MARC URSELLI GRAMMY AWARD WINNING ENGINEER-PRODUCER-MIXER-SOUND DESIGNER-FRONT HOUSE ENGINEER SPECIAL GUEST ON INTERVIEWING THE LEGENDS NOVEMBER 17TH

 M A R C

U R S E L L I 

3-time Grammy Award winning engineer, producer, mixer, sound designer and front of house engineer 

 CELEBRATING 

The genius and pioneering influence of

M A R K   B O L A N  and  T. R E X 

 with 

'ANGELHEADED HIPSTER'

Marc Urselli is a 6-time Grammy Award nominated, 3-time Grammy Award winning engineer, producer, mixer, sound designer and front of house engineer Marc Urselli works with artists from around the world.

Marc Urselli has worked with U2, Foo Fighters, Nick Cave, Lou Reed, Sting, Keith Richards, Kesha, Jeff Beck, Les Paul, Buddy Guy, Luther Vandross, Børns, The Black Crowes, Joss Stone, Mike Patton, John Zorn, Jack DeJohnette, Esperanza Spalding, John Patitucci, Laurie Anderson and scores of artists performing rock, pop, metal, jazz, experimental/avantgarde/new music, urban and electronica and classical.
Marc also composes music for film and television, creates sound design for commercials and mixes audio for film and television. He also recorded and mixed more than half a dozen movie soundtracks.
Marc was born in Switzerland and raised in Italy. His musical education began at age 12. At age 17 he opened his first commercial recording facility in Italy. Marc later moved to New York City, where he currently resides and works as Chief House Engineer for the historic & legendary recording studio EastSide Sound.

Marc is a renowned, in-demand freelance producer and engineer. He records and mixes in the highest caliber studios worldwide, including Village Recorders (LA), Capitol Sound (LA), EastWest (LA), Sunset Sound (LA), Sear Sound (NY), Flux (NY), Grouse Lodge (Dublin) and many others.
Marc Urselli is also an entrepreneur, and when he's not in the studio his interests include traveling, kitesurfing, guitars, art, web design and writing.

 AngelHeaded 

Hipster:

The Songs of 

Marc Bolan

 and T.Rex

engineered by Marc Urselli 

Available NOW at amazon.com

Purchase The genius and pioneering influence of Marc Bolan’s T. Rex – 2020 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee and one of the great rock musicians of all time – celebrated with AngelHeaded Hipster: The Songs of Marc Bolan and T.Rex, out now on BMG. The collection features 26 songs culled from Bolan’s vast body of work released as T.Rex and Tyrannosaurus Rex from 1968-77.

AngelHeaded Hipster was lovingly created by the late Hal Willner, who passed away on April 7 from COVID-19. The acclaimed music producer, who “for nearly four decades bent and shaped the dimensions of almost-popular music” (New York Times), produced albums for artists including Lou Reed, Marianne Faithfull, and William S. Burroughs, and concept albums drawing upon the music of Thelonious Monk, Kurt Weill, vintage Disney films and others. He also produced concert events exploring the work of such subjects as Leonard Cohen, Allan Sherman, Neil Young, Edgar Allan Poe, and Tim Buckley, and served as the Saturday Night Live sketch music producer for nearly 40 years.

After his passing, many of the artists who knew Willner best posted tributes to his singular spirit, including Elvis Costello, Bono, Tom Waits, and Nick Cave, who praised Willner’s “limitless imagination” adding “Hal was our visionary, our ringleader, always working against reason itself, armed with a deep love and bottomless knowledge of music.”

Willner, who referred to AngelHeaded Hipster as his ‘White Album’, was eager for everyone to hear these beautiful songs and to start thinking about Bolan and T. Rex again. This album is a testament to Hal’s spirit.”

 For more information

about

M a r c   U r s e l l i

visit

www.marcurselli.com  

Official website

facebook.com/marcurselli

instagram.com/marcurselli

twitter.com/marcursell

linkedin.com/in/marcurselli

 

M A R C 

U R S E L L I

APPEARS

NOVEMBER 17TH 2020

7PM PT/10PM ET

on INTERVIEWING THE LEGENDS

with RAY SHASHO

on BBS RADIO ONE

www.bbsradio.com

MY NEW BOOK IS FINALLY HERE!

ENTITLED

THE

 ROCK STAR

 CHRONICLES

SERIES ONE

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

 …Order yours today on Hardcover or E-book

 at bookbaby.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 Chronicles, by 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

 

 

ARPI ALTO ARMENIAN INTERNET SINGING SENSATION (JULIA ROBERTS LOOK-ALIKE) NOVEMBER 10TH ON INTERVIEWING THE LEGENDS BBS RADIO ONE

A  R  P  I

A  L  T  O

ARMENIAN INTERNET

 SINGING SENSATION 

MISTAKENLY IDENTIFIED AS

 JULIA ROBERTS OLDEST DAUGHTER

FOR HER UNCANNY RESEMBLANCE 
TO PRETTY WOMAN

E X C L U S I V E

HER VERY FIRST INTERVIEW 

IN THE UNITED STATES

Arpine Mikaeli Ter-Petrosyan (born on September 30, 1990), known professionally as Arpi Alto, is a singer, songwriter, musician, performer and record producer from Armenia. She was born in the Armenian capital Yerevan on September 30, 1990, into a family of artists and musicians. Her mother, Anahit Ter Petrosyan, is a musician, jazz artist, music teacher and composer.

Her father, Mikayel Ter Petrosyan, is a sculptor, painter, visual artist, and expert in hand-made carpets. The roots of Arpi’s artistic inclinations lie with her family, and especially her maternal grandmother. Arpi credits her maternal grandmother for creating a colorful and magical fantasy world for Arpi to help cope with war, death, deprivation, and economic hardship in Armenia. Arpi was exposed from a young age to a varied and eclectic mix of musical influences, ranging from traditional Armenian folk songs and classical music to jazz and pop.

Arpi’s formal musical education began in 2000, when she started attending music school. In 2010, at the age of 20, she joined the Armenian State Pedagogical University in Yerevan to study music and received her formal education as a pianist. She graduated with a master’s degree in 2016.

It was during the years of her musical education that Arpi’s unique voice began to draw attention. Arpi’s voice is described as contralto, which is the lowest female voice and lends itself very well to musical categories like classical and jazz.

Arpi’s professional career began in 2011, when she joined the Geghard Vocal Ensemble under the direction of Mher Navoyan and with Anahit Papoyan as conductor. The ensemble has traveled extensively for concerts in Germany, Austria, Finland, France, Czech Republic, Belarus, Poland, Italy, Belgium, Lebanon, Russia, and Sweden. The ensemble has also released three albums:” Armenian Music” (2002), “Armenian Altar” (2005), and “Mystery Deep” (2013). Apri Alto performed with the Geghard Ensemble until 2017. 2013-present: Armenian National Academic State Opera and Ballet Theater In 2013 Apri joined the Armenian National Academic State Opera and Ballet Theatre named after Alexander Spendaryan under the artistic direction and conductorship of Constantine Orbelian.

In the winter of 2019/2020 Arpi began experimenting with solo work outside the framework of musical ensembles, especially jazz and bossa nova classics and Armenian traditional folk songs. In early 2020 Arpi released covers of “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas”, Lana del Rey’s “Doin’ Time”, “What a Difference a Day Makes”, and “The Way You Look Tonight”.

The coronavirus outbreak in the Spring of 2020 gave Arpi the opportunity to expand her solo efforts with more jazz standards and covers of popular classics. The breakthrough came when Arpi’s cover of the Brazilian bossa nova classic “The Girl From Ipanema” (Garota de Ipanema) went viral and boosted Arpi’s fast-growing worldwide audience. After the success of “The Girl From Ipanema”, Arpi launched an indie record company Ginosi Music with cousin Areg Ginosian and his partner Amoor David Avakian.

“The Girl From Ipanema” was followed by renditions of “Happy Happy Birthday Baby”, “Moon River”, and “Over the Rainbow”. Personal Life Arpi lives in the Armenian capital Yerevan with her husband and son.

Arpi has become an internet sensation especially on You Tube. She has an uncanny resemblance to a young Julia Roberts, especially in the Pretty Woman movie and has been mistakenly identified as Julia Roberts older daughter.

For more information

about

ARPI ALTO

 visit

https://ginosimusic.com/arpi-alto

Arpi Alto official website

https://www.facebook.com/arpialto/

Arpi Alto on Facebook

https://twitter.com/arpialto

Arpi Alto on Twitter

https://www.instagram.com/arpialto/

Arpi Alto on Instagram

A R P I 
A L T O
APPEARS
NOVEMBER 10TH 2020
7 PM PACIFIC/10 PM EASTERN
on INTERVIEWING THE LEGENDS
with RAY SHASHO
on BBS RADIO ONE
www.bbsradio.com

MY NEW BOOK IS FINALLY OUT!

ENTITLED

THE

 ROCK STAR 

CHRONICLES

SERIES ONE

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

 …Order yours today on Hardcover or E-book  

at bookbaby.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 Chronicles, by 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

MARK FARNER LEGENDARY ALL-AMERICAN ROCKER:GRAND FUNK RAILROAD/MARK FARNER'S AMERICAN BAND/NOV 3RD 2020 ON INTERVIEWING THE LEGENDS-BBS RADIO ONE

M   A   R   K

F   A   R   N   E   R

LEGENDARY GUITARIST-SINGER-SONGWRITER

WITH

G R A N D   F U N K  R A I L R O A D

AND

M A R K   F A R N E R 'S 

A M E R I C A N   B A N D

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

Legendary all-American frontman and guitarist, Mark Farner, was the engine that pulled the original Grand Funk Railroad repeatedly to the top of the charts, and today he’s a platinum recording artist 30 times over. At age 71, Farner commands the stage with the same intensity and outpouring of love as he did during the summer of ’69 and his fans are still flocking to see “the Captain.” The rock patriot’s synergy and open heart still come through in epic hits that defined a generation including— “I’m Your Captain” (Closer to Home)”  “We’re An American Band” “Heartbreaker” “Bad Time To Be In Love” and recut covers of  “The Loco-Motion” and “Some Kind of Wonderful.”  Being viewed as a “Rockstar” is only one facet of the legacy of this Michigan-born son.

  Mark is as real as they get: he’s a husband, a father, and grandfather, and in his fourth decade of marriage to wife Lesia. He’s a true family man.

“I think our fans originally connected to our songs because we were sincere” Farner said. “My lyrics were about Mother Earth, stopping the war, and all about love. They still have a point of reference with me in their heart.”

After the 1969 Atlantic Pop Festival put Grand Funk Railroad on the fast track, the band topped the Billboard Chart twice with both the anthem “We’re an American Band” (1973) and 1974’s “The Loco-Motion.” The Flint, Michigan trio reached the top 10 again with “Some Kind of Wonderful” (No. 3) and “Bad Time” (No. 4) before GFR disbanded for the first time in 1976. Farner briefly rejoined Grand Funk during the 1980s and 1990s and he has collaborated with many other artists over the years.  However, his focus has been to forge an enduring solo career based upon bringing his message of love to his fans in all corners of the world.

“Love is unconditional,” he explains. “Just like when you hold a baby, the love transfers. I feel that love from the audience when I’m on stage.”

The son of a World War II veteran, four-time bronze star recipient and career fireman, Farner also knows the importance of brotherhood and commitment. On his mother’s side, he champions his Cherokee heritage and the fact that his mother was the first woman welder in the United States to weld on a tank during World War 2. It just so happened to be the same type of Sherman tanks his father drove. Farner’s work on and off the stage is focused on honoring service personnel and veterans and offering support to American farmers, individuals with disabilities, and downtrodden populations.

Farner, the rock patriot that he is, works tirelessly to honor our nation’s service personnel and Veterans wherever they are stationed. He wants everyone to remember the huge sacrifices our men and women in the armed services freely give; all to protect our amazing country and freedoms. 

Over 50 years later something magical still happens when Farner takes the stage.  His voice is still strong and on key, his guitar playing still slick and lighting quick, and his trademark prancing still commands the stage and mesmerizes his audiences around the world.

“I love playing live where I can connect with people of all backgrounds,” he said. “It’s all about the fans…and all about love.”

For more information about

MARK FARNER

visit

www.markfarner.com

Mark Farner Official Website

https://www.facebook.com/MarkFarnerAmericanBand/

Mark Farner's American Band on Facebook

Twitter:  @REALMARKFARNER

YouTube: Mark Farner

Instagram: markfarners_americanband

Mark Farner's Mid-Michigan Flood Relief

Gofundme Page

Mark Farner Launches Mid-Michigan Flood Relief GoFundMe (Petoskey, Mich.) Legendary rock and roll guitarist and front man, Mark Farner, is helping those closer to home. This weekend he launched a GoFundMe campaign for his Michigan neighbors called the Mid-Michigan Flood Relief. The goal is to raise $25,000 to donate to the American Red Cross’ efforts to the areas affected by the Midland County flooding. Farner and his wife, Lesia, were the first to donate with $2,000.

 Link to the Mark Farner Mid-Michigan Flood Relief GoFundMe here… gf.me/u/x4b4v6

http://www.moxiepublicity.com/

moxie publicity official website

MARK FARNER

DISCOGRAPHY

Studio albums

Mark Farner, 1977

No Frills, 1978

Just Another Injustice, 1988

Wake Up..., 1989

Some Kind of Wonderful, 1991

For the People, 2006

With Grand Funk Railroad

On Time (1969)

Grand Funk (1969)

Closer to Home (1970)

Live Album (1970)

Survival (1971)

E Pluribus Funk (1971)

Phoenix (1972)

We're an American Band (1973)

Shinin' On (1974)

All the Girls in the World Beware!!! (1974)

Born to Die (1976)

Good Singin', Good Playin' (1976)

Grand Funk Lives (1981)

What's Funk? (1983)

Bosnia (1996)

Other albums

Closer to Home, 1992 (best-of)

Heirlooms: The Complete Atlantic Sessions, 2000 (re-release of Farner's two first studio albums)

Red White and Blue Forever, 2002 (mini-album)

Live!! N'rG, 2003

Mark Farner the Rock Patriot, March 9, 2003 Live Extended Versions

M A R K   F A R N E R 

APPEARS

NOVEMBER 3RD 2020

7 PM PACIFIC/10 PM EASTERN

on INTERVIEWING THE LEGENDS 

with RAY SHASHO

BBS RADIO ONE

www.bbsradio.com

MY NEW BOOK IS FINALLY OUT!

ENTITLED

THE 

ROCK STAR 

CHRONICLES

SERIES ONE

CHRONICLES, TRUTHS, CONFESSIONS AND WISDOM FROM THE MUSIC LEGENDS 

THAT SET US FREE

…Order yours today on 

Hardcover or E-book

 at bookbaby.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 Chronicles, by 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

Author Interview

 - Ray Shasho

By Literary Titan

The Rock Star Chronicles uses your interviews with rock legends to humanize them and preserve their contribution to the genre. Why was this an important book for you to write?

I was fortunate to have lived through two of the greatest decades for music. It was a time when radio played incredible music and rock concerts were a bargain and a happening thing to do. Rock groups featured incredibly talented musicians with guitarists and lead singers in the spotlight. There has never been a generation to match that period of music expertise and staying power. I wanted the reader to understand and realize how great a talent they really were and still are. Especially to wannabe musicians and the young. Many of the artists I have interviewed have passed on and others nearing retirement. It was important to me to tell their stories at a vulnerable period in their lives and be recognized as the greatest music legends the world will ever know.

What is one interview in this book that stands out as the most exciting one you had?

Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull has always been a rock hero to me. He has written and performed complex music and always had an incredible stage presence. Going to a Tull concert back in the day was a huge event. I will admit the first time I interviewed Ian Anderson I was quite nervous. I remember when the phone rang for the interview, I thought, that’s Jethro Tull calling me! During the second interview I got him to chat about politics, religion, ancestry, and world events. I tried not to ask the same mundane music questions that have been asked of him many hundreds of times. He was intellectual and I was on my best game that day.

What do you think is one thing modern musicians have to learn from the icons of the rock and roll genre?

Bands must perform live. All the legends started performing at school dances, bars, clubs, and anywhere they could be seen by an audience big or small. If they are talented eventually someone will give them a break, but it will not be easy. Having a You Tube video with a lot of page views is a start, but it will never have the impact of playing in front of live audiences.

What do you find is a common misconception people have about music?

People that pay big money to watch an artist lip sync on stage and still call it a great show. Music lovers who go see a legendary rock band and there are no original members in the band. Ringo Starr would never bill himself as The Beatles, instead he created an All-Starr band. All generations need to do a little homework before purchasing expensive tickets to concerts nowadays. My book will certainly help identify who the real legends are.

Music is a universal language that we all share and cherish.