What a gift to be able to look iconic drummer Russell Kunkel in the virtual eye and say, thank you. A lifetime fan, I’ve seen and heard Russ play more times than I can begin to count. His beat literally weaves through the musical Tapestry of my life (see what I did there). Add to that, a sweet, gentlemanly, romantic soul, he's all that and a bag of sticks.

We started with The Immediate Family and came back around, full circle.

I honored the time promised (it's Russ's last night with his beautiful bride for a spell, so we kept it to a tight hour), and he kindly indulged a few personal questions about Leah Kunkle (Cass Elliot's sis), his kids, Nathaniel, Elsie, Owen, Carly Simon, Nicolette Larson, and how he met his beloved, Shauna. Love that Leland played a hand without a bass in it.

Of the almost uncountable iconic recordings and tours that Russ has played on, we started with John Stewart (Daydream Believer) of The Kingston Trio, where Russ claims to have been schooled by the talented consummate professional. And where he was discovered by Peter Asher, which for Russ was a game, and a life-changer. We talked James Taylor and Sweet Baby James, where Russ met Leland Sklar, Danny Kortchmar, and Craig Dorge, soon to be known as The Section, Carole King and Tapestry, Jackson Browne and Running on Empty, Joni Mitchell and Blue, Waddy Wachtell and Warren Zevon, Stephen Stills and CSN&Y, Carly Simon, Stevie Nicks, getting a call from Asher to grab his gear and head to CBS, cor what turned into a 7 hour recorded jam with George Harrison and Bob Dylan, which led to playing on Dylan’s New Morning, a one-off with Barbara Streisand, a many off with Neil Diamond, of whom Russ has great affection and admiration and shared a lovely story, B.B. King with Carole King, 15 yrs with Lyle Lovett, the who, what, where, when and how of the making of The Immediate Family, adding MVP (according to Russ), Steve Postell, their EPs LP, Denny Tedesco’s much anticipated upcoming doc on them, joining Carole King as she was inducted into the Rock ’N Roll Hall of Fame, their current tour, about to east coast it, returning to the Canyon Club on Dec 19th where I hope to be front row center. Well, with my hip thing and the pandemic, more likely, an isolation booth with walker access.

With all the above, we barely scratched the Kunkle disc surface. And yet, I’m Russ sated. For now. Such a gifted talent, a gentlemanly humble soul, with a romantic spirit… ah… I think I need a cigarette.

I hope to approach life the way Russ does the drums… listening more and allowing for space.

Adore the man and all of his music.

Russ Kunkle on Game Changers with Vicki Abelson

Wed, 11/10/21, 5 pm PT, 8 pm ET

Streamed Live on my Facebook

Replay here:

https://bit.ly/3ocrofk

All BROADcasts, as podcasts, also available on

iTunes apple.co/2dj8ld3

Stitcher bit.ly/2h3R1fla

tunein bit.ly/2gGeItj

Also on iHeartRadio, SoundCloud, Voox, OwlTail, Backtracks, PlayerFM, Himalaya, Podchaser, and Listen Notes

Thanks to Rick Smolke of Quik Impressions, the best printers, printing, the best people people-ing. quikimpressions.com

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