Sittin' in with the CAT

10,000 Maniacs were mainstays in the alternative rock genre in the late 1980's through the mid-1990's. Celebrating their 40th anniversary this year, the multi-platinum selling band maintains their free-flowing sound today with their lead singer and violinist Mary Ramsey, front and center. The bands co-founder, Steve Gustafson joins Mary in huddling up on their tour bus, before performing in September of 2021, to talk with award-winning CAT host Ray White about their latest music. Steve and Mary also share insights about the history of the band, technology in the music industry and their latest release -Live at the Belly Up. Catch more about the band on Episode 082 of our show, when co-founder Dennis Drew hangs with us. In our showcase segment, we travel back taking a look at the career of Graeme Edge, who was inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2018 as a member of The Moody Blues. He was the last of the original members that was with the band until they disbanded several years ago. Graeme, who also was leader of The Graeme Edge Band throughout the 70's, left this physical world on November 11, 2021. Alternative and Progressive Rock...you'll find the latest on Classic Artists Today.

Al Stewart is a phenomenal folk-rock musician who has 16 studio albums, since the late 1960's. After releasing 6 albums he hit paydirt on his Year of The Cat release in 1976. The album was certified platinum and to celebrate its 45th anniversary, a remastered release has recently been issued which includes previously unreleased concert tracks. Ray White, the CAT's award-winning program director, sat down with Al in September of 2011 to talk about his last studio album Sparks of Ancient Light and several highlights during his storied career. In our showcase segment we'll feature Ringo Starr, who has a new EP out titled Change The World. Closing out this episode we'll remember the front man of the 60's pop band Jay and the Americans - Jay Black, who passed away on October 22, 2021. Awesome musicians who launched their respected careers in the 1960's - an evolutionary time for pop and rock music. We have them, on the CAT!

Firefall's drummer Sandy Ficca and lead vocalist/guitarist Gary Jones join us on this episode. Award-winning program director Ray White talked with the two newest members (Sandy since 1984 and Gary since 2014) in August of 2021, about the band's newest album Comet and their songwriting contributions to the first studio album by Firefall since 1994. Be sure to hear from other members of the band on Episodes 1, 15, 24, 42, 85 and 93. In our showcase segment we feature the latest by Jackson Browne - who has a new release called Downhill From Everywhere and the amazing Santana who just dropped their latest album Blessings and Miracles. From the 70's through today...the best from your favorite classic artists on the CAT!

Mike Finnigan is known throughout the world as a master on the Hammond B3 organ and plays all other keyboards too - along with providing background vocals. You'll find his work on albums and tours with bands including Crosby Stills & Nash, Bonnie Raitt, Joe Cocker, Dave Mason and even Jimi Hendrix! He's been a regular with The Phantom Blues Band for several decades. Mike passed away on August 11, 2021 and award-winning program director Ray White shares Mike's June of 2012 interview insights on this episode - including his time with Jimi and much, much more. The tributes continue with recognizing the great work of Don Everly of The Everly Brothers, who died on August 21, 2021. Two legends in the world of popular music are memorialized on this edition of the CAT.

Pablo Cruise, formed in 1973, had two platinum albums and five Top 25 singles during their career. Since the mid-1980's the band periodically played for special events and occasions. In 2017 the band started playing again on a regular basis. In our August of 2021 interview, the CAT's Ray White caught up with Cory Lerios and David Jenkins after their live performance to talk about the early days of the band, their new single Breathe and much more. In our showcase segment we feature the latest from The Doobie Brothers, who will release a new album in the fall of 2021 titled Liberte. We'll close out our show with a tribute to to one of rock's favorite drummers Charlie Watts of The Rolling Stones, who passed away on August 24, 2021 at the age of 80. A jammed packed 30-minutes of the best from Rock and Roll...we've got it on Classic Artists Today.

Jimmy Hall, co-founder of Wet Willie in 1970, has been part of the foundation of southern rock for over 50 years. The band has had 8 charting albums throughout their career. Jimmy, singer/saxophonist/harmonicist, has also released 10 albums as a solo artist or collaborator. Multi-award winning program director, Ray White, caught up with Jimmy by the oceanfront in September of 2010 to talk about his Build Your Own Fire album, Wet Willie and being one of the key bands on the legendary record labels -Capricorn Records. In our showcase segment we honor the late, and great Dusty Hill of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame band ZZ Top, who passed away on July 28, 2021. You can call it country or southern rock... we have the groundbreaking bands right here on Classic Artists Today.

Paul Cotton, a mainstay in Poco for nearly 40 years, is featured in this tribute episode. Starting his nationally recognized music career with Illinois Speed Press in 1968, he went on to replace Jim Messina in Poco in 1970. Paul, along with Poco's co-founder Rusty Young, were at the forefront of the band during their most commercially successful years. Paul passed away on August 1, 2021, just a few months after Rusty's passing (Episode103). Multi-award winning program director Ray White reaches back, revisiting an interview with Paul in December of 2006, to talk about the band's favorite place to play - Wildwood Springs Lodge, his solo work and time with Jimi Hendrix. A look back at the fabulous career by a one-of-a-kind musician, Paul Cotton. The legendary bands and their members... we have them on the CAT!

Billy Greer, bassist and vocalist for Kansas, has been a mainstay in the band for 36 years. You'll also find him leading his own band Seventh Key when not recording or touring with Kansas. Multi-award winning program director Ray White caught up with Billy on tour during 2012, just after the There's Know Place Like Home DVD/CD was released. Along with that recording, Billy also provided insights into his Native Window and Seventh Key bands. We also pay tribute to longtime Kansas member Robby Steinhardt, who passed away on July 17, 2021. Kansas' latest album, The Absence of Presence, landed in the Top 10 of Billboards' Top Albums chart. In our showcase segment, we feature the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame band, Yes! In October of 2021 they'll release a new album titled The Quest. The pinnacle of progressive rock interviews and bands, right here on The CAT!

David Lowery fronts two bands - Cracker and Camper Van Beethoven and even has several solo albums. You'll fine Cracker on the record charts, on a regular basis, during the early-to-mid 1990's. Multi-award winning program director Ray White sat down with David on his tour bus during their first stop on the concert circuit, post-Covid. David shares his insights into his new solo album Leaving Key Member Clause, the latest by Cracker - Berkeley To Bakersfield and by Camper Van Beethoven - El Camino Real. He also talks about technology and how it's changed strategy for his bands. In our "showcase segment," we feature the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame band Journey. They've just released their first new song in over a decade and features new members Randy Jackson, Narada Michael Walden and Jason Derlatka. Cutting edge and mainstream rock...you'll find it on Classic Artists Today!

Chuck Leavell, current member of The Rolling Stones also played with Dr. John, The Allman Brothers Band, and formed Sea Level, joins us on Part 2 of our interview from February of 2021. Multi-award winning program director Ray White, gets additional insights from Chuck about recording with Greg Allman on his Laid Back release while also working on The Allman Brothers' Brothers and Sisters project, the formation of Sea Level and being a member of The Rolling Stones. He also shares with us information of his recently released The Tree Man documentary film. Be sure to listen to Part 1 of our interview on Episode 101, too! We have the legacy musicians - who you listened to and saw in concert during your youth, right here on The CAT!!