Rock & Roll High School With Pete Ganbarg
Media & Entertainment Podcasts
Season 4 Out Now!
Rock & Roll High School is an interview series that tells the story of contemporary music history as told by those who helped create it.
Hosted by Pete Ganbarg
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About Pete:
Pete Ganbarg has been doing major label A&R for over 35 years. He's a 2X Grammy award winning record producer as well a member of the board of directors of the Songwriters Hall of Fame. Pete has held senior A&R positions at Atlantic, Arista, Epic and SBK/EMI and is currently the president of Pure Tone Music.
As a music publisher, Pete operates Songs With A Pure Tone and Margetts Road Music, joint ventures currently in partnership with Warner Chappell Music. Songs published by Pure Tone include 2024's Grammy winning Record of the Year, "Flowers" by Miley Cyrus as well as hits by Alex Warren, Benson Boone, Justin Bieber, Maroon 5, Katy Perry, OneRepublic, Charli XCX, Lewis Capaldi, Ed Sheeran, Andy Grammer, Lizzo, Beyoncé, and more.
Pete is the recipient of two Grammy Awards for his role as producer on the Original Broadway Cast Recording of Dear Evan Hansen and the Original Broadway Cast Recording of Jagged Little Pill. At Atlantic, among the artists and projects that Pete has overseen are twenty one pilots, Halestorm, Jason Mraz, Christina Perri, Melanie Martinez, Skillet, GAYLE, Brett Eldredge, Matchbox Twenty & Rob Thomas, Theory Of A Deadman, and Icona Pop; as well as the Original Broadway Cast Recordings of Hamilton, Mean Girls, Jagged Little Pill, Dear Evan Hansen, and the multi-platinum Billboard No. 1 soundtrack album The Greatest Showman.
Pete began his A&R career in 1989 at SBK Records. In 1997, he joined Clive Davis at Arista Records, where, as Senior Director of A&R, he conceived and A&R’d Santana’s 30x platinum worldwide, nine-time GRAMMY-winning album, Supernatural.
Additionally, Pete was named International Music Person Of The Year in 2023 by the music industry organization MUSEXPO.
Location:
United States
Description:
Season 4 Out Now! Rock & Roll High School is an interview series that tells the story of contemporary music history as told by those who helped create it. Hosted by Pete Ganbarg -------------------------------------- About Pete: Pete Ganbarg has been doing major label A&R for over 35 years. He's a 2X Grammy award winning record producer as well a member of the board of directors of the Songwriters Hall of Fame. Pete has held senior A&R positions at Atlantic, Arista, Epic and SBK/EMI and is currently the president of Pure Tone Music. As a music publisher, Pete operates Songs With A Pure Tone and Margetts Road Music, joint ventures currently in partnership with Warner Chappell Music. Songs published by Pure Tone include 2024's Grammy winning Record of the Year, "Flowers" by Miley Cyrus as well as hits by Alex Warren, Benson Boone, Justin Bieber, Maroon 5, Katy Perry, OneRepublic, Charli XCX, Lewis Capaldi, Ed Sheeran, Andy Grammer, Lizzo, Beyoncé, and more. Pete is the recipient of two Grammy Awards for his role as producer on the Original Broadway Cast Recording of Dear Evan Hansen and the Original Broadway Cast Recording of Jagged Little Pill. At Atlantic, among the artists and projects that Pete has overseen are twenty one pilots, Halestorm, Jason Mraz, Christina Perri, Melanie Martinez, Skillet, GAYLE, Brett Eldredge, Matchbox Twenty & Rob Thomas, Theory Of A Deadman, and Icona Pop; as well as the Original Broadway Cast Recordings of Hamilton, Mean Girls, Jagged Little Pill, Dear Evan Hansen, and the multi-platinum Billboard No. 1 soundtrack album The Greatest Showman. Pete began his A&R career in 1989 at SBK Records. In 1997, he joined Clive Davis at Arista Records, where, as Senior Director of A&R, he conceived and A&R’d Santana’s 30x platinum worldwide, nine-time GRAMMY-winning album, Supernatural. Additionally, Pete was named International Music Person Of The Year in 2023 by the music industry organization MUSEXPO.
Twitter:
@rockschoolpod
Language:
English
Contact:
8153422226
Episodes
John Sebastian (The Lovin' Spoonful)
5/8/2025
As the founder and frontman of The Lovin’ Spoonful, John Sebastian helped define the sound of the 1960s with classics like “Do You Believe in Magic,” “Daydream,” and “Summer in the City.”
As a solo artist, he delivered a surprise acoustic set at Woodstock, wrote the #1 hit “Welcome Back” for Welcome Back, Kotter, and continued to craft songs that resonated across decades.
A member of both the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame, John Sebastian stands among the greats—not just for his unforgettable songs, but for the heart and soul he brings to every note.
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Duration:01:18:21
Suzanne Vega
5/1/2025
Celebrating the 40th anniversary of her self-titled debut album (which was released on May 1st, 1985), Suzanne Vega's latest album is "Flying With Angels," her first collection of all-new songs in over a decade. Emerging from New York City's folk-music scene of the early 1980's, Suzanne has become known worldwide for her detailed songwriting, incredible live performances and for creating memorable characters in her songs like the victim of child abuse in "Luka," the narrator observing her surroundings in "Tom's Diner," and the resident of an apartment being scoffed at by a poster of Marlene Dietrich ("Marlene On The Wall"). Suzanne is back on the road in support of her new album, with dates in the US and internationally all through 2025.
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Duration:01:02:43
George Thorogood
4/24/2025
An all-new interview with iconic blues rocker George Thorogood. Known for his high energy boogie-blues sound, George is celebrating 50 years of making music in 2025. Putting his own unqiue spin on classic songs - like Move It On Over - Who Do You Love and One Borubon One Scotch One Beer as well as crafting classic originals like I Drink Alone and Bad To The Bone, George’s music has introduced the sound of his heroes - Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley,, Howlin Wolf, John Lee Hooker and even Hank Williams - to an entire new generation of music fans. Backed by his band The Destroyers, “Lonesome” George continues to tour today, with dates in the US Canada and Australia and New Zealand all planned for 2025.
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Duration:00:58:34
Narada Michael Walden
4/17/2025
If you made a venn diagram and one circle included only musicians skilled and talented enough to jam and record with some of the greatest players of all time: Jaco Pastorius, Herbie Hancock, Jeff Beck, Allen Holdsworth, Pat Metheny, Billy Cobham. And the other circle included only hit record producers who have produced at least 9 Billboard Hot 100 #1 singles, there would only be one name overlapping both circles and that’s our guest this week: Narada Michael Walden. As a drummer, Narada has played with all of the above and more. As a lead performer, he’s releaed 13 solo albums. And as a producer, he’s created all time smashes like “I Wanna Dance With Somebody Who Loves Me” and “How Will I Know” for Whitney Houston; “Vision Of Love” for Mariah Carey and “Freeway of Love” and “I Knew You Were Waiting For Me” for Aretha Franklin. An absolutely fascinating career and a fantastic episode of our Rock & Roll High School podcast.
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Duration:01:25:53
Roger McGuinn (The Byrds)
4/10/2025
Roger McGuinn is best known as the frontman and leader of the influential 1960s folk-rock band, The Byrds, and for his signature Rickenbacker 12-string electric guitar playing. The Byrds achieved many firsts: they were the first rock band ever to be signed to Columbia Records; they were the first major label band to fuse folk and rock; and they were the first band to record what's now known as alt-country with their seminal 1968 album Sweetheart Of The Rodeo. The Byrds all-time classic hits include "Mr Tambourine Man," "Turn Turn Turn," "Eight Miles High," "So You Want To Be A Rock & Roll Star," and "My Back Pages;" and their music has influenced a generation of musicians from REM and Tom Petty to Husker Du and Wilco. Roger was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of The Byrds in 1991.
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Duration:01:04:55
Curt Smith (Tears For Fears)
4/3/2025
Curt Smith is co-founder, co-lead vocalist and bassist of the legendary duo Tears For Fears. With over 30 million albums sold worldwide and performances to countless sold-out audiences, the band represent an inimitable intersection of pop palatability, clever and cognizant lyricism, guitar bombast, and new wave innovation. The duo’s hit making DNA - as heard on songs like "Everybody Wants To Rule The World," "Shout," "Head Over Heels," and "Mad World" - remains embedded within three generations of artists on both subtle and overt levels, casting a shadow of influence over rock, hip-hop, electronic dance music, indie, and beyond.
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Duration:01:11:48
Al Stewart
3/27/2025
Scottish-born singer/songwriter Al Stewart pretty much invented the genre of historical folk rock, weaving real world events into cinematic tapestries of song. As he mentions in this episode, Al will sometimes open a world atlas, point to a random spot in the world and write a song about it. His passion for history and the accuracy of which he writes has led to such aural history lessons as "Road To Moscow" and "Nostradamus." Perhaps best known for his run of hits in the mid-late 1970's like "Year Of The Cat," "Time Passages," and "Song On The Radio," Al's story is fascinating. Having started out in the London folk scene of the late 1960's, where he encountered everyone from Paul Simon and Cat Stevens to Jimmy Page and Richard Thompson, Al is currently celebrating close to 60 years in music and is continuing to tour both in the US and abroad throughout 2025.
Editor's note: this is one of our favorite episodes of this (or any) season.
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Duration:01:06:20
Peter Noone (Herman's Hermits)
3/20/2025
In 1965, when Peter Noone was only 17 years old, his band Herman's Hermits had 7 Top Ten singles in America in one calendar year alone! With songs like "I'm Into Something Good," "Mrs. Brown You've Got A Lovely Daughter," "There's A Kind Of Hush," "I'm Henry VIII, I Am," "Can't You Hear My Hearbeat," and many more, Herman's Hermits became one of the most successful acts of the post-Beatles British Invasion.
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Duration:01:12:11
Gerry Beckley (America)
3/13/2025
Along with his two teenage classmates from London’s Central High School, Dewey Bunnell and Dan Peek, Gerry Beckley formed the band America in 1970 - with the name being a nod to the three Americans living in London.
Incorporating three part vocal harmony and with all of the band members contributing to the songwriting - America signed with Warner Brothers Records in 1971. Their self titled album debut would ultimately feature two of the band’s signature songs - the #1 hit A Horse With No Name and it’s successful followup “I Need You” - and lead the band to a Best New Artist Grammy Win in 1973 - besting iconic nominees that year like Harry Chapin, Loggins & Messina and The Eagles.
Working with legendary Beatles producer George Martin, America continued to release hit after hit in the 1970’s and 80’s with even more classics like Ventura Highway/Tin Man/Lonely People/Daisy Jane and Gerry’s classic “Sister Golden Hair.”
With over 20 studio albums, multiple compilations and live albums, America has sold over 30 million records worldwide and continue to tour all over the world.
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Duration:01:19:35
Gary Kemp (Spandau Ballet)
3/6/2025
Gary Kemp wears many hats. As a founding member and principal songwriter of the band Spandau Ballet, Gary’s songs including “Gold,” “Only When You Leave,” “Through The Barricades,” and the all-time classic “True” have become part of the soundtrack of the last 40+ years. His work as an actor includes lead roles in 1990’s The Krays (alongside his brother Martin) and 1992’s The Bodyguard, alongside Kevin Costner and Whitney Houston. Gary’s Rockonteurs podcast with his friend and band-mate Guy Pratt, has released over 250 episodes featuring conversations with fellow musicians like Pete Townshend, David Gilmour, Mick Fleetwood and many more. Gary and Guy also both play in Saucerful Of Secrets, the band founded by original Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason. And Gary’s latest solo album, This Destination, is out now.
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Duration:01:04:20
Randy Bachman (Bachman-Turner Overdrive/The Guess Who)
2/27/2025
Randy Bachman is the co-founder of two of classic rock’s greatest bands The Guess Who and Bachman-Turner Overdrive. With over 120 platinum gold and silver album and single awards from all over the world, Randy’s songs are known everywhere by listeners old and young - songs that have sold over a combined 40 million singles and albums.
Between 1969 and 1970, The Guess Who sold more records than the entire Canadian music industry combined, and Randy followed that with another string of massive hits with Bachman-Turner Overdrive, leading BTO to become the biggest-selling recording act in popular music in 1974. Songs like Taking Care Of Business, American Woman, These Eyes, Laughing, Let It Ride and You Ain’t Seen Nothin Yet are just some of the songs written and performed by Randy Bachman.
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Duration:01:35:24
Tony Orlando
2/20/2025
Tony Orlando has spent an incredible six decades in entertainment. From signing his first record deal at the age of 15 years old to segueing to the other side of the desk as a successful music publisher working for the legendary Clive Davis to accidentally becoming an even bigger pop star with the accidental pop group Dawn, Tony's career reads like something out of fiction but it all happened. Still going strong today, Tony hosts "Saturday Nights With Tony Orlando," heard worldwide via WABC New York and his music is still heard everywhere. Songs like "Tie A Yellow Ribbon," "Knock Three Times," "Candida," and "He Don't Love You (Like I Love You)," are all part of the fabric of contemporary music. In this episode, Tony tells us about growing up in both New York and New Jersey; how a chance meeting outside New York's famous Brill Building led to being signed by the legendary impresario Don Kirshner and how at 15 he was working alongside fellow teenage rookies Carole King, Gerry Goffin, Cynthia Weill and Barry Mann; and, most comedically, how doing a throw-away favor singing a demo for his friend Hank Medress led to two of the biggest hit records of the year 1970. Even iconic DJ Casey Kasem pays us a visit on this episode. A must listen episode for anyone interested in great stories about many, many big hit records and a remarkable career in music.
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Duration:01:07:57
Chris Difford (Squeeze)
2/13/2025
Chris Difford is a founding member and primary lyricist for the UK rock band Squeeze. Celebrating their 50th anniversary as a band in 2024, Squeeze has spent the past half-century recording some of the most notable albums of the New Wave era and beyond with songs, including "Tempted," "Pulling Mussels From Shell," "Cool For Cats," and "Annie Get Your Gun," that have all become worldwide favorites. Working alongside his Squeeze co-founder and its principal music writer Glen Tilbrook, Chris' musical and cultural knowledge and passion runs deep with a love for everyone from The Velvet Underground (whose final studio album would give the band their name) to Damon Runyon (whose characters inspired the long dormant "lost" Squeeze album "Trixie's" - to be released later this year). Apart from his creative work, Chris has also worked as a music manager, most notably managing Roxy Music's Bryan Ferry. Chris, Glen and Squeeze will be on tour again, in the US and the UK, in 2025.
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Duration:00:55:10
Billy Gibbons (ZZ Top)
2/6/2025
Since 1969, Billy Gibbons has been the lead singer, guitar slinger and principal songwriter of the legendary Texas blues-rock band ZZ Top. With his signature smoky growl, 1959 Gibson Les Paul and instantly recognizable chest-length beard, Billy's music has become one of the soundtracks to the history of rock and roll for over six decades. Inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2004, ZZ Top have sold over 50 million records and performed close to 2000 live shows. In this episode, Billy tells us all about his storied career, from growing up in Texas with his bandleader father to meeting his future ZZ Top bandmates on a night that began with Dusty Hill passing out drunk, to bringing the Worldwide Texas tour to life in the late 1970's - a tour that included live buffaloes and rattlesnakes on stage with the band every night. We talk about Billy's friendship with Jimi Hendrix, the night ZZ Top inducted their hero Jimmy Reed into the Rock Hall, and a fateful early gig where the band played an entire show (with encore!) to an audience of only one fan. Billy is a born raconteur and his colorful stories are sure to make you want to re-listen to all of the indelible music he's been sharing with us for over 50 years.
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Duration:01:00:42
Chaka Khan
1/23/2025
Chaka Khan is a true musical icon. Inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2023, Chaka is now celebrating over 50 years of musical excellence. Honored with 10 Grammy Awards, her hits have transcended music genres, embodying the essence of pop, soul, jazz, gospel, classical, and funk. Her career took off in Chicago with the group Rufus and skyrocketed via the Stevie Wonder-penned hit "Tell Me Something Good." This success laid the foundation for an illustrious solo career, beginning with the empowering global anthem "I'm Every Woman." Chaka’s impact on pop culture extends beyond music; she has ventured into theater, made history-making collaborations, and contributed to children's television. Beyond her rich entertainment success, she has mastered the art of business with entrepreneurial ventures, including gourmet chocolates and a signature fragrance, 'Chaka by Chaka Khan.' Her life story is detailed in her autobiography “Through the Fire," serving as a testament to resilience and optimism. Chaka has changed lives through philanthropic efforts focusing on mental health and education. Celebrated by her peers and adored by fans worldwide, she remains a beacon of musical excellence, passion, empowerment, and love, uplifting hearts around the world. She embodies all the qualities of a true legend.
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Duration:00:44:43
Paul Williams
11/9/2023
Paul Williams is one of the most beloved and respected music creators in the world today; a lyricist and composer who has won an Oscar Award, three Grammy Awards, two Golden Globe Awards, an Ivor Novello International Award and earned induction into the Songwriters Hall of Fame, Williams’ timeless classics range from “We’ve Only Just Begun”, “You and Me Against the World” and “The Rainbow Connection” to "Touch" and "Beyond" on Daft Punk’s chart-topping Album of the Year, Random Access Memories on which he also performed, receiving a Grammy as Featured Artist. As President and Chairman of the Board of the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP), he is also a leading spokesman for music creators in the digital age.
In addition to music creators’ rights, Paul is also passionate about recovery, and works tirelessly to destigmatize alcoholism and addiction. Sober 33 years, his humorous observations of life, love, and creativity, augmented by the education and knowledge he gained through his studies and certification from UCLA as a Certified Drug Rehabilitation Counselor, has been shared in a best-selling book co-written by Tracey Jackson, entitled Gratitude and Trust: Six Affirmations That Will Change Your Life. While publicly lauded for his work as a songwriter, author and actor, most recently for his role with Billy Bob Thornton in Goliath, Paul predicts he’ll be remembered for playing Little Enos in the Smokey and the Bandit trilogy and for his lyrics to “The Love Boat” theme.
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Duration:01:04:56
Jason Mraz
10/26/2023
Jason Mraz is a two-time Grammy award winning singer/songwriter, winner of the esteemed Hal David Starlight Award from the Songwriters Hall Of Fame and owner of his own organic home farming organization, Mraz Family Farms. Having sold over 13 million album equivalents, Jason is celebrating the 15th anniversary of his 2008 album We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things, recently reissued as a deluxe 2 vinyl set. He also founded the nonprofit Jason Mraz Foundation, which has a mission of shining for inclusive arts education, food security and the advancement of equality.
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Duration:01:11:53
Danny Goldberg
10/12/2023
Danny Goldberg, President of Gold Village Entertainment, has worked in the music business as a personal manager, record company president, public relations man and journalist since the late 1960s. Goldberg began his career as a music journalist writing for among others Rolling Stone and Billboard Magazine. He later formed and co-owned Modern Records (Stevie Nicks), the artist management firm Gold Mountain Entertainment (Nirvana, Hole, Sonic Youth, Bonnie Raitt, The Allman Brothers, and more), and independent label Artemis Records. He served as President of Atlantic Records and Chairman of Warner Bros. Records, as CEO of Air America Radio and Chair of the ACLU of Southern California.
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Duration:01:41:16
Miles Copeland (Manager, The Police/Owner, IRS Records)
9/28/2023
Miles Copeland, founder of I.R.S. Records, BTM (British Talent Management), Illegal Records, Deptford Fun City Records, New Bristol Records, and Copeland International Arts (C.I.A.). He has worked with The Police, Sting, Berlin, Dead Kennedys, The Cramps, The Go-Gos, Squeeze, R.E.M., The Alarm, and The Bangles, among others.
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Duration:01:24:49
Doc McGhee
9/14/2023
Doc McGhee is a pioneer in the entertainment industry, overseeing the legendary careers of Bon Jovi, Mötley Crüe, and Skid Row. Managing the world-famous band KISS for over two decades, Doc reunited the band for their sold-out ‘96-‘97 Alive Worldwide Tour. With products ranging from coffins, to comic books, to skateboards, to pinball machines, it’s hard to find a product today without KISS on it. Doc has had an amazing history rebranding acts such as Darius Rucker, who he led into being a country sensation, where he revolutionized the way we see country stars today by breaking through various genre and racial stereotypes. Doc has played a key role in the development, execution, and filming of live events that include the Moscow Music Peace Festival, the first stadium rock show in Russia, which was aired worldwide as a top-rated pay-per- view event. As an entrepreneur, he created and ran the entertainment division of Home Shopping Network for five years, was a co-owner of the LA KISS Football team.
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Duration:00:56:29