Sittin' in with the CAT

Drummer Donny Baldwin was a mainstay in the Elvin Bishop Group back in 1973.  In 1982, he started his days with Jefferson Starship.  Throughout his career you'd find Donny playing with Jerry Garcea Band, Eddie Money, Van Morrison, Paul Rodgers and Pablo Cruise.  Multi-award winning program director Ray White caught up with Donny in August of 2024 to get his insights on his days with Elvin and his history with Jefferson Starship, including their latest album Mother of the Sun and much more!   In our showcase segment we feature Rock and Roll Hall Of Famers Bon Jovi whose latest album is Forever and also the other "Starship" band, that features Mickey Thomas, whose recent release is Greatest Hits Relaunched.  Be sure to listen to our other related Episodes - 27 and 136, where we have Mickey Thomas and David Freiberg joining us on Sittin' In With The CAT!!

John Ondrasik is Five For Fighting, which launched in 1995.  His first two albums went "Platinum."  During the early 2000's he was nominated for a Grammy and American Music Award.  Recently, John released a trio of songs about current geopolitical events and has dedicated time to philanthropy including the USO, MDA and his whatkindofworlddoyouwant.com organization.  Multi-award winning program director Ray White, hung out with John backstage at a Virginia Beach oceanfront venue to discuss his recent singles, support for charities, exciting upcoming plans and much more.  In our showcase segment we feature three of the hottest alternative music bands in the country today, who all have brand new projects ready for release.  Snow Patrol, whose upcoming album is titled The Forest Is The Path and multi-Grammy nominee The Fray who are releasing a new EP - The Fray Is Back.  We close out this episode with one of the top bands in the world today...Coldplay, who will be releasing their new album in October of 2024 called Moon Music.  Alternative Rock rules on this episode brought to you by your friends at Classic Artists Today.

On part 2 of this special edition, featuring the 55th anniversary of Woodstock, we're joined once again, with the drummer of a band that performed at the iconic festival - Adolfo "Fito" de la Parra of Canned Heat.  Also the mastermind who produced the sound for 500,000 people at the event - Bill Hanley, "The Father of Festival Sound,"  joined by IES' Steve Almas.  You'll also hear the sounds of the Woodstock Festival by The Who, Creedence Clearwater Revival, The Band, Canned Heat and Blood, Sweat & Tears.  The most iconic music festival of the 20th Century (and also for a quarter of this century)!  Be sure to listen to Part 1 on Episode 180 and our 50th Woodstock Anniversary show on Episode 68!! Brought to you by your authority on the latest (and greatest) in rock 'n' roll - Classic Artists Today!!!

On this special edition, we celebrate the 55th Anniversary of the Woodstock Music and Arts Fair that took place August 15, 16 & 17, 1969 in Bethel, NY.  Joining us is the "Father of Festival Sound," Bill Hanley to talk about the behind-the-scenes activities providing the sound system for this momentous occasion with Steve Almas, CEO of Integrated Entertainment Services, who provides turn-key services for festivals and other entertainment events.   We'll also be joined by the legendary drummer of Canned Heat, who played at Woodstock, Adolfo "Fito" de la Para.  Within this Part 1 of our celebration, you'll also hear the sounds of the festival featuring Canned Heat, Joe Cocker and Melanie.  The CAT's Ray White brings you an inside look at the concert of a lifetime, revisited, and brought to you by your authority on the latest (and greatest) in rock and roll... Classic Artists Today!  Also revisit our 50th Woodstock Anniversary celebration with Santana's Greg Rollie, Mountain's Leslie West and the iconic Johnny Winter joining us on Episode 68!!

Jorma Kaukonen, guitarist/singer/songwriter, recorded with Janis Joplin in 1964.  In 1965, he joined Jefferson Airplane.  You'll find him on every album that they released.  In 1969, Jorma went on to form Hot Tuna with Jack Casady, who still performs today.  In 1974, he recorded his first solo album, of which there are over a dozen studio albums released today, with the latest titled One More Lifetime.  In 1996, Jorma was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of the Jefferson Airplane.  In this episode we feature Ray White's March of 2009 interview, from our archives.  Jourma shares his insights on some of his old band members, the latest with Hot Tuna, his River Of Time CD along with his feelings about the Americana music genre.  In our showcase segment we focus on former member of Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers' Mike Campbell.  His latest album, with his band The Dirty Knobs, is Vagabonds, Virgins and Misfits.  The heart of Americana music is featured on this episode of the CAT!!

Joanne Shaw Taylor is a dynamic singer/guitarist/songwriter who has blazed a trail to the top of the Blues Rock genre.  Discovered by Dave Stewart of The Eurythmics at the age of 16, she's released 12 solo albums throughout her rising music career.  In 2021, she teamed up with guitar wizard Joe Bonamassa and started recording on his record label.  Among her accolades you'll find Joanne named Best Female Vocalist (twice) at the British Blues Awards and also tapped for Songwriter of the Year.  Ray White, multi-award winning program director and show host, caught up with Joanne in February of 2024 before her extensive U.S. tour to talk about her star connections and latest album - Heavy Soul.  In our "showcase segment" we feature the iconic band from the U.K. - The Rolling Stones whose latest album is Hackney Diamonds and continue our British Invasion themed show with Dire Straits' frontman Mark Knopfler who just released One Deep River.  Rock royalty and young blood on this episode from Classic Artists Today!

Leon Medica, bassist and producer of LeRoux, co-founded the band in 1977.  Throughout the years the band was featured on music television shows including Solid Gold, The Midnight Special and Don Kirshner's Rock Concert.  They had 7 songs land on Billboard's Top 100 chart.  Leon won an American Music Award for producing a song from the movie "Dirty Dancing" and also is a Grammy nominated musician who played on an album with blues great Tab Benoit.  This tribute to Leon, who passed away on June 9, 2024, includes our interview with him from July of 2008 which touched on LeRoux, the Louisiana rock sound and LeRoux's album, Ain't Nothing But A Gris Gris.  In our showcase segment, we feature Leon's friend and frontman for Wet Willie, Jimmy Hall.  His latest album is Ready Now.  Sounds of the deep south on this special edition of the CAT!

John Cafferty and the Beaver Brown Band hit their stride in the early and mid-1980's with four Top 10 songs.  Many people know the band from the tremendous success of the Eddie and The Cruisers movie soundtrack.  Throughout the years, that band had 11 singles land on the music charts.  Multi-award winning program director Ray White sat down with John in January of 2012, shortly after the passing of his good friend Clarence Clemons - at a tribute show, to talk about The Big Man and the Jersey Shore music vibe.  John's recently released several singles by his band.  In our showcase segment we feature another Jersey band that's in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame - Bon Jovi.  Their latest album is Forever and it's full of rock songs and power ballads.  We'll also feature the latest from another superstar from just across the border in Pennsylvania who unfortunately split with his longtime musical partner.  Daryl Hall has his first album out since parting with John Oates, which is called "D".  The CAT rocks you on this episode as we focus on the Jersey to the Philly sounds!!   

Franke Previte formed Franke and the Knockouts in 1980, who had three Top 40 singles and two Top 50 albums.  Franke co-wrote music for the hit soundtrack Dirty Dancing featuring the Academy Award winning "The Time of my Life."  He also co-wrote "Hungry Eyes," which was a #1 U.S. Adult Contemporary hit sung by Eric Carmen.  Franke and the Knockouts most recent album was titled The Complete Collection.  We interviewed Franke in June of 2011.  In our Showcase Segment, we feature Gerry Beckley (interviewed in Episode 71) of America, who has released 10 solo albums including his 2022 release Aurora.  In 2024, he's dropped several singles including "Crazy" and we expect a new album from him soon.  We close out this episode with the legendary Billy Joel who released his first new single since 2007 titled "Turn The Lights Back On."  Kick back and chill as you listen to this episode from the CAT!

In Part 2 of our interview and feature with the phenominal Jeff "Skunk" Baxter, we focus on his years with Steely Dan and talk about the multi-Grammy award winning album (Minute by Minute) by The Doobie Brothers.  We'll also get Jeff's insights on his awesome solo album Speed of Heat and dive into his thoughts on the music industry today.  Be sure to listen to our other shows featuring current and former Doobies on Episodes 18, 44, 75, 128 and 167.  In our showcase segment, we look back at the career of Electric Light Orchestra's keyboardist Richard Tandy who passed away on May 1, 2024.  Tandy's playing was an important part of ELO's sound, playing various keyboard instruments and adding vocals on many songs.    World-class musicians...world-class shows, from your friends at Classic Artists Today!