Three Song Stories

Sandra Viktorova is a familiar voice to WGCU listeners and viewers - she joined us here in 2022 on the radio side as a host and then helped launch our TV news magazine program Southwest Florida In Focus as host and senior producer—the show won a regional Emmy in its first year and just recently went from one to five nights a week. Sandra earned a National Edward R. Murrow award for her documentary film, Dream School: A Journey to Higher Ed, which follows the years-long journey of six high school students as they worked to earn a seat at some of America’s top colleges,Sandra has earned three regional Emmys for her work as an investigative and special projects producer with NBC/Telemundo in Miami. Sandra has also produced for several national news and entertainment programs at both Univision and Telemundo. AND she is owner of Viktorova Productions.SONG 1: “La Pollera Colorá” (The Brightly Colored Skirt) -  https://youtu.be/HEJtvN_oTzM?si=bHrjs2Tbbwxdzz6lSONG 2: “No Podras”  (You Won’t Be Able To) by Cristian Castro released in 1992. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZ8mJgcsbw8SONG 3: “(Theme from) New York, New York” - https://youtu.be/le1QF3uoQNg?si=GOEormRf9httkjwc

Gareth Rockliffe is a fine art photographer, filmmaker, songwriter, and creator of the award-winning short-film series called Contemplations, which blend his images and spoken words to explore themes such as love, loss, awareness, and connection. In recent years, that same reflective voice has found its way into his songwriting.SONG 1: Glenn Miller and his orchestra’s “Moonlight Serenade” released in 1944. https://youtu.be/9Ws6DdrDtyo?si=I5BZcKCwg6hmZvChSONG 2: “On the Beach” by Chris Rea from the 1986 album of the same name. https://youtu.be/-yXVufG5oV0?si=6MW8jks8RRkyjebnSONG 3: Tracy Chapman’s “Fast Car” - it came out in 1988 on her self-titled album. https://youtu.be/AIOAlaACuv4?si=MvkaCOEfZhrlwN3i

Robert William Green, Jr. (Mr. Green)  graduated  high school in Shreveport, Louisiana with a full football scholarship to Morris Brown College in Atlanta. He transferred and received a Bachelor’s degree in Religious Studies from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and a Master’s degree in Theology from Fuller Theological Seminary. He came to Florida in 2003, and taught 7th grade World Geography at Bonita Springs Middle School before coming to Florida Gulf Coast University in 2005 as Parking Services Representative, and then Welcome Center Representative in 2011. If you ever stop to get a parking permit or directions, he is sure to tell you that you are his friend.

J Schwanke is Host & Creator of J Schwanke’s Life in Bloom, on PBS Create channels around the country. He’s been referred to by viewers as “The Bob Ross of Flowers” or even “The Mr. Rogers of Flowers”. He shows how to incorporate flowers into your life and enjoy a “flower lifestyle” - encouraging people to think beyond just arranging with flowers to crafts and recipes and beverages that include flowers.J also makes the Behind the Bloom podcast with his co-host RJ Pole - and he’s CEO of uBloom.com - it’s the online home of ‘Life In Bloom’ and the first online community for flower fans, created for enthusiasts and professionals. And he’s authored two award-winning books: “Fun with Flowers: Your Guide to Selecting, Arranging and Enjoying Beautiful Flowers” and “Bloom 365: The Essential Guide to Arranging Flowers Every Day.”SONG 1: “Red Roses for A Blue Lady”..this is the 1999 remastered and released on the ablum Rare Capitol Masters (Deluxe Edition) in 2016. https://youtu.be/j0nRUHECDxE?si=441PB9ZJIdEgZBjaSONG 2: “Edelweiss” performed by Pink Martini and the von Trapps from their album Dream a Little Dream: Pink Martini & The Von Trapps released in 2014. https://youtu.be/JqzwjhZUtzw?si=n1DJRBtaQho9vFOVSONG 3: “Baby Elephant Walk” - composed by Henry Mancini for the 1962 film Hatari! - and interpreted here by Lawrence Welk and his Orchestra. https://youtu.be/uS9vE5BVDNM?si=yNC7VHEiXh9FVMNt

Laureen is a Billboard-charting songwriter with artist cuts across multiple genres. After graduating from Fort Myers High School, she earned her college degree and a master’s degree before moving to Amish country, where she worked as a Teacher of the Deaf. A prolonged personal health crisis ultimately prompted a pivot toward songwriting, leading her to Nashville. The very first song she wrote in Nashville, co-written with acclaimed artist Cindy Morgan, was recorded by Grammy-nominated, Platinum-selling, and Dove Award-winning group Point of Grace. Since then, her songs have earned international chart recognition, secured placements in television, and helped establish her as a sought after versatile and well respected authentic voice in contemporary songwriting.Laureen’s songs have been recorded by many artists across Pop, Americana, Indie, Country, Bluegrass, and Christian genres—with several landing on global Billboard charts - and her songs have found homes from Los Angeles TV productions to Nashville recording studios—including a release by Olivia Newton-John that she co-wrote with Beth Nielsen Chapman. She founded The Flynn Smith Collective in 2022 - it’s a global network of more than 60 artists and 40 producers from LA, Nashville, and abroad who provide songs for TV, film, and brand placements. Laureen is also an author who turns her lullabies into children’s picture books - the first was Lollipops and Ice Cream and the most recent is Sleepyhead Animal Wishes…AND she co-founded Bear Hug Boxes with her twin sister…they donate bears, blankets, and books to children navigating trauma.

Larry Ford (father of episode 75 guest Seth Ford) is a Grammy winning gospel singer who’s found audiences all over the world because of his truly commanding voice. Originally from Lubbock, Texas, Larry’s work has taken him to 49 of the 50 states -- and to as far away as South Korea and South America. He's also sang the National Anthem for the Boston Red Sox or Tampa Bay Lightning. Larry has attracted a legion of admirers who appreciate his clear, powerful tenor voice and utter sincerity. In 2003, he won a Grammy for Best Southern Gospel Recording. His arrival to the world stage was as a featured soloist on the Gaither Music Homecoming Series, which consistently ranks in the top of Billboard Magazines music charts, and which we heard a song from in Seth’s episode. 

Marlin Miller is publisher of Plain Values, a quarterly magazine dedicated to the notion that faith-centered simple living within community is still possible today. Through it, he and his wife Lisa also operate the nonprofit Room to Bloom - they raise money to help families adopt kids with Down Syndrome and special needs. They also founded Juneberry Hill Schoolhouse - a multi-age, inclusive homeschool co-op one room schoolhouse they built on their homestead using parts of a schoolhouse that dates back to 1850.SONG 1: "Tea of Sympathy" by Jars of Clay from their 1997 album Much Afraid.https://youtu.be/3u5BjMQ2LcE?si=-ATcIXWxXx0UHCtaSONG 2: "Called Home" by Over the Rhine from their 2013 album Meet Me at the Edge of the World.https://youtu.be/NfTQCgX0lwM?si=IuEuUIMZOj-frZkmSONG 3: "Hold My Hand" by Sam Burchfield from his album Graveyard Flower released in 2020.https://youtu.be/UJoTHzzkj2c?si=l5x_EMi92z-RXbSm

Matt Ross is an entrepreneur, author, and media executive. From 1989 to 2005, Matt led some major radio brands, including: New York’s Classic Rock Station, Q104.3 - and and its Hip Hop Station, Hot 97. He then invested in and became CEO of School of Rock. Under his leadership, School of Rock grew from 5 locations to 55.In 2012, Matt founded One River School in Englewood, New Jersey with a mission to “Transform Art Education.” Today, One River School operates fifteen schools in six states with plans for substantial growth in the coming years. He also works to support organizations that build communities for adults with autism, and he’s a champion of artists and arts-based organizations. His first book, “Grow or Fold: Transform Yourself in Midlife and Beyond” is set to release in mid-January.SONG 1: “You’ve Got to Hide Your Love Away from The Beatles” from their album Help! released in 1965.SONG 2: “I’ll Be There” by the Jackson Five (The Jacksons?) released in 1970 on their album Third Album.SONG 3: “It’s Not My Cross to Bear” by The Allman Brothers from their self-titled album released in 1969.

 Pam James has been a part of the WGCU Public Media team and family since 2013 - he’s been our Executive Producer of Content since 2020, leading our different teams across media platforms including radio and TV and how it all becomes digital these days. She began her career in 1995 as a TV producer for Kansas City Public Television (now KCPBS) where she created award-winning documentaries, magazine stories, interstitials, and promos, as well as producing live fundraisers for TV broadcasts like pledge drives and auctions. SONG 1: “Afternoon Delight” by the Starland Vocal Band from their self-titled album released in 1976. https://youtu.be/_dsn0zKSpMk?si=EYLb-sNJVC99F3lESONG 2: “The Other Shoe” by Old 97s from their 1995 album Wreck Your Life. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xr5_pDqQO_MSONG 3: ”Yorktown (The World Turned Upside Down)” from Hamilton  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cqj0vylZAF4

John Joyce is host of the Solid State Podcast, it’s a weekly program devoted to all things tech. Born and raised in Fort Myers, John founded the computer firm Republic Technologies, while in college, and eventually merged it with CRS Technology Consultants to form one of this region’s largest IT firms which he is now CEO and Co-Owner of.His partnership with the IT Disaster Resource Center brought connectivity back to Southwest Florida after Hurricane Ian, helping first responders access areas and people in need of assistance. SONG 1: "Fly Me to the Moon" - Frank Sinatra with Count Basie And His Orchestra recorded in 1964.https://youtu.be/ZEcqHA7dbwM?si=Su_nbKODkZTNZSCwSONG 2: "Give Life Back to Music" - Daft Punk from their 2013 album Random Access Memories.https://youtu.be/Kwt3LZBc-44?si=bkNciErMVw_nebb2SONG 3: The Main Title Theme to "Star Trek: Strange New Worlds" by Jeff Russo released on the Season 1 Original Series Soundtrack in 2023. https://youtu.be/SA1EnPz5onU?si=X-6wo9U6LP8ZtP7F

Jen Chapin was born and raised in New York in Huntington, Long Island - the daughter of Harry and Sandy Chapin. Over the years has produced a bunch of albums of her own music, including Open Wide, Linger, Ready, and Reckoning. She also put out a tribute album called ReVisions: Songs of Stevie Wonder. Recently she’s been performing with the J.Chapes Jazz Band which includes her husband, jazz bassist Stephan Crump.Over the decades she’s served on the board of directors for WhyHunger, that’s the nonprofit co-founded by Harry Chapin in 1975.Jen is also a high school history teacher in Brooklyn, New YorkSONG 1: “The Ocean” by Led Zeppelin from their 1973 album The Song Remains the Same.https://youtu.be/H8bVaTW6UCU?si=H9gF8Qka2ENganiVSONG 2: “I Believe (When I Fall in Love It Will Be Forever)” by Stevie Wonder from his album Talking Book released in 1972. https://youtu.be/VfDZNwJ3jVU?si=o2U3ySrqE0XChFuYSONG 3: “Teach Me Tonight” by Nancy Wilson released in 1960...it was the first song on her album Something Wonderful.  https://youtu.be/OF7pxY9KXsg?si=Jk-U7tZQexcJdblt

A return to the very first (Pilot) episode of Three Song Stories with Co-creator, producer, and sometimes host, Richard Chin Quee. Richard is FM Station manager at WGCU where he and Mike Kiniry make Three Song Stories, and this episode was the prototype for our show, today.

Janine is an artist who has worked on The Power of Myth with Bill Moyers and Joseph Campbell, and she did network work for shows including 20/20 and The View and things on PBS. She also produced a 4-hour watercolor course with renowned watercolor artist, Charles Reid.A trip to Italy in high school illuminated her love for travel and experiencing other cultures. While living in Victoria, BC she entered the world of media production and video editing. She worked for the CBC and also became a specialist in editing dance videos for Quebec stars, where she once edited puppet music videos for Chicken Minute on The Learning Channel.In the year after Hurricane Ian Janine decided to focus on her visual art and joined a community that supports artists, launched her website, arpeggioart.com, and began exhibiting at art fairs across Southwest Florida.SONG 1: Kate & Anna McGarrigle's “Complainte Pour Ste Catherine” from the album Kate & Anna McGarrigle released in 1976. https://youtu.be/k-xR6s9zyWY?si=Mk6mELqfKB9gjM3lSONG 2: Philip Glass's ‘Heroes’ Symphony No. 4 https://youtu.be/Hepf31JoBNo?si=EGlGjr2GpRtCPidASONG 3: “Days Gone By” by Eastern Sun & John Kelley released in 2009 on the album We Are One. https://youtu.be/_I92aZAsyeM?si=THTkOu8E2PFEdrPI

Nancy Cote is Executive Director of Beacon of HOPE Pine Island, where she leads transformative efforts to strengthen education, recovery, and community resilience across Bokeelia, Saint James City, and Matlacha. Originally from Mexico but raised in California, Nancy has developed a deep understanding of diverse life experiences—from immigrants to combat veterans—thanks to her personal journey and professional background.SONG 1: “Oye Como Va Mi Ritmo” by Santana from his 1970 album Abraxas. https://youtu.be/J7ATTjg7tpE?si=A2xH8mzxlJ-O64PzSONG 2: “Stuck in the Middle with You” by Stealers Wheel from their self-titled album released in 1972. https://youtu.be/ln7Vn_WKkWU?si=lXDjs3PNYaz3eHRVSONG 3: “Fortunate Son” by Creedence Clearwater Revival released in 1969 on their fourth studio album, Willy and the Poor Boys. https://youtu.be/ZWijx_AgPiA?si=57QPjliKr7dsO0w_

Andrew Bennett was born and raised in North Carolina, and then during high school, his dad’s job brought the family to Utah, where he attended college at Brigham Young University. He’s a lawyer who has called Southwest Florida home for the past 15 years. He and his wife moved to Naples in 2010 so he could attend law school at Ave Maria School of Law. They have three fully-Floridian kids ages 9, 11, and 13.  He mostly practices law as in-house counsel for healthcare companies. SONG 1: "A Long December” by the Counting Crows released in 1996 on their album Recovering the Satellites. https://youtu.be/7YiFGBaHDBo?si=gjykb-69_jwysnxfSONG 2: "Wouldn't it be Nice” by the Beach Boys from the 1966 album Pet Sounds.(1996 remaster) https://youtu.be/dmcNbsLCpBQ?si=Ou_hVP-5xWK4oemLSONG 3: "Bad Moon Rising” by Creedence Clearwater Revival off their 1969 album Green River. (1985 remaster) https://youtu.be/tKJwvQfraY8?si=LReknICiJku2OFgQ

Charles Monroe-Kane is a Peabody award-winning radio producer who spent 24 years as a senior producer and interviewer for the national public radio show To the Best of Our Knowledge which WGCU aired on Saturday mornings until about a month ago when it ended at least in part due to recent funding cuts across the public radio world.His 2024 audio documentary, “The Spirit of Jim Thorpe,” was awarded first place by the Indigenous Journalists Association and in 2025 he produced the “Climate Narratives” audio documentary series in Greenland.Charles’s 2016 book "Lithium Jesus: A Memoir of Mania" recounts many of his you could say far-out life stories: including being a teenage faith healer, world traveler, smuggler, liberation theologian, ladder-maker, squatter, halibut hanger, grifter, environmental warrior, and circus manager—all the while wrestling with schizophrenia and self-medication. SONG 1: "Nighthawk Postcards (From Easy Street)" by Tom Waits from his 1975 album Nighthawks at the Diner. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PlPN2vtn-0sSONG 2: “Trucker Speed” by Fred Eaglesmith – it was released in 2012 on the album 6Volts. Live – The Fred Eaglesmith Travelling Steam Show on Sept. 30, 2012. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HFr0CzZti2MSONG 3: Massive Attack’s “Protection” ft. Tracey Thorn from the album of the same name released in 1994. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Epgo8ixX6Wo

Sheri Castle was the host and producer of the Emmy-winning PBS cooking show The Key Ingredient - for three seasons. She’s also an award-winning professional food writer, recipe developer, and cooking teacher known for melding stories, humor, and culinary expertise. Sheri has authored a tall stack of cookbooks and her writing and recipes appear in a long list of publications, including her role as featured monthly columnist of Our State and Contributing Editor for Southern Living. In 2024, the Southern Foodways Alliance presented Sheri with their prestigious Keeper of the Flame Award given to a “foodways tradition bearer of note”. The SFA also named her one of 20 Living Legends of Southern Food, calling her The Storyteller.SONG 1: "Sitting on Top of The World" by Doc Watson...this recording is from the box set Doc Watson Life's Work: A Retrospective released in 2021.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ner4hbSTfkESONG 2: "Blackbird” by The Beatles from their album The Beatles that hit the world in 1968.https://youtu.be/Man4Xw8Xypo?si=Daa_mqohN-FvC5QtSONG 3: “She Used to be Mine” by Sara Bareilles…she made it for her musical adaptation of the film The Waitress. She released it on her 2015 album What's Inside: Songs from Waitress…this version is her performing it with Rufus Wainwright at the Kennedy Center. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JAZ1nfuluz0

Rob Kovacs is a multi-award-winning video game composer, pianist, songwriter, and Twitch streamer who bridges the worlds of gaming and music. He’s known online as 88bit, and performs at major gaming events like PAX, MAGFest, and TwitchCon. Rob made history in 2005 when he was a senior in college when he became the first person to perform Steve Reich’s Piano Phase solo on two pianos at once…one piano for each hand…the piece is designed to be performed by two pianists so four hands and two brains…with Reich on hand to watch the performance.He’s been streaming on Twitch since around 2020 - mixing video game music, pop, rock, classical, and his own originals—while also teaching composition and songwriting at Baldwin Wallace University in Ohio and performing with the contemporary classical group No Exit. SONG 1: “Optimistic” by Radiohead from their album Kid A released in 2000.https://youtu.be/1On-ZHfTWOo?si=0OxDu5NwHDB8InhkSONG 2: “Air Man’s Theme” from (the video game) Mega Man 2 - the soundtrack was composed by Takashi Tateishi with Manami Matsumae (Mega Man composer) for providing the foundation and co-composing a minor part of the melody for Air Man's stage.  https://youtu.be/IhK4D3ytYMc?si=zU5x4131zZY8O3_CSONG 3: “Wichita Lineman” by Glen Campbell (written by Jimmy Webb) from his 1968 album of the same name. Its B-side on the single was Fate of Man. https://youtu.be/Q8P_xTBpAcY?si=3K0GMwaMLWVaDArl

Jason Colannino is a singer-songwriter who was born and raised on the Jersey shore but has called Boynton Beach home since the early 90s.Jason has recorded four albums of his original songs: Since 1969, Piece of the Sun, Lost in Vacation, and his most recent A Hawaiian Music Tribute, which is a collection of cover songs by Hawaiian songwriters because in recent years Jason added the ukulele to his act after a trip to Hawaii led him down that path - breaking the uke stereotype by covering songs from the likes of the Beatles, Frankie Valli, Queen, among others.SONG 1: Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young performing "Suite: Judy Blue Eyes" at Woodstock in 1969 on Monday, August 18th 1969 at three o'clock in the morning. https://youtu.be/9lembnHGIfU?si=Pd4fDBcg-Le0ejJXSONG 2: Simon and Garfunkel performing "The Sound of Silence"in Central Park in New York City on September 19th, 1981, on their live album The Concert in Central Park in 1982. https://youtu.be/yBg83_jHW4k?si=A06u6CdgZjMq8NnSSONG 3: "Cat's in the Cradle" by Harry Chapin off his 1974 album Verities & Balderdash. https://youtu.be/2SALgIAdxjg?si=lv-1P5AjG7Hpls75

Gabe McCauley is an Emmy-winning writer, actor, director, and storyteller who says he is driven by a singular purpose: to shape the culture of tomorrow through the power of film. As founder of lilDRAGON and Soul Feather Studios, Gabe has built a creative legacy across genres and formats, from network TV to indie film and the feature film Heaven Bound. He’s directed nine seasons of national television, including the acclaimed Joey & Rory Show and Reconnecting Roots, now in its fourth season on PBS which he is also host of.SONG 1: "Let’s Go Crazy" by Prince off his 1984 album Purple Rain.https://youtu.be/WGtCC7bUkIw?si=3T1T_8lJL3pqOIc3SONG 2: "Conga!" by Gloria Estefan (Miami Sound Machine)...this was on her album Primitive Love released in 1985.https://youtu.be/5SXX-pWzOY8?si=ld9RsOrIhIa1RCjYSONG 3: "Head Full of Doubt/Road Full of Promise" by the Avett Brothers released in 2009 on their album I and Love and You.https://youtu.be/jyfeOyglMtI?si=0Sr20Zv4W9dbO3WE