Crazy Chester Radio Hour

This episode features two of the most renowned bass players in history. David Hood is the bass player of the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section (aka The Swampers). He’s played on hit recordings by Aretha Franklin, Bob Seger, The Staple Singers, Paul Simon, Etta James, Willie Nelson and many others. Leland Sklar is a mainstay of the Los Angeles music scene and has worked with James Taylor, Carole King, Phil Collins, Billy Cobham, Lyle Lovett, Jackson Browne and many more. The Crazy Chester Radio Hour is created and hosted by record producer and songwriter Andreas Werner. This episode was recorded at Vancouver Island MusicFest 2019. Special thanks to Doug Cox. The theme song is performed by Jimmy Hall & The Funky Chester Rhythm Section and written by Andreas Werner (Crazy Chester Music, BMI). Used with permission.

Charlie Feldman is a songwriter and music executive from Birmingham, Alabama. His journey led him to Muscle Shoals where he played in a band that later became Smith Perkins Smith and wrote songs for Wilson Pickett, Mel & Tim, Arthur Alexander and Sea Level. He later worked for Screen Gems Music/EMI Publishing in Nashville, where he had a hand in placing Tony Joe White’s songs with Tina Turner, before becoming vice president of BMI in New York. The Crazy Chester Radio Hour is created and hosted by record producer and songwriter Andreas Werner. This episode was recorded in Cannes, France at Midem. The theme song is performed by Jimmy Hall & The Funky Chester Rhythm Section and written by Andreas Werner (Crazy Chester Music, BMI). Used with permission.

Gus Duffy is a musician and world class architect. Duffy was a member of the Four Winds, Webster’s New Word and Captain Electric and the Flying Lapels. He even briefly played drums in an early incarnation of the Jefferson Airplane. Most recently he’s been playing with the Lefty Collective, the Mid Town Quartet and the Nashville Jazz Workshop. As an artist he’s been active since 1973 and has overseen over 2000 residential projects for leaders in business, sports and entertainment including Frank Zappa, Magic Johnson, Cher, Larry King and Sylvester Stallone and has won over 25 American Institute of Architects (AIA) design awards. The Crazy Chester Radio Hour is created and hosted by record producer and songwriter Andreas Werner. This episode was recorded in Nashville, Tennessee. The theme song is performed by Jimmy Hall & The Funky Chester Rhythm Section and written by Andreas Werner (Crazy Chester Music, BMI). Used with permission.

Andreas Werner is a Blues Award winning record producer, songwriter, composer, musician and podcaster. He was mentored by some of the legendary musicians and songwriters from Muscle Shoals and Nashville and has worked with members of the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section, the Muscle Shoals Horns, Donnie Fritts, Buzz Cason, Scott Boyer, Tommy Talton, Eddie Floyd, Doug MacLeod, Bettye LaVette, Tony Joe White, Donna Jean Godchaux and Jason Isbell. 100+ of his songs have been recorded by a string of American roots music artists. Holger Petersen is a Canadian radio host whose Saturday Night Blues on CBC Radio and Natch'l Blues CKUA Radio have been long-time fixtures of the Canadian radio landscape. Petersen also founded Canada’s premier blues and roots label Stony Plain Records and the revered Edmonton Folk Music Festival. He is a member of the Order of Canada and has been honored by the Blues Foundation and the Folk Alliance. The Crazy Chester Radio Hour is created and hosted by record producer and songwriter Andreas Werner. This episode was recorded in Memphis, Tennessee. The theme song is performed by Jimmy Hall & The Funky Chester Rhythm Section and written by Andreas Werner (Crazy Chester Music, BMI). Used with permission.

Returning guest Holger Petersen is a Canadian radio host whose Saturday Night Blues on CBC Radio and Natch'l Blues CKUA Radio have been long-time fixtures of the Canadian radio landscape. Petersen also founded Canada’s premier blues and roots label Stony Plain Records and the revered Edmonton Folk Music Festival. He is a member of the Order of Canada and has been honored by the Blues Foundation and the Folk Alliance. Hi is the author of the books Talking Music and Talking Music 2 (Insomniac Press). The Crazy Chester Radio Hour is created and hosted by record producer and songwriter Andreas Werner. This episode was recorded in Memphis, Tennessee. The theme song is performed by Jimmy Hall & The Funky Chester Rhythm Section and written by Andreas Werner (Crazy Chester Music, BMI). Used with permission.

Hans Theessink is one of Europe’s preeminent and well respected blues and roots performers. Born in the Netherlands and based in Vienna, Austria, Theessink has released a couple dozen records and has collaborated with the likes of the Holmes Brothers, Rick Danko and Garth Hudson of The Band, Terry Evans, Ry Cooder, Richard Thompson, Big Daddy Wilson and Colin Linden. His most recent album is 75 Birthday Bash and he also has written two songs on Bill Wyman’s latest album Drive My Car. The Crazy Chester Radio Hour is created and hosted by record producer and songwriter Andreas Werner. This episode was recorded in Winterthur, Switzerland. The theme song is performed by Jimmy Hall & The Funky Chester Rhythm Section and written by Andreas Werner (Crazy Chester Music, BMI). Used with permission.

Internationally renowned blues musician and songwriter Doug MacLeod is back on the Crazy Chester Radio Hour to talk about his new album Between Somewhere And Goodbye with album producer and Crazy Chester Radio Hour host Andreas Werner. Between Somewhere And Goodby is out now on Reference Recordings and available on Doug MacLeod’s website, your favorite independent record store and all streaming services. Don’t miss Doug MacLeod’s first appearance on episode 50 of the Crazy Chester Radio Hour podcast. The Crazy Chester Radio Hour is created and hosted by record producer and songwriter Andreas Werner. This episode was recorded in Zurich, Switzerland. The theme song is performed by Jimmy Hall & The Funky Chester Rhythm Section and written by Andreas Werner (Crazy Chester Music, BMI). Used with permission.

Dick Waterman (1935-2024) was a legendary promotor, manager, photographer and writer who’s importance in the world of blues music can’t be overstated. In the 1960s, he was a driving force in reviving the careers of blues masters including Mississippi John Hurt, Bukka White, Mississippi Fred McDowell, Skip James, Lightnin’ Hopkins and Son House (as depicted in the 2016 documentary Two Trains Runnin’). He was also Bonnie Raitt’s first manager and was instrumental in getting her career off the ground. Waterman’s photographs count among the most iconic blues photographs. A selection of his works were collected in the 2003 photography book Between Midnight and Day: The Last Unpublished Blues Archive. In 2019, Tammy L. Turner’s biography Dick Waterman: A Life in Blues was published by the University Press of Mississippi. He is a member of the Blues Hall of Fame. The conversation in this episode was recorded in Nashville on June, 28, 2019. Thanks to Joe Funderburk for helping with audio processing. The theme song is performed by Jimmy Hall & The Funky Chester Rhythm Section and written by Andreas Werner (Crazy Chester Music, BMI). Used with permission.

Returning guest Mark Narmore is a songwriter, singer and musician best known for writing the number one country hit "That's What I Love About Sunday" for Craig Morgan and other hits like Shenandoah's "The Moon Over Georgia" and Blackhawk's "Like There Ain't No Yesterday" as well as cuts by Alabama, Brandy Clark, Reba McEntire and Josh Turner. Narmore grew up in Center Star, Alabama, surrounded by the music of his first cousin, legendary keyboardist and Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Spooner Oldham and started playing the piano and writing songs at an early age. Mark Narmore & Funky Chester’s new album Keeper Of The Flame is out now on Crazy Chester Records. It was produced and co-written by Andreas Werner and the two discuss the writing of the songs and making of the album as well as preview a few songs in the studio. This episode was recorded at the NuttHouse recording studio in Muscle Shoals, Alabama. The songs contained in this episode are “Sky Full Of Diamonds”, “Hands Of Time”, “Levon At The Helm”, “Down New Orleans Way” and “Your Love Stays With Me”. The songs were written by Mark Narmore (Oven Music Inc., BMI) and Andreas Werner (Crazy Chester Music, BMI) and recorded and mixed by Jimmy Nutt. The theme song is performed by Jimmy Hall & The Funky Chester Rhythm Section and written by Andreas Werner (Crazy Chester Music, BMI). Used with permission.

George Jackson (March 12, 1945 - April 14, 2013) was a legendary songwriter who wrote many classic songs including “Old Time Rock and Roll” (Bob Seger), “Down Home Blues” (Z.Z. Hill), “One Bad Apple” (The Osmonds), “The Only Way Is Up” (Otis Clay) and “Get Involved” (George Soulé). Born in Mississippi, Jackson is known for his association with the Muscle Shoals recording scene, first writing for FAME and later for Muscle Shoals Sound before writing for Malaco which brought him back to Mississippi. Starting in the 1960s, he also released a string of records for labels like Hi, Decca, MGM and FAME including the seminal “Aretha, Sing One For Me” in 1972. More recently, several albums collecting his soulful singles and songwriting demos have been released . The Crazy Chester Radio Hour is created and hosted by record producer and songwriter Andreas Werner. The interview in this episode was recorded on November 16, 2009 at the Malaco Studio in Jackson MS by Kent Bruce. Special thanks to Burton Doss whose idea it was to do the interview. The songs “Juke Joint Music And Neon Lights” and “Keep A Light On” are written by George Jackson (Malaco Music, BMI) and Andreas Werner (Crazy Chester Music, BMI). The theme song is performed by Jimmy Hall & The Funky Chester Rhythm Section and written by Andreas Werner (Crazy Chester Music, BMI). Used with permission.

Ron Eoff is a bass player who was born in Oregon and raised in Springdale, Arkansas. He was a member of the Cate Brothers who worked extensively with Levon Helm before joining forces with The Band when they reunited in the early 1980s. Since moving to Nashville in the late 1980s, Eoff has recorded or played live with Jo-El Sonnier, Tracy Nelson, Delbert McClinton, Jimmy Thackery, Kevin Gordon, Patrick Sweany, Steve Conn, David Egan and many others. The Crazy Chester Radio Hour is created and hosted by record producer and songwriter Andreas Werner. This episode was recorded at the Creative Workshop recording studio in Nashville. The theme song is performed by Jimmy Hall & The Funky Chester Rhythm Section and written by Andreas Werner (Crazy Chester Music, BMI). Used with permission.

Gary Baker is a songwriter, musician and producer from Muscle Shoals, Alabama. Born in Niagara Falls, New York, he moved to Muscle Shoals to play with the LeBlanc Carr Band. In the 1980s he was a member of The Shooters with Walt Aldridge, Chalmers Davis, Barry Billings and Mike Dillon before launching the duo Baker & Myers with Frank J. Myers. Baker and Myers wrote the song “I Swear” which was a #1 hit on both the country (by John Michael Montgomery) and pop (by All-4-One) charts. Baker also co-wrote the country #1 hit “I’m Already There” for Lonestar and has written for or worked with Alabama, Backstreet Boys, 98 Degrees, Mac Davis, Marie Osmond and Reba McEntire. The Crazy Chester Radio Hour is created and hosted by record producer and songwriter Andreas Werner. This episode was recorded at the NuttHouse Recording Studio in Muscle Shoals, Alabama. The theme song is performed by Jimmy Hall & The Funky Chester Rhythm Section and written by Andreas Werner (Crazy Chester Music, BMI). Used with permission.

Cindy Richardson Walker and Marie Tomlinson Lewey are background vocalists from Muscle Shoals, Alabama. Collectively known as the Shoals Sisters, they can be heard on numerous recordings coming out of Muscle Shoals and Nashville. Collectively and separately they have sung on recordings by artists like Clarence Carter, Kris Kristofferson, Percy Sledge, Joan Baez, Willie Nelson, Garth Brooks, Gregg Allman and Carla Russell. Marie Lewey also sang on several Ronnie Milsap tours in the 1980s with Suzy Storm and Barbara Wyrick. Cindy Walker released a Christian album called Crusader in 1984 and has been singing with Lynda Carter (of Wonder Woman fame) for many years. Songs she has written were recorded by Lenny LeBlanc, Sheena Easton, Dottie West, Dr. Hook and Etta James. The Crazy Chester Radio Hour is created and hosted by record producer and songwriter Andreas Werner. This episode was recorded at the NuttHouse Recording Studio in Muscle Shoals, Alabama. The theme song is performed by Jimmy Hall & The Funky Chester Rhythm Section and written by Andreas Werner (Crazy Chester Music, BMI). Used with permission.

Lenny LeBlanc is a Dove Award winning songwriter, singer and musician from Muscle Shoals, Alabama. He was born in Massachusetts and raised in Florida before following his friend Pete Carr to Muscle Shoals. Carr, by that time was the lead guitar player of the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section after a stint in the pre Allman Brothers band Hour Glass. LeBlanc and Carr joined forces and had a hit in 1977 with the song “Falling”. They were the opening act on the tour that claimed the lives of several Lynyrd Skynyrd members. In the 1980s, he established himself as a Christian singer and songwriter with over a dozen albums to his name. Songs he wrote include “Above All” (co- written with Paul Baloche), “You First” (co-written with Mac McAnally) and “Old Timer” (co-written with Donnie Fritts). He can be heard on records by Etta James, The Supremes, Joan Baez, Roy Orbison and Dan Penn. The Crazy Chester Radio Hour is created and hosted by record producer and songwriter Andreas Werner. This episode was recorded at the Earl Peanutt Montgomery Music Museum in Sheffield, Alabama. The theme song is performed by Jimmy Hall & The Funky Chester Rhythm Section and written by Andreas Werner (Crazy Chester Music, BMI). Used with permission.

Earl Peanutt Montgomery is a legendary songwriter and musician from Muscle Shoals, Alabama. He hails from a musical family that include brother Carl and sister Melba Montgomery. Peanutt was part of the group of musicians that established the Muscle Shoals recording scene in the early 1960s, playing on records by Arthur Alexander. He later became George Jones’ right hand man, band leader and wrote more than 70 songs for him. Some of his biggest hits include “One Of These Days” (George Jones, Emmylou Harris), “What’s Your Mama’s Name” (Tanya Tucker), “California Cottonfields” (Merle Haggard, Tanya Tucker), “We’re Gonna Hold On” (George Jones & Tammy Wynette) and “Sally Sue Brown” (Arthur Alexander, Bob Dylan). Peanutt and his wife Charlene wrote the book The Legend of George Jones about their time with Jones and their adventures were depicted in the TV shows George & Tammy and Tales From The Tour Bus. The Crazy Chester Radio Hour is created and hosted by record producer and songwriter Andreas Werner. This episode was recorded at the Earl Peanutt Montgomery Music Museum in Sheffield, Alabama. The theme song is performed by Jimmy Hall & The Funky Chester Rhythm Section and written by Andreas Werner (Crazy Chester Music, BMI). Used with permission.

Tom Bones Malone is one of the world’s most recognizable horn players and one of a precious few who can play a wide array of both brass and woodwind instruments. He appeared in the Blues Brothers movie as a member of the Blues Brothers Band and was seen on TV as a member of the house bands for Saturday Night Live Band and Late Night with David Letterman. He toured and recorded with The Band and Levon Helm and is featured in The Last Waltz movie. He also recorded and performed with a who’s who of world class performers including Blood Sweat & Tears, Frank Zappa, Gil Evans, Miles Davis and Tina Turner, just to name a few. The Crazy Chester Radio Hour is created and hosted by record producer and songwriter Andreas Werner. This episode was recorded at Tom Bones Malone’s house in Los Angeles. The theme song is performed by Jimmy Hall & The Funky Chester Rhythm Section and written by Andreas Werner (Crazy Chester Music, BMI). Used with permission.

Mac Gayden is an influential guitarist, songwriter and producer from Nashville, Tennessee. He was a member of the Nashville session players collectives Area Code 615 and Barefoot Jerry. His playing can be heard on records by Bob Dylan (Blonde On Blonde), Kris Kristofferson, Linda Ronstadt, Tracy Nelson, John Hiatt and J.J. Cale. That’s him playing the signature wah wah slide guitar part on Cale’s “Crazy Mama”. He’s also known for his soulful songwriting which includes the classics “Everlasting Love” (recorded by Robert Knight, Carl Carlton, Gloria Estefan and U2), “Morning Glory” (recorded by James & Bobby Purify) and “She Shot A Hole In My Soul” (recorded by Clifford Curry). Besides playing on countless sessions for others, he also released a string of critically acclaimed albums as an artist. The Crazy Chester Radio Hour is created and hosted by record producer and songwriter Andreas Werner. This episode was recorded at the Creative Workshop recording studio in Nashville. The theme song is performed by Jimmy Hall & The Funky Chester Rhythm Section and written by Andreas Werner (Crazy Chester Music, BMI). Used with permission.

Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee Spooner Oldham cut his teeth playing sessions and writing songs in Muscle Shoals before relocating to Memphis where he worked at American Sound Studio and continued his writing partnership with Dan Penn. Later he moved to Los Angeles where he worked with Bob Dylan, Linda Ronstadt and Neil Young. Oldham’s playing can be heard on Percy Sledge’s “When A Man Loves A Woman”, Aretha Franklin’s “Never Loved A Man (The Way I Love You)”, Wilson Pickett’s “Mustang Sally” and Neil Young’s “Harvest Moon”, just to name a few. His songs have been recorded by The Box Tops (“Cry Like A Baby”), James & Bobby Purify (“I’m Your Puppet”) and The Sweet Inspirations (“Sweet Inspiration”), among many others. The Crazy Chester Radio Hour is created and hosted by record producer and songwriter Andreas Werner. This episode was recorded at the NuttHouse Recording Studio in Muscle Shoals, Alabama. The theme song is performed by Jimmy Hall & The Funky Chester Rhythm Section and written by Andreas Werner (Crazy Chester Music, BMI). Used with permission.

Doug MacLeod is an internationally acclaimed acoustic blues artist who was mentored by and cut his teeth with George Harmonica Smith, Pee Wee Crayton, Big Mama Thornton and Lowell Fulson. MacLeod is known for his first rate original songs steeped in the tradition of the blues and is considered a master of his craft. In his long career he has won several Blues Awards. His last two albums Raw Blues 1 and Raw Blues 2 as well as his upcoming album The Unseen Eye were produced by Andreas Werner. The Crazy Chester Radio Hour is created and hosted by record producer and songwriter Andreas Werner. This episode was recorded in Zurich, Switzerland. The theme song is performed by Jimmy Hall & The Funky Chester Rhythm Section and written by Andreas Werner (Crazy Chester Music, BMI). Used with permission.

Tommy Talton is a guitarist, singer and songwriter who was a member of We The People before forming Cowboy that released four albums on Capricorn Records. He then launched a solo career that yielded a handful critically acclaimed albums including his latest one, Somewhere South Of Eden. He also recorded and performed with The Allman Brothers Band, Gregg Allman, Dickey Betts, Bonnie Bramlett, Paul Butterfield, Billy Joe Shaver, Arthur Conley and Tedeschi Trucks Band. In this episode we talk...