Radio Memphis On Demand

RMOD - Karen Single Band - Around The World

Dianna​ caught up with Karen Novak​ of the Karen Single Band​ to talk about the amazing experiences with musical theatre company (Ptarmigan Ptheatrics​) and pulling in one of the lead roles in Yellowknife's (Canada) version of broadway musical, Mama Mia, which proved a musical hit having sold out before opening night. Being inspired by working with her theater group, Karen took another leap of faith and submitted an application to put her first album Wide Open, along two more of a trilogy to be written, then recorded and put on stage as a theatrical rock production. Her proposal even requested that she tour Europe with this concept idea and production. Karen has been accepted into the Northern Arts and Cultural Centre (NACC​) mentorship program and is now getting the help needed to make a forever dream of hers a reality.

 

Did you miss Dianna and Karen's conversation during Radio Memphis Around the World? Listen now.

RMOD - B&B - Johnny Riley & The Hired Guns

Texas bluesmen Johnny Riley & The Hired Guns blew through Memphis the night before Memorial Day to visit with Ric on The Booze & Blues Show. After Johnny spotted the Radio Memphis guitar from Killer B Guitars hanging on the wall, it was decided that would be guitar choice of the night as the band tore through several original songs and some stories from the road and studio. Johnny is a great personality who you just want to spend some time with and that is exactly what happened on the air. Now you can go along for the ride in case you missed it when it happened live.

Also, Mark Caldwell from The Memphis Blues Society brings the news as well as a special appearance from the President of the Memphis Blues Society with a special award presented to Ric during the show. It's all here. Listen now.

 

RMOD - B&B - Theo Dasbach

Theo Dasbach is from Holland. He also is the owner of the Rock and Blues museum in Clarksdale, Mississippi. Theo also likes to play boogie woogie blues. At one point in his life, Theo was working with a radio station in Holland. In this show, you will hear some airchecks of his work on the air as he speaks Dutch surrounding blues and rock music. Also in this show, Theo played live in studio and told a bunch of stories about his life in the Netherlands and in other places he's lived around the world. One more thing, do want to buy a museum?

RMOD - Pepe Willie - Part 2 - Around the World

“Because of his role in the careers of the Time, Vanity 6 and others, one could be forgiven for thinking that Prince created the Minneapolis R&B/funk scene by himself. In fact, it was thriving locally before it began, and one of the biggest bands was 94 East, named after the interstate that splits Minneapolis in half. ~”How Prince Got his Start with ‘Just Another Sucker’”/DIFFUSER

 

The band (94 East) was led by Pepe Willie, whose path to pursing his own fame and fortune took a detour to Minneapolis when he married Shauntel Manderville and relocated there. Not long after arriving, Willie worked with his wife’s cousin, Prince and his then band, Grand Central, which included Andre Anderson (now known as Andre Cymone), Linda Anderson, Morris Day and William Doughty (also known as “Hollywood”)– as well as other local musicians during their formative teenage years on the rapidly-florishing local music scene and who later found success in the music business.

 

As the nephew of Clarence Collins, founder for Rock and Roll Hall of Famers “Little Anthony & The Imperials”, and having grown up in New York City, Pepe Willie learned about the music business as a teenager. Watching his uncle’s gigs, serving as road manager and assisting the acts his uncle played with….. Pepe saw how record companies operated, the way tours were organized and how musicians made their money. He even ran errands for major stars of the day including Dusty Springfield, The Chiffons, The Four Tops, Ray Charles, Diana Ross & The Supremes and Smokey Robinson and the Miracles and more. It was during this time he spent with rock-and-roll luminaries that Pepe decided to pursue a career in show business. Pepe had also been introduced and had interactions with the likes of Jimi Hendrix, Ray Charles, Stevie Wonder, Patti LaBelle and the Bluebells, Dionne Warwick, Wayne Newton, Ike and Tina Turner. But, when he saw and met Elvis, Pepe will even tell you that he thought wow, “now that man’s a star. It was a different kind of thing.”

 

This BROOKYLN-BRED songwriter and producer, who also plays a variety of instruments, wound up dedicated his life not only to writing and creating music, but also helping young artists understand and teach them that the “music business hasn’t changed”. Pepe tells everyone that “the only thing that’s changed is the music. Artists still have to copyright, you have to have that (songwriting) formula, you still need to have publishing and you still have to be part of a performer’s rights organization. You’ve got to be protected out there.”

 

Did you miss Dianna catching up with PEPE WILLIE for a LIVE PHONE INTERVIEW during RADIO MEMPHIS AROUND THE WORLD? They talked about his life in the business and how setting aside his personal plans for his own band to push for the success of another artist that becomes a legendary icon influenced and shaped Pepe as the mentor his is today. LISTEN NOW.

RMOD - Pepe Willie - Part 1 - Around the World

“Because of his role in the careers of the Time, Vanity 6 and others, one could be forgiven for thinking that Prince created the Minneapolis R&B/funk scene by himself. In fact, it was thriving locally before it began, and one of the biggest bands was 94 East, named after the interstate that splits Minneapolis in half. ~”How Prince Got his Start with ‘Just Another Sucker’”/DIFFUSER

 

The band, 94 East, was led by Pepe Willie, whose path to pursing his own fame and fortune took a detour to Minneapolis when he married Shauntel Manderville and relocated there. Not long after arriving, Willie worked with his wife's cousin, Prince and his then band, Grand Central, which included Andre Anderson (now known as Andre Cymone), Linda Anderson, Morris Day and William Doughty (also known as "Hollywood")-- as well as other local musicians during their formative teenage years on the rapidly-flourishing local music scene and who later found success in the music business.

 

As the nephew of Clarence Collins, founder for Rock and Roll Hall of Famers “Little Anthony & The Imperials”, and having grown up in New York City, Pepe Willie learned about the music business as a teenager. Watching his uncle’s gigs, serving as road manager and assisting the acts his uncle played with….. Pepe saw how record companies operated, the way tours were organized and how musicians made their money. He even ran errands for major stars of the day including Dusty Springfield, The Chiffons, The Four Tops, Ray Charles, Diana Ross & The Supremes and Smokey Robinson and the Miracles and more. It was during this time he spent with rock-and-roll luminaries that Pepe decided to pursue a career in show business. Pepe had also been introduced and had interactions with the likes of Jimi Hendrix, Ray Charles, Stevie Wonder, Patti LaBelle and the Bluebells, Dionne Warwick, Wayne Newton, Ike and Tina Turner. But, when he saw and met Elvis, Pepe will even tell you that he thought wow, “now that man's a star. It was a different kind of thing.”

 

This Brooklyn bred songwriter and producer, who also plays a variety of instruments, wound up dedicated his life not only to writing and creating music, but also helping young artists understand and teach them that the “music business hasn’t changed”. Pepe tells everyone that “the only thing that’s changed is the music. Artists still have to copyright, you have to have that (songwriting) formula, you still need to have publishing and you still have to be part of a performer's rights organization. You've got to be protected out there.”

 

Did you miss Dianna catching up with Pepe Willie during Radio Memphis Around The World to talk about his life in the business and how setting aside his personal plans for his own band to push for the success of another artist that became a legendary icon influenced and shaped his own career as the mentor his is today?  His story tells artists that they have to respect and learn from the past to move forward.

 

Listen to part 1 now.

 

RMOD - Brigitte Purdy & Robbin Kapsalis - ATW

California blues/ soul artist Brigitte Purdy and fellow artist from D.C./east coast Robbin Kapsalis of Vintage #18 crashes in on Dianna during Radio Memphis Around the World  after finishing up with the BMAs (Blues Music Awards) and before heading down to Ground Zero in Clarksdale, Mississippi.  All three ladies pull up a chair live on-air to discuss the experiences these artists had in Memphis and talk about the power of inspiration as women in the blues/rock/ soul scene.  D even plays a game with Brigitte and Robbin where the ladies have to sing notes using a random word thrown out on the table:  B-B-Q Ribs.

 

The west coast and east coast meet in the middle in Memphis and it only happens like this on Radio Memphis.

RMOD - Kazha - ATW (050419)

Lead vocalist/ bass player Kazuha Oda and guitarist Hideki Matsushige from the Japanese band Kazha surprises Dianna during Radio Memphis Around the World to catch up and formally introduce her to their newest member, drummer, Futa Sugano.  They discuss what the band has been doing this past year and talk about future plans, which include recording new music and planning a trip back to Japan to play a huge festival being held a historical temple.

 

 

RMOD - You Got Mail - Ken Barr - ATW

In this special version of You Got Mail, Dianna returns a message from her partner of the Road Crew series, Ken Barr.  They discuss what they both have been doing during the interim of the highly-anticipated return of this series to Radio Memphis.  After Ken and D talk a little about real life moments, they both formally agree that the time has come to bring back the stories and lessons to our emerging artists and entertainers by talking with some of the best industry professionals who work behind the scenes and are responsible for creating some of the magic you see, hear and feel behind that great event, awesome show or fantastic record.

 

Did you miss their conversation? Listen now.

 

RMOD - Whey Jennings - The Nooner

If the name Whey Jennings sounds familiar, it should. Whey is the grandson of Waylon Jennings. He stopped into Radio Memphis in The Morning with Ric Chetter to talk about an appearance in Memphis. But they also talked about songwriting, touring, influences and his famous grandfather. Currently, Whey is on the road with former members of David Allen Coe's band now known as Cold Moses. Before you think of Whey as nothing more than a country artist, you would be mistaken. Although they do play country, they also play some of Waylon Jennings music as well as blues and rock & roll. Listen now.

RMOD - Friendship Commanders - The Nooner

Nashville duo Friendship Commanders dropped into Radio Memphis in The Morning with Ric Chetter to hype up an appearance in midtown. They brought some music from their latest collection, Bill. This band is a socially conscious outfit who hit on heavy rock and punk with some very memorable lyrics and licks. So how does a band like this get a way with not having a bass player? They'll tell you how. Plus what is Friendship Commanders show like? You'll find out and you'll get to hear a few songs from their latest disc here. Listen now.