LifeMinute In Studio With Podcast

At just 18 years old, singer, songwriter, and guitarist Rome Ramirez met the band that shaped his childhood—Sublime, never imagining he’d one day help carry their legacy after the tragic passing of frontman Bradley Nowell. Reborn as Sublime with Rome in 2009, the group went on to release four studio albums and ignite stages around the world, all powered by Ramirez’s unmistakable voice and fresh creative fire. Beyond the band, Rome’s talent has carried him into collaborations with a wide range of artists—from Selena Gomez to JLo, The Dirty Heads and Enrique Iglesias. Now, he’s carving out a bold new chapter with his EP Gemini, featuring the breakout single “Slow & Easy” with The Dirty Heads—a track that’s climbed its way into the Top 10 on Alt Radio. Rome stopped by the LifeMinute studios to talk new music, new chapters, and what’s next. This is a LifeMinute with Rome Ramirez.

Known as one of racing’s premiere “wheel men,” two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Larson has cemented his reputation as motorsport’s most versatile and respected drivers—on and off the track.  Fresh off securing his second Cup championship last month, the 33-year-old is gearing up for an action-packed off-season with even more races on the horizon. The star driver hit the brakes just long enough to chat with editor-in-chief Joann Butler about racing, family, and everything in between. This is a LifeMinute with Kyle Larson.

Writer, producer, actor and singer Shaun Cassidy first stole our hearts as one of ‘70s’ biggest teen idols. From climbing the charts with smashes such as number one hit  "Da Doo Ron Ron” to acting on the popular show The Hardy Boys Mysteries. With undeniable talent in his DNA (he's the son of Tony Award winner Jack Cassidy, Oscar winner Shirley Jones, and half-brother of the late singer and actor David Cassidy) he admits he always felt more of an introvert acting as an extrovert. For the last 4 decades, he's been utilizing his talents behind-the-scenes, writing and producing and creating for acclaimed television shows such as American Gothic, Cold Case, New Amsterdam and others. Now Cassidy is grabbing his guitar and that gift of song and story-telling and taking it on the road for his first-ever 50-city North American tour, “The Road to Us" and we are super excited. The multi-talented, still boyishly handsome 66 year-old star tells us all about it and more. This is a LifeMinute with Shaun Cassidy.

Legendary rock band Foreigner is celebrating 50 years of bringing together the present and the past, including original frontman Lou Gramm, whose unmistakable vocals powered many of their biggest hits. The tour also marks a new chapter as it introduces Luis Maldonado in his first major U.S. appearances as Foreigner’s lead vocalist. Universally hailed as one of the most popular bands in the world, and responsible for some of rock and roll’s most enduring anthems, it seems they are finally getting their due, with a recent long overdue induction to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and a new musical, Feels Like the First Time. The Foreigner Musical directed by Broadway icon Adam Pascal (Rent, Cabaret, Chicago) is coming early next year. The FOREIGNER 4 DELUXE show is making the following stops, and tickets are on sale now at www.foreigneronline.com.

Three of the cast of one of the most beloved TV shows of all-time, The Love Boat are together again in a new Off-Broadway show called “Lady Patriot.” Fred Grandy (Gopher) and Jill Whelan (Vicki), star in the show,  written and directed by Ted Lange (Isaac.)Based on a true story, "Lady Patriot" reveals an intimate look into the prejudices and patriotism of three ladies who lived during the Civil War: Varina Davis, Elizabeth Van Lew, and Mary Bowser. "Lady Patriot" combines Lange's signature comedy and drama as it peels away traditional stereotypes prevalent in the south during the Confederacy. This is a limited time 12 performance run at Theatre Row (410 W. 42nd Street) in NYC, September 6 – 20. The official opening night is September 9. The ensemble also features Josie DiVincenzo, Gordon Goodman, Chrystee Pharris, Derek Powell and Count Stovall. Tickets are $70 at  TheatreRow.org 

Grammy-winning singer, songwriter, and actress Melissa Manchester’s voice and music have touched generations. From hits like “Midnight Blue” and “You Should Hear How She Talks About You,” to Oscar-nominated movie themes and collaborations with legends like Dolly Parton and Kenny Loggins, Melissa Manchester’s career has been nothing short of legendary. Her songs have also been recorded by greats such as Barbra Streisand, Roberta Flack, Dusty Springfield, Alison Krauss, and more. Recently, she starred in the national tour of Broadway's Funny Girl as Mrs. Brice—earning critical acclaim—and made her debut as a classical composer with AWAKE!, her first concerto for piano and orchestra. Her latest album, RE:VIEW features duets with some of her famous friends on previously unreleased songs, as well as fresh takes on several of her classic hits. She joined us in studio to tell us all about it...This is a LifeMinute with Melissa Manchester.

Israeli-born artist, Eef Barzelay and his band Clem Snide have been bringing us his beautiful goods for years. The indie rock star has just birthed his 10th studio album, Oh Smokey, which he describes as “slow, sad songs about God and death.” Barzelay wrote the record’s eight tracks during an introspective time, while upending much of his life. His 25-year marriage dissolved, parting ways with his longtime manager, and leaving his Nashville home after two decades. He stopped by the LifeMinute studios to tell us all about it and play us a few tunes. This is a LifeMinute with Eef Barzelay.

It’s been 12 years since legendary rock, funk, blues alt-rockers, Spin Doctors dropped a new album. Their first with Capitol Records and a brand-new bassist, Jack Daley, rounding out the four-piece which includes singer-songwriter Chris Barron, guitarist Eric Schenkman, and drummer Aaron Comess. Yep, this pivotal band is back in a big way…with Face Full of Cake, full of fun hooks and the funky sound they’re known and loved for. Formed in 1988 in New York City, they burst into the mainstream with their full-length 1991 debut Pocket Full of Kryptonite. The record went on to sell more than ten million copies worldwide with several massive singles including “Little Miss Can’t Be Wrong” and of course, Billboard Hot 100 Top Ten hit “Two Princes, ” which was the No. 1 Rock radio hit of 1993. Barron and Comess came by the LifeMinute studios to tell us all about it, plus their upcoming summer tour with Blues Traveler and Gin Blossoms. This is a LifeMinute with the Spin Doctors.

The son of late folk-rock visionary Jim Croce and his wife, singer-songwriter Ingrid Croce, A.J. became a piano virtuoso at a young age, destined to follow in his famous father’s musical greatness. At just 18 years old, he toured with B.B. King and later with Ray Charles—all before reaching the age of 21—after enduring the tragic loss of his father in a 1973 plane crash when he was just two, and a total loss of eyesight from ages four to ten. The musician and singer-songwriter has proven his continued resilience over the past three decades, releasing an impressive 11 studio albums and charting on an eclectic array of charts from Top 40, blues, Americana, jazz, and more. His most recent record, Heart of the Eternal, the follow-up to his critically lauded cover album By Request, debuted in the Top 20 on the Billboard Americana/Folk charts and in the Top 40 on the Billboard Current Rock Albums. Fresh off the heels of his successful Croce Plays Croce 50th Anniversary Tour, which celebrated his father’s iconic work, the enormously talented artist with his refreshingly positive spirit joined us in the LifeMinute Studios to tell us about his new album, remembering his dad through his music, and how he has a new lease on life and love. This is a LifeMinute with A.J. Croce.

There isn't much that journeyman musician Chuck Prophet hasn't covered in his 40-plus years in the rock and roll biz. In 1984, he was a member of the Paisley Underground music scene in Los Angeles, having his first brush with success playing in the revered band Green on Red. Since the band’s dissolution, he has not only been steadily churning out his own unique brand of Americana rock while incorporating a wide variety of influences but also collaborating with a long, eclectic list of artists, including Warren Zevon, Kelly Willis, Jim Dickinson, Jonathan Richman, and Alejandro Escovedo. This list, of course, only scratches the surface. Chuck is back with his latest effort, Wake The Dead, which comes four years after his previous record. This time, he is bringing the band ¿Qiensave? along for the ride. After a major health scare in 2022 (battling stage 4 lymphoma), along with the COVID lockdown, Chuck found himself gravitating toward a form of Latin dance music called Cumbia. The origins of this music started in Colombia, but it has since spread throughout Latin American countries, including Mexico and Argentina. Now cancer-free, Prophet is hitting the road with a six-piece band, bringing his variation of Cumbia along with some classics that have his fans dancing in the aisles. Chuck sat with editor-in-chief Joann Butler at the LifeMinute Studios in Times Square recently to enthrall us with stories from his past, what inspires him, and what lies ahead. This is a LifeMinute with Chuck Prophet.