This was a special thrill and honor to have this gentleman on here.  You know him from the number one country hits "I Don't Have To Be Me Til Monday", and "Sunshine" plus many others.  Time to catch up with this TOP TALENT to find out what he's doing down in Mississippi - you may be surprised to learn that he now is the author of the Mississippi state song- plus lots of other cool goings-on.  

His newest album is MISSISSIPPI REUNION, but there are many others to choose from.  He hosts a huge podcast called "IN A MISSISSIPPI MINUTE" which is also repeated on talk radio shows throughout his state (in fact, he asked ME to be a guest on his!  

But I digress.  Hope you enjoy this one... I certainly did.

www.steveazar.com for more on this TOP TALENT 

My website btw is www.hirerichie.com.  

Thanks for listening, and thanks for the questions that were submitted! 

Is it possible that there is a choir group that you can join with no experience and no need to even audition? Yes! It’s called ROCK VOICES! Plus you get to sing awesome music… Nate Altimari is my TOP TALENTED guest-Director of the Capital Region chapter.

  This is such a great community service. I think you’ll enjoy the conversation..

If you’d like more information about the group.. [email protected]

BTW.. At the end of this podcast I also include a little ditty that was written  20 years ago… It’s called Dog Shampoo…TRUE STORY! And I did this live on the air as part of my crazy job on WGNA ALBANY as part of the SEAN AND RICHIE show. Just a little bit of nostalgia….

My website btw is http://www.hirerichie.com. There’s old show photos, shots with some of the artists I had the pleasure of meeting and services I can provide for your next event …plus testimonials……   See ya next time…

Mark Pierre has always had at least one foot firmly planted in the country music genre for all the years I've known him (we used to be neighbors!) . Successful Investment adviser by day/ country singer and songwriter by nite!  He has played for countless audiences in our area here in Upstate NY.   

Mark has been chosen by show producer Kevin Richards, along with talented singer Jenna Sue and yours truly to perform at the "UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL RANDY TRAVIS SHOW" here at the Charles Woods Theatre in Glens Falls on 9/11/22. We are performing Randy's hits right in front of the man himself, as he is unable to for medical reasons.   You are probably listening to this after the fact, but I wanted to have a talk with him as I have already done with Jenna and Kevin. (those episodes are right below this one) .  

We talk Randy, music in general, and a very interesting story how he actually pounded the pavement himself in Nashville and got VERY CLOSE to having one of his songs released.!

Jenna Sue is one of the artists, along with Mark Pierre and yours truly performing at a show we are doing honoring the great Randy Travis here in Glens Falls New York on 9/11. This was recorded right after a practice for our version of “I Told You So”… 

My talk with Capital Region country radio legend KEVIN RICHARDS and his new venture …an UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL concert with RANDY TRAVIS and other famous 80’s and 90’s country artists to be named.  I also have an exciting role in this show… playing and  his hits right in front of him!   Gulp….

Not often do I get to interview an INTERVIEWER,EMMY AWARD-WINNING newscaster, journalist and author JOHN GRAY.  

John is a veteran news anchor here in Albany NY on NEWS 10 ABC. When he's not covering the pressing events of the day, he's burning the midnite oil writing newspaper columns and books! 

His Book CHASING CHRISTMAS in fact has been picked up to become a made for TV movie in fact.  

All his books are available on Amazon.  

And in his spare time (lol) he does charity work and works with his wife Courtney working with organizations to rescue (and sometimes adopt as their own) stray animals.  Both are my guests actually on the podcast. 

(I also surprised him with a song rhyming his resume--)

Please enjoy this episode! 

https://www.news10.com/watch-live-news

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=john+gray+chasing&crid=2OJXU1MEXT7MD&sprefix=john+gray+chasing+%2Caps%2C91&ref=nb_sb_noss_2

Interesting discussion with another traveling tribute troubadour…His name is JOHN COZOLINO, and he fronts a BILLY JOEL tribute band called THE RIVER OF DREAMS TRIBUTE SHOW.  He is coming to our Capital Region area on April 1st, 2022.  You most certainly will be hearing this later…Big shoes to fill..or to pay tribute to.. to say the least.

What is his background? How did he learn all of those incredible piano riffs?  And more importantly, does he have the same amount of motorcycles?   (Joke).

Copyright restrictions prevent me from playing any clips, but you can get his schedule and hear them on YouTube or at https://www.riverofdreamstribute.com › ...SHOWS | River of Dreams Billy Joel Tribute

Talk about a PROJECT!  How would you like to be in charge of recreating the iconic sound of  superstar singer/songwriter Joni Mitchell?  Well , Singer, Songwriter KATIE PEARLMAN took on the challenge and the results are pretty darn impressive.  the JONI PROJECT is coming to Cohoes Music Hall here in the Albany area on April 2nd, and if you are getting to this after the fact, she will also be at Daryl’s House in Pawling, NY, the Great South Bay Festival in Patchogue NY and other gigs!

On facebook thejoniproject

More info at Katiepearlman.com

.  You can hear examples of THE JONI PROJECT  work here

https://youtu.be/OAb09qAwubM

and Katie’s own albums as well as her music from her duo THE BLESSED UNREST  are available on Apple Music, Spotify and other streaming services.

My website?  Glad you asked!  www.rhyminrichie.com. Parodies, testimonials and gig info for weddings and private parties…

This is my talk with L.I. husband and wife team Barbara and Ken Oranskywho pooled their TOP TALENTS and started their own INTERNET RADIO STATION-  called NY TALENT MEDIA.  Wow!  What a task to take on....   You have to give them credit!  They actually have 4 different genres that you can listen to! 

We find out how they did all this, what their mission is, and how YOU as an independent struggling musician can FINALLY get your music heard in a format that really supports talent looking to get valuable exposure!  

(I also threw in a little musical commentary at the end on a subject that I'm sure bugs you as much as Barbara, Ken and I --ANNOYING TELEMARKETER CALLS ! 

Their website is www.nytalentmedia.com to learn how you can submit your music .

Mine is www.rhyminrichie.com

ENJOY, and please leave me a comment and subscribe!!  I appreciate it!!! 

Stop what you are doing!  Would you like to hear a piano virtuoso? What if I told you he was only going into the 9th grade as of this writing?  His name is PAUL BRAULT, and in my endless quest to find and raise awareness of talent young and old either living or coming to Albany, NY's Capital Region, well- I happened to be in the right place at the right time - a piano store!  It was in www.hiltonpianocenter.com where I heard this amazing talent do his thing.. 

I won't blab on here - details are in this episode.   He also has a YouTube channel if you want to hear more.  

Thanks to his dad, Bernard for bringing him in!  My first impression is that you could tell by meeting him that he (and I'm sure his mom and the rest of the family)  are REALLY in Paul's corner musically which is so great to see. 

OK - on with this episode. And if you want to see an entire 18 minute performance, check out his Facebook Live show that he did from this piano store... https://www.facebook.com/1352726092/videos/2878143842437136/

Do you have someone with incredible talent?  Send me something! He/she/they could be the next guest!

[email protected].  or like me on FaceBook @richiephillips 

                                            @rhyminrichie on Instagram and Twitter