THE MUSIC LOUNGE PODCAST

It’s Episode 4! It’s singer songwriter week. A singer-songwriter is a musician who writes, composes, and performs their own musical material, including lyrics and melodies. This week we feature the singer songwriters that appeared in Season 1 of The Music Lounge Podcast. All of these artists are so talented and have amazing stories to tell with their lyrics. When you’ve listened to their music, please go and download their songs and support these artists. We’re all in the same boat and we thank you in advance for the love.

Here are the artists, songs, and Instagram pages of the artists that are featured in this episode. All of their music is available on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music and other music platforms. 

Rachel Solomon – Right on Time – https://www.instagram.com/rachelsolomusic/

Sarah Angel – True Love – https://www.instagram.com/sarahangelmusic/

Jordan Siwek – Lover And A Giver - https://www.instagram.com/pianojordan/

Eva Gertz – Birch Trees – https://www.instagram.com/evagertzmusic/

Samantha Leigh – 90 Years - https://www.instagram.com/samanthaleighmusic/

My Dear Wendy (Amanda Gunnels) – Head against The Wall – https://www.instagram.com/my_dear_wendy/

T. Scott Ross – Satisfied – https://www.instagram.com/tscottross/

Ashely Pezzotti – We’ve Only Just Begun – https://www.instagram.com/ashleypezzotti/

Peter Eldridge – That Which Can’t Be Explained – https://www.instagram.com/petereldridge/

Pete Lents – Reason (performed by Art and Pete) – https://www.instagram.com/artandpete/ or https://www.instagram.com/brookstonebards/

ENJOY THE SHOW!! https://www.instagram.com/themusicloungepodcast/

Happy summer. So......I'll be 50 on July 17th. LET'S CELEBRATE!!! This episode is all about my original music. I've been composing since I was 16 years old. It was difficult to choose which pieces to feature, but I've chosen both vocal and instrumental pieces that I think represent what I'm all about. I grew up loving jazz piano and listening to Chick Corea and Herbie Hancock. I also have been influenced by Pat Metheny, Toto, The Beatles, Billy Joel, and even Ludacris. I'm all over the place, but this is what makes me a well rounded musician. 

At the young age of 4 years old, I started to pick out songs on the piano. I haven't stopped ever since. I was doing gigs before I could drive. My dad would drive me to the gig, wait and take me home. I finished 1st in the New Jersey All State jazz piano competition in 1988. I was privileged to study jazz piano at Manhattan School of Music with world-renowned jazz pianists Harold Danko and Gary Dial. I have performed with such headliners as Natalie Cole, Jimmy Buffet, and John Scofield. I am currently the music director for South Florida’s Heatwave Band. My first CD “Ready Steady Go” was released in 2007 to rave reviews. It's still available. Just send me an email at [email protected]

So join me in the milestone birthday. Send me a email. Follow me on Instagram. I hope to hear from all of you. 

It’s JAZZ FUSION WEEK!! Jazz fusion is a music genre that developed in the late 1960's when musicians combined jazz harmony and improvisation with rock music, funk, and rhythm and blues. Electric guitars, amplifiers, and keyboards that were popular in rock and roll started to be used by jazz musicians, particularly those who had grown up listening to rock and roll.

Jazz fusion arrangements vary in complexity. Some employ groove-based vamps fixed to a single key or a single chord with a simple, repeated melody. Others use elaborate chord progressions, unconventional time signatures, or melodies with counter-melodies. These arrangements, whether simple or complex, typically include improvised sections that can vary in length, much like in other forms of jazz.

As with acoustic jazz, jazz fusion also employs brass and woodwind instruments such as trumpet and saxophone, but other instruments often substitute for these. A jazz fusion band is less likely to use an acoustic piano and double bass, and more likely to use electric guitar, synthesizers, and bass guitar.

Here is the music we’ll be exploring in this episode. I DO NOT OWN THE RIGHTS TO ANY OF THIS MUSIC. 

Freight Train Shuffle – The Players

Trains – Steps Ahead

Tutu – Miles Davis

Dr. Hee – Tribal Tech feat. Scott Henderson

Tower of Inspiration – Dave Weckl

Growing – John Patitucci

Some Skunk Funk – Brecker Brothers

Minuano (Six Eight)" – The Pat Metheny Group

It's summertime. Let's get out on the ocean and sail away with some Yacht Rock. Yacht Rock (originally known as the West Coast sound) is a broad music style and aesthetic commonly associated with soft rock, which was one of the most commercially successful genres from the mid-1970s to early 1980s. #yachtrock

I love this music! It's the perfect soundtrack for putting your feet up and enjoying a perfect day out on the sea on a boat. It has elements of rock, jazz, classical, and the harmonies are rich and smooth. 

Here's what songs and artists we'll be checking out in this episode. You can click on their names to learn more about them. 

What a Fool Believes - Michael McDonald

Peg - Steely Dan

This is it - Kenny Loggins

Steal Away - Robbie Dupree

Biggest Part of Me - Ambrosia

Brandy (You're a fine girl) - Looking Glass

This week is the Season 1 finale. My guest is Tom Politzer. Tom is the lead tenor saxophone player for the funkiest band around TOWER OF POWER. Their website is https://towerofpower.com/

Tower just celebrated 50 years as a band and just released an incredible live album 50 Years of Funk & Soul: Live at the Fox Theater

This album captures Tower of Power’s storied career with two no-holds-barred victory lap concerts in Oakland, CA on June 1 & 2, 2018, performing their full spectrum of life-affirming funk and soul hits.

This historic concert includes special guests Chester Thompson, Lenny Pickett, Francis ‘Rocco’ Prestia, Bruce Conte and Ray Greene.

Tom was born in Detroit, Michigan the home of Motown and was raise in Palo Alto, Calif.

His parents were opera lovers, so he grew up with a strong background in classical music.

He took up the clarinet when he was ten and became very proficient playing in the school bands and with local youth orchestras.

Half-way through his junior year in high school, the Jazz Band needed someone to fill the baritone sax chair. He was skeptical, but playing Maynard Ferguson, Buddy Rich and especially “Squib Cakes” by Tower of Power convinced him. Had he not made the switch; he probably would have not become the professional musician he is today.

Tom has been a member to Tower of Power for 20 years now. He is part of a fraternity of amazing lead tenor players. Lenny Pickett, Marc Russo, Richard Elliot, Brandon Fields, and Davin Mann to name a few. The lead tenor chair in Tower is one of prestige and honor and Tom has filled that chair with his amazing sound and the hippest licks on every song.

The leader of Tower of Power Emilio Castillo, was instantly impressed with Tom and his professionalism and if you watch their shows, he glows with pride every time Tom plays a solo. 

We're going country in this episode. My guest this week is singer songwriter Samantha Leigh Click her name to go to her website.

With her bluesy-rock vocals and sexy, funky style, Samantha Leigh is a musical force to be reckoned with. Originally from the home of rock and roll, Cleveland, Ohio, Samantha grew up with a heavy rock and country influence.

Her latest single "90 years" is a tribute to her grandmother who is one of the biggest influences in her life.

Her 2019 EP Perfect Ground has a high energy collection of amazing songs that featured the hit singles "Too Scared" and "Devil in Red Shoes"

She made her debut stage appearance at the age of 3 singing "Crazy" by Patsy Cline with her mother's country band Buckshot. From then on, singing continued to be her passion. She entered vocal competitions and talent shows and in 2004, won first place in her city's Tri-School Idol.

Since her move to Tampa, Florida in 2005, Samantha has hit the ground running, expanding her singing career in the Sunshine State. She has been lucky enough to make performing her full time job, working with numerous corporate bands and in shows all over the country. In 2007, Samantha was hand picked to compete in "Hollywood's Best New Talent" in Los Angeles, California where she placed top 10 in both country and contemporary categories.

​Within the last 10 years, Samantha has had the privilege of singing in bands who shared the stage with artists such as Andy Grammar, Josh Turner, REO Speedwagon, Kenny Loggins, Rick Springfield and Brandie Carlile, Paul McCartney, Jonathan Cain of Journey, and sang back up for artists such as Mary J Blige and Josh Groban.

Samantha continues to pursue her goals of becoming a successful artist and is constantly looking for new ways to showcase her talents. With catchy melodies, strong lyrics and a powerhouse voice, you will not be able to resist singing along and joining the rest of us as fans of Samantha Leigh.

My guest this week is singer songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Amanda Gunnels. Her website is https://www.mydearwendy.com/

Born and raised in an Atlanta suburb, Amanda always had a passion for music. She began taking classical piano lessons in elementary school, and quickly evolved into a multi-instrumentalist and songwriter by the end of high school. Though piano is still her main instrument, Amanda is proficient on bass guitar, acoustic guitar, drums, and vocals.

After moving to Los Angeles and attending Musician's Institute, Amanda decided to upgrade her music and create My Dear Wendy, a songwriting project that continues to be the focus of her musical career. Her latest album, THE APPLE FALLS FAR PART 1, is available on Spotify, Apple Music. Amazon Music, and all other streaming platforms

In 2018, she relocated to Nashville, Tennessee to continue songwriting and record her next album in Music City. It was there that she landed a sweet endorsement with Warm Audio.

You can also hear her songs "Man Down" and "Enough (Single Version) on a few episodes of The Young and the Restless.

Amanda has followed her dream all around the country, and now has settled back in her favorite state of California. My Dear Wendy continues to release new music, and is starting to perform live again this summer at a venue near you.

You can follow her all over the internet. Just type in My Dear Wendy.

My guest this week is John Massey. His website is http://www.johnmasseyonline.com/about.html

John is a Southern California based actor, singer, and musician.

John’s 25 years of acting credits includes such iconic roles as: Max Bialystock in THE PRODUCERS, John Hancock in the Award winning production of 1776; The Cowardly Lion in THE WIZARD OF OZ, Pseudolus in A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM; Tevye in FIDDLER ON THE ROOF; and the title role in SWEENEY TODD.

John created the role of the Genie in DISNEY'S BELIEVE aboard the cruise ship, the Disney Dream.

He also toured North America as Howard Cunningham in Garry Marshall and Paul Williams' HAPPY DAYS - A New Musical.

A bit of a theatrical renaissance man, John is also an accomplished director, musical director, pianist, conductor and vocal arranger; having staged and/or conducted over 75 productions. Some of his favorites include productions of : ASSASSINS, A CHORUS LINE, SEUSSICAL, SWEENEY TODD, THE SECRET GARDEN, CHESS, JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR, A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC, BEEHIVE and RUTHLESS! John has also composed incidental music for several plays and is researching ideas for a new musical.

John dedicates every performance to the memory of his parents, John & Donna Massey.

We're going down to Arkansas this week and getting a little bit country

Cliff & Susan are a married international touring duo armed with a piano, fiddle, and guitar based in Little Rock, Arkansas. Their high energy, all-request, interactive show keeps crowds entertained for 4+ hours in venues worldwide.  With over 1,000 songs in their arsenal, they bring a great mix of Country, Blues, Rock, Pop and Oldies to crowds of all ages.

Singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer Cliff Prowse has been producing his own music and other artists for over a decade and performed and recorded in Nashville, TN.  Singer, songwriter, and pianist, Susan Erwin Prowse has launched a successful music career now for two decades with 2 albums released out of Nashville. Susan has been performing primarily in high-energy international piano bars since 2003. Cliff joined her in 2016 and they tour with over 200 dates a year! A typical tour year includes Arkansas, Santa Barbara, Vegas, Amsterdam, Norway, St. Maarten (Caribbean), cruise ships, and more!

The duo released their debut single, Drivin' Me Crazy on April 11, 2020. It is available on all music platforms

In January 2021, they launched a podcast, the Cliff & Susan Podcast, where they give a glimpse into their lives and educate, entertain and inspire.

They are owners of Big Red Dog Productions, a Music Production and Artist Development company located in Little Rock, Arkansas. Susan is the Entertainment Director for Willy D's Rock & Roll Piano Bar in the Little Rock River Market.  They have launched their own merch store, branded Rainy Ray, where you can find their handmade jewelry, apparel, and artwork.  Their inaugural Yadaloo Music & Arts Festival in September 2019 was a success and won Arkansas's Best New Festival of the Year, and 2021 Best Virtual Event & Best Promotional Video.

Check them out at https://susanerwin.com/