Sittin' in with the CAT

Zephyr was a rock band with blues and jazz undertones that emerged on the national music scene in 1969 and followed with 4 albums. Candy Givens' vocals were powerful and stood side-by-side with Janis Joplin and Grace Slick as the leading ladies fronting rock bands back in the day. The legendary guitarist Tommy Bolin, also helped launch the band as his career took off. Zephyr's co-founder David Givens and band member Jock Bartley (who co-founded Firefall) shares their unique insights about the band with Ray White on this special "Blast From The Past" edition of our show. Zephyr was on concert billings with Jim Hendrix and Led Zepplin and was tapped for inclusion in the Colorado Music Hall of Fame in 2019. To close out our show we look back to several highlights in the career of Taylor Hawkins of the Foo Fighters, who passed away on March 25, 2022. Taylor also fronted his own band, Taylor Hawkins and the Coattail Riders, whose last release was Get The Money in 2019. Legacy performances...Legacy musicians, right here on the CAT!

Gregg Rolie can be found in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice! Inducted in 1998 as a co-founder of Santana and again in 2017 as an original member of Journey. Throughout his career, Gregg sang and has been keyboardist in other groups including The Storm, Ringo Starr and his All-Starr Band and has released over a half-dozen solo albums since 1985. Award-winning program director Ray White caught up with Gregg in March of 2009 to talk about his music heritage, how the blues impacted the sound of Santana, the supergroup The Storm, life as a solo artist and much more. His latest release is Sonic Ranch. In our showcase segment we feature two of the elite guitar players...worldwide! Jeffrey "Skunk" Baxter could be found in several bands throughout his career including The Doobie Brothers (in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame), Steely Dan and Ultimate Spinach. Jeff's upcoming album is Speed of Heat. We close out our show with the amazing Joe Bonamassa. With 11 #1 albums on Billboard's Blues Chart, his talent elevates him among the very best guitarists of the 21st century. He's a "must see" live in concert, when he plays near your town. Joe's latest album is a dynamo, titled Time Clocks. Rock's elite musicians can be found on Classic Artists Today!

Edwin McCain is a singer-songwriter and guitarist who hails from Charleston, SC. He hit the charts back in the late 1990's and early 2000's with four Top 40 songs. A good friend of Hootie and the Blowfish, they hit the charts about the same time. Multi-award winning program director Ray White caught up with Edwin in June of 2012 to talk about his Mercy Bound album, touring - being a "road warrior," and the importance of performing live and much more. Edwin's latest single is We're All In This Together. In our showcase segment, we're joined by Brownsville Station's guitarist Billy Craig. With the tragic situation in Ukraine, Billy's just released a song and video that's going viral throughout the world - Tears For Ukraine. Touching our hearts and soul on Classic Artists Today.

Bill Leverty co-founded FireHouse in the mid-1980's. The band, with Bill's great guitar work, was signed to Epic Records in 1989 and hit the big time with their double-platinum debut, self-titled album in 1990. The band garnered several music awards in 1991 including the American Music Award. FireHouse has released 8 albums throughout the years and Bill has recorded 5 solo projects with his latest titled, Divided We Fall in 2020. Multi-award winning program director and radio producer Ray White caught up with Bill in January of 2022 to talk about the bands rise to stardom, FireHouse's last studio album Prime Time and his solo work, too. In our "showcase segment," we honor and look back at the great career of Gary Brooker, the leader of Procol Harum, who passed away on February 19, 2022. Power ballads and powerhouse bands are featured on this episode, brought to you by Classic Artists Today - celebrating the latest from classic bands for over 15 years.

Dar Williams is one of the premier singer-songwriters in America today. You'll find her playing at many of the folk/americana festivals around the country, playing her guitar and singing her songs about life and the world we live in. She's released over 20 projects throughout her career and has contributed to over a half-dozen compilation albums. During 1995 she landed a song on the Top 20 of Billboard's Adult Album Alternative chart. Award-winning program director Ray White, "zoomed" with Dar to talk about her early interest in acting, establishing a friendship with Joan Baez, a new recording with Orleans' John Hall, and her latest album I'll Meet You Here. In our showcase segment we feature another fantastic pop/folk singer and Grammy award winner Janis Ian, whose latest release is The Light At The End Of The Line. Artists and their songs, delivered straight from their heart and soul... presented by Classic Artists Today.

Martin Turner co-founded Wishbone Ash in 1969 as their bass player and vocalist. The band was known for their twin lead guitars, melodic songwriting and complex musical arrangements. Martin's heydays with the band lasted through 1980. Award-winning program director and syndicated radio host, Ray White, caught up with Martin in June of 2013 to talk about his career highlights with Wishbone Ash, his solo career along with his book "No Easy Road - My Life and Times with Wishbone Ash and Beyond." Martin's released several studio albums and live projects thoughout the years. His latest studio album is Written In The Stars. In the CAT's showcase segment we remember Meat Loaf, who passed on Jaunuary 20, 2022. Along with his famed Bat Out of Hell albums - which sold over 65 million copies, he appeared in over 50 films and television shows. Meat Loaf's last studio album was released in 2016 and was titled Braver Than We Are. Covering the wide spectrum of rock music's heydays...and today, they're Sittin' In With The CAT!

Peter Rivera was the lead singer and drummer for Rare Earth, that was formed in the late 1960's. They had 12 singles land on the charts. This episode is part two of our conversation with Peter in February 2021. Part one can be found on Episode 099. He provides his insights into his days at Motown Records and the bands connection with Stevie Wonder, breaking barriers by recording longer songs, and his latest music - Encore. In our showcase segment, your award-winning host Ray White brings you the latest on two other legendary performers - Rod Stewart, who's latest album is The Tears of Hercules and also fellow British superstar Elvis Costello, who just released The Boy Named If. The artists who are the heart of Rock 'n' Roll, we have them right here on the CAT!

Henry Gross started as an original member of the 50's rock and roll revival group, Sha Na Na in 1969. In that same year, the band played Woodstock. After a year with them, Henry signed with a major record label and built his career ever since then. Along with his Top 10 hit "Shannon", Henry's singles have launched on the charts an additional 8 times. He has released nearly two dozen albums throughout his career. His One-Hit Wanderer show & album garnered marvelous reviews. In January of 2010, award-winning program director Ray White caught up with Henry to talk about his Sha Na Na days, highlights of his life as a solo artist and the One-Hit Wanderer production. In our showcase segment, we look back at the career of Michael Nesmith of The Monkees, who passed away on December 10, 2021. Mike had a wonderful life as a musician, singer/songwriter and media mogul. A blast from your past, right here on the CAT!

Eric Gales launched his music career signing with a major label at 16 years old. His first single was Top 10 on the "mainstream rock chart," and his career was off and running. Throughout his music career, the road for Eric has had its ups and downs, but today he's back stronger than ever - getting ready to release his 19th album. Award-winning program director Ray White hooked up with Eric backstage before a standing-room only performance in November of 2021, to talk about his start in the music business and his rebirth, including working with his longtime friend Joe Bonamassa. Crown is the title of his upcoming album and reinforces his stature among the top blues rock guitarists in the world! In our showcase segment, we take a look back at 2021 featuring the Foo Fighters, whose latest album is Medicine at Midnight, and Coldplay who recently released their Music of the Spheres project. Two "classic" bands that ended the year at the top of the CAT's charts! You better believe it, Classic Artists Today is rockin' right into the New Year!!

The Yardbirds formed in London in 1963 and launched the careers of three of the greatest guitarists in Rock and Roll history - Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page and Jeff Beck. Inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1992, the band had 5 Top 20 hits in the U.S. Their albums landed on the charts 6 times leading to the band being named by Rolling Stone magazine as "100 Greatest Artists of All Time." We sat down with drummer and co-founder Jim McCarty in May of 2010 to talk about the historic band and their last studio album Birdland. The group still performs today and their latest release, captured in concert, is titled Making Tracks. In our showcase segment, we continue the Bristish Invasion theme by featuring Paul McCartney, whose latest project is McCartney III, and the progressive rock stalwarts YES, who recently released The Quest. The British are Coming...The British are Coming, right here on this episode from Classic Artists Today!