Journey to the Stage with Bryan Frazier
Conversations with musical Icons and Indies. Across genres. Across styles. Across eras. Journey to the Stage explores the winding pathways traveled by musicians, artists, composers, and songwriters. We highlight current projects by our guests, but always start our journey at the beginning.
Listen on:
Episodes
Friday Nov 04, 2022
Friday Nov 04, 2022
You might not know the name Ron Hicklin, but you certainly know his voice. Ron and his singing group, "The Ron Hicklin Singers," sang on over 100 #1 hit songs with artists like Sinatra, Elvis, Dean Martin, Neil Diamond, Barbara Streisand, Ringo Starr, Glen Campbell, Michael Jackson, The Carpenters, and many, many more. His group is considered "The Wrecking Crew" of vocalists, and frequently recorded on albums with that famous group of world class studio musicians. Ron's group provided the vocals (along with David Cassidy) for The Partridge Family.
Ron was a "ghost singer" for The Monkees, Gary Lewis and the Playboys, The Lettermen, and others, being featured vocally, but often uncredited and unknown by the public.
For 40 years, Ron and others he hired, were the singing voices of Alvin and the Chipmunks on albums like "The Chipmunks Sing The Beatles' Hits."
Through the 60s and 70s, The Ron Hicklin Singers sang scores of TV theme songs for shows like Batman, Happy Days, Laverne and Shirley, Love, American Style and countless others.
The memorable commercial jingle, "You Deserve a Break Today" for McDonalds and many dozens more were sung by Ron and his group.
Ron's ubiquitous group of world class singers, including a previous podcast guest, Sally Stevens, lent their vocal talent to film score in hundreds of films like Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, Glory, Apollo 13, The Godfather and on and on.
In our wonderful conversation, Ron shares rich stories about his friendships with Glen Campbell and Leon Russell. He shares how a recording session with Elvis for the 1968 Comeback Special, made a fan out of Ron.
If you love music, this chat reveals a slice of music history that is unparalleled. Ron has been retired for many years and doesn't do many interviews, so this is a genuine treat. I hope you enjoy this as much as I do.
------------------------
As an indie podcaster, I would love your help getting the word out about Journey to the Stage. Reviews and ratings are so helpful and encouraging. If you like what you hear, share on your socials or text the link to a friend. I would be ever so thankful. Thank you for listening!
Website: https://www.journeytothestage.com/
Insta: https://www.instagram.com/journeytothestagepodcast/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JourneyToTheStagePodcast
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAttWGi_zfuuqlYY8qRzABw
Copyright Notification:
Song clips used under Fair Use for commentary and educational purposes.
Podcast theme song "Arise and Shine" by Chris Taylor used by permission.
Wednesday Oct 19, 2022
Wednesday Oct 19, 2022
The Elvis Presley of the 1970s long ago achieved caricature status. The Elvis impersonators and the Pop Culture icon of the true Elvis have little in common. In this Special Edition of Journey to the Stage, Rock n Roll historian, John Jackson, helps us dismantle the ever shortening narrative of 70s Elvis that has been reduced to the point of excluding most of the highlights. With his vast and extensive study into the life and career of arguably the most famous music and movie star the world has ever seen, John helps us have a fuller understanding of who Elvis was during the last segment of his career and the great music he was making. Our goal-- to rescue 70s Elvis.
John Jackson, is a very talented multi-instrumentalist and producer, who earned the nation's first Bachelor's degree in Rock History, from the University of Indiana's renowned Music Department. John has produced, recorded and toured with The Jayhawks and was the VP of Sony Music's Legacy division, where among many other historical projects, he was tasked to work with others on the Elvis catalogue. John also was my very first podcast guest, which is a conversation that I highly recommend.
For a great playlist of some of the best music Elvis made during the 1970s, check this out: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/32aie6FblNFp2NqhavgbSz?si=85d1d1cbaeec4a3a
To check out the children's books that John's wife, Colter Jackson has written, swing by her Amazon page that has her books: https://smile.amazon.com/Colter-Jackson/e/B01IDHORMS?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1666151223&sr=8-1
------------------------
As an indie podcaster, I would love your help getting the word out about Journey to the Stage. Reviews and ratings are so helpful and encouraging. If you like what you hear, share on your socials or text the link to a friend. I would be ever so thankful. Thank you for listening!
Website: https://www.journeytothestage.com/
Insta: https://www.instagram.com/journeytothestagepodcast/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JourneyToTheStagePodcast
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAttWGi_zfuuqlYY8qRzABw
Copyright Notification:
Song clips used under Fair Use for commentary and educational purposes.
Podcast theme song "Arise and Shine" by Chris Taylor used by permission.
Tuesday Oct 11, 2022
Tuesday Oct 11, 2022
As a 35 year fan of the music of The Smithereens, it was a genuine pleasure to chat with founding member and drummer, Dennis Diken. We discuss the path the band has traveled, navigating the heights of success and the sadness of losing singer an band mate, the late Pat Dinizio. Dennis and I spend most of our time discussing The Smithereen's brand new album (out now!!!), which was recorded in the early 90s with Pat on vocals, and how it sat until recently when it was made ready for release. We play a couple cuts from the album and dig into their backstory.
If you are a fan of The Smithereens, no doubt you will love this conversation with Dennis. If you're not familiar with their music, this is a great introduction to the vastly influential band as they celebrate over 40 years in Rock n Roll.
Dennis is very down to Earth, and as you will hear in our chat, he still feels connected to the 20-something year old musicians who would sit around the dinner table in Pat's house and dream of hitting it big. Those boys from Jersey worked hard and earned their success with a lot of blood, sweat and tears.
Get tour dates, news, merch, Jim's coffee and everything in between at https://www.officialsmithereens.com/
Like The Smithereens on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheSmithereensOfficial/
Follow The Smithereens on Twitter: https://twitter.com/smithereenshq?lang=en
Follow the band on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/official_smithereens/
Check out Dennis' radio program, "Denny's Den," https://wfmu.org/playlists/DI
---------------------------------------------------
As an indie podcaster, I would love your help getting the word out about Journey to the Stage. Reviews and ratings are so helpful and encouraging. If you like what you hear, share on your socials or text the link to a friend. I would be ever so thankful. Thank you for listening!
Website: https://www.journeytothestage.com/
Insta: https://www.instagram.com/journeytothestagepodcast/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JourneyToTheStagePodcast
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAttWGi_zfuuqlYY8qRzABw
Copyright Notification:
Song clips used under Fair Use for commentary and educational purposes.
"Out of This World" used by permission.
"Don't Look Down" used by permission.
Podcast theme song "Arise and Shine" by Chris Taylor used by permission.
Thursday Sep 22, 2022
Thursday Sep 22, 2022
Trevor Kowalski is a composer, pianist and arranger of immense talent, and it was an honor to have this most memorable conversation as the coda of Season 1 of my podcast. Trevor's music has been streamed over one hundred million times, and music he has in various films and videos have been listened to over one billion times. He has worked with award-winning filmmakers, game developers, orchestras, and soloists.
The music Trevor creates is soul-stirring and evocative, filled with nostalgia and brimming with beauty. In our chat we discuss Trevor's earliest of years and how they shaped him as a musician and composer. We listen to two compositions and dig into their backstories. One piece we play and discuss is a piece called "Rest Upon the Edge," which is simply one of the most stunning compositions I have ever heard. We also play a selection titled "Meditation - Drum Edit," which helps show the range of this composer's great skill. Beyond the two pieces we play in this episode awaits a catalogue of wonderful music that I am certain will enrich your life like it has mine. See the links below to discover more of Trevor's music, keep up with the latest news and share with friends. A big thank you to Trevor for joining me.
Photograph by: Austin Chee
https://austinchee.com/
Keep up with the latest, purchase sheet music, check live dates: https://www.trevorkowalski.com/
Trevor on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/trevorkowalskimusic/
Follow Trevor on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trevor.kowalski/
Trevor's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxFp5KvpR6ht3js0R8Fhn_w
Trevor on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4vPiZNfnHqzN52FOn38BEv
---------------------------------------------------
As an indie podcaster, I would love your help getting the word out about Journey to the Stage. Reviews and ratings are so helpful and encouraging. If you like what you hear, share on your socials or text the link to a friend. I would be ever so thankful. Thank you for listening!
Website: https://www.journeytothestage.com/
Insta: https://www.instagram.com/journeytothestagepodcast/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JourneyToTheStagePodcast
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAttWGi_zfuuqlYY8qRzABw
Copyright Notification:
"Rest Upon the Edge" used by permission.
"Meditation - Drum Edit" used by permission.
Podcast theme song "Arise and Shine" by Chris Taylor used by permission.
Tuesday Sep 13, 2022
Tuesday Sep 13, 2022
Rain Perry and I sat for delightful chat about her brand new album, "A White Album." This album is a wonderful collection of songs filled with powerful storytelling and melodic beauty. We play two songs from the album and spend a bit of time talking about the story they tell, which is a fascinating portion of our time together. Along with creating a lovely catalogue of work spanning over two decades as a recording artist, we discuss the documentary film that Rain made. Her film, "The Workshop," tells the story of the shift in the music industry from selling albums to the world of streaming, but not in a remote and cold way, but through the life and career of one man, a studio owner and producer.
Rain is a testament of how a person can react to challenges and make something beautiful out of it. This conversation will encourage all who listen.
Visit Rain's homepage for the latest and greatest: https://www.rainperry.com/
To purchase music and merch from Rain: https://rainperry.bandcamp.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rainperry
Twitter: https://twitter.com/rainperry
---------------------------------------------------
As an indie podcaster, I would love your help getting the word out about Journey to the Stage. Reviews and ratings are so helpful and encouraging. If you like what you hear, share on your socials or text the link to a friend. I would be ever so thankful. Thank you for listening!
Website: https://www.journeytothestage.com/
Insta: https://www.instagram.com/journeytothestagepodcast/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JourneyToTheStagePodcast
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAttWGi_zfuuqlYY8qRzABw
Copyright Notification:
"Melody and Jack" used by permission.
"The Money" used by permission.
Podcast theme song "Arise and Shine" by Chris Taylor used by permission.
Friday Aug 26, 2022
Friday Aug 26, 2022
May Erlewine graced the artist's throne for a delightful chat about her brand new album, "Tiny Beautiful Things." May is songwriter that has many colors on her pallet ranging from Soul to Folk to Singer-Songwriter and much in between. Those influences are referenced throughout her beautiful album, bound with a cohesion from her lovely voice. Listeners will be drawn in by May's warm and intimate vocal delivery, songcrafting and beautiful production. It was a joy to sit with May and learn about her journey, and we played two cuts from her new album that represent well the beauty of the album.
Keep up with the all the latest news, show dates and so on at https://www.mayerlewine.com/
Support May on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mayerlewine
Find May on Fakebook: https://www.facebook.com/mayerlewinemusic/
Follow May in Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/may_erlewine/?hl=en
Buy May's music on Bandcamp! https://mayerlewine.bandcamp.com
As an indie podcaster, I would love your help getting the word out about Journey to the Stage. Reviews and ratings are so helpful and encouraging. If you like what you hear, share on your socials or text the link to a friend. I would be ever so thankful. Thank you for listening!
Website: https://www.journeytothestage.com/
Insta: https://www.instagram.com/journeytothestagepodcast/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JourneyToTheStagePodcast
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAttWGi_zfuuqlYY8qRzABw
Copyright Notification:
"Tiny Beautiful Things" used by permission.
"Easy" used by permission.
Podcast theme song "Arise and Shine" by Chris Taylor used by permission.
Wednesday Aug 03, 2022
Wednesday Aug 03, 2022
Chris Taylor is a San Antonio based musical and visual artist of exceptional talent. With a vast catalogue that starts in the early 90's, Chris is the hardest working man in Rock n Roll. Chris is a friend and I was honored to have him on as a guest. We walk through his earliest musical efforts, the formation of his band 'Love Coma," his extensive work as a solo artist and reformation of "Love Coma" after decades apart. We spend time chatting about his incredible visual art and discuss what makes him tick as an artist with a foot in the musical and visual worlds. Special thanks to the one and only Mike (Doc Love) Roe for making a special appearance.
To get the latest and greatest and to hear Chris' music and see his visual art, please visit his website https://christaylorworld.com/home
Join me in supporting Chris on Pateon: https://www.patreon.com/christaylorworld/posts
To buy downloads of Chris' music, please visit his store on Bandcamp https://christaylor.bandcamp.com/music
Chris on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/christaylormusic
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/christaylorworld/
As an indie podcaster, I would love your help getting the word out about Journey to the Stage. Reviews and ratings are so helpful and encouraging. If you like what you hear, share on your socials or text the link to a friend. I would be ever so thankful. Thank you for listening!
Website: https://www.journeytothestage.com/
Insta: https://www.instagram.com/journeytothestagepodcast/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JourneyToTheStagePodcast
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAttWGi_zfuuqlYY8qRzABw
Copyright Notification:
"Everything Begins Here" used by permission.
"Burn the Night Away" used by permission.
Podcast theme song "Arise and Shine" by Chris Taylor used by permission.
Monday Jul 25, 2022
Monday Jul 25, 2022
M Ross Perkins is a multi-instrumentalist, and singer/songwriter, who draws the best of psychedelic rock sound into the modern age. His song crafting has been compared to that of Brian Wilson, Paul McCartney and Harry Nilsson. With an incredible sense of melody and a novel approach to songwriting, the result is music carries the soul of the 60s without being mere revivalist. M Ross and I had a great conversation that music lovers will enjoy. We play two songs from his brand new album titled, "E Pluribus M Ross."
This episode is dedicated to Mark Feldbush- a lover of great music and the one who (accidentally) turned me on to M Ross' music.
Thank you for supporting great indie artists like M Ross Perkins by buying their music and merch, and seeing them on the road. To do those things, check out M Ross' website www.mrossperkins.com
Like his FB page and follow him on Instagram to get the latest 411:
https://www.facebook.com/mrossperkins
https://www.instagram.com/mrossperkins/
Purchase download from M Ross' Bandcamp page https://mrossperkins.bandcamp.com/
As an indie podcaster, I would love your help getting the word out about Journey to the Stage. Reviews and ratings are so helpful and encouraging. If you like what you hear, share on your socials or text the link to a friend. I would be ever so thankful. Thank you for listening!
Website: https://www.journeytothestage.com/
Insta: https://www.instagram.com/journeytothestagepodcast/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JourneyToTheStagePodcast
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAttWGi_zfuuqlYY8qRzABw
Copyright Notification:
"Tired of Me" used by permission.
"Mr Marble Eyes (Marbles for His Eyes)" used by permission.
Podcast theme song "Arise and Shine" by Chris Taylor used by permission.
Monday Jul 18, 2022
Monday Jul 18, 2022
New Zealand singer/songwriter, Graeme James and I sat for a chat about his lovely new album titled, "Seasons." Graeme (pronounced gray-um) really is a brilliantly gifted songwriter and performer. There is a heart and soul to his music that I find captivating. We play and chat about two songs from "Seasons," "The Sea of Infinite Possibilities" which about the birth of his little girl, and a great story song, "The Voyage of the James Caird," which tells the real life story of a voyage gone dreadfully wrong.
There is an intimacy and fine crafting in Graeme's music that listeners will connect with instantly.
You can follow Graeme on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/graeme_james/?hl=en
Like him on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/graemejamesmusic
As an indie podcaster, I would love your help getting the word out about Journey to the Stage. Reviews and ratings are so helpful and encouraging. If you like what you hear, share on your socials or text the link to a friend. I would be ever so thankful. Thank you for listening!
Website: https://www.journeytothestage.com/
Insta: https://www.instagram.com/journeytothestagepodcast/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JourneyToTheStagePodcast
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAttWGi_zfuuqlYY8qRzABw
Copyright Notification:
"The Sea of Infinite Possibilities" used by permission.
"The Voyage of the James Caird" used by permission.
Podcast theme song "Arise and Shine" by Chris Taylor used by permission.
Friday Jul 08, 2022
Friday Jul 08, 2022
This is a MUST listen episode if there ever has been one. Sally Stevens has a voice you heard on many of the most beloved film scores and TV shows ever made. She has recorded and/or toured with the biggest stars including Elvis, Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, Andy Williams, Burt Bacharach, Ray Conniff, Dean Martin and many more. Sally has worked with Hollywood's greatest film composers like John Williams, Alan Sylvestri, Jerry Goldsmith, James Horner, Danny Elfman and so many more, where her voice can be heard in hundreds of films such as The Sound of Music, Forrest Gump, Jumanji, Beetlejuice, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, Guardians of the Galaxy 2 and Deadpool 2. She also sang on the great variety shows of the 60s and 70s like The Danny Kaye Show, Red Skeleton Show and the Carol Burnett show.
If you have watched an episode of The Simpsons, you have heard Sally, her daughter (Susie Stevens-Logan) and Danny Elfman singing "The Simpsons" as the show theme begins.
In this unforgettable episode, Sally and I walk through her 60 year career as an actress, vocalist, Hollywood contractor, songwriter and trusted partner to directors like Steven Spielberg. Sally has many great stories to tell about things like touring with Nat King Cole and the racism the African-American singers faced in the early 60s. We cover a lot of ground but merely scratch the surface.
To learn more about the wonderful Sally Stevens and her legendary career, pick up a copy of Sally's memoir! The book is schedule to release on (or around) August 15, 2022. You can get updates at https://www.sallystevenswriter.com/
I am so grateful for Sally being so generous with her time and sharing her fascinating stories and insights. Sally is an absolute sweetheart and I am so thankful for a new delightful friend.
As an indie podcaster, I would love your help getting the word out about Journey to the Stage. Reviews and ratings are so helpful and encouraging. If you like what you hear, share on your socials or text the link to a friend. I would be ever so thankful. Thank you for listening.
Website: https://www.journeytothestage.com/
Insta: https://www.instagram.com/journeytothestagepodcast/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JourneyToTheStagePodcast
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAttWGi_zfuuqlYY8qRzABw
Copyright Notification:
Audio clips used under Fair Use for educational and commentary purposes.
Podcast theme song "Arise and Shine" by Chris Taylor used by permission.