richard - "Tutti Frutti" - was a pivotal moment / The decision to become a rocker / Chuck Berry / Blues / Jerry Lee Lewis / The "rawness" of rock 'n' roll meets the melody and harmony of The Everly Brothers

24:25 - Trip to Hollywood with $100, a guitar and a backpack / couch surfing / looking for music work / Meeting Bob Crewe (Four Seasons producer) / Fate / Seven years in Los Angeles / Married Dan Crewe in 1979

28:32 - About first album: "Desire Wire" / Challenges surrounding being a woman in rock 'n' roll / Shopping the record / Resistance / First manager Tony Defries / Androgynous / Album recorded on spec / Deal with United Artists Records / "Grease" movie soundtrack

35:26 - First single: "Survivor" - garnered Grammy nomination for Best Rock Vocal Performance, Female (1980) / Vocals / "Sonic Attention" / UA Records folded in 1980 / Don Kirshner's Rock Concert / American Bandstand

39:12 - The Casablanca era / "Tomfoolery"at the label / Not a KISS fan / Neil Bogart / First KISS showcase

42:21 - "Desire Wire" album photo / Taken by Norman Seef's assistant, Georgina Karvellas

44:15 - Bruce Bird's demands at Casablanca and Bullens' eventual departure from the label.

46:25 - Appearances on Bob Dylan Rolling Thunder Revue tour / Bob Neuwirth

50:08 - First marriage to Dan Crewe / 22 years / Daughters Reid and Jessie / Eventual move to Maine

53:05 - Returning to music in 1985 / Roy Orbison Tribute 1990 was life-changing / "Pretty Woman" with Bonnie Raitt, K.D. Lang,, Emmylou Harris / Debbi Peterson / Wendy & Lisa / Tina Weymouth / Carla Azar / Solo song at tribute / T Bone Burnett / Don Was

56:31 - Call from Don Was - "Send Me an Angel" - Turning point in songwriting career, 1990 / Cidny discusses 1989 MCA Album, "Cindy Bullens" / More about Send Me an Angel" and new songwriting approach / Nashville beckons / Emmylou Harris / Radney Foster / Bill Lloyd / Embraced in Nashville: "Saved my musical soul"

1:00:45 - Horry-Georgetown Technical College Addiction and Recovery Lecture Series / Casey King / Cidny's story / 45 years clean and sober

1:02:44 - Forthcoming memoir, "TransElectric"/ 50 years of journals a blessing and a curse

1:05:26 - Wrapping up Part One / "Walkin' Through This World" by Cidny Bullens from his 2020 album of the same name.