Living On Music with Steve Houk

John DeNicola is an American songwriter and producer best known for co-writing the song "(I've Had) The Time of My Life" for which he won both an Academy Award and a Golden Globe Award, as well as receiving a Grammy nomination in 1988. In 1989 he was the co-winner of ASCAP Awards' "Most Performed Songs from Motion Pictures" for "Time of My Life" as well as for "Hungry Eyes", another song from the film. In addition to Dirty Dancing hits for Bill Medley, Jennifer Warnes and Eric Carmen, he has also written songs with and for Eddie Money, John Waite, Kristine W, Steve Holy, Jeannie Kendall, Sugar Jones, Annie Haslam, Bernie Worrell, The Sighs and Martin Briley, and has recently released his own two solo albums. Join Living On Music on Facebook at facebook.com/groups/livingonmusic and subscribe on YouTube at youtube.com/@livingonmusicwithstevehouk. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/living-on-music-with-steve-houk--5376946/support.

This wonderful longtime Connecticut-born/Virginia-based singer/songwriter/guitarist and storyteller's latest solo project "Treasures in My Chest" is a profound album and book about his singular experiences deeply exploring his family history. Hailing from the historic village of Lincoln, Virginia, Andrew has had a long musical life with numerous albums, several band collaborations and more, he also teaches guitar and songwriting, offers a variety of programs and workshops for students and adult learners, and is a consultant for people learning to use DNA for genealogy and family history research. His music is in several documentaries and podcasts, and he has written songs with both kindergarteners as well as one on one with veterans to help healing their PTSD. His ambitious plans for 2024, in addition to writing songs for the next album, are as diverse as his interests: he is featured in and helped produce two music mini-documentaries for release this year, he is also helping his cousin, singer and actress Suzanne Lukather, developing her one-woman stage show Little Blue Suitcase, and he is launching a new service, interviewing revered family elders on video telling their stories in their own words to future generations. And while development was stalled by the pandemic, he is now finishing work on his inspirational keynote program, “The Gifts in Our Genes.” Join Living On Music on Facebook at facebook.com/groups/livingonmusic and subscribe on YouTube at youtube.com/@livingonmusicwithstevehouk. Become a supporter of this podcast here:https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/living-on-music-with-steve-houk--5376946/support.

The world's most revered and adored ukelele player/songwriter JAKE SHIMABUKURO joins Living On Music for the third time, here talking about his most recent album 'Grateful' and how he collaborated on the record with a real treasure trove of the best Hawaiian musicians anywhere, some that influenced and mentored him and halped start his career, some he collaborated and bonded with, and some he just wanted to perform alongside with. Jake also talks about his upcoming Japanese tour, which for his first time ever will be with a foursome, and he also touches on how he became influenced to play ukelele. Join Living On Music on Facebook at facebook.com/groups/livingonmusic and subscribe on YouTube at youtube.com/@livingonmusicwithstevehouk. Become a supporter of this podcast here:https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/living-on-music-with-steve-houk--5376946/support.

Born in Bogota, Colombia, Andrés Cepeda is a platinum-selling producer, singer and songwriter with a unique career that has allowed him to tour the world, be on the cover of multiple magazines, newspapers and playlists on major music platforms, he has been a coach on talent shows, including 12 seasons of La Voz (The Voice) in his hometown of Colombia, also achieving top of radio charts with countless singles. With over 12 million followers on social media platforms, Andrés has received fifteen nominations and has won four Latin Grammy Awards, plus multiple diamond, platinum and gold records, and has shared unparalleled experiences with his fans. His style has become iconic because his personal signature has allowed him to blend different genres always rescuing romantic lyrics. All this has made Andrés Cepeda become one of the most respected and beloved artists in Latin America. Join Living On Music on Facebook at facebook.com/groups/livingonmusic and subscribe to Living On Music on YouTube at youtube.com/@livingonmusicwithstevehouk. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/living-on-music-with-steve-houk--5376946/support.

Back in the late 80's when the legendary club Palomino in LA was a seminal spot for the post-cowpunk California country scene, The Mustangs were a young, all-girl band who were "long on chops and strong on harmonies." After a successful few years of touring and performing, members of the group parted ways in the mid-90s to pursue other musical interests, but in 2017, The Mustangs began their renewal remembering how strong their sound was. The three original members of the group -- Suzanna Spring, Holly Montgomery and Sherry Rayn Barnett -- reconnected with a new name, Mustangs Of The West, added two dynamic new players to complete the line-up: Canadian drummer Suzanne Morissette and violinist/vocalist Aubrey Richmond, and after hearing the band rehearse at Clear Lake Audio, Los Angeles label Blue Élan Records offered the band a deal on the spot, resulting in their 2020 album release called "TIME," produced by Mark Howard (Willie Nelson, Neil Young, Lucinda Williams, Emmylou Harris, U2) and received acclaim from the San Francisco Chronicle, Americana Highways, Goldmine Magazine, No Depression, Pulse, Guitar Girl Magazine, renowned Nashville journalist Holly Gleason, and many other music writers. As the music business slowly recovered from COVID shutdowns, Mustangs Of The West joined a new label, and the result was “SEA OF HEARTBREAK" and "DOWN AT THE PALOMINO," released in July 2023. Join Living On Music on Facebook at facebook.com/groups/livingonmusic and subscribe to Living On Music on YouTube at youtube.com/@livingonmusicwithstevehouk. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/living-on-music-with-steve-houk--5376946/support.

Alexandria-based singer/songwriter/guitarist and music producer John Fishell's formal classical training occasionally pokes through into his musical presence, as does his professional experience with jazz and world music. But John will ultimately carry the heavy rock to you, and all you need to do is dig on it. While studying music in college, NEA Jazz Master David Liebman recruited John to record a big band album, and this relationship led to John engineering various albums with other future NEA Jazz Masters including Jon Hendricks, Jimmy Cobb, Jack DeJohnette, Dave Holland, and Billy Hart. The 2002 Dave Liebman Big Band album John worked on called 'Beyond the Line' was Grammy-nominated in the “Best Instrumental Arrangement” category. Alongside being a traveling music production and recording college instructor until recently, John has produced a live studio album and written previous songs, but most recently released the single "Carolina California" which made the top 40 on the Mediabase chart. He will be touring in the UK this year and elsewhere. Join Living On Music on Facebook at facebook.com/groups/livingonmusic and subscribe to Living On Music on YouTube at youtube.com/@livingonmusicwithstevehouk. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/living-on-music-with-steve-houk--5376946/support.

Robert Gabriel is from Alexandria and has been playing music in the area for almost 40 years: R&B, country, swing and blues, and also produced a CD in a band called 'The Spoilers,' a style the band called 'Swing-a-Billy.' Recently, Rob was asked to join a national touring act called John Paycheck and the Calvary as bassist and musical director; John is the son of the Nashville legend Johnny Paycheck who played on Hee Haw, performed on world tours, performed at the Grand Ol' Opry and had many country hits in the 1970s and 1980s. His son John recently got out of the United States Army where he served as a helicopter fighter pilot and did tours in Afghanistan and the Middle East, but is now out of the service after a distinguished career, and Rob Gabriel will be fulfilling a lifetime dream and joining him on tour in the spring. Join Living On Music on Facebook at facebook.com/groups/livingonmusic and subscribe to Living On Music on YouTube at youtube.com/@livingonmusicwithstevehouk. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/living-on-music-with-steve-houk--5376946/support.

Composer, singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Malcolm Bruce has toured, performed, recorded and appeared on records with some of the biggest names in music including Little Richard, Elton John, Eric Clapton, Ginger Baker, Dr John, Steve Cropper, Joe Satriani, Joe Bonamassa, Bill Ward and Ozzy Osbourne (Black Sabbath), Simon Phillips (Toto, The Who, Jeff Beck), Leslie West and Corky Laing (Mountain), Tony Butler and Mark Brzezicki (Big Country) and his father, the late Jack Bruce of Cream. Malcolm was co-executive producer, arranger and performer for "Heavenly Cream: An Acoustic Tribute to Cream”, a project headed by Cream lyricist Pete Brown and recorded at Abbey Road Studios, which featured performances by Ginger Baker, Joe Bonamassa, Bobby Rush, Paul Rodgers, Deborah Bonham, Bernie Marsden (Whitesnake), Pee-Wee Ellis (James Brown), Abass Dodoo and many more. Quarto Valley Records released. The album takes us on a magical journey -- traveling the brief course of the iconic band’s musical life -- back to the raw, stripped-down magic of the creativity of Jack Bruce, Ginger Baker, Eric Clapton, and Pete Brown. Produced by Rob Cass, the album along with a documentary, 'THE CREAM ACOUSTIC SESSIONS' was released by Quarto Valley Records in November 2023. He’s currently working on a new album, FAKE HUMANS AND REAL DOLLS, to be released in 2024. Join Living On Music on Facebook at facebook.com/groups/livingonmusic and subscribe to Living On Music on YouTube at youtube.com/@livingonmusicwithstevehouk. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/living-on-music-with-steve-houk--5376946/support.

JOCK BARTLEY is known for his melodic, tasteful and fiery lead guitar style, his playing has influenced many rock & roll and country rock guitarists who have come in later generations. Firefall is an American country rock band that was formed in Boulder, Colorado in 1974, and founded by Bartley, who had been Tommy Bolin's replacement in Zephyr and who had also been playing with Gram Parsons and Emmylou Harris, and Rick Roberts, former member of the Flying Burrito Brothers. The band had several gold and platinum records and it's biggest hit single, "You Are the Woman" peaked at No. 9 on the Billboard chart in 1976. Other hits included "Just Remember I Love You" (#11 in 1977), "Strange Way" (#11 in 1978), "Cinderella" (#34 in 1977), "Headed for a Fall" (#35 in 1980), and "Staying with It" (#37 in 1981). Join Living On Music on Facebook at facebook.com/groups/livingonmusic and subscribe to Living On Music on YouTube at youtube.com/@livingonmusicwithstevehouk. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/living-on-music-with-steve-houk--5376946/support.

Legendary Rock and Roll Hall of Fame guitarist Jeff "Skunk" Baxter is known to millions of music fans from his groundbreaking work with Steely Dan, the Doobie Brothers and Spirit, and from countless smash hit recordings he’s performed on as one of the most respected and sought-after studio musicians of his time. More recently, he has worked as a defense consultant and advised U.S. members of Congress on missile defense. He was also inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of The Doobie Brothers in 2020. Join Living On Music on Facebook at facebook.com/groups/livingonmusic and subscribe to Living On Music on YouTube at youtube.com/@livingonmusicwithstevehouk. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/living-on-music-with-steve-houk--5376946/support.

Celebrating 52 years of being co-founder and drummer of rock mainstay Foghat in 2023, Roger Earl is still ferociously banging away all these years later. With eight gold records, two platinum records, and one multi platinum record under his belt and many other projects in the works over five decades, Roger Earl quotes the late Foghat singer Lonesome Dave when he says “I’M GONNA ROLL ‘TIL I’M OLD, GONNA ROCK ‘TIL I DROP!” In November of 2023, they will release a new album titled 'Sonic Mojo,' and they are still out on the road, traveling across the land and bringing their infectious boogie to packed houses full of adoring fans nearly every night. A Foghat concert is every bit as much fun and intense now as it was in 1977 when their classic multi-platinum album 'Foghat Live' broke them around the world. Looking back, it’s only fitting that it was a live album that made Foghat a household name. The band wouldn’t have it any other way. Join Living On Music on Facebook at facebook.com/groups/livingonmusic and subscribe to Living On Music on YouTube at youtube.com/@livingonmusicwithstevehouk. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/living-on-music-with-steve-houk--5376946/support.

Wendy, Audrey, and Mary are The Mystic Chics. That’s Chics without a “K.” Healers, authors, musicians and family, these Modern Medicine Women offer group healing events, private sessions in their two East Coast studios, online courses and events as well as ceremonial healing events around the country, they create, produce and host a weekly online show “Mystic Mondays Live” every Monday evening on Instagram at 6 pm where they engage with listeners in conscious conversation while providing sound medicine, music, energy clearing tips, spiritual messages and more. Their unique combination of energy medicine skills, spiritual gifts, and family harmonies provides a transformational experience for anyone receiving their various forms of healing medicine. Join Living On Music on Facebook at facebook.com/groups/livingonmusic and subscribe to Living On Music on YouTube at youtube.com/@livingonmusicwithstevehouk. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/living-on-music-with-steve-houk--5376946/support.

Art Alexakis is an American musician best known as the singer-songwriter and guitarist of the rock band Everclear. one of the leading alternative rock bands to emerge from the 1990s who celebrated their 30th Anniversary in 2022. And despite his fairly recently diagnosed multiple sclerosis, Alexakis has made it clear that he has no plans to slow down. Since forming in 1992, Everclear has enjoyed a lengthy career spanning 11 studio releases, including four that have been certified Gold or Platinum, selling over 6 million records, and achieving 12 Top 40 Hit Singles on Mainstream Rock, Alternative, and Adult Top 40 radio, including “Santa Monica,” “Father of Mine,” “I Will Buy You A New Life,” “Wonderful” and “Everything To Everyone,” as well as numerous videos, thousands of shows, and various other accolades, including a 1998 Grammy nomination. Art has been a member of several other bands in addition to his own work as a songwriter for other artists, and he founded several record labels throughout his career, and worked as an A&R representative for major record labels between and during his own musical projects. Later he became a political activist, and lobbied for special concerns which included drug awareness policies, and support for the families of the military. Join Living On Music on Facebook at facebook.com/groups/livingonmusic and subscribe to Living On Music on YouTube at youtube.com/@livingonmusicwithstevehouk. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/living-on-music-with-steve-houk--5376946/support.

Here's a very special LIVING ON MUSIC conversation with former Danny Gatton band members/friends John Previti, Dave Elliott and Tommy Lepson, talking openly about some of their amazing personal and professional experiences with legendary Danny, in advance of the 4th annual Danny Gatton Birthday Tribute concert. Join Living On Music on Facebook at facebook.com/groups/livingonmusic and subscribe to LOiving On Music on YouTube at youtube.com@livingonmusicwithstevehouk. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/living-on-music-with-steve-houk--5376946/support.

John Ford Coley is an American singer, classically trained pianist, guitarist, actor, and author, most known for his partnership from 1970-80 in the very successful musical duo England Dan & John Ford Coley. Overall, they had four top-ten hits and two top-twenty hits, were nominated for a Grammy Award, received triple-platinum and gold records, and released eight albums. Join Living On Music on Facebook at facebook.com/groups/livingonmusic and subscribe to LOiving On Music on YouTube at youtube.com@livingonmusicwithstevehouk. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/living-on-music-with-steve-houk--5376946/support.

Like his legendary Texas guitar slinger forebears, Clay lives and breathes the fiery swagger of electric guitars and the irresistible allure of rhythm-soaked sounds, that’s Clay Melton’s musical calling in a nutshell. The Roots Music Report (the #1 independent music chart in the world) ranked Clay on their Blues Rock charts in three categories: the #1 song in the world for the title track to the album Back to Blue, the #9 album in the world on their Blues Rock chart, and the #7 album in Texas for all genres of music. Clay’s 2022 release, Live in Texas, which includes ten original songs and one cover, was spun on more than 160 radio stations in the U.S. and abroad, his riveting cover of ZZ Top’s Jesus Just Left Chicago climbed to the #1 song in the world on the Roots Music Blues Rock chart in June 2022. On February 24th 2023, Clay released worldwide a new single, “Alive on a Wire” and followed-up on April 14th with a second new single, entitled “Runner.” This young guitar slinger is quickly establishing himself as a rising star. Join Living On Music on Facebook at facebook.com/groups/livingonmusic and on YouTube at youtube.com/@livingonmusicwithstevehouk. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/living-on-music-with-steve-houk--5376946/support.

“My music can range from dark to happy, from Indie to singer-songwriter to straight-up pop, it just depends on what is happening in my life at the time...I usually gear toward the darker side, because it helps me process my feelings and emotions and I hope helps others too, but I do like to write some heartwarming songs as well, and sometimes some extremely happy upbeat songs!” A lifetime resident of Maryland and Virginia, in 2009 Michelle Lockey joined Taxi Music and learned about the world of pitching songs to Film & TV, and a whole new world opened up for her. She has gone on to release 6 albums and many singles, two of which were released by Black Toast Records, and her high profile TV placements continue to rack up on shows such as Amazon Prime's Good Girls Revolt, Young Sheldon First Look Trailer, The Voice, The CW's Reign & The Originals, USA’s Benched & No Tomorrow, The Fosters, Inside the PGA, Longmire, and she landed the theme song to MAVTv’s Gear Heads. In 2014, she was nominated for two Wammies (Washington Area Music Awards) and has wracked up many more awards. Her other significant goal, was putting together a workshop on understanding Music Licensing, since then it has morphed into Licensing Songs Academy. The Academy now has roughly 200 students who are learning about music licensing & are part of the supportive community of the Academy. Join Living On Music on Facebook at facebook.com/groups/livingonmusic and on YouTube at youtube.com/@livingonmusicwithstevehouk. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/living-on-music-with-steve-houk--5376946/support.

As only one of his many talents, ARLEN SCHUMER creates award-winning comic book-styled illustrations for the advertising and editorial markets, and is one of the foremost historians of comic book art -- Comic Book Artist magazine named him "one of the more articulate and enthusiastic advocates of comic book art in America.” His coffeetable art book 'The Silver Age of Comic Book Art' (https://bit.ly/3BUHSjP) won the Independent Publishers Award for Best Popular Culture Book, and ABC-TV's 20/20 called him “one of the countryʼs preeminent authorities on comics and culture" after interviewing him (http://youtu.be/_e634FDTBaI). He has worked with some truly incredible legendary designers, artists and creative people, among so many topics and subjects and a truly mindblowing spectrum of involvement, with a very special concentrated focus on the wonders of Comic Book art and its characters, the creative magnificence of a man named Bruce Springsteen, and the bizarre, brilliant and timeless resonance of the classic TV show "The Twilight Zone." Other books of his are 'Visions from The Twilight Zone' (https://amzn.to/3xZM7af) and 'The Neal Adams Sketchbook' (https://amzn.to/3uATfHZ). Join Living On Music on Facebook at facebook.com/groups/livingonmusic and on YouTube at youtube.com/@livingonmusicwithstevehouk. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/living-on-music-with-steve-houk--5376946/support.

Melissa Manchester’s career is remarkable not only for its longevity and accomplishments, but for its versatility. Following her time as a 'Harlette' behind Bette Midler thanks to her teen pal Barry Manilow, Melissa’s tremendously successful solo career brought her critical and commercial acclaim. The “Midnight Blue” singer received her first Grammy nomination for Best Pop Female Vocal Performance in 1979 for the Peter Allen/Carole Bayer Sager-penned “Don’t Cry Out Loud,” winning the Grammy in that category four years later for “You Should Hear How She Talks About You.” In 1980, Melissa became the first recording artist in the history of the Academy Awards to have two nominated movie themes in a single year, “Through The Eyes Of Love” from 'Ice Castles' and “I’ll Never Say Goodbye” from 'The Promise' and to perform them both on the Oscar telecast. Melissa has also had her songs recorded by Barbra Streisand, Roberta Flack, Dusty Springfield, Alison Krauss, Kenny Loggins, and many others. She has written tunes for several other films including 'The Great Mouse Detective,' 'Lady and the Tramp II,' 'Dirty Girl' and Tyler Perry’s 'For Colored Girls.' Her upcoming album, RE:VIEW, due out in the coming months, features previously unreleased songs as well as fresh takes on several of Melissa’s enduring classic hits. Join Living On Music on Facebook at facebook.com/groups/livingonmusic and on YouTube at youtube.com/@livingonmusicwithstevehouk. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/living-on-music-with-steve-houk--5376946/support.

DC-area singer/songwriter Ryan Wright has developed into a stellar musician as she has reached her twenties; with a unique, moving and sultry sense of composition and singing, she has made a name for herself already and is ascending all along with a recent new EP and extensive touring. And having a father like revered DC regional musician Todd Wright has been nothing but a godsend and a supportive piece of her consistent musical rise. Join Living On Music on Facebook at facebook.com/groups/livingonmusic and on YouTube at youtube.com/@livingonmusicwithstevehouk. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/living-on-music-with-steve-houk--5376946/support.