The Jay Jay French Connection: Beyond the Music

This week is the first guest of the new year - the prolific British record producer Steve Lillywhite! If you're not already familiar & want to look at the list of records that Lillywhite is credited on - you'll need to sit down & set aside some time. Steve has been credited on over 500 records - collaborating with the likes of U2, The Rolling Stones, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Talking Heads, Peter Gabriel, Psychedelic Furs, Simple Minds, Dave Matthews, & The Killers (to name a few) - receiving 6 Grammy awards along the way, and being made a Commander of the Order of The British Empire in 2012 for his contributions to music. Tune in to hear about how Steve began his career by learning to be the best tape operator possible, his deep love for punk music, how he became U2's go-to producer, & his advice on working in the music industry. Don't miss this insightful conversation on The Jay Jay French Connection: Beyond the Music!

Produced & edited by Matthew Mallinger

This week on The Jay Jay French Connection: Beyond the Music, we're revisiting another episode highlight from 2021, with guest "Supermensch" Shep Gordon! Shep is one of the most legendary talent managers in the music industry - and he has the stories to back it. Shep has run the gamut of artists he's worked with - from Alice Cooper to Teddy Pendergrass, and Blondie to Frankie Valli. Hear these two talk all things music management, and share stories from their long runs in the music industry. Be sure to check out the documentary "Supermensch", produced & directed by Mike Myers, to learn even more about Shep's story.

Produced & edited by Matthew Mallinger

This week we're revisiting a 2021 highlight, Jay Jay's conversation with best-selling author Jane Green, and author & former model Jenny Boyd. Listen to these two discuss their most recent writing projects, including Jenny's book "Jennifer Juniper: A Journey Beyond the Muse," which was released this past year. Jane & Jenny also discuss the differences between living in England and the United States, what their writing processes look like during a global pandemic, and remarkable stories from their careers, as well as being in and around the music world.

-Produced by Matthew Mallinger

Jim McCarty, legendary English musician & drummer of The Yarbirds, is this week's guest on The Jay Jay French Connection: Beyond the Music! McCarty has been the only individual featured in every lineup of The Yardbirds. Hear Jim discuss the band's deep blues influences & their evolving sound through the years. A few of the most groundbreaking guitarists - Jimmy Page, Jeff Beck & Eric Clapton have all been members of The Yardbirds; hear Jim discuss at length the difference between their lineups over the years, playing with these 3, & how their varying styles & personalities influenced his writing & drumming. Jay Jay has been a fan of The Yardbirds for years, & shares his appreciation for both their impact on him personally, & on the music world as a whole.

Be sure to check out both of Jim's book's: "Nobody Told Me: My Life with the Yardbirds, Renaissance and Other Stories," & "She Walks In Beauty: My Quest For The Bigger Picture."

-Produced by Matthew Mallinger

Every Beatles fanatic has been talking about it - the new documentary "Get Back," directed by Peter Jackson. The 3 part documentary contains unseen footage of the iconic group (distilled from 60+ hours that Jackson had exclusive access to), & showcases their writing & rehearsing of 14 new songs, followed by their unforgettable rooftop concert on London's Savile Row.

This week is a special episode in which 2 lifelong Beatles fans, Jay Jay & close friend, legendary drummer & artist Michael Cartellone, discuss the new documentary, the influence that The Beatles have had on both of their music careers & how this documentary perfectly displays the magic of The Beatles & the importance of their impact on the world. Jay Jay's producer Matthew Mallinger also joins the conversation to discuss his perspective on the documentary.

Be sure to check out Michael Cartellone's remarkable body of artwork, which includes multiple Beatles pieces at https://wentworthgallery.com/cartellone.html

Hear this one of a kind conversation only on The Jay Jay French Connection: Beyond the Music.

This week we're revisiting a favorite episode from this past year - Jay Jay's conversation with Frank Marshall. Hear Jay Jay chat with the acclaimed film director and producer, who recently directed the Bee Gees documentary "How Can You Mend a Broken Heart." Listen to this unique interview to hear Jay Jay and Frank discuss documentary filmmaking, The Bee Gees early years , the love of music & Frank's expansive career in film. Only on The Jay Jay French Connection: Beyond the Music!

This week's episode is a must listen for all tone freaks out there. Jay Jay's friend David Wilson, editor & publisher of The ToneQuest Report, is this week's special guest. Hear all about why Jay Jay strongly recommends The TQR to all guitar players, & finds it to be a refreshing alternative to all other guitar publications out there. David talks about why he believes all guitarists are chasing the perfect tone ~ & where to begin when seeking out a specific tone in the constantly evolving world of music technology. Everything from desert island guitar / amp combos, to the history of amplifiers is discussed in this episode - you won't want to miss it! Be sure to check out The Tone Quest Report's website, & subscribe to their one of a kind publication.

https://tonequest.com/about/our-story/

This week's guest is psychedelic rock legend & pioneer, Peppy Castro. Peppy has done it all, from being a founding member of The Blues Magoos, to starring in the original Broadway production of Hair. Tune in to hear about his unique career journey, all the way back to his beginnings in the world of rock n roll as a teenager on the east coast. Don't miss hearing the story of Jay Jay & Peppy's first meeting - in which their bands were sharing a bill, & as Jay Jay recounts, Peppy kindly told him to "Get the f*** off my amp!!" Hear these stories only on The Jay Jay French Connection: Beyond the Music.

This week we're revisiting one of our highlight interviews from earlier this year - Don McClean.

Tune into hear legendary American singer/songwriter Don McLean & Jay Jay discuss the cultural impact of Don's hit "American Pie," how much Don's music has impacted Jay Jay, resilience in show business, and the ups & downs of their remarkable journeys in the music industry.

Produced & Edited by Matthew Mallinger

This episode is a must listen for all Dead Heads. This week's 2 guests are Justin Kreutzmann & Mark Pinkus. Justin is a director, & the son of legendary Grateful Dead drummer Bill Kreutzmann. Justin has worked on a large catalogue of projects with music legends such as Pete Townshend and The Who, Motley Crue, Yoko Ono, Sean Lennon, Emmylou Harris, Mavis Staples, & last but not least - The Grateful Dead. He has worked as an editor & producer on a wide variety of music documentaries & programs - including Long Strange Trip, Let There Be Drums, Backstage Pass & Dead Ringers: The Making of Touch of Grey.

Mark Pinkus is president of Rhino Entertainment, and he is the official General Manager of Grateful Dead Properties. He has access to the Dead's extensive vault — a superfan's paradise with thousands and thousands of tapes — and handles the production and release of the music contained within.

Tune in to hear these 3 discuss all things Grateful Dead - from producing their most recent documentary, to each member's unique character & style of playing, & why the Dead have had such a huge impact on multiple generations. Justin discusses how his dad being a member the Dead has impacted his life & career, & Mark discusses his special working relationship with the Dead. Jay Jay tells stories of seeing the Grateful Dead perform growing up in New York, & the impact that their musical connectedness had on his playing.

Don't miss this one of a kind conversation, only on The Jay Jay French Connection: Beyond the Music!

Produced & edited by Matthew Mallinger