Tommy Solo's famous friends

Terry Draper of Klaatu fame has been releasing solo albums for years. His regular routine is to release a new record every year in time for Christmas.His usual process was interupted last year by health issues which he is now recovering from.So for this current project, he dug into the vault and resurrected several old demos from decades ago, along with a fresh crop of new material.This time around, I was honoured to play guitar on three of his songs. I was among 17 players who helped Terry on this one.We discussed the making of Infinity and more in this episode.Get Terry's music and merch at www.terrydraper.comHelp me to keep producing my show at the following site :https://buymeacoffee.com/tsolobandqSubscribe to my Youtube channel    Tommy Solo@tommysolo9154Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tommy-solo-s-famous-friends--4318572/support.

Chris Birkett is a world renowned musician/record producer who has worked with such top shelf artists as Sinead O'Connor (he produced Nothing compares 2U) , Mel Brooks & Def Leppard.His own music has often taken a back seat to his work helping others to create hits, but now he has a brand new album of his own to celebrate. "She's my guitar" is a blend of neo soul/Latin flavoured original material.He told me that the guitar has saved his life more than once.We discussed this and a lot more in this episode.Sit back & enjoy the ride.Check out Chris' new album at the following site:https://chrisbirkett1.bandcamp.com/album/shes-my-guitarHelp me to keep producing more episodes like this one at this site:https://buymeacoffee.com/tsolobandqBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tommy-solo-s-famous-friends--4318572/support.

Carmine Appice is a legendary drummer known for his work with Vanilla Fudge, Cactus, Beck Bogert & Appice, and Rod Stewart. Rising to prominence after appearing on the Ed Sullivan show in 1968 with Vanilla Fudge, he hasn't ever slowed down. In fact, he often has several projects on the go at the same time, these days.He has recently released an all star album with Cactus, Temple of blues, featuring artists who have been influenced by Cactus over the years. We discussed all this and more in this episode.Strap yourself in. This episode is a fun ride! You can help me keep producing episodes like this one at the following site:  https://buymeacoffee.com/tsolobandqhttps://cleopatrarecords.bandcamp.com/album/temple-of-bluesBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tommy-solo-s-famous-friends--4318572/support.

Aaron Badgley has been a huge fan of the Beatles since he was a kid in the early 1970s. His fascination with music, inspired by his love of the Fab Four lead him to a life in radio broadcasting and music journalism. He has a new book entitled "Dark Horse the story of George Harrison's post Beatles record label". we discussed this and a lot more in this episode. If you enjoy my podcast & would like to help support us without a paid subscription, why not donate a few dollars at the following site? https://buymeacoffee.com/tsolobandqBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tommy-solo-s-famous-friends--4318572/support.

Ever since the band called UFO was formed in 1968, lead singer Phil Mogg has been a force in rock music.Inspired by seeing artists like Eric Clapton, Eric Burdon & the Animals and more performing live in nearby Tottenham England, Phil was bitten by the rock & roll bug.There have been over 40 UFO albums released featuring Phil with band mates that have included Pete Way, Michael Schenker, Andy Parker, Vinnie Moore, Jason Bonham and Bernie Marsden. He has a brand new album coming out in three separate vinyl releases starting September 6th with a red vinyl version, September 13th white vinyl & September 20th featuring a 180 gram black vinyl release.We discussed all of this and more in this episode. Visit Cleopatra records at the site below to get your copy of "Mogg Motel" https://cleorecs.com/If you like this show & would like to help me out just a little, why not buy me a coffee or two at the following site?   https://buymeacoffee.com/tsolobandqBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tommy-solo-s-famous-friends--4318572/support.

Ronnie Dawg Robson is a highly sought after session musician. While he is primarly known as a top shelf bassist, and is listed in "The Titans of Bass" as one of the top 130 bassists the world over, he has a much broader resume than that.This is from his own website:   To date, Ronnie's resume is outstanding for he has recorded bass tracks with current and/or ex members of; Ozzy Osbourne, Black Sabbath, Whitesnake, Hollywood Monsters, Deep Purple, Megadeth, Testament, Quiet Riot, Blue Oyster Cult, Thin Lizzy, The Band, Paul Di'Anno, Mayan, Alice Cooper, Prophecy, Firewind, Ronnie James Dio, Fludd, John Lennon, Platinum Blonde, Hand Over Fist, Sunroad, Rainbow, Jeff Beck, Hollentor, Metalium, Danko Jones, Goddo, Heaven and Hell, Jethro Tull and the Michael Schenker Group. ​He has been in the music business for forty-one years, studying classical piano from the age of seven with the Royal Conservatory of Music, moving on to guitar studies at the age of twelve. At the age of nineteen, he began working in multiple Toronto based recording studios as an engineer, session musician, forwarding into stage and tour managing with various acts, to opening his own production company - aligning with various artists in both concert, television and documentary productions.We discussed all this and more during our chat.    Here's where you can find his web site:https://www.ronnierobson.com/Here's where to find my YouTube channel for the raw video version of this episode:  @tommysolo9154And if you like this podcast & would like to help me to keep it going, why not go to this site & buy me a coffee or two?     https://buymeacoffee.com/tsolobandqBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tommy-solo-s-famous-friends--4318572/support.

LA session guitarist/producer, Fernando Perdomo has a new solo album out called "Self".It's a wonderful mix of songs that I thought to myself, if the Beatles, Burt Bacharach & Frank Zappa had a baby it would be this album. In this episode we discuss the album, his work with Marshall Crenshaw, personal experiences at Abbey Road studio two & a lot more! Find out more about Fernando at the following site:    https://www.fernandoperdomo.com/And if you'd like to help support me in my ongoing quest to provide informative, insightful & entertaining episodes like this, why not do that at this site: https://buymeacoffee.com/tsolobandqBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tommy-solo-s-famous-friends--4318572/support.

Uli Jon Roth has been a force to be reckoned with as a master of the guitar for decades.While he first made his mark with German rockers, the Scorpions, he has been blazing new trails for himself ever since. He is known as an early innovator of neo classical rock and has gone beyond the norm with his creation of the Sky guitar, a very unique guitar with extra frets to emulate the violin and advanced electronic features. All the while touring the world on a regular basis, thrilling fans with his virtuostic yet melodic playing style. In this episode we discussed his new book, In search of the Alpha law, how he is inspired by going outside his comfort zone, and the importance of supporting our children's dreams...among other things! If you enjoy this episode & would like to help me to keep producing these shows, why not buy me a coffee at this site?  https://buymeacoffee.com/tsolobandqTo keep tabs on what Uli is up to, go to this site  https://ujr.info/Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tommy-solo-s-famous-friends--4318572/support.

David McPherson is a Canadian author based in Waterloo Ontario. He is a regular magazine contributor to Canadian musician, Exclaim! etc., and along with his previous book the legendary Horseshoe tavern: a complete history, he's recently published 101 Fascinating Canadian Music Facts. Based on his extensive knowledge of Canadian pop music, I figured he would make a great guest on my Pop Trivia series. And I was right about that! https://www.instagram.com/mcphersoncomm/?hl=enhttps://buymeacoffee.com/tsolobandqBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tommy-solo-s-famous-friends--4318572/support.

Terry Draper has released one new album per year for the longest time without missing a beat. It's his routine to winter in Florida & write songs to record over the summer back at his recording studio Swamp Manor North of Toronto. This year he threw a wrench in his machine when he discovered lost 80's tapes in various boxes etc.. This was a project that Terry had done with Toronto based singer Jacqueline Kroft & abandoned it at the time for other projects.Terry put new technology to use & remixed & remastered these songs so that these hidden treasures could be released today as "Social Studies Atlantic Crossing the lost 80s tapes" , after all these years.  The album is a fun nostalgic ride back to the disco era. We discussed all this, what's happening with his annual project and more in this shameless plugs episode.   https://www.terrydraper.com/ Wanna help me to keep producing this podcast? Why not buy me a coffee at the following site ?    https://buymeacoffee.com/tsolobandqOr you can show your love at this site:https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tommy-solo-s-famous-friends--4318572/support

Honey Moon Suite started gaining momentum globally in the early 1980s & they've barely looked back since then.  They've released over a dozen albums over the years & have just released the fruits of their labour over two years in a global pandemic. Teaming with American producer Mike Krompass, known for his work with Steven Tyler, Smash Mouth etc. Honey Moon Suite have once again broken the mold with "Alive". I spoke with lead guitarist & principle songwriter for HMS, Derry Grehan about this new album & the importance of writing & producing songs for the people who have followed them loyally for decades... among other things. This is a good one. https://musicinmotionent.com/category/honeymoon-suite/https://frontiers.shop/products/honeymoon-suite-alive-cd#:~:text='Alive'%20has%20been%20produced%20by,Dead%20Man%20and%20Smash%20Mouth.https://www.facebook.com/HMSLiveI would be most grateful if you would be so kind as to join my support community at the following link:https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tommy-solo-s-famous-friends--4318572/support

Formed from the ashes of the Hillbilly Headhunters & Moon MD in 1998, the Hillbilly Moon Explosion have since released several successful albums culminating with their latest album "Back in time" featuring the singles "Sometimes at night" & "Knocked down" .  In this episode I discussed with Oliver Baroni how his Hillbilly Headhunters merged with Emanuela Hutter's Moon MD so many years ago, & how they've managed to keep recording & touring internationally, even advancing their craft in spite of a global pandemic. You can keep up with the Hillbilly Moon Explosion on their FB page https://www.facebook.com/hillbillymoonexplosionHelp us to keep making these shows at this link (copy & paste into your browser)  https://www.buymeacoffee.com/tsolobandq Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tommy-solo-s-famous-friends--4318572/support.

Singer/songwriter Rik Emmett was known as the virtuostic guitarist & singer with iconic Canadian band Triumph, and he has been an independant solo artist since the 1990s. In this episode we discuss his new memoire "Lay it on the line" which is as he describes it "A backstage pass to rockstar adventure, conflict & triumph" . But that's not all we talked about.This is a fun one! https://www.rikemmett.com/ If you enjoy this episode & would like to help me to continue making more like it, why not go to my "buy me a coffee" link & donate to the show? https://www.buymeacoffee.com/tsolobandqBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/tommy-solo-s-famous-friends--4318572/support.

Legendary Canadian rocker Myles Goodwyn left this mortal coil on December 3rd 2023 after a lenghty battle with various illnesses.On December 18th 2023, I was fortunate to share memories from the life & times of Myles Goodwyn with his three surviving original co founding members of April Wine.David, Ritchie & Jim Henman gave their individual & personal thoughts in memory their fallen brother in this episode. This is a heartfelt tribute to the late great Myles Goodwyn from those who knew him best when April Wine first took the stage way back then.Join us as we celebrate the life & legacy of an iconic Canadian musical treasure.Rest in peace Myles Goodwyn June 23 1948-December 3 2023

You may know Terry Draper from his tenure with the classic Canadian band Klaatu. Did you know he has just released his 20th solo record? His new release "In the beginning" is a quirky prog pop collection featuring solid songwriting & solid performances throughout. And this time Terry harkens back to the glory days of album packaging as inspired by the classic albums from the Beatles, Pink Floyd etc.. I reached him at his winter home in Florida to talk about In the beginning.While we certainly do discuss his new album, Terry spent the better part of our chat praising the artists he's worked with both on this & previous projects.All aboard for this inspired conversation! Get In the beginning at this site: https://www.terrydraper.com/ And maybe buy me a coffee if you like my show? Here's where you can support Tommy Solo's Famous Friends : https://www.buymeacoffee.com/tsolobandq

This is part two of my 2020 conversation with seminal singer/guitarist/songwriter Frank Soda.In this part of our chat Frank talks about how he survived the music business by widening his horizons & not being afraid to diversify his act. As this episode was originally recorded during the big Covid lockdown, he also reflected on expanding his musical horizons further & his plans to return to Ontario with his classic rock show.Frank is still going strong over three years after we recorded this, & this interview was pivotal for me as a podcaster.If you enjoy my show & would like to help us to keep it going, why not go to my "buy me a coffee" link & toss a few bucks into the kitty? https://www.buymeacoffee.com/tsolobandq

In part one of my classic interview with Seminal Canadian rocker Frank Soda we discuss his early years starting out in the Canadian bar circuit in the 1970s. From his time with Buddy Knox to muscle rocker Thor & beyond, Frank shares his experiences leading up to Frank Soda & the Imps signing with Quality records. I met Frank Soda while he & the Imps were backing up Thor at the St. Regis hotel in North Bay Ontario (my hometown) circa 1977. Having the opportunity to jam with the Imps during the Saturday afternoon matinee, I was inspired by Frank to pursue my own dream of being a rock & roll guitar slinger one day. We recorded this interview in the early days of the pandemic in 2020 & it's definetely worth hearing again.If you enjoy this show & would like to help me to keep it going, why not go to my "Buy me a coffee" page & donate a few bucks to the podcast? https://www.buymeacoffee.com/tsolobandq Stream Frank Soda music here:https://open.spotify.com/artist/0vgUmbptgr6MohJ3xSsHFQ

On November 10th 2023 Burton Cummings & Randy Bachman launched a false advertising law suit against former bandmates Jim Cale & Garry Peterson. In this episode I spoke with one of the leading experts on all things "The Guess Who", Robert Lawson about this news.Robert's book "Wheatfield Empire" details pretty much everyone you could ask about the history of one of Canada's most successful bands. He spoke with members of Burton Cummings team days before we recorded this interview & has an inside scoop as to the motivations of all involved.This is another good one folks, so grab a beverage , put on your headphones & have a listen to our chat.Copy & paste the following link to Robert's Facebook profile into your web browser for more info about his books & his inside knowledge. https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100007850040446And if you enjoy my show & would like to help us keep it going why not follow this link to buy me a coffee? https://www.buymeacoffee.com/tsolobandq

When I interviewed Ronnie Hawkins in 2021 he was already 86 years old, but he proved that he was still the king of one liners & had me laughing throughout our conversation. Growing up in Arkansas he was influenced by the music he was raised on & when he brought his brand of Rockabilly music to Canada, he quickly became a seminal figure in the musical landscape here.The list of musicians, actors etc. whose careers he helped launch is too long to list here, but we did talk about a lot of those artists in our chat.I believe I was perhaps the last person to interview him as I spoke with him again shortly after the release of his last single, a cover of Me & Bobby McGee with Kris Kristofferson, Gordon Lightfoot & Wille Nelson later that year & he would pass away not long after.If You're a fan of the Hawk, sit back & enjoy this walk down memory lane with me & Ronnie.And if you enjoy this show & would like to help us keep it going, why not go to the "buy me a coffee" link & show your love? (copy & paste the link into your browser) https://www.buymeacoffee.com/tsolobandq

John McGale was one of my hometown guitar heroes. He was a couple of years older than me & my neighbourhood pals & was playing in a working band around the time I learned to ride a bicycle. He was very popular both in the neighbourhood & at our highschool where he was elected to the student's council as social convenor. He would often entertain us at school assemblies playing guitar, flute & singing.It was while he acted as social convenor at Widdifield Secondary Highschool that he connected with various booking agents while he booked bands like A foot in Cold Water, Edward Bear, Copperpenny etc. to play our dances.It wasn't long after he graduated that John hit the road as a pro guitarist/singer & before long he was in the Quebec Juggernaut known as Offenbach. This band was already established as an iconic Francophone band before he joined but they had their biggest success with John on Guitar & Saxophone. He learned to speak French in no time & became a successful songwriter with Offenbach as well.Long after the original lead singer Gerry Boulet passed away, John carried the Offenbach banner & was the president of all things business related for the band until the day he died in a car crash on his way home from a Halloween gig on his 66th birthday on October 30th 2022. He was not only a major infuence on me as a musician, he was a good friend.In this memorial edition, I spoke with three of John's closest musical friends about his legacy.Rest in peace John McGale

In part two of my chat with Alex Machin, we pick it up from where he was a staff songwriter with United artists in LA.While he would inevitably reunite with A Foot in cold water, there was a lot more to his story in the in between years.Did you know that Alex was the lead singer with Moxy for a few years? We discuss all that & more as we continue our conversation here. And hey...if you like my show & would like to help us keep it going, why not copy & paste the "buy me a coffee" link here into your web browser? https://www.buymeacoffee.com/tsolobandq And here's where you can check out Alex's new music & more (again...copy & paste the link into your browser) https://www.alexmachin.ca/videos/

Alex Machin is the voice behind one of Canada's most iconic classic radio hits, "Make me do anything you want." When he & guitarist extraorinaire Paul Naumann joined forces with the remaining members of Nucleus; Bob Horne, Danny Taylor & Hughie Leggat, musical magic happened.A foot in cold water was signed to Daffodil records & they were off & running with Make me do anything you want charting in the top 40 on radio not once, but twice a few years apart. In fact, A foot in cold water was inducted into the Canadian songwriters hall of fame in 2021 for this song. We discussed this & a lot more in this episode. https://www.alexmachin.ca/ And hey, if you enjoy my show & would like to help us keep it going without paying for a monthly subscription, why not click on the "buy me a coffee" link here: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/tsolobandq

Jaimie Vernon has been a music business insider for decades serving as a musician, record company president & author among other things. He has been described as a walking pop music encyclopedia & in fact, is the author of the "Canadian pop music encyclopedia".The following is how this episode was described when it was originally published in 2021:Jaimie Vernon makes a return visit to Tommy Solo's Famous Friends , this time to play rock & roll trivia with me. Jaimie is the president of Bullseye records & an authority on Canadian pop music history. He is currently writing a weekly blog, an extension of his former publication....Great White Noise. In this episode, we discuss a random mix of Canadian bands & solo recording artists as I quiz Jaimie (who is also the author of the Canadian Pop Music Encyclopedia) with random names. He shares his knowledge of acts like Klaatu, Lee Aaron, April Wine, Frank Soda & a lot more including some more obscure yet awesome acts. And then there was 1980, the summer of riots at rock shows in Toronto..... This is a fun one!And if you enjoy my podcast, why not help us keep it going & click on this "buy me a coffee" link? https://www.buymeacoffee.com/tsolobandq

This is a reissue of my interview with Canada's Country Gentleman, Tommy Hunter.When I reached out to him in the summer of 2020, he was more than accomodating with me & we had an awesome discussion about his early beginnings & his 30 plus years on both CBC TV & on the Nashville network.This was one of my most applauded interviews & I'm proud to feature the legendary Tommy Hunter as my first "classic" episode.If you enjoy this episode & would like to help me to continue producing shows like this one, why not click on the "buy me a coffee" link here: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/tsolobandq

In part two of my conversation with Danny Taylor, we discuss how the iconic Canadian band "A foot in cold water" was formed, the creation of their biggest hit & more. Danny started in the music business as a teenager still in highschool & he has a lot of interesting stories to share. And Danny along with original lead singer Alex Machin have new A foot in cold water music to share with the world. We talked about this as well. If you enjoy this podcast & would like to help us continue producing more episodes without a paid subscription, why not click on the "buy me a coffee" link here? https://www.buymeacoffee.com/tsolobandq https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lG1SLj08qa8&ab_channel=AlexMachin

Danny Taylor has been a part of Canadian music history since he was a teenager in highschool during the 1960s, finding success was as drummer with "the Lords of London", once considered to be Canada's answer to the Monkees. After having some commercial success with a few radio hits, the Lords of London disbanded & morphed into a more progressive jazzier/psychedelic sounding "Nucleus". Both bands were signed to record deals & had moderate commercial success. After some frustration & internal turmoil within Nucleus, eventually "A foot in cold water" was born.We discuss all this & more, including how a young pre Rush Neil Peart was influenced by Danny as a drummer, in part one of my two part conversation with Danny Taylor. If you enjoy this show & would like to help us keep it going without a monthly subscription, why not help by clicking on the "buy me a coffee" link here https://www.buymeacoffee.com/tsolobandqhttp://www.afootincoldwater.com/

This is the first in my new series "in performance with" & we're getting things rolling with Sandy Gillis aka comedian Jimmy the janitor. Sandy started in radio way back in 1968 & some 30 years later developed the Jimmy the janitor character as part of a radio show. It didn't take long before Sandy took Jimmy the janitor on the road & made several appearances doing stand up comedy live on stage & on TV all over North America.In this episode, we discuss how all of this happened & we share a live Jimmy the janitor performance.And hey, if you get a kick out of my show & would like to help us continue producing it, why not click on the "buy me a coffee" link here: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/tsolobandqAnd to check out Comedian Jimmy the janitor show dates etc. click here:https://www.jimmythejanitor.com/index.html

Ray Rabbit Harrison joined Del Shannon's touring band in 1962 at a mere 16 years old & he hasn't looked back since.He's been the keyboardist over the years in the Greaseball boogie band, Shooter, Crowbar & more top shelf acts. Currently he is still tickling the ivories with his long time band, the Cameo Blues band.in this episode we discuss playing keyboards & a lot more.Ray has a lifetime of music business insider tales to tell. If you enjoy my show & would like to help us keep it going, why not click on the "buy me a coffee" link here? https://www.buymeacoffee.com/tsolobandqhttps://www.facebook.com/CameoBluesBand

Walter Zwol started fronting the band Brutus in the late 1960s & he hasn't looked back as a pro singer since.He was the first Canadian artist to be signed with EMI records in the USA & had chart success with several singles. While he has worked in the business side of the music business, his passion has always been as a singer.We talk singing, vocal technique and a lot more in this segment of "the singers" series. If you enjoy this episode & would like to help keep us going, why not click on the "buy me a coffee" link here & make a small donation? https://www.buymeacoffee.com/tsolobandq And here's where you can find some of Walter's best music online. https://bullseyecanada.bandcamp.com/album/for-the-people

Greg Godovitz went from thinking that the Beatles with their odd haircuts looked wierd on their debut album cover to being heavily influenced by them as a budding singer as a kid in the 1960s. By the early 1970s, he would travel as far away as England with his first top shelf band, Fludd. After that his own band, Goddo featuring him as not only the bass player, but also lead singer & frontman would make a huge splash in the rock world.Greg has made his living as a singer/songwriter now for decades & in this episode we discuss all the work that goes into live performances with no such thing as sick days, catching sleep on tour whenever you can & a lot more. While this eipisode is mostly about singing, Greg can't just talk about one thing for long.This is a good one. Greg has me laughing throughout & I'm sure you'll have a few chuckles listening to this episode too! And hey, if you enjoy my show & would like to help us keep it going without paying for a monthly subscription....why not click on the "Buy me a coffee link" here? And bye the way, Greg is having an online garage sale of sorts & the link for that is below the 1st one I mentioned .https://www.buymeacoffee.com/tsolobandqhttps://www.shopgreggodovitz.com/

Kim Berley is one of the original founding members of the iconic Canadian band, the Stampeders.In this segment of our "the singers" series Kim & I discuss his early days learning to sing & how his singing voice has matured & evolved since the begiinings of the Stampeders. Of course in this series, we always discuss vocal technique & tips for budding singers.In this episode we also talked about the challenges of touring today on the road with a legacy act as seniors.As always, Kim is entertaining & this is a fun episode.And hey... if you enjoy my show & would like to help us to keep it going, why not click on the "buy me a coffee" link here? https://www.buymeacoffee.com/tsolobandq Every small donation helps & is very much appreciated! https://thestampeders.com/

In part two of Keith Hampshire "The Singers", we discuss among other things, the challenge of singing in the recording studio & Keith's favourite singers. We also talked about how he considers himself a lucky guy with his three radio hits & a popular TV show in his past.And as always in this series about singers & singing, we share some tips for being successful as a singer.And hey....if you enjoy this podcast & would like to help us keep it going without a paid subscription, why not click on the buy me a coffee link here : https://www.buymeacoffee.com/tsolobandqhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/40943724

&Keith Hampshire's legacy as a singer is no secret to most of the Canadian "Boomer" generation, & his TV show on CBC TV "Keith Hampshire's Music Machine" was an awesome spotlight for all of Canada's best artists of the day including, April Wine, the Stampeders, Light House, Fludd, etc..Aside from having several hits on Canadian radio including Daytime Nighttime, Big Time Operator & The first cut is the deepest, Keith is also the lead singer in the "Okay Blue Jays" theme song of the two time world series champs the Toronto Blue Jays.In this part one of our most recent chat we discuss singing, the benefits of voice lessons, pros & cons of vibrato....what it's like singing at a life memorial with the dead body present.... & a lot more!And hey....if you enjoy my show & would like to help us keep it going without having to pay for a monthly subscription, why not click on the Buy me a coffee link here?https://www.buymeacoffee.com/tsolobandqhttps://www.keithhampshire.com/biography3.htm

Miami born, LA based session guitarist/producer & multi instrumentalist, Fernando Perdomo came to my attention via his collaborations with legendary drummer Carmine Appice. They've recorded two instrumental albums together, the most recent release being "Running up that hill". When I listened to that album ahead of my interview with Carmine, I knew I had to do a guitar talk episode with Fernando.In our chat, we discuss guitars, styles, influences & a lot more. This is a good one folks! And if you enjoy my show & would like to help us keep it going without a paid subscription, why not click on this buy me a coffee link?https://www.buymeacoffee.com/tsolobandq Your support is greatly appreciated! And here's where you can get the Appice Perdomo project music https://cleopatrarecords.bandcamp.com/album/running-up-that-hill

Ace drummer Carmine Appice is known as one of the most prolific & talented drummers on the planet.Having played with Vanilla Fudge, Cactus, Beck Bogert & Appice, Rod Stewart etc., he long ago established his legacy. Now he has partnered with LA session guitarist Fernando Perdomo to create an amazing instrumental modern rock album inspired by the hit Netflix series Stranger things.In this episode we discuss all that & more.If you enjoy this show & would like to help support us, please click on the buy me a coffee link here: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/tsolobandq https://carmineappice.net/

Way back in 1969 Jim Henman asked his cousins David & Ritchie Henman if they wanted to form a new band. David suggested he would be interested if Jim could get his friend Myles Goodwyn to join.This would be the early beginnings of what became the iconic Canadian band, April Wine. Jim quit April Wine shortly after their first album was released & went back to school to become a medical technician specializing in toxicology. He dove back into the music in the 1990s & six years ago rejoined forces with his old bandmate Myles Goodwyn. Myles recently retired from touring the globe with April Wine & now Jim, Myles & a new band are busy recording new material & touring the Maritimes.We discussed all this and more in this episode. Here are their upcoming tour dates: https://mylesgoodwyn.com/concerts-2/ And hey...if you enjoy my show & would like to help me to keep it going without having to pay for a monthly subscription, why not click on the buy me a coffee link below? https://www.buymeacoffee.com/tsolobandq

Ritchie Henman is an original founding member of iconic Canadian classic rock band April Wine. He & his brother David were inspired at an early age to pick up musical instruments & inspired by their parents, treated their early bands like a business. This would pay off big time when Ritchie, his brother David, cousin Jim Henman & Myles Goodwyn unleashed April Wine to the world. After three successful albums & a very busy touring schedule behind them Ritchie, David & Jim would leave April Wine. But that wouldn't be the end of either their individual musical careers or that of April Wine.Ritchie has just released his autobiography in book form titled "High Adventure Tales of Canadian Rock & Roll Survival" & we discuss this and a lot more in this episode. And hey, if you enjoy this episode & would like to help me keep it going without having to pay for a monthly subscription...why not buy me a coffee or two at this link? https://www.buymeacoffee.com/tsolobandq Your ongoing support is very much appreciated! https://www.ritchiehenman.com/high-adventure

While Rod Raslack may not be as famous as most featured guests in this series "the singers", he has none the less dedicated most of his life to his craft as a top shelf singer. Growing up in Thunder Bay, Ontario he decided against pursuing record deals, fame & fortune & the things most small town artists dream of. Instead, he realized that Thunder Bay was a hub in NW Ontario for touring artists from South Ontario, Manitoba, Quebec & Minnesota across the border. This was perfect for him as a singer who dedicated himself to paying tribute to acts like Prism, Harlequin, Streetheart & others of his favourite Canadian bands as an opening act for the bigger bands passing through. Since then he has established a life in Atlanta Georgia but continues working with both Canadian musicians & a few Americans he's connected with down South to produce several awesome cover recordings with enthisastic support from those he & his mates in Parallel 49 have covered.We discuss all that & more including some serious tips on how to sing professionally & keep your voice in shape. And hey...if you enjoy listening to this podcast & would like to help me keep it going without having to pay for a monthly subscription, why not buy me a coffee at this link: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/tsolobandq

Singer/songwriter record producer Harry Hess signed his 1st record deal at a mere 15 years old. Since then, he has recorded over a dozen albums with his most widely known act, Harem Scarem.June 2023 marks the 30th anniversary of their biggest breakthrough album, Mood Swings. Harry has teamed up with Sing Market to re release Mood Swings as a remastered multi media celebration of this event.In this episode, we discuss how he got into the music business, touring overseas with Harem Scarem & how we've progressed with art & technology to date...& a lot more! You can get your 30th anniversary special edition multi media copy of Mood Swings at this link: https://market.singidea.com/market/asset/0a3c36ae-1d72-4e34-b99b-df84249e21bdAnd hey...if you enjoy my show & would like to help us to keep "Tommy Solo's Famous Friends" going without having to pay for a subscription, why not buy me a coffee at this link? : https://www.buymeacoffee.com/tsolobandq

In part two of my conversation Leslie Stanwyck & Johnny Sinclair aka "Universal Honey" we continue discussing the struggle of being in a band in today's world. Life as artists during a global pandemic isn't easy, but they've managed to soldier through & after acquiring the rights to their old catalogue of music, Leslie & Johnny re released most of their previous recordings on all digital platforms. Doing that inspired them to revisit the Universal Honey band after a 19 year hiatus. With that, they've just released a new album called Dandelion, recorded several videos to go along with their singles releases & will be back on the road touring again this Spring.In this chat, we discussed all this and more. And hey....if you're a fan & would like to help me to keep this show going without a paid subscription, why not click on the "buy me a coffee" link (below) & share the love? https://www.buymeacoffee.com/tsolobandq https://universalhoneyband.com/

Leslie Stanwyck & Johnny Sinclair were members of "The pursuit of happiness" during that group's (fronted by Moe Berg) height of popularity.They continue to this day singing the praises of Moe Berg as an artist & genuine human being. Feeling the need to spread their wings & grow as artists under their own banner, they moved on & would eventually form "Universal Honey". They released several independant albums up until 2004. Now....all these years later they're back with a brand new album called "Dandelion" that's available on all platforms. In this episode, we discuss the early years for them as musicians & how they got to this point in time. We continue the discussion in part two, but this one is awesome! And hey....if you're a fan & would like to help me to keep this show going without a paid subscription, why not click on the "buy me a coffee" link (below) & share the love? https://www.buymeacoffee.com/tsolobandq https://universalhoneyband.com/

Andy Curran who you probably know as co-founding member of iconic classic Canadian band, Coney Hatch has new stuff to share. Something old is new & revamped & something relatively new is coming soon for another round! In this "shameless plugs" episode Andy tells us all about his special 30th anniversary multi media release of his Juno award winning solo album "Whiskey & the Devil", & he fills us in on what's coming from his current recording project with Alex Lifeson, Maiah Wynne & Alfio Annabalini "Envy of none". And what exactly is the deal with Andy's obsession with imported Captain Crunch cereal? Here's where you can get Andy's 30th anniversary multi media re release : https://market.singidea.com/market/asset/f922d877-8734-402b-a046-e5e524717400And hey...if you enjoy my show & would like to help me keep it going without a paid subscription, why not click on the "buy me a coffee" link here:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/tsolobandqhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QF-lfYi7DXk&ab_channel=Kscope

Sarina Haggarty is a rising star from London Ontario. She was only 18 years old when I met her a few years ago, while she was in her final year as a student in the Music Industry Arts program at Fanshawe college. At that point, she had already accomplished a lot at such a young age. She had appeared on stage with Shawn Mendes in front of 22,000 people & begun carving out a reputation as an upcoming talent. When she opened the show for me at "Rockin' for kids 2020", a benefit for the Children's Health Foundation of SW Ontario, we were all blown away by her awesome talent as a singer/songwriter.Since then, she's released a couple of EPs , toured England & France & now has a brand new album release "Waste of time" . Working with & co-writing with producer Moe Berg among other top shelf artists including Grammy nominated producer Dan Brodbeck, she has a strong foothold on her climb up the ladder to success.Sarina Haggarty is a name that if you don't already know....you will soon enough! And hey...if you enjoy my show & would like to help us keep it going without a paid monthly subscription, why not click the "buy me a coffee" link here: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/tsolobandq https://www.sarinahaggarty.ca/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YGyGR1wrh2s&ab_channel=SarinaHaggarty

Ted Axe is a veteran of the music business, having logged decades as a singer/songwriter.He got his first break as the frontman with one of Canada's earliest Punk bands circa 1977.Since then his journey has taken him from Ottawa to Montreal, Toronto & LA , Canada's West coast. He eventually landed back in Toronto where his act has evolved from a snotty Punk rocker to his current persona as a vampiric styled frontman under his own banner. In this episode, we discuss how he screamed into a pillow to prepare for his audition for the role of lead singer in Ottawa's first punk band, the Action & a whole lot more!And hey...if you're a fan & would like to help us keep this show going without a paid subscription why not donate a few bucks via the "buy me a coffee" link below? Every dollar helps keep us alive & well.https://www.buymeacoffee.com/tsolobandq https://www.facebook.com/100008034705417/videos/714949006775275https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10167077780635621&set=gm.6400797826619888&idorvanity=4367592993273725

In part two of my conversation with music industry insider Gerry Young of Current Management, we discuss his experiences with Dire Straits, 10cc & other world wide stars among other things. During our chat we also talked about how he managed to sell Marvin Gaye's last concert recordings to former Eagles manager, Irving Azoff & how to get heard on radio.All this & a lot more....check it out!If you enjoy this episode & would like to help me to continue producing "Tommy Solo's Famous Friends" why not click on the "buy me a coffee" link below. This allows you to make a small donation without a subscription. https://www.buymeacoffee.com/tsolobandq https://www.currentmgmt.com/index.htm

This week I'm introducing yet another series on my podcast all about the entertainment "insiders". The people who keep the machine oiled & running. I couldn't have picked a better guest to debut this series with than Gerry Young. He has worked in various areas in entertainment since the 1970s, including Television, Movies & the ever evolving music business. Over the course of his career, Gerry has rubbed shoulders with a wide variety of artists in his roles as Televison music documentarion & both Artist management & Record company executive. In this part one of my chat with him we discussed how he got into the entertainment business & some of his early successes including Martha & the Muffins, the Parachute club & a lot more! If you enjoy this episode & would like to help me to keep my show going without a paid subscription, why not show your love via the "buy me a coffee" link (below) https://www.buymeacoffee.com/tsolobandq https://www.currentmgmt.com/index.htm

I've started a brand new series on this podcast all about the entertainment biz insiders. And here's a sneak preview of the first episode in this series, featuring record company executive & band manager, Gerry Young. Gerry went from working in TV production to managing chart topping 1980s band Martha & the Muffins & onward to a partnership in Current records & a lot more. Enjoy this preview & stay tuned for the full episode coming soon. And if you enjoy my podcast & would like to help me keep it going, why not click on the "buy me a coffee" link below? https://www.buymeacoffee.com/tsolobandq

In part two of my conversation with Valerie Shearman, we discuss how she became the front woman with not just one but two top shelf tributes to Heart. We also talk vocal technique, her passion for horses, an upcoming documentary about her late husband Buzz Shearman & the band Moxy....and a lot more! This is a fun one folks! If you enjoy my show & would like to help me keep it going without a paid subscription, why not click on the "buy me a coffee" link below? https://www.buymeacoffee.com/tsolobandqhttps://www.horserescueangels.com/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GL9shln5eZA&ab_channel=ValerieShearman-Topic

Valerie Shearman went from being a kid who remembered her Grandfather playing fiddle at the Calgary Stampede to being placed in foster care at a young age with a musical family. Years later she would be forced to move on from her life with Moxy frontman, Buzz Shearman after his untimely passing in 1983 & to forge her own pathway into the music business.We discuss all this & more & part one of my conversation with Valerie. Bye the way, if you like my show & want to help us keep it going without a paid subscription, why not buy me a coffee at the following link? Show your love here https://www.buymeacoffee.com/tsolobandq https://www.valerieshearman.com/

In part two of my chat with Virgil Scott, the focus is on the business side of the music business with some fun memories shared along the way.You may not be familiar with Virgil Scott if you live outside the greater Toronto area, but you've likely heard him singing some of the most memorable commercial jingles from the early 1970s into the 2000s for beer companies etc., & I'm sure you know the famous Mazda "Zoom zoom" jingle.Virgil has been a full time professional singer for decades, having worked in various entertainment capacities over the years... & he has awesome stories to tell. http://www.virgilscott.com/ And hey...I've created an easy way for you to help support my podcast without a paid subscription.Click on my buy me a coffee link below to show your love for my podcast.https://www.buymeacoffee.com/tsolobandq

Virgil Scott is a name that you might not recognize if you live outside of the Greater Toronto area in Canada. That said, he is one of the most successful singers to come out of this country in decades.His career got an early boost when upon his high school drama teacher's prompting, he scored a featured role in the Toronto stage production of Hair when he was a mere 16 years old.Since then, he has made a good living as a professional singer in Canada for over 55 years, doing sessions, jingles etc.. In this part one of my conversation with Virgil, we talked about how he got started in the biz. If you like my show & would like to help me to keep it going, why not click on the "buy me a coffee" link here : https://www.buymeacoffee.com/tsolobandqhttp://www.virgilscott.com/