Music FridayLive!

Mikey Wax is a pop singer originally from Oyster Bay New York whose new self-titled album on Toucan Cove Records has entered the iTunes top 100 pop chart, and the first single "You Lift Me Up" has received nearly 6 million Spotify streams and the second single, "Only One", is now receiving nation-wide radio airplay on SiriusXM's The Pulse. Mikey is also headlining his first USA tour this spring and we talk to him Friday.

Walt Cronin is a singer songwriter of Americana, Folk and Country from Los Angeles, CA. A trained veteran counselor, he himself suffered from PTSDF  from working as a Navy Corpsman in Vietnam. He has been singing and recording country, folk, Americana and love songs for years and has just released his his 5th CD.  He joins us this Friday in Segment 2

I first met Alex Nestor and her music when she played with the Salvador Santana band in Los Angeles.  She has her own red hot blues and R&B band and plays with the Tang Gang and solo – just her and a keyboard.   A life of trial and triumph has shaped her unique sound filled with messages of love, positivity, and healing while channeling the retro soul artists of the 60’s and 70’s. She has recorded 12 albums, countless jingles, and been in over 25 theatrical productions, as well as working with established musicians such as Carlos Santana, Stevie Wonder, The Four Tops, The Fifth Dimension, Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons.  This is a classic interview  recorded in August last year, so don’t call in.  

 I have begun following the career of MITRE, a singer, songwriter and producer from Mexico City now living in Los Angeles.   He is building a fan base in English and Spanish in the US with constant gigs and online promotion. His music is a blend of feelings and sounds ranging from tango, pop, Mexican music, rock and street sounds. His first release, "Fugitivo" on iTunes in 2010 in Mexico, Japan, USA, Canada, and the UK exploded with fan clubs around the world.   Mitre is now touring to support his most recent album,  Deprador, in which  he is joined by the soaring voice of Irene Diaz. One of his hallmarks is collaborating with singers like Diaz, and opening his shows with the Catrina – the icon of the Mexican holiday,  Dios Los Muertos.  He is now playing in southern California, supporting his debut album in Mitre. This interview was conducted in January.

Alternative Country duo Crimson Calamity,  Lauren Harding and past Music FridayLive! guest Mallory Trunnell are no strangers to intricate songwriting and the bright lights of the stage on their own, but together, they deliver firecracker lyrics and glistening harmonies.Crimson Calamity was born from an initial songwriting experiment that turned out the hard hitting single, “Line ‘em Up and Shoot ‘em Down.” which became the catalyst that inspired them to take their collaborative style to the next level.  Their debut EP, “All in the Cards” is built on  country-rock with a little blues for color. They just released their CD so this interview from March will re-acquaint everyone to these two hot talents

Denny Tedesco joins us for the  opening of his documentary film, The Wrecking Crew,  about a group of studio musicians in Los Angeles in the  60s and 70's who played on hits for the "Beach Boys, Frank Sinatra, Nancy Sinatra, Sonny and Cher, Jan & Dean, The Monkees, Gary Lewis and the Playboys, Mamas and Papas, Tijuana Brass, Ricky Nelson, Johnny Rivers and were Phil Spector's Wall of Sound. They were led by Tommy Tedesco, Denny's father, and became the sound of rock and roll in its birth years, playing on literally thousands of recordings, regardless of whose name was on the cover. The film is now out and playing nationwide, so listen to this interview from a few months ago and then go see the film.

Doe Paoro  is a Brooklyn-based, California-loving songwriter and vocalist whose music both uplifts and unsettles, entertains and mystifies.  With an operatic-range voice honed by studying Tibetian folk opera, she is a unique force in today’s music scene.  Her 2012 debut Slow to Love introduced her with stark production and a raw, ethereal vocals. Her most recent album, After,  maintains the soulful intensity but is majestic with  finely textured sound.  Her sound is unique, her songwriting gut-punching and her voice magical…an artist to watch.

Troy Doherty is a triple threat - singer, songwriter, and actor – whose sound is a mix of blues and pop-rock . Troy began learning piano and guitar around the age of 10, experimenting with musical influences including Led Zepplin, Journey  and pop-rock on the radio. His debut EP, Citizen’s Arrest, was made possible through the help of successful Kick Starter campaign funds which exceeded the fundraising goal, demonstrating the depth of emotion of his fans.

Cuñao is a Los Angeles-based, Latin Folk group with roots in New York City. Founder and songwriter Julio Montero, born in Ecuador, brings his South American background & influences to create evocative, poetic songs that transcend time and leave listeners with lush images.  A group of multi-ethnic musicians, Cuñao puts a global twist on their Latin sound combining  African rhythms, Eastern European melodies and American Rock.

Joanna Borromeo is a alternative R&B/Soul artist/songwriter from Canada who is no stranger to the US, especially to California.  A superb R&B and blues singer-songwriter who fuses jazz, gospel, hip hop, pop and R&B, She graces the stage with a keyboard and her band and wows audiences and critics with her crystal smooth voice and lively songwriting.  On tour right now, she will be playing dates in California, including the prestigious State Social House Champaign series. Her first EP, Kaleidoscope, was nominated for a Juno Award as the best R&B recording in Canada. She is comfortable in a jazz club, a hip hop scene, rock venue or a medley music showcase- wherever people love music.

LaNita Smith moved to Los Angeles CA from Memphis TN last July to teach music at a local school.  Earlier that year she had entered the Guitar Center Singer-Songwriter Competition, competing against 16,000 other artists, many of whom were professionals with albums, gigs, concerts and tours under their belts.  She was stunned to learn that she had been chosen as one of the five finalists. And she was the finalist  who touched everyone's heart, taking the big prize. We are very fortunate that LaNita is able to be with us today before the coming tidal wave of fame and media overwhelms her.

Calais is a tight, five-piece alt rock band from Brisbane Australia with a big sound that has won awards and hearts down under.  Their newest EP, Silhouette is set for release next month as the follow-up to their brilliant single “Time & Space” and their introduction to the USA.  I will be previewing Silhouette for the first time on radio anywhere. If we are lucky, we will  three or four or even all five of the boys on the air with us.

Denny Tedesco joins us for the  opening of his documentary film, The Wrecking Crew,  about a group of studio musicians in Los Angeles in the  60s and 70's who played on hits for the "Beach Boys, Frank Sinatra, Nancy Sinatra, Sonny and Cher, Jan & Dean, The Monkees, Gary Lewis and the Playboys, Mamas and Papas, Tijuana Brass, Ricky Nelson, Johnny Rivers and were Phil Spector's Wall of Sound. They were led by Tommy Tedesco, Denny's father, and became the sound of rock and roll in its birth years, playing on literally thousands of recordings, regardless of whose name was on the cover.

Doña Oxford is an extraordinary, soulful and passionate singer, songwriter and keyboardist who’s old school soul vocals and high octane keyboard piano infuses create music crowds off all ages go wild for. Doña has played with legends including Keith Richards, Bob Weir, Levon Helm, Albert Lee, Buddy Guy, Son Seals, Shemekia Copeland and her idol, former Chuck Berry sideman and Father of Rock & Roll Piano, Johnnie Johnson! She has played keyboard forf Van Morrison in his latest studio recording. Doña is on tour with Albert Lee in the UK.  This is a classic recording from June.

Steps of Doe is the rootsy, LA-based Americana duo of Keena Batti and Molly Falck, who lead a full band replete with lush harmonies and electrified banjo, dulcimer and mandolin. Their music has a sense of humor while it echoes iconic 70’s-style artists like Led Zepplin and Fleetwood Mac, as well as current artists Sufjan Stevens and Elliot Smith. Their debut album,“On Returning” is due out March 24, 2014 on iTunes and the CD will be released at the Hotel Cafe on March 8..

Alternative Country duo Crimson Calamity,  Lauren Harding and past Music FridayLive! guest Mallory Trunnell are no strangers to intricate songwriting and the bright lights of the stage on their own, but together, they deliver firecracker lyrics and glistening harmonies.Crimson Calamity was born from an initial songwriting experiment that turned out the hard hitting single, “Line ‘em Up and Shoot ‘em Down.” which became the catalyst that inspired them to take their collaborative style to the next level.  Their debut EP, “All in the Cards” is built on  country-rock with a little blues for color.

Joe Marson is a Brooklyn transplant who plays alternative folk-rock with a bluesy edge in soulful ballads. Marson has been chosen as one of 5 finalists in the Guitar Center singer-songwriter competition winning $10,000 and a trip to Hollywood, CA to play live at the Troubadour. He will also be performing  on the west coast to support his new EP, Electric Soul Magic which comes on the heels of his celebrated full album, The Satisfied Mind.

Ale’, aka Alejandro Gonzalez Gomez, grew  up in Los Angeles playing in punk bands in East LA and listening to Latin music, electronica and Hip Hop. He has blended these styles in his new album, Irregular Heartbeat,  a coherent and emotional set of songs recorded, engineered and self-produced at LA’s Operating On Dreamtime studios and  Laundry Room Studios with producer/engineer Ulysees Noriega. He sings in English and Spanish, blending Latin and Rock formats smoothly into music he likes to describe as, "strong enough for a man, but made for a woman.

Jon Williams is one of those rare musicians who play and record for the sheer joy of it, free from expectations of fame -- and uses that freedom to produce fabulous music. Jon is a blues and rock and roll guitarist who has played in bands like Midlife Crisis, Midnight Lightning and now the Little Brother’s Blues Band just because he was having fun.Thye recently  released their second album, Spirits, Sinners, Shrews & Blues, a two cd set of classic Chicago blues covers, We play tunes from the set and talk with Jon this Friday.

Contemporary R&B newcomer Jasmine Jordan  recently released her debut EP Time Travel  and kicked  off a tour throughout the west coast to support the EP and her new single "Best I Can,". The Washington State native now transplanted to LA manages to bring back the style of 90’s R&B pop, but with a fresh take and modern feel to her songs about love and frustration. Our interview with her Friday should be all of the first and noe of teh second.