Legends - Extraordinary Lives

NASA Astronaut and Missionary Physician David Hilmers returns to Success to talk about travel, mission trips to help others and stories from his life as an astronaut. David has been on four NASA missions including the Atlantis. Originally from Iowa, he never flew on a commercial airplane until he was twenty leaving for the Marines boot camp. Graduating with a degree in Electrical Engineering, he flew on the first flight after the Challenger tragedy. After NASA, he was called to the mission field. and to go to medical school...at 42 years old. Now board certified in Family and Pediatrics. Today, he works around the world helping the "least of them." Today, we honor David for the choices he makes in life, moving from success to significance.

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Doug Gray is the only remaining original touring member of The Marshall Tucker Band. Hear his tribute to Charlie Daniels and listen to the story of his 1955 Chevy "Peach" truck. For an extra bonus, Doug sings a few lines from Heard it in a Love Song. Doug Gray was encouraged by his parents to hop up on a stage with a band of musicians at a South Carolina AMVETS club when he was just 7 years old.

He chortled out a laugh to open the band’s surf-rock song, “Wipeout.”

“They didn’t expect it. I realized then that that was entertainment,” said Gray, now lead singer for the Marshall Tucker Band.

“A guy come up and give me $5, and I went, ‘Holy crap! This is what I’m gonna do for the rest of my life,’” Gray said during a phone interview for The Herald Bulletin.

Gray, now 73, went on with high school chums and military buddies to found The Marshall Tucker Band in 1972.

Celebrating 50 years, the band is set to perform March 5 at Hoosier Park. Tickets are on sale. Opening will be guitarist and songwriter Dave Mason, co-founder of Traffic, whose biggest hit was the solo, “We Just Disagree” in 1977. Gray has known Mason since MTB opened for him in 1973, and they’ve performed together numerous times.

Gray was talking from his home in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, about a four-hour drive from his familial and band roots in Spartanburg. His voice is memorable on the No. 14 hit, “Heard It in a Love Song.”

Gray performed in bands as a youth.

“We had played beach music, like Ocean Drive (in Myrtle Beach), forever in little bands. I mean, hell, I was 10 to 12 years old playing fraternity parties,” Gray said.

MTB started coming together after longtime friends returned home from the Vietnam War. Gray and rhythm guitarist George McCorkle joined brothers Toy (lead guitar and songwriter) and Tommy Caldwell (bass), plus Jerry Eubanks (flute/sax). Eubanks retired in 1996. The others have passed away, leaving Gray as the only original member.

When the band was coming together, Gray had a day job working at a bank. “They said I was a natural. I said, hell, I ain’t a natural at nothing.”

Toy Caldwell was working for his dad, a master plumber.

“He said there was too much crawling around beneath houses, so he went to work at a place that sold plumbing parts. He was getting smarter as time went along,” Gray said, talking with a deep Southern drawl.

In the early 1970s, an era when the Allman Brothers were popular, Capricorn Records invited the band to Macon, Georgia, after listening to its recordings. They rehearsed in the basement of a shuttered hotel. There, they found a key imprinted with the name “Marshall Tucker.”

“We never knew if we were gonna to make it to the next weekend,” Gray recalled.

The band wasn’t keen on the financial side of the industry.

“What we were connected to was the people that come and watch you play. That was the most incredible thing for us, is to watch those people yell and scream when we would end a song.”

The band grabbed attention by adding a flute for a distinctive jazz-oriented element compared with other early ‘70s bands employing trendy backing saxophones.

“Everybody had saxophone players. … We talked about it in rehearsal, and somebody said, well, Jerry (Eubanks) was in high school and he played saxophone. Well, we don’t want a saxophone player but let’s call him up and see if he can play a flute.”

It worked out, Gray recalled.

“Comes to find out that I can play flute, but you don’t want to hear it.”

Gray had hoped to reunite on stage with Charlie Daniels. However, the popular fiddle player died July 6, 2020, from a hemorrhagic stroke at the age of 83. Some musicians didn’t attend Daniels’ Tennessee funeral due to COVID-19 restrictions. Not Gray. He went and expressed condolences to Daniels’ widow, Hazel.

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David Frizzell is a highly respected traditional country singer who charted a number of hits in the 1980s. He was a frequent duet partner of Shelly West, the daughter of country star Dottie West. He himself is the younger brother of the late, legendary Lefty Frizzell, the great honky-tonk singer who achieved the peak of his popularity during the 1950s. Lefty died in 1975. David’s expressive voice has often been compared with that of his brother.

David Frizzell has been honored with several awards from the Country Music Association (CMA), Academy of Country Music (ACM), Billboard, and Music City News during his career. He continues to perform as well as to be engaged in various other creative projects today.

Early life and career

David Frizzell was born on September 26, 1941, in El Dorado, Arkansas—13 years after his famous big brother. When Lefty was a major star in the mid-‘50s to early ‘60s, the youthful David would often perform as part of his brother’s stage show. David also began recording his own country and rockabilly songs for various labels in the late ‘50s.

Photograph of David Frizzell and Shelly West discussing a song during a break at a reception held at the Willie Nelson Museum in Nashville, TN at the opening of the Frizzell-West exhibit.
DAVID FRIZZELL AND SHELLY WEST DISCUSSING A SONG DURING A BREAK AT A RECEPTION HELD AT THE WILLIE NELSON MUSEUM IN NASHVILLE, TN AT THE OPENING OF THE FRIZZELL-WEST EXHIBIT.

During the Vietnam War era of the 1960s, David served in the U.S. Air Force for four years. Afterward, he returned to his music career, seeking success as a solo artist. In 1970, he broke into the country top-forty for the first time with “I Just Can’t Help Believing” (the same song with which B. J. Thomas had a pop hit that same year). That would be Frizzell’s last highly charted song for several years. However, he kept making records, touring, and appearing on country television shows, hoping for his big break.

Career success with Shelly West

That big break finally came in 1980, when he teamed up with Shelly West, another singer with a famous country-music heritage. The two singers released an album together in 1981 titled Carryin’ On the Family Names. A duet from that album, “You’re the Reason God Made Oklahoma,” climbed to the number-one spot on the country charts. West and Frizzell were named the Vocal Duo of the Year by the CMA in 1981, and they received Top-Vocal-Duet honors by the ACM.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BPFenEhqUIU
Shelly and David singing their huge hit “You’re the Reason God Made Oklahoma.”

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Larry Stewart is an American country music singer, best known for his role as lead singer of the country pop band Restless Heart. In 1993, Stewart left the band in pursuit of a solo career, recording four solo albums and charting eight singles on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks charts before reuniting with Restless Heart in 2002. His highest-charting solo single was "Alright Already", which peaked at No. 5 in 1993.

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T. Graham Brown rose to country stardom through the uniquely Southern phenomenon of beach music, a party-ready mix of old-time rock & roll, R&B, country, and blues. Born in Arabi, Georgia (his real first name is Anthony), he got his start performing while attending the University of Georgia, as part of the beach music duo Dirk & Tony. He then joined the outlaw country band Reo Diamond, and retooled his image as a hairy, tattooed wildman in a ten-gallon hat. Moving on in 1979, Brown formed his own R&B band, Rack of Spam, and officially settled on T. Graham Brown as his stage name. He moved to Nashville three years later, where, with the help of Harlan Howard, he found work singing demos and commercial jingles. In 1983, he signed with CBS as a staff songwriter, and went on to join the Tree International publishing firm in the same capacity.

I Tell It Like It Used to Be
Meanwhile, he also landed a deal as a recording artist with Capitol, and released his debut album, I Tell It Like It Used to Be, in 1986. Partly recorded at Alabama's legendary Muscle Shoals studios, the record spawned a number one country single in "Hell or High Water," and both the title track and "I Wish That I Could Hurt That Way Again" went Top Ten. Arriving in 1987, Brilliant Conversationalist gave Brown a second number one in "Don't Go to Strangers," and two more Top Tens with "She Couldn't Love Me Anymore" and the title cut. Meanwhile, he made appearances in the 1987 films Greased Lightning and Cursed, and the following year he and his backing group, the Hardtops, played Elvis' band in Heartbreak Hotel. Released in 1988, Come as You Were continued Brown's success with the chart-topping "Darlene" and two further Top Tens in the title track and "The Last Resort."

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Andrew Farriss was the creative force and co-founder of the wildly successful band INXS. They generated 50 million album sales, 7 U.S. top 10 singles. Andrew is also a credited writer for Dua Lipa's hit Break My Heart. But today, Andrew debuts his album that is stunningly and wonderfully reflective of America. Hear the inside story of Andrew traveling across the west and horseback riding to see where Geronimo surrendered. He stood where legendary American Indian chiefs stood. Enjoy the one and only Andrew Farriss.

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Success Made to Last from the legendary Frizzell family- Tess Frizzell, songwriter & singer debuting "The Wrong One." According to Tess, the Frizzell's don't have a family tree, they are a part of a forests. Her Mom is Shelly West and Grandmother is Dottie West.
On today's show Tess tells about the raw and real lyrics of her latest song The Wrong One. Tess credits the collaboration of Billy Lawson, Bobby Tomberlin and Dottie West. Dottie actually picked the title some 50 to 60 years ago. Hear the inside story on recording this classic song with the magic of Muscle Shoals. Enjoy this conversation and getting the inside stories on country music royalty.

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It's a new day and new dawn for Shimi Goodman, West End multi-talented star, tenor and dancer. He is a performer of significance given that he and his partner, Chris Hamilton have created a new genre of music known as Ti-ano. That's a fusion of tenor and piano.
Enjoy this podcast that highlights his personal exodus from his home country of Israel and other stages of his incredible journey.
A London based performer, Shimi Goodman was born in Tel Aviv, Israel. At the age of fifteen he began working with the musical theatre company "Chich's Neighbours" which was hugely popular in Israel. It was there that Shimi got his first lead role starring as Don Jose (Daniel) in Carmen - a Rock Opera which was later televised.
After serving in the Israeli army, during which time he was given permission to work as an actor, he moved to England to study at the Guildford School of Acting. He graduated with distinction in 2002 receiving a BA in Musical Theatre Studies. Whilst studying he won the Musical Theatre Award 2001 and was a prize winner at the Surrey Male Singer Competition. Soon after graduating Shimi landed a role in Andrew Lloyd Webber's West End production of Bombay Dreams at the Apollo Victoria understudying and playing the principal - Akaash.
Shimi's next West End show was Chicago at the Adelphi where he had the opportunity to play all the male ensemble parts and also the role of Mary Sunshine opposite Brooke Shields. Shimi went on to be a featured singer in the original London cast of the record breaking production of Dirty Dancing at the Aldwych, where he also understudied and played Robbie Gould. Shimi then joined the Impulse company to train at the Meisner acting technique. In 2008, Shimi returned to Israel to create the lead role of Samuel in the world premiere of the musical Salt&Honey at the Mount Scopus Amphitheatre in Jerusalem. He then came back to London to play Douglas in Party Time and the hooded man in Mountain Language both by Harold Pinter and at the Landor. Shimi played Rapunzel's Prince, the Wolf and Florinda in Stephen Sondheim's Into the Woods at Upstairs at the Gatehouse. The show was extremely well received and to date is the best selling show in the history of the theatre. Among many, What's on Stage metioned "Goodman in particular steals every scene he's in,... he has the whole show - and the audience - in his pocket."
In 2009, Shimi went on his first national UK tour with the acclaimed Bill Kenwright production of Evita, playing the role of Che. On his return to London, "comfortably slipping into Gene Kelly's dancing shoes" Shimi played the role of Don Lockwood in Singin' in the Rain at the Broadway Theatre. Reviews described him as "a true triple threat" and "a looker, a hoofer and boy can he sing!".
In 2011 Shimi rejoined the cast of Chicago for it's final six months in the West End's Cambridge theatre.
For his German debut Shimi went on to perform in the critically acclaimed production of The Who's Tommy at the English Theatre in Frankfurt.
Rengent's Park Open Air Theatre was Shimi's next port of call in the productions of Ragtime (directed by Timothy Sheader) and Midsummer Night's Dream where he played Cobweb (directed by Matthew Dunster).
After finishing a successful extended run of the world premiere of Paper Dolls by Philip Himberg, directed by Indhu Rubasingham at the Tricycle theatre, Shimi went on to perform in yet another world premiere this time in the West End. From Here to Eternity the musical, based on one of the greatest novels of the twentieth century, co produced and with lyrics by Sir Tim Rice and directed by Tamara Harvey. The show was filmed and screened in cinemas around the world.
In 2015 Shimi had the great honour of being invited to sing at a special gala evening dedicated to and in the presence of former Israeli President Mr Shimon Peres and numerous other heads of state at the prestigious Grosvenor House Hotel, Park Lane, London. In 2016 Shimi shared a stage in London singing with 1998 Eurovision Song Contest Winner Dana International. The show culminated with the pop star and Shimi singing the Israeli national anthem.
Shimi's debut album is currently available for purchase on the MUSIC page and iTunes. The album contains thirteen tracks, seven of which are new songs by multi award winning writer Christopher Hamilton including "No Good At Love" with lyrics by Sir Noel Coward and "Trusting You", a duet with Wicked`s Dianne Pilkington.

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Casper. That’s a ghost’s name. A friendly ghost, but a ghost nonetheless. Ghosts are quiet, that’s for sure.

Rick “Casper” Rawls is quiet; he’s also unassuming, self-effacing and exceedingly polite.

But Casper Rawls is not a ghost. Casper Rawls is a monster; a guitar-playing monster whose good manners and good taste never quite obscure his musical chops.

When the name Casper Rawls comes up in a music conversation the first thing most people talk about is how he’s such a nice guy and then . . .

Producer/multi-instrumentalist/songwriter/nickname purveyor R.S. Field sums it up well.

“When The Howlers, later Omar & The Howlers, moved from Hattiesburg, Mississippi to Austin in 1976 one of the first friends we made was a guy from San Antonio (we couldn’t pronounce Helotes) named Rick Rawls. He was such a good friend to – and supporter of – our band. He was such a nice, generous, unassuming and guileless person that he and I really hit it off,” Field said.

“The first time he sat in with us, the intensity and facility he brought to his guitar playing was stunning. Back then his main thing was blues, like Cobra-era Otis Rush and early Clapton, and the contrast between his musical style and his off-stage personality just seemed to demand that I give him a stage name – Casper. I had named Omar ‘Omar’ – and I was soon to name Webb Wilder ‘Webb Wilder.’”

Having worked through the years with Kent “Omar” Dykes, Webb Wilder, Mark Germino, John Mayall, Sonny Landreth, Buddy Guy, Los Straitjackets and a slew of other all-out music makers, Field knows more than a little something about guitar champs – and nicknames.

Conversely, having worked with Field through the years, when it finally came time for Casper Rawls to make “Brave World,” his debut album as a leader, it was a cinch for Rawls to tag Field to produce the disc.

Though “Brave World” is Rawls’ first outing with his name in big letters, he’s no stranger to a recording studio. Casper has recorded on more than 75 albums as a band member and as a sideman with projects including five LeRoi Brothers albums as well as discs by a diverse list of artists such as Toni Price, Miss Lavelle White, Doyle Bramhall, The Derailers, Teisco Del Rey and Juke Logan. He’s also taken several turns in the producer’s chair.

“I was honored to be asked to produce the record,” Field said. “Really, I don’t have the words to competently say how much it meant to be asked to help with it, or how much it helps my soul to know how pleased he is with how it turned out.”

“Brave World” showcases Casper Rawls not only as the bandleader and chief guitarist, it also features his vocal talents and chops as a songwriter and co-writer as well as his good taste in selecting songs to cover.

The 13-track album, recorded in Austin at Wire Studio with Stuart Sullivan at the controls, includes older songs, new songs, ballads, rockers and rollers, an array of top-flight players and a very special surprise guest. “Angeline” is a mellower reworking of a revved-up rocker Rawls penned for the LeRois, “Don’t They Know (Who We Think We Are),” a Rawls/Suzy Elkins co-write, is fun and funny, “The Day Don Rich Died” is a salute to the Buckaroos’ guitarist, a huge influence on Rawls’ style. For covers, Rawls looked to George Harrison (“Any Road”), J.J. Cale (“Thirteen Days”) and Rick Gordon and Walter Hyatt (“Houston Town”).

“Brave World” closes with “A Little Bitty Piece of DNA,” a Buck Owens song that features the late Owens himself.
And a special thank you to Larry Telford for introducing us!

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