Tuesday, November 30, 2021

BILLY COBHAM LEGENDARY JAZZ FUSION DRUMMER EXCLUSIVE LIVE ZOOM TV INTERVIEW WITH RAY SHASHO ON INTERVIEWING THE LEGENDS


B  I  L  L  Y

C  O  B  H  A  M

LEGENDARY JAZZ FUSION

 DRUMMER

EXCLUSIVE

 LIVE ZOOM TV INTERVIEW


William C. Cobham was born on May 16, 1944, in Panama where he grew fond of percussion from watching his cousin play. At age three, his family moved to New York City and at age eight Billy made his percussion performance debut with his father. Growing up Billy played in the St. Catherine's Queensmen at the High School of Music and Art. After graduating Billy served as a percussionist in the U.S. Army National band. He then played as a drummer in pianist Horace Silver's band and toured the U.S. with him throughout the late 1960s. 

He then left to partake in Miles Davis' fusion ensemble where he can be heard on Davis classics such as 'Like-Evil' and 'A Tribute to Jack Johnson'. Eventually Cobham parted ways from Davis' group to work with the Mahavishnu Orchestra, where he was able to further explore his technique and fusion style which influenced many for years to come. After deciding to part ways with the Orchestra, Cobham started his own band, Spectrum and signed with Atlantic Records. Spectrum's debut album featured a mix of jazz, funk and rock that allowed Cobham to further experiment with percussion. In 1975, Cobham released "A Funky Thide of Sings" moving into commercial jazz exclusively.
In 1977, Cobham left Atlantic and signed to CBS label which allowed him to reach the commercial success he had always wanted. Cobham focused on his opportunities as a session drummer and other side opportunities after leaving CBS, such as drumming for the Grateful Dead's side project Bobby & the Midnites. In 1988, Cobham helped start a group called 'Jazz is Dead' which reprised Grateful Dead music with jazz iterations.
 
In 2001 Cobham was named one of the 25 Most Influential Drummers by Modern Drummer magazine. He paved the way for future drummers by changing the way percussion is set up, the way it is played and enjoyed. In 2001 Cobham released "Drum 'n Voice 1" which was his return to the 1970s jazz-funk sound and then in 2006 Cobham released "Drum 'n Voice 2" eventually Cobham released his follow up record "Drum 'n Voice 3" in 2009.
In 2011 Cobham started teaching drums online at the Billy Cobham School of Drums which is a ArtistWorks Drum Academy. In 2018 Cobham toured across the US a performance series called "Crosswinds Project" which was his way of revisiting his second album, Crosswinds. The tour re-comprised his original work from the 1970's which continued into 2019 as a celebration of Cobham's 75th birthday. 
Cobham continues to tour worldwide.


Purchase 

the latest release

 by

BILLY COBHAM

Tierra Del Fuego

at

www.billycobham.com/merchandise



Billy Cobham's

Masterclass Series


A Guide to 

Stress-Free

 Drumming

Legendary drummer Billy Cobham is opening his musical world up in a first-of-its-kind exclusive online workshop series:

 Billy Cobham’s Guide

 to Stress-Free Drumming. 

In a series of 3 three-hour workshops, Cobham and a group of hand-picked guests will teach the art of playing “simply but effectively.” Cobham and his guests will explore how to be the pulse, creating a foundation to support your fellow musicians while injecting your musical history and unique voice into your performance. 

These masterclasses will include a Q&A session, giving participants a chance to personally interact with one of the greatest drummers in the world.

The Opportunity of a Lifetime!

3-Hour Masterclass Zoom Sessions

Q&A with the Instructor

Limited to Just 100 Participants

Exclusive Drumless Play-Alongs

 

For more information 

visit

www.billycobham.com

or email
info@billycobham.com


For additional information

about

BILLY COBHAM

Visit

www.billycobham.com

official website

www.facebook.com/officialbillycobham

facebook

https://twitter.com/gladbash

twitter

 

BILLY COBHAM

Discography

As leader

Spectrum (1973)

Crosswinds (1974)

TotalEclipse (1974)

Shabazz [live] (1974)

AFunkyThideofSings (1975)

Life & Times (1976)

The Billy Cobham–GeorgeDuke Band: "Live" on Tour in Europe (1976)

Magic (1977)

Alivemutherforya [live] with SteveKhan, AlphonsoJohnson and TomScott (1978)

Inner Conflicts (1978)

Simplicity of Expression: Depth of Thought (1978)

B.C. (1979)

Live: Flight Time [live] (1980)

Stratus (1981)

Observations&Reflections (1982)

Billy Cobham's Glass Menagerie: Smokin’ [live] (Electra, 1982)

Warning (1985)

Consortium with Johannes Faber (1985)

Power Play (1986)

Best Of (1987)

Picture This (1987)

Incoming (1989)

No Filters w/Wolfgang Schmid (1990)

By Design (1992)

The Traveler (1994)

Nordic (1996)

Paradox (1996)

Paradox, The First Second [live] (1998)

Mississippi Nights Live [live] (1998)

Focused (1998)

Ensemble New Hope Street (1999)

Nordic: Off Color (1999)

North by NorthWest (2001)

Drum 'n' Voice (2002)

TheArtofThree [live] (2002)

Many Years B.C. [compilation] (2002)

Culture Mix (2002)

The Art of Five (2004)

Caravaggio w/Massimo Colombo (2005)

Art of Four [live] (2006)

Drum 'n' Voice 2 (2006)

Fruit from the Loom (2007)

De Cuba y de Panama with Asere (2008)

Palindrome (2010)

Drum 'n' Voice 3 (Spring 2010)

Tales From The Skeleton Coast (2014)

Spectrum 40 Live (2015)

Compass Point (2013)

Drum 'n' Voice 4 (2016)

Broad Horizon with Frankfurt Radio Big Band (2016)

Time Lapse Photos (2019)

Tierra Del Fuego (2020)








BILLY COBHAM

APPEARS WEEK OF

JANUARY 14TH 2022

on INTERVIEWING THE LEGENDS

with RAY SHASHO

STREAMING at

THE CLASSIC ROCK MUSIC REPORTER

(classicrockmusicwriter.com)

Classic Rock Here And Now

Music Tried And True

Facebook LIVE

YouTube




RAY’S BEST-SELLING BOOK

ENTITLED

THE ROCK STAR CHRONICLES

SERIES ONE

CHRONICLES, TRUTHS, CONFESSIONS AND WISDOM FROM THE MUSIC LEGENDS THAT SET US FREE

BY RAY SHASHO



 …Order yours today on (Collector edition) Hardcover  or E-book  at bookbaby.com and amazon.com

Featuring over 45 intimate conversations with some of the greatest rock legends the world will ever know.

CHRIS SQUIRE... DR. JOHN... GREG LAKE... HENRY MCCULLOUGH... JACK BRUCE … JOE LALA…  JOHNNY WINTER... KEITH EMERSON... PAUL KANTNER...  RAY THOMAS... RONNIE MONTROSE... TONY JOE WHITE... DAVID CLAYTON-THOMAS… MIKE LOVE... TOMMY ROE... BARRY HAY... CHRIS THOMPSON... JESSE COLIN YOUNG... JOHN KAY... JULIAN LENNON... MARK LINDSAY... MICKY DOLENZ… PETER RIVERA ...TOMMY JAMES… TODD RUNDGREN... DAVE MASON... EDGAR WINTER... FRANK MARINO... GREGG ROLIE... IAN ANDERSON... JIM “DANDY” MANGRUM... JON ANDERSON... LOU GRAMM... MICK BOX... RANDY BACHMAN… ROBIN TROWER...  ROGER FISHER... STEVE HACKETT... ANNIE HASLAM… ‘MELANIE’ SAFKA... PETULA CLARK... SUZI QUATRO... COLIN BLUNSTONE… DAVE DAVIES... JIM McCARTY... PETE BEST


THE ROCK STAR CHRONICLES

BOOK TRAILER

 

BOOK REVIEW

-By Literary Titan (5) STARS


The Rock Star Chroniclesby Ray Shasho, is a splendid book written by a music enthusiast who has poured their heart and soul into it. It’s a story of a boy who loved rock music, and his obsessive passion of it earned himself the name Rock Raymond. He went to school but instead was schooled in all matters of music while his peers were buried chin-deep in coursework. He then became a radio DJ and has now compiled a book on all interviews he held with Rock gods who raided the airwaves back in the 70s and 80s. It’s a compilation of interviews with outstanding vocalists, legendary guitarists and crazy drummers in the rock music scene. Each interview gives a reader an in-depth view into their personal lives and the philosophies that guide their lives which all serve to humanize these great icons. For readers who are old enough to call themselves baby boomers this book will bring old memories back to life. Millennials, on the other hand, may think of this book as a literal work of the Carpool Karaoke show. 

The Rock Star Chronicles is a book I didn’t know I was waiting for. To come across a book that will talk me into trying something new. One brave enough to incite me to venture into new frontiers. This book made me a believer- I am now a bona fide Rock and Roll music fan. 

Ray Shasho masterfully gets the interviewees talking. He smartly coaxes answers from them with crafty questions designed to get a story rolling out of them. The artists talk about diverse issues ranging from music, politics, and their social engagements. Having been on the music seen all his life, Ray Shasho knows the buttons to press, how to get them comfortable about talking about their lives. 

The book’s cover is befitting of its subject matter with the leather look offering a royal background to the golden letter print. It speaks to how high a level rock music holds in the pecking order- arguably, modern music as we know it has originated from blues and rock music.  The second noteworthy thing is the use of high-definition pictures to reference the musician being interviewed in every sub-chapter. This ensures that the book is for both original rock and roll lovers and aspiring new ones. Together is makes for a refreshing and consistently enjoyable read.

I recommend this book to rock music enthusiasts, aspiring musicians wondering what it takes and all readers curious to learn new things by going back in time.

https://literarytitan.com/2020/05/03/literary-titan-book-awards-may-2020/   Gold Award Winner



MORE BOOKS BY RAY SHASHO




Thursday, November 25, 2021

LESLIE MANDOKI & MANDOKI SOULMATES RELEASE NEW PROGRESSIVE ROCK VISUAL ALBUM 'UTOPIA FOR REALISTS' EXCLUSIVE ZOOM TV INTERVIEW WITH RAY SHASHO

 

LESLIE MANDOKI

Singer, Drummer, Record Producer, 

and Founder 

of MANDOKI SOULMATES

UTOPIA FOR REALISTS:

 MANDOKI SOULMATES: 

NEW PROGRESSIVE ROCK 

VISUAL ALBUM

EXCLUSIVE LIVE ZOOM TV INTERVIEW


Running together through a tunnel to escape Communism for freedom tends to make for life-long bonds. For Leslie Mandoki and Gábor Csupo these bonds have now come to fruition in ways that are the things of dreams. This is the story of the new world-wide, multi-format release on the Sony Inside Out label of Mandoki Soulmates “Utopia for Realists,” in which Leslie Mandoki’s culturally relevant, socially aware prog-rock, flavored with the virtuosity of jazz-rock, is tightly integrated with visionary concepts from world-famous animator Gábor Csupo for Mandoki’s magnum opus “Hungarian Pictures,” inspired by the music of Béla Bartók.
Gábor Csupo
 In 1975, three Hungarians—Mandoki and Csupo, along with Leslie’s musician friend László Bencker—ran through that tunnel to freedom and new lives. Gábor Csupo founded the animation studio Klasky Csupo in Hollywood, producing era-defining shows such as The Simpsons, Rugrats and Duckman. At the refugee camp, Leslie Mandoki had the audacity to tell the resettlement officer that he come to the West to play music with Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull and Al Di Meola, world-renown jazz-fusion guitarist. Stunningly, both Anderson and Di Meola became founding members 30 years ago of the Mandoki Soulmates band.
 
With his Soulmates, including over the years many of the brightest lights of progressive rock and jazz, Mandoki has created a sophisticated and mature new music, combining the intellectual and artistic essence of British prog-rock with the virtuosic brilliance of the New York jazz-rock and fusion scene. Mandoki and Csupo have now collaborated to create the extraordinary new release “Utopia for Realists” based on the Mandoki Soulmates concert marking the 30th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall.
Csupo’s brilliant idea was to merge high-end animations based on Bartók’s favorite Hungarian paintings with film scenes ofthe Carpathian lowlands, where the composer was inspired by traditional folk songs. The result is a wonderful visual reflection of the joyful music being created on stage and in the studio. 
This new and unique “Visual Album” brings these Hungarian Soulmates together again to create a thrilling and joyful holistic experience for the eyes, ears, and soul.

PURCHASE

MANDOKI

SOULMATES


UTOPIA FOR REALISTS


New Progressive Rock

 Visual Album

Entitled "Utopia for Realists", the BluRay “Hungarian Pictures” presents a completely new audio-visual work. It fuses the concert film of our epic Prog Rock suite “Hungarian Pictures”, which we performed to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, with top-class animated paintings and atmospherically condensed shots of the Hungarian landscapes merged with film scenes of the recording sessions in the studio.

The package is completed by an audiophile CD with the original studio recordings of the Prog Rock suite. Available as a Limited CD/Blu-ray Media book, Gatefold 2LP + CD + LP-booklet, Standard CD Jewel case & as Digital Album. On ‘Utopia For Realists: Hungarian Pictures’, Leslie Mandoki plays together with Ian Anderson (Jethro Tull), Jack Bruce (Cream), Nick van Eede (Cutting Crew), Chris Thompson (Manfred Mann’s Earth Band), Bobby Kimball (Toto), David Clayton-Thomas (Blood, Sweat and Tears), John Helliwell (Supertramp), Al di Meola, Mike Stern, Randy Brecker, Till Brönner, Bill Evans, Cory Henry, Richard Bona, Tony Carey (Ritchie Blackmores Rainbow), Jesse Siebenberg (Supertramp), Steve Bailey, and Julia Mandoki. Mandoki Soulmates staged a global live stream event earlier this year which has achieved over half a million plays on Youtube and over 700.000 on Germany's leading TV channel ARD since its release. Watch it in full here: https://youtu.be/gDDpdhuC4Rg 

Available at

www.insideoutshop.de/Artist/Mandoki_Soulmates/22514

and amazon.com

NEW SINGLE "THE TORCH"

For more information about 

MANDOKI SOULMATES VISIT

www.mandoki-soulmates.com

official website

www.utopiaforrealists.mandoki-soulmates.com

new album website

www.facebook.com/mandoki.soulmates

facebook

www.instagram.com/themandokisoulmates

instagram


LESLIE MANDOKI

Discography

Back to Myself (Jupiter, 1982)

Children of Hope (Gong, 1986)

Strangers in a Paradise (Titan, 1988)

Drums and Percussion (Selected Sound, 1991)

Out of Key...with the Time (Electrola, 1992)

People in Room No. 8 (PolyGram, 1997)

Soulmates (Paroli, 2002)

Soulmates Classic (Sony, 2003)

Legends of Rock (Paroli, 2005)

Aquarelle (NEO, 2009)

BudaBest (Sony, 2013)

 

MANDOKI SOULMATES

 DISCOGRAPHY

Soulmates Paroli Records -2002               

Soulmates Classic Red-Rock Music, Sony Music -2003            

Legends of Rock Sony Music, Paroli Records  -2004      

Aquarelle album Sony Music -2009         

BudaBest Sony Music -2013              

Living In The Gap + Hungarian Pictures         Red Rock Production -2019                  

Utopia For Realists (Hungarian Pictures) Inside Out Music -2021

 







LESLIE MANDOKI

APPEARS WEEK OF

JANUARY 7TH 2022

on INTERVIEWING THE LEGENDS

with RAY SHASHO

STREAMING at

THE CLASSIC ROCK MUSIC REPORTER

(classicrockmusicwriter.com)

Classic Rock Here And Now

Music Tried And True

Facebook LIVE

YouTube




RAY’S BEST-SELLING BOOK

ENTITLED

THE ROCK STAR CHRONICLES

SERIES ONE

CHRONICLES, TRUTHS, CONFESSIONS AND WISDOM FROM THE MUSIC LEGENDS THAT SET US FREE

BY RAY SHASHO



 …Order yours today on (Collector edition) Hardcover  or E-book  at bookbaby.com and amazon.com

Featuring over 45 intimate conversations with some of the greatest rock legends the world will ever know.

CHRIS SQUIRE... DR. JOHN... GREG LAKE... HENRY MCCULLOUGH... JACK BRUCE … JOE LALA…  JOHNNY WINTER... KEITH EMERSON... PAUL KANTNER...  RAY THOMAS... RONNIE MONTROSE... TONY JOE WHITE... DAVID CLAYTON-THOMAS… MIKE LOVE... TOMMY ROE... BARRY HAY... CHRIS THOMPSON... JESSE COLIN YOUNG... JOHN KAY... JULIAN LENNON... MARK LINDSAY... MICKY DOLENZ… PETER RIVERA ...TOMMY JAMES… TODD RUNDGREN... DAVE MASON... EDGAR WINTER... FRANK MARINO... GREGG ROLIE... IAN ANDERSON... JIM “DANDY” MANGRUM... JON ANDERSON... LOU GRAMM... MICK BOX... RANDY BACHMAN… ROBIN TROWER...  ROGER FISHER... STEVE HACKETT... ANNIE HASLAM… ‘MELANIE’ SAFKA... PETULA CLARK... SUZI QUATRO... COLIN BLUNSTONE… DAVE DAVIES... JIM McCARTY... PETE BEST


THE ROCK STAR CHRONICLES

BOOK TRAILER

 

BOOK REVIEW

-By Literary Titan (5) STARS


The Rock Star Chroniclesby Ray Shasho, is a splendid book written by a music enthusiast who has poured their heart and soul into it. It’s a story of a boy who loved rock music, and his obsessive passion of it earned himself the name Rock Raymond. He went to school but instead was schooled in all matters of music while his peers were buried chin-deep in coursework. He then became a radio DJ and has now compiled a book on all interviews he held with Rock gods who raided the airwaves back in the 70s and 80s. It’s a compilation of interviews with outstanding vocalists, legendary guitarists and crazy drummers in the rock music scene. Each interview gives a reader an in-depth view into their personal lives and the philosophies that guide their lives which all serve to humanize these great icons. For readers who are old enough to call themselves baby boomers this book will bring old memories back to life. Millennials, on the other hand, may think of this book as a literal work of the Carpool Karaoke show. 

The Rock Star Chronicles is a book I didn’t know I was waiting for. To come across a book that will talk me into trying something new. One brave enough to incite me to venture into new frontiers. This book made me a believer- I am now a bona fide Rock and Roll music fan. 

Ray Shasho masterfully gets the interviewees talking. He smartly coaxes answers from them with crafty questions designed to get a story rolling out of them. The artists talk about diverse issues ranging from music, politics, and their social engagements. Having been on the music seen all his life, Ray Shasho knows the buttons to press, how to get them comfortable about talking about their lives. 

The book’s cover is befitting of its subject matter with the leather look offering a royal background to the golden letter print. It speaks to how high a level rock music holds in the pecking order- arguably, modern music as we know it has originated from blues and rock music.  The second noteworthy thing is the use of high-definition pictures to reference the musician being interviewed in every sub-chapter. This ensures that the book is for both original rock and roll lovers and aspiring new ones. Together is makes for a refreshing and consistently enjoyable read.

I recommend this book to rock music enthusiasts, aspiring musicians wondering what it takes and all readers curious to learn new things by going back in time.

https://literarytitan.com/2020/05/03/literary-titan-book-awards-may-2020/   Gold Award Winner



MORE BOOKS BY RAY SHASHO



Friday, November 19, 2021

JOHN McEUEN LEGENDARY MUSICIAN AND FOUNDING MEMBER OF THE NITTY GRITTY DIRT BAND EXCLUSIVE ZOOM TV INTERVIEW WITH RAY SHASHO

 J O H N

M C E U E N

'THE STRING WIZARD'

MULTI-INSTRUMENTALIST-SINGER-SONGWRITER-PRODUCER-AUTHOR

FOUNDING MEMBER OF

 THE NITTY GRITTY DIRT BAND

EXCLUSIVE LIVE ZOOM TV INTERVIEW

John McEuen has been a “professional performer” since 1962, working as a magician in Disneyland’s Magic Shop as a teenager. Music soon came along, which led to his long and varied career first solo, then as a founding member of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band in 1966. Over 10,000 concerts and 300 television shows throughout more than 3 million miles - with the band and as a solo performer – John has pursued his passion for performing and recording.

John left NGDB at the end of their 50th year touring to focus on the demand for his solo performing and projects. Beyond performing, he concurrently has a rich history of creating, producing and preserving original and traditional folk and acoustic music, and taking it to new audiences. McEuen has made over 40 albums (7 solo) that have earned four platinum and five gold recognition awards, Grammy nominations, CMA and ACM awards, an Emmy nomination, IBMA record of the year award, and performed on another 25 albums as guest artist. He's also produced another 7 albums, and 14 film scores (two Emmy nominated shows) and more than 300 concerts throughout his career - the first in 1965 in Long Beach Calif., with Bob Dylan.

 
In April of 2018 John officially became an author, with his first book The Life I’ve Picked being published (On Chicago Review Press). A memoire, a telling of incredible stories from raising 6 kids in the music business and the ins and outs of being an iconic band member to being a single father to his current full and varied career, his book takes the reader on his unusual journey.

Purchase

JOHN McEUEN

THE LIFE I'VE PICKED 

A BANJO PLAYER'S 

 NITTY GRITTY

 JOURNEY

John McEuen is one of the founding members of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, NGDB. Now 50-years strong, the band is best known for its evergreen bestselling album Will the Circle Be Unbroken and for its gorgeous version of the song “Mr. Bojangles.” McEuen is one of the seminal figures who conceived and originated the fusion of folk, rock and country, a unique sound still hugely popular today.

Available at amazon.com

Also

JOHN McEUEN

latest solo release

ROOTS MUSIC

MADE IN 

BROOKLYN

John McEuen brings together friends met in music from his 50 years of road travels, people he has played with on stage and/or studio, but most of them did not know each other!" All have been instrumental in molding Americana Music in their own right. McEuen invited these talented musicians and vocalists to join him to celebrate traditional recording style - but in state-of-the-art hi-definition - and make lifetime memories with new musical moments. The hi-def studio project was recorded in a Brooklyn church.

Also available at amazon.com


For more information

About

JOHN McEUEN

Visit

www.johnmceuen.com

official website

www.facebook.com/JohnMcEuenMusic

facebook

https://twitter.com/johnmceuenngdb

twitter

www.instagram.com/johnmceuenofficial

Instagram


THE NITTY GRITTY DIRT BAND

DISCOGRAPHY

The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band

Ricochet

Rare Junk

Uncle Charlie & His Dog Teddy

All the Good Times

Stars & Stripes Forever

Symphonion Dream

The Dirt Band

An American Dream

Make a Little Magic

Jealousy

Let's Go

Plain Dirt Fashion

Partners, Brothers and Friends

Hold On

Workin' Band

The Rest of the Dream

Not Fade Away

Acoustic

The Christmas Album

Bang, Bang, Bang

Welcome to Woody Creek

Speed of Life









JOHN McEUEN

APPEARS WEEK OF

DECEMBER 4TH 2021

on INTERVIEWING THE LEGENDS

with RAY SHASHO

STREAMING at

THE CLASSIC ROCK MUSIC REPORTER

(classicrockmusicwriter.com)

Classic Rock Here And Now

Music Tried And True

Facebook LIVE

YouTube




RAY’S BEST-SELLING BOOK

ENTITLED

THE ROCK STAR CHRONICLES

SERIES ONE

CHRONICLES, TRUTHS, CONFESSIONS AND WISDOM FROM THE MUSIC LEGENDS THAT SET US FREE

BY RAY SHASHO



 …Order yours today on (Collector edition) Hardcover  or E-book  at bookbaby.com and amazon.com

Featuring over 45 intimate conversations with some of the greatest rock legends the world will ever know.

CHRIS SQUIRE... DR. JOHN... GREG LAKE... HENRY MCCULLOUGH... JACK BRUCE … JOE LALA…  JOHNNY WINTER... KEITH EMERSON... PAUL KANTNER...  RAY THOMAS... RONNIE MONTROSE... TONY JOE WHITE... DAVID CLAYTON-THOMAS… MIKE LOVE... TOMMY ROE... BARRY HAY... CHRIS THOMPSON... JESSE COLIN YOUNG... JOHN KAY... JULIAN LENNON... MARK LINDSAY... MICKY DOLENZ… PETER RIVERA ...TOMMY JAMES… TODD RUNDGREN... DAVE MASON... EDGAR WINTER... FRANK MARINO... GREGG ROLIE... IAN ANDERSON... JIM “DANDY” MANGRUM... JON ANDERSON... LOU GRAMM... MICK BOX... RANDY BACHMAN… ROBIN TROWER...  ROGER FISHER... STEVE HACKETT... ANNIE HASLAM… ‘MELANIE’ SAFKA... PETULA CLARK... SUZI QUATRO... COLIN BLUNSTONE… DAVE DAVIES... JIM McCARTY... PETE BEST



THE ROCK STAR CHRONICLES

BOOK TRAILER

 

BOOK REVIEW

-By Literary Titan (5) STARS


The Rock Star Chroniclesby Ray Shasho, is a splendid book written by a music enthusiast who has poured their heart and soul into it. It’s a story of a boy who loved rock music, and his obsessive passion of it earned himself the name Rock Raymond. He went to school but instead was schooled in all matters of music while his peers were buried chin-deep in coursework. He then became a radio DJ and has now compiled a book on all interviews he held with Rock gods who raided the airwaves back in the 70s and 80s. It’s a compilation of interviews with outstanding vocalists, legendary guitarists and crazy drummers in the rock music scene. Each interview gives a reader an in-depth view into their personal lives and the philosophies that guide their lives which all serve to humanize these great icons. For readers who are old enough to call themselves baby boomers this book will bring old memories back to life. Millennials, on the other hand, may think of this book as a literal work of the Carpool Karaoke show. 

The Rock Star Chronicles is a book I didn’t know I was waiting for. To come across a book that will talk me into trying something new. One brave enough to incite me to venture into new frontiers. This book made me a believer- I am now a bona fide Rock and Roll music fan. 

Ray Shasho masterfully gets the interviewees talking. He smartly coaxes answers from them with crafty questions designed to get a story rolling out of them. The artists talk about diverse issues ranging from music, politics, and their social engagements. Having been on the music seen all his life, Ray Shasho knows the buttons to press, how to get them comfortable about talking about their lives. 

The book’s cover is befitting of its subject matter with the leather look offering a royal background to the golden letter print. It speaks to how high a level rock music holds in the pecking order- arguably, modern music as we know it has originated from blues and rock music.  The second noteworthy thing is the use of high-definition pictures to reference the musician being interviewed in every sub-chapter. This ensures that the book is for both original rock and roll lovers and aspiring new ones. Together is makes for a refreshing and consistently enjoyable read.

I recommend this book to rock music enthusiasts, aspiring musicians wondering what it takes and all readers curious to learn new things by going back in time.

https://literarytitan.com/2020/05/03/literary-titan-book-awards-may-2020/   Gold Award Winner



MORE BOOKS BY RAY SHASHO