Al Torrence is a Pennsylvania native whose built an amazing career out of his passion for music.  He's the owner for Music Garden Studios, a premier recording studio in New Brighton, Pa where he lays down tracks with life long friends that are the studio band, and also the backing band for the incredible singer songwriter, Charles Wesley Godwin.  Al has produced both hit records for Godwin, Seneca and How The Mighty Fall, and when time allows, will be completing some new albums for a number of artists.

Al and I discuss how he started in music, how that led to audio engineering, and taking over an old studio that may have been destroyed had Al not happened across it.  His varied musical past leads to a variety of interesting sounds on the music he helps create, and that skill truly shines once he's on a stage.  Click here to follow along with Music Garden Studios or his Instagram page and be sure to grab a ticket to the show if they happen to be in your neck of the woods.

Episode 10 is with the incredible singer songwriter, Charles Wesley Godwin.  Charles created a true masterpiece with his 2019 album Seneca and he's recently released another album, How The Mighty Fall.  It's feels like a part 2 of Seneca in that it's full of more heartfelt stories, more of the sincerity that Godwin exudes, and incredible album production through his friend and guitar player Al Torrence of Music Garden Studios.

Follow Charles on any of his social media platforms and visit his website to grab an album and see what he's up to next.  He's also out on the road and I can't suggest experiencing a live show to round out experiencing his music.

Kirk West may have started out as a gear head in Navada, Iowa, but his passion for photography and music took him to Chicago, and then around the world.  He's been a tour manager for the Allman Brothers Band and photographed some of the most incredible musicians through out the 1970's and 1980's in Chicago.  He and his wife Kirsten also purchased the house that the Allman Brothers Band lived , The Big House, and spent much of their early days, and renovated it to the incredible museum that draws fans world wide.

Visit their Gallery West Macon website and check out some incredible photographs or pick up one of Kirks photography books, The Blues in Black and White and Les Brers.

Continue following me at Black Cat Bone Productions as I put out new episodes and post more concert photography.

In episode 8 I talk with John Cuniberti about the history of recorded music, his OneMic Series, and how musicians having a conversation between them selves in the studio with their instruments is critical.  We discuss how he sets up the musicians around the mic and how that affects the balance and overall sound of the recordings.  We also touch on the historic rooms that these are recorded in and how their design also affects the final sound. Visit his YouTube channel and check out his introduction to the series and the numerous artists preforming their songs. 

Visit my sponsors Pure Mountain Coffee and Black Cat Bone Productions 

Co Produced and edited by Calvin Strapp

Follow my photography at Black Cat Bone Productions on Instagram

Texas native, Thomas Csorba released a self titled album last year and in my opinion, it was one of the best albums of the year.  I talked to Thomas shortly after the release of the album and among the things we discussed were, Beau Bedford of the Texas Gentleman producing, as well as a few of my favorites from the album.  

Get over to his website and pick up an album or check his tour dates.

Follow my photography at Black Cat Bone Productions on Instagram

This episode I talk with Tim Bluhm and Greg Loiacono of The Mother Hips.  Their label, Blue Rose Music has rereleased their entire back catalog on Vinyl with proceeds from the album sales will be donated to the Blue Rose Foundation, which provides pre-school scholarships to financially disadvantaged children.  The first five albums were never released on vinyl so it's an incredible time for these albums to be rereleased.

We discuss the rerelease, the new album that's in the works, and touch on one of my favorite albums of all time, Shootout.  It's easy to see why these guys and this band have been around for so long and continue to produce great music.  I look forward to the next album and hope that you enjoy this interview as much as I did getting these guys on the phone.

Follow my photography at Black Cat Bone Productions on Instagram

Dan Tedesco is a Des Moines, Iowa based singer songwriter with folk/rock roots and a passion for gritty songwriting.  During the pandemic he searched for new ways to connect with fans and wound up creating his own membership based service that offers fans a lot of content in a fresh and exciting way. The Dan Tedesco Music Channel was born out of necessity but may be the way forward for Dan, his fans, and possibly other musicians as well.

 Hit up Dan's website and see where he's going to be touring or just check out the DTMC.

Dan Tedesco Instagram

Dan Tedesco Facebook

Dan Tedesco YouTube

Americana Highways Video with Dan

Americana Highways American Darkness Album Review

Follow my photography at Black Cat Bone Productions on Instagram

This episode I talk with the incredible guitar player, singer songwriter, and all around interesting person, Scott Sharrard.  Scott may be best known for his work with Gregg Allman of the Allman Brothers Band, and the many years that he spent as guitar player, co writer, and band leader for Gregg. He was with Allman through the final stages of his life and takes the listeners through that time and the recording of Gregg's final album, Southern Blood.

Scott also has a number of solo albums with his own band, The Scott Sharrard Band, and during our conversation reveals that his next album will have a heavy Americana feel.  Scott was also asked to be a member of the legendary Little Feat and will be out on the road with them as soon as touring opens back up.  I, like Scott, have been a life long fan of Little Feat and I can't think of anyone else more qualified, or deserving to take up the guitar mantle and bring that Little Feat sound to life.

Visit Scotts website to keep up to date with Scotts various projects.

Visit my sponsor Pure Mountain Coffee and enter coupon taitc and receive 15% off on all orders over $25.

Follow my photography at Black Cat Bone Productions on Instagram

Larry Campbell and Teresa Williams have spent a lifetime backing or supporting a variety of incredible musicians.  From Bob Dylan to Levon Helm, and every bluegrass, country, Americana, or folk artists that you can imagine, they have cemented themselves as incredible talents in any genre they choose.  They are also incredibly humble, and sincere people that exemplify the reason they were recruited to be the lead characters in a 10 part docuseries.   

The Mark Moskowitz's creation, It Was The Music, explores Mark's love of music and what the music means to a variety of musicians that are featured in the series.  Larry and Teresa seem to be the archetype of the embodiment of good music and the reason that Mark focused this series around them.  From Teresa's authentic Tennessee roots to the way that Larry, a New York city boy, lives inside the authentic music of the Americana landscape, they are both fascinating and the series breaths life each time they share different pieces of their lives with us onscreen. Special thanks to Mark McKenna for all the help making this interview happen.

Follow my photography at Black Cat Bone Productions on Instagram

Back in October 2019 I made the almost 2 hour trip from Cedar Rapids, Iowa to Moline, Illinois to photograph and interview singer songwriter, Ian Noe.  His music is a genuine reflection of his life in Kentucky and the stories of people around him.  You could compare  him to any number of legendary singer songwriters but I think that after you listen to Ian's music you'll see that the result of what he sings and the music he plays, is uniquely and completely original.

Ian discusses putting the album together, some of the influences that affect his songwriting, and his dislike of EP's. 

Go to Ian's website and grab a copy of Between the Country and be ready to experience brutally honest songwriting, and a singer who, I will predict now, will be ranked among the legends of folk/country music in the next 20 years.

 Follow my photography at Black Cat Bone Productions on Instagram