Our guest this episode is Central-California based Americana singer-songwriter and U.S. Navy Veteran, Doc Oliver. His story is one of honor, redemption, and hope. Working as a battlefield medic with multiple tours in Afghanistan, Oliver earned the nickname “Doc” stitching up wounded soldiers and civilians alike. He was honorably discharged, suffering from PTSD after being ambushed and injured by the Taliban, losing three of his best friends in the event. He now lives in Central California with his wife and three children, working as an armed guard at a nuclear power plant. Oliver struggles emotionally reliving some of his experiences as he arms himself for his job which, ultimately, led him to turn to music. “My songs are strictly an outlet...I didn’t like individual or group therapy, everyone’s different, but I have this ability to play guitar and write and that’s helped me process some heavy things and try to heal.”

Oliver first met Lloyd Baggs at a concert in California where they spoke about music and his military background. After exchanging contact information Lloyd recounts, “Doc sent me a link to a few of his songs the next day, but there was no way I was prepared for what I was about to hear. Within minutes I knew that I was personally going to do everything I could to help him bring his beautifully raw, poignant songs to a much wider audience. We soon arranged for Doc to come to Nashville where we put together a band and produced an EP and a few videos for him with our Handcrafted Video crew.”

Recorded live at the Music City Center in Nashville, this episode of the Maker’s Mic podcast follows hosts Mike Luckett and Mike Newsom as they interview John Oates, accomplished solo artist and one half of the best-selling duo of all time, Hall & Oates. Over the course of an hour, Oates discusses his songwriting process as well as different aspects of engineering, producing, his experiences with co-writing, his love of Mississippi John Hurt and more.

Our guest this episode is Gordon Kennedy. The son of legendary producer, songwriter, and guitar player Jerry Kennedy, Gordon has carved out a place of his own in the world of music. He has written songs and played guitar with the likes of Peter Frampton, Garth Brooks, Ricky Skaggs, Reba McEntire, Bonnie Raitt, Tim McGraw, Wynonna, George Strait, Carrie Underwood, and many more. In 1996 he won a Grammy Award for Song of the Year for co-writing the Eric Clapton hit “Change the World".

Our guest this episode is the legendary Texas Troubadour, Robert Earl Keen. It’s impossible to sum up such a long-standing career. Robert has released close to twenty albums in his three decades as a singer and songwriter. He’s toured with Lyle Lovett, Guy Clark, and Townes Van Zandt. His songs have been covered by George Strait, Joe Ely, and The Dixie Chicks to name a few. With a career like that, you know he has some great stories to tell.

Our guest this episode is Nashville-based singer songwriter, Erin Rae. Erin just released her most personally introspective album to date, “Putting On Airs”. This is also her first album with her newest record label, Single Lock Records - the Florence, Alabama-based label started by John Paul White, Will Trapp, and Ben Tanner.

Our guest this episode is Patrick Sweany. Patrick is keeping the blues alive and real by carrying on the styles of the musicians that came before him, like Hound Dog Taylor, Furry Lewis, and the like. He also spent some time jamming alongside a young Dan Auerbach. Patrick’s new album titled, “Ancient Noise” was produced and engineered by Matt Ross-Spang at legendary Sam Phillips Recording Studio in Memphis, Tennessee.

John Oates is probably best known as half of the legendary pop/rock group, Hall and Oates. He’s a Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Inductee, A Songwriters Hall of Fame Inductee, and he was invited to play at The White House for former President Barack Obama. But there’s another side, musically, to John. His latest album, “Arkansas” pays tribute to the musicians that have greatly influenced him throughout his life, including Mississippi John Hurt and several other American Roots musicians.

Today’s guest, who we had the pleasure of recording at the 2015 Americana Music Festival, is Chance McCoy of Old Crow Medicine Show. He’s played guitar and fiddle with the Crows for the past 5 years, and now he’s ready to release his own music to the world. Listen in as we talk about life in Appalachia before Old Crow, and the road that led him to Nashville.

Our guest this episode is Justin Weaver. Justin has made quite a career as a sideman, playing guitar for such acts as Joe Nichols, Wynona Judd, and most recently, The Dixie Chicks. Listen up as we talk about everything from sharing the stage with Beyoncé, to flexing his chops at the Nashville dive bars.

Our guest this episode is Joe Pisapia. Joe is a songwriter, producer, engineer, multi-instumentalist, and a kind, loving soul. His new album, “Connection” is due out this winter. Hear how he found the inspiration for this album by traveling on trains through the European countryside. Be sure to visit joepisapia.net to find out more.