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This is a local Long Island Podcast given by a veteran drummer on the Long Island music scene. We have a variety of local professional musicians as participants. We joke, give insights and share stories about our over 4 decades of experience in the music profession.
26 Episodes
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Send us a text Reuniting with my old friend Matt Miller after over two decades was like stepping back into our shared musical past. Matt, son of the legendary drummer Al Miller, shares his journey from a childhood immersed in rhythm to navigating the vibrant music scenes of North Texas and New York. We explore whether musical talent truly runs in the family and how the pressures of performing young have shaped him. Matt's reflections on drumming as a form of expression reveal the complex moti...
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Send us a text Join us for a nostalgic journey through the decades with Ken Talve, a gifted guitarist and my bandmate in the Ken Talve Trio. Ken opens up about his musical evolution, starting from his high school days when he was mesmerized by the blues and iconic bands like the Allman Brothers. Together, we reminisce about our days in the city lofts, endless rehearsals, and unforgettable club gigs that shaped our vibrant musical careers. With candid tales and a shared love for creating origi...
Send us a text Reconnecting with an old friend can be a heartwarming and enlightening experience. Imagine being separated for 15 years and then finding yourselves together again, not just as friends but as musicians who once shared the stage. This episode brings you the remarkable story of how I, John Simeone, reunited with the talented Al Quinn, our keyboard player from the band Street Life. Listen as we laugh and reflect on our unexpected reunion at Wildwood State Park and Al’s early days, ...
Send us a text What happens when a love for music meets the classroom? Join me and my longtime friend, Joel Levy, as we reminisce about our musical adventures from the 1980s and dive into Joel's incredible journey from Syracuse to the stage. You'll hear about Joel's early days playing the clarinet in fourth grade, his switch to the saxophone, and the unforgettable moment at the Eastman Theater that solidified his decision to make music his career. Joel's story is a testament to the power of d...
Send us a textWhat happens when a high school jazz band drummer from Vermont decides to take a spontaneous leap of faith and move to New York City? Join us as we chat with Sam Merrick, the talented drummer for the Broadway show "And Juliet," who shares his incredible journey. From local gigs in Boston while pursuing a communications degree at Boston University to a serendipitous bartending job in Times Square that led to valuable connections, Sam’s story is a testament to the power of chance ...
Send us a text They say time flies when you're having fun, but never so quickly as when you're jamming with an old friend like Mark Newman. Our laughter echoed through the studio as Mark recanted the time he salvaged a guitar from the trash—a fitting prelude to his remarkable journey from a wide-eyed kid enthralled by '50s rock 'n' roll, to the seasoned guitarist we know today. This episode peels back the curtain on the music industry, presenting tales of bands formed and friendships solidifi...
Send us a textHave you ever found yourself caught between the steady beat of work life and the syncopated rhythms of a musical passion? My friend Don Olsen, a savvy electronics manufacturing business owner, joins me for a stroll down memory lane to chat about our earlier days, the laugh-filled experiences with jazz musicians, and the art of juggling careers with the melodies that truly make our hearts sing. We swap tales from the trenches of Dave Ferrin's band, ponder the impact of part-time ...
Send us a text When Lee Finkelstein lays down a beat, it's not just rhythm—he's telling a story, painting a landscape. It's a philosophy I, John Simeone, share wholeheartedly. Our recent conversation took us on a tour through the world of drumming, where we unpacked the essence of what it means to truly play for the music. Lee, with his wealth of experience across genres, emphasizes the idea that serving the song trumps personal showmanship. We riff on the camaraderie between drummers, the jo...
Send us a textAs a young drummer, tapping rhythms on school desks and dreaming of the big stage, I never imagined I'd be trading stories with a Broadway legend like Bill Lanham. Yet, here we are in a heart-to-heart, delving into the thrills and spills of his career, from the electrifying beats of Les Misérables to the high-stakes world of live theatre drumming. Billy's family tapestry is woven with threads of classical piano and doo-wop vocals, a heritage that beats strong in his passion for ...
Send us a text Embark on an auditory expedition with me, John Simeone, as I sit down with the inimitable saxophonist Jeff Lange, whose musical tales are as rich and varied as the notes that flow from his sax. Picture, if you will, a young Jeff grappling with the strings of a guitar and the keys of an accordion before the saxophone’s siren call captured his soul. Our conversation dances around the mirthful realities of club date gigs, where the glamour of jazz intertwines with the joy of weddi...
Send us a text Remember the time our mate Chris snuck in a shrimp cocktail on stage, despite explicit instructions to the contrary? Yep, that’s the kind of deliciously eccentric characters you’ll meet as we take a nostalgic journey down music industry memory lane. Join us and our special guest, Ben Phillip, as we reminisce about our band days, our beloved band leader Gus, and our encounters with local sensations like Jimmy Cherry. Let's take you on a tour of the music world that goes beyond ...
Send us a text Ever dreamed of jamming with some of the music industry’s most celebrated icons? Picture yourself backing up the likes of Chaka Khan and Patty LaBelle? Brian Dunne, a renowned drummer, is living that dream, and he's here to share his incredible journey. As he walks us through his early days of jamming with his brother to his experiences with world-famous artists, Brian’s tale is a testament to the power of dedication, practice, and an unwavering passion for music. Navigating t...
Send us a text Fasten your seatbelts as we embark on a journey into the past with Sal Randazzo, a renowned trombone player who shares with us not only the nostalgia of the early days in an assortment of bands, but also his sage insights and hilarious tales from a fulfilling career in the music industry. We present you with an episode that promises you laughter, learning, and some good old music nostalgia. We reminisce about the days without showcases or song sheets to adhere to, the million-d...
Send us a text Catching up with Ozzie Melendez, our second trombone player, is like being teleported into the heart of the music industry. From his musical beginnings in fourth grade to landing the big gig with Willie Colon's band, Ozzie shares the essence of a musician's journey, and why it’s crucial to seize every opportunity to prove oneself. We swap hilarious anecdotes featuring fellow musician Terry Nigrelli and reminisce about Ozzy's inaugural gig tour in Peru. Striding onto the bigge...
Send us a text Ready to step into the life of a professional musician? This episode with Terry Nigrelli , a trombone player with Broadway experience, brings you right into the heart of the music world. We journey through Terry's musical upbringing and his dedication to the trombone, a passion that took him from private lessons and music summer camps to eventual professional gigs in diverse musical styles. But, it's not all standing ovations and curtain calls. We address the challenging side ...
Send us a text In this episode me and one of my longtime musician friends, Dave Clark, discuss the triumphs and hardships of the music industry. Dave is a well known keyboard player/Singer/writer from the Long Island area originally, where he became the replacement for Billy Joel on the "Lords of 52nd Street" band. That band featured all the original members if Billy Joels band at its inception in the 70s. Dave continues do very large venues featuring the music of Billy Joel throughout the Un...
Send us a text In this episode I talk with my old friend John Scarpulla. John has done extensive touring with many well known artists, Tower of Power and Diana Ross to name a few! I've done many gigs with John and he always brings professionalism and integrity to each one, big or small - a talented seasoned musician for sure. This was my first "zoom" interview, so we get cut off before we can share ALL of our old stories, but definitely worth the listen! Thanks John for taking time out for th...
Send us a textIn this episode I chat with my longtime friend, Greg Schleich. Greg is a masterful keyboard player and producer, and has played with many prominent NY metro area bands- Funk Philharmonic, Bump City to name a few. A great listen! Greg brought some beer so it got a little funny....Support the show
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