Tim Tunes

Send us Fan Mail

Hey cherished listeners, Tim Rose here. In case you haven’t already heard, I’ve re-releasing some of my previous episodes as I have discovered that these episodes are posted in mono as opposed to stereo. Now prepare yourself for this Tim Tunes Reverb episode in stereo!

In this episode of Reverb I’ve combined episode 1-7 Romantic Love, published on October 8th of 2012 with episode 1-10 Platonic Love published on October 29th of 2012 and called it simply “Love Songs”. This reverb includes the songs, “True Love”, “I Needed Somebody”, “Lazy Love”, “I Will Always Love You”, “Love Flows”, and What we make It”. Here we go!

Support the show

Please consider making a one time donation via the Paypal link above

Or, consider becoming a monthly subscribing patron of the show here:
https://www.patreon.com/timtunes
And get lots of extra documentation and music associated with the show.

Send us Fan Mail

What is it that makes one a star? Is it talent? Is it perseverance? Or is it just plain hard work? Perhaps it’s all three. We’ll discuss this and much, much more in this episode’s conversation with Debra Monk.

When I was studying Theater in College at what is now Frostburg State University in Frostburg, MD. Our Acting teacher, Dr David Press, would give us acting exercises to perform. Often, he would hold up the example of how Debra Monk, or Deb, as he called her, performed a particular exercise as the best example of how to perform that exercise. Debra was a senior then when I was just a freshman, so our paths did not cross very much when we were there. 

Over the years, I heard of her success, first on TV getting an Emmy for her performance as Andy Sipowicz’s wife in NYPD Blue. Then, while visiting Dr. Press, he told me of her shows on Broadway. I looked her up and told her I was coming to see her in the play Curtains on Broadway. She met me after the show and graciously gave me a backstage tour. Later, while she was performing Laughing Wild, a two person show with Christopher Durang in Boston, I met her for lunch and to talk about old times. 

 Two years ago, for Episode 3-6, I asked if she wanted to contribute a message to my acting mentor and our mutual teacher, Dr. David Press. She sent me a glowing tribute which was just wonderful. So, earlier this year I contacted her about an interview, and she agreed to sit with me.

I’m Tim Rose and this is the Tim Tunes podcast. In this episode, part 1 of 2 of our interview with Debra Monk, we cover multiple topics: from how she got into the business, how she approaches her work, and stories from her career. So, assume your favorite podcast listening position as we delve into the life and times of a true American Treasure.

Debra has asked for donations to her favorite charity Broadway Cares/Equity Fights Aids. Just click on the link to find out more and make a donation.

Support the show

Please consider making a one time donation via the Paypal link above

Or, consider becoming a monthly subscribing patron of the show here:
https://www.patreon.com/timtunes
And get lots of extra documentation and music associated with the show.

Send us Fan Mail

Hey cherished listeners, Tim Rose here. In case you haven’t already heard, I’m re-releasing some of my previous episodes as I have discovered that these episodes are posted in mono as opposed to stereo. So, I bit the bullet and ponied up for the stereo version. Now prepare yourself for this Tim Tunes Reverb episode in stereo!

Originally released in October of 2021, Funny Songs remains my most popular episode, so I couldn’t wait to give it the Reverb treatment so people could finally hear their favorite funny songs how they were intended to be heard. As a bonus. I’ve included five other funny songs from my Sarcasm and Aging episodes from season 1. 

Support the show

Please consider making a one time donation via the Paypal link above

Or, consider becoming a monthly subscribing patron of the show here:
https://www.patreon.com/timtunes
And get lots of extra documentation and music associated with the show.

Send us Fan Mail

In this episode we’ll interview Yaron Gershovsky. As bandleader for Manhattan Transfer for 44 of their 50 years, he has a treasure trove of knowledge and experience around performing and composing which he will share with us on this episode. Get ready for a fun ride as we discuss his origins, career and what’s next.

In the spring of 2006, I was in a production of the musical “City of Angels” by Cy Coleman, David Zipel and Larry Gelbart with the Burlington Players in Burlington, MA. The musical is a story about a novelist whose book is adapted into a movie and about the entire LA movie scene. As the novel is turned into a screenplay the movie moves further and further away from the novel’s original purpose and meaning.  This causes a sort of schism in the mind of the novelist where he ends up having arguments with his lead character. There are lots of transitions from reality to scenes from the movie and so forth. 

At any rate, I was a part of a quartet that served as kind of a chorus that commented, amplified and clarified the action of the play, as choruses do. The whole play had a sort of film noir feel about it and the music for the chorus was very challenging jazzy close harmony type singing. I noticed that the vocal arrangement was written by one Yaron Gershovsky. I was curious about this fellow, so I Googled him. Now back in 2006 Google was primarily a search engine and not the GOOGLE that it is today. But regardless, I found out that Yaron was the band leader of Manhattan Transfer. That made so much sense in the context of the sound of the arrangements.

 Skip ahead to the early twenty teens. I was at Sculler’s, a jazz venue in Boston, to see Manhattan Transfer when who should I see walking down the hall toward me but Yaron himself. I introduced myself to him and told him that I had sung the Bass part in a production of “City of Angels”. In his quiet, understated way he looked at me and, I assume referring to the difficulty of the part, said, “I’m so sorry.” So began our acquaintance.

Support the show

Please consider making a one time donation via the Paypal link above

Or, consider becoming a monthly subscribing patron of the show here:
https://www.patreon.com/timtunes
And get lots of extra documentation and music associated with the show.

Send us Fan Mail

Hey cherished listeners, Tim Rose here. In case you haven’t already heard, I’m re-releasing some of my previous episodes as I have discovered that these episodes are posted in mono as opposed to stereo. So, I bit the bullet and ponied up for the stereo version. Now prepare yourself for this Tim Tunes Reverb episode in stereo!

If you missed the first time around with Ted Onulak then you missed a treat. In addition to our conversation with the irrepressible Ted, there are recordings of a few of his original songs as well as bootlegs of his band playing live at Madam’s Organ in Adams Morgan in Washington, DC where Ted and his band Exit 10 continue to play on Monday nights. I’ve combined both episode 3-2 and 3-3 into a continuous conversation. Enjoy

Support the show

Please consider making a one time donation via the Paypal link above

Or, consider becoming a monthly subscribing patron of the show here:
https://www.patreon.com/timtunes
And get lots of extra documentation and music associated with the show.

Send us Fan Mail

Back in the ‘60s and early ‘70s I lived in a suburb in Maryland just over the line from Washington, DC. As it happened when we moved there in 1964, the neighborhood was largely white. Around 1969 I started forming Rock Bands with my friends. We listened to top 40 and played the songs we liked, and could play. I was only 15 at the time and was too young to play in clubs, but that would come later.

When we first moved in only about 5% of the neighborhood was non-white. Over the next 7 years the neighborhood became almost completely black. Now, I had no problem with this except that crime began to rise. I was almost mugged twice. A neighbor was shot by undercover police when he pulled out a gun as they stopped him one night, not a block from my house.

While I was away at college, my parents decided to move to a different place. Almost everyone I knew from the old neighborhood had moved away. The old neighborhood just – dissolved.

So, you’ll see why this episode speaks to me as we continue our discussion with Mark Baxter – Vocal Behaviorist as he tells us his origin story. How a kid from New Jersey winds up as one of the premier voice consultants and teachers in the world.

I’m Tim Rose and this is the Tim Tunes Podcast. This episode is Part Two of my interview with Vocal Behaviorist, Mark Baxter. If you haven’t listened to part one, I highly suggest that you do so before listening to this episode. Mark lays out his philosophy and methodology in part one. In this episode Mark will tell us about his struggles to find his path and how he developed his dream.

This is Mark's site where you can contact him and find his free voice lessons - voicelesson.com

Support the show

Please consider making a one time donation via the Paypal link above

Or, consider becoming a monthly subscribing patron of the show here:
https://www.patreon.com/timtunes
And get lots of extra documentation and music associated with the show.

Send us Fan Mail

Singing is your birthright. Everyone can sing. Some of us are wounded by our experiences, by the negativity of others, and believe we can’t sing. But all of us can sing. 

Singing is a window to the soul. Singing with others provides a depth of emotion that is rarely, if anywhere else, experienced. Group singing can be joyful or happy, smiling or laughing as you sing. Or it can be deeply sad or mournful, empathy is built into our nature. Grief is especially powerful when expressed in song.

It’s not just regular people who have negative thoughts and practices around singing, it’s also professional singers. Most of us have been told at one time or another that we are not good singers. And that sinks in, even if we deny it. 

 
So where can a quality singer turn if they need help with their singing voice? We’re about to find out in this episode.

I’m Tim Rose and welcome to Season, I can hardly believe I’m going to say it, 5 of the Tim Tunes Podcast. Today is our forty-second episode. This season we’ll feature in-depth interviews with performers and music professionals. We’ll speak with musicians, singers, band directors, and service providers. We’re starting this season with a pair of podcasts that features Mark Baxter, vocal behaviorist. I’ll let Mark explain what that means. 

Support the show

Please consider making a one time donation via the Paypal link above

Or, consider becoming a monthly subscribing patron of the show here:
https://www.patreon.com/timtunes
And get lots of extra documentation and music associated with the show.

Send us Fan Mail

Imagine, if you will, sitting down to listen to some music and having a computer create, on the spot, a great song with meaningful, heartfelt lyrics. With melodies and harmonies that soar and lift us up. This is the promise of songs generated by Artificial Intelligence.  But I’m here to report, we aren’t there yet. 

I’m Tim Rose and this is the Tim Tunes Podcast. In this special Christmas episode we’ll attempt to write and record three original Christmas songs using Artificial Intelligence. So, relax, have a seat in our sleigh while we listen to Christmas of the FUTURE, Future, future...

Support the show

Please consider making a one time donation via the Paypal link above

Or, consider becoming a monthly subscribing patron of the show here:
https://www.patreon.com/timtunes
And get lots of extra documentation and music associated with the show.

Send us Fan Mail

When I was a teen, I had a paper route delivering the Washington Post. My paper route wasn’t near my house so the route distributor, that’s the person that delivers the papers to the paperboy, would drive me and my friend Charlie up to our routes. After we were done, he’d come back and pick us up and take us home. But while we were waiting for him to pick us up, we’d read the paper as there was sometimes a paper or two left over. Of course, we always went right to the comics and when the comics were done there was a syndicated column by investigative reporter Jack Anderson. Anderson, a Pulitzer prize winning Morman republican muckraker, was equally hard on the left and the right. After that we’d turn over to the editorial section to decrypt the latest political cartoon from Herblock. Then, we’d seek out the latest Art Buchwald column. Art was kind of the printed version of Jon Stewart. A more political Dave Barry, if you will. Growing up in the DC area would have a profound effect on my worldview and sense of humor.

I try not to be political, in a “I’m this party or that party” sense. I try to be apolitical, which is becoming harder and harder as the world changes. I am a proud registered independent waiting for candidates to convince me to vote for them. I try to vote for the person I like who tells me what they are going to do, in real terms, not in vague generalities. I’m much more interested in why I should vote for someone than why I shouldn’t vote for the other candidate. That I can decide for myself. 

I'm Tim Rose and this is the Tim Tunes Podcast. In this episode we’ll cover three songs that are arguably political in nature. The first song satirizes the US government’s involvement in South America in the 70s, the next song is my reaction to our post 9/11 invasion of Iraq, and the last song laments our loss of liberty because of these events. So, get comfy as we delve into the world of politics.

Support the show

Please consider making a one time donation via the Paypal link above

Or, consider becoming a monthly subscribing patron of the show here:
https://www.patreon.com/timtunes
And get lots of extra documentation and music associated with the show.

Send us Fan Mail

When people ask if the lyrics or the music comes first when writing a song, I say, "Yes, it’s both". It’s very seldom that I’ll have the concept of the song and the lyrics written before I start writing the music. 

Songwriting is a messy business. You bring together a bunch of disparate things into a cohesive whole and the process can be a little convoluted. It becomes more complicated as you add others to the process.

Also, you can’t be too critical of what you are doing at this point. As Paul McCartney famously sang in outtakes from the song “Yesterday”, “scrambled eggs”. Paul used “scrambled eggs” as a placeholder until he had a better word. Had Paul been very critical of what he was writing he may have abandoned the song, and we wouldn’t have the song “Yesterday”. 

I’m Tim Rose and this is the Tim Tunes podcast. This is part two of our songwriting sessions with Greg Chastain founder and president of Voices of Hope. Listen in now as he and I  write and record a song together about Greg and his mom. 

Support the show

Please consider making a one time donation via the Paypal link above

Or, consider becoming a monthly subscribing patron of the show here:
https://www.patreon.com/timtunes
And get lots of extra documentation and music associated with the show.