A Breath of Fresh Air - warm, candid conversations with the biggest musical stars of the 60s 70s 80s Sandy Kaye

Brian Cadd is an Australian singer-songwriter, keyboardist, producer and record label founder, a staple of
Australian entertainment for over 50 years. As well as working internationally throughout Europe and the United States, he has performed as a member of numerous
bands including the Groop, Axiom, The Bootleg Family Band and in America with the Flying Burrito Brothers before carving out a solo career in 1972. 

Brian produced fellow Australian acts Robin Jolley, Ronnie Burns, Broderick Smith, Tina Arena and Glenn Shorrock and established his own record label called Bootleg Records. He
also composed or performed music for several films and TV.

Many of the songs he’s written have been recorded by other acts, including the Pointer Sisters, Little River Band and John Farnham.

In 2007, Brian Cadd was inducted into the Australian Recording Industry Association Hall of Fame. He was
awarded in the Queens Birthday Honours in 2018 for his 50-year service to the music industry as a singer, songwriter, instrumentalist, mentor and producer and his work in production. The following year he released his fifteenth solo studio album titled Silver City and Brian has just seen all his dreams come true with the recent release of his first ever country album, titled Dream Train.

Brian Cadd remains one of Australia’s greatest treasures; a true Statesman of song writing and recording.

He joins us this week to share his thoughts on his musical journey and to express his gratitude to his global audience for your unwavering loyalty.

If you'd like to know more about Brian Cadd, head to his website https://briancadd.com/
If you'd like to request a guest - someone who made music in the 60s 70s or 80s, feel free to send me a message through my website https://www.abreathoffreshair.com.au

I hope you enjoy hearing Brian Cadd's story as much as I did.

John McEuen was born in 1945 and spent his high school years in California’s Orange County. He and lifelong high-school friend Steve Martin both got a job in 1963 in the magic shop at Disneyland when they were just 16.

When John saw Missouri bluegrass group The Dillards in an Orange County club a couple of years later, his life changed forever. He knew he wanted to be “a traveling music man”.

As a multi-instrumentalist (banjo, guitar, mandolin, fiddle) John has been recognised as a founding member and award-winning outstanding performer of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. He left the group at the end of the 50th year anniversary tour in 2017 due to demands for his solo work and the desire to do new things.

In addition to John’s numerous solo accolades, NGDB was inducted in to Colorado Music Hall of Fame 2015. It's all covered in his book 'The Life I’ve Picked' from 2018.

In 1971 John initiated the now landmark Will the Circle be Unbroken* album, hooking Nitty Gritty Dirt Band up with his musical mentors Earl Scruggs and Doc Watson. The now multi-platinum “Circle” is in both the Library of Congress and the Grammy Hall of Fame.

Radio Host, author, television show producer, writer, concert promoter, multi-instrumental musician, performer and magician.

His second book – Will the Circle Be Unbroken – 50th anniversary Year – The Making of a Landmark Album captures 145 of his brother’s (record producer/manager) ‘masterpiece’ photos and tells the stories behind each one.

John has made over 46 albums (7 solo) that have earned four platinum and five gold records, multiple Grammy Awards and nominations, CMA and ACM awards, an Emmy film score nomination, IBMA record of the year award, and performed on another 25 albums as guest artist. John’s production of Steve Martin – The Crow won the 2010 Best Bluegrass Album Grammy.

Other accolades include: Grammy nomination for String Wizards II, the Uncle Dave Macon Award (for excellence in preservation and performance of historic music). He is a producer/composer of film scores and has produced award-winning projects of his own and for several other artists.

John has continually performed since 1963 – doing over 11,000 concerts, 300 television shows, 10,000 interviews and flown more than 4 million miles. John's rich history of creating, producing and preserving original and traditional folk music earned him the 2013 Charlie Poole Lifetime Achievement Award. John was inducted in 2017 to the American Banjo Museum Hall of Fame

In this episode, John shares the stories from his musical life and tells us how excited he is to have recently released something entirely different. It's a spoken word album called "The Newsman: A Man of Record" which is a collection of poems and stories set to music.

I hope you enjoy hearing John McEuen open up about his incredible life and career. If you'd like to learn more about him, head to his website https://johnmceuen.net/ and if you'd like to get in touch with me - with feedback, comments or suggestions for future guests, please reach out through my website https://www.abreathoffreshair.com.au

Leland Sklar has been a prominent figure among Hollywood session bassists dating back to the 1970s and ever since. Born in 1947 in Milwaukee, Lee has more than 2000 albums to his credit (and still counting), and is considered to be one of the "A" players in the highly selective L.A. rock music community where the competition for recording dates is fierce, and where only the strongest survive.

His very recognisable bass playing style has been heard on hits by Linda Ronstadt, James Taylor, Hall & Oates, Jackson Browne, Carole King, Phil Collins, Keith Richards and Reba McEntire to name just a few.

Leland has played on TV shows like Hill Street Blues, Knight Rider, Simon and Simon, and also on many films, including Forrest Gump, Ghost, Kindergarten Cop, and My Best Friend's Wedding.

Leland moved to Los Angeles when he was very young and started playing piano at age four. When he entered Junior High he fully intended to continue as a pianist in the school music program but found that there was an overabundance
of piano students, but no string bass players. His instructor asked him if he’d consider playing bass and his life changed forever.

It was toward the end of the '60s that Lee met James Taylor and the pair started playing gigs together. However, when James Taylor’s "Fire and Rain" became a huge hit record, Leland Sklar's career also began to take off. The
buzz surrounding this new bass player didn't take long to spread around Hollywood, and Leland Sklar quickly became one of the most sought after “A” list session musicians around town.

Today The Immediate Family of which he is a member can legitimately be called a supergroup.Their new self-titled full-length album contains twelve original songs, including a rendition of the Waddy Wachtel/Warren Zevon cowrite "Things to
Do in Denver When You're Dead" and the Danny Kortchmar/Jackson Browne collaboration "Somebody's Baby."

Over the years Leland has worked with most of the top
session players in Hollywood and is especially close to his long-time friends and members of The Immediate Family.
This iconic supergroup has played together for decades, but never as their own band. Known for their long, illustrious careers backing music's finest, guitarists Danny Kortchmar and Waddy Wachtel, drummer Russ Kunkel, and bassist Leland Sklar have come together, along with guitarist Steve Postell, to perform their own songs as The Immediate Family.

There is also a documenatry out now simply called The Immediate Family which details their rise to fame.

Meet the inimatable Leland Sklar this week as he shares the story of his meteoric rise to fame.

You can check out the album here and learn more about Leland on his website https://lelandsklarsbeard.com/ where he also sells lots of different merchandise.

It's a fascinating episode featuring one of Hollywood's best musicians and nicest guys. I really hope you enjoy it.

Tom Petersson is a musician best known as the bassist and co-founder of the iconic rock band Cheap Trick. Born in Rockford, Illinois, Petersson's musical journey began at an early age when he picked up the guitar. However, he later transitioned to bass guitar, a move that would define his signature sound and role in shaping Cheap Trick's distinctive style.

In the early 70s, Petersson co-founded Cheap Trick with guitarist Rick Nielsen, drummer Bun E. Carlos, and vocalist Robin Zander. The band quickly gained recognition for their high-energy performances, catchy melodies, and fusion of hard rock, pop, and punk influences. Petersson's melodic basslines became a hallmark of Cheap Trick's sound, adding depth and groove to their music.

Throughout his career with Cheap Trick, Petersson has been a key contributor to the band's success, both in the studio and on stage. His innovative bass playing can be heard on many of the band's hit songs, including "Surrender," "I Want You to Want Me," "Dream Police," and "The Flame."

In addition to his work with Cheap Trick, Petersson has collaborated with various artists and pursued solo projects. He released a solo album titled "Tom Petersson & Another Language" in 1984, showcasing his versatility as a musician beyond the confines of Cheap Trick's sound.

Petersson's influence extends beyond his musical contributions. His distinctive 12-string bass guitar, custom-built by Hamer Guitars, has become iconic in the rock world, inspiring generations of bassists. He is also known for popularizing the use of the 12-string bass in rock music, pushing the boundaries of the instrument and paving the way for its acceptance in mainstream rock.

Over the years, Petersson and Cheap Trick have received numerous accolades and awards, including inductions into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2016. Despite lineup changes and the evolving music industry, Petersson remains an integral part of Cheap Trick's enduring legacy, continuing to tour and record with the band, captivating audiences with his dynamic bass playing and infectious stage presence. Tom Petersson's contributions to rock music and his enduring influence on bassists worldwide solidify his status as a legendary figure in the annals of rock history.

I hope you will enjoy Tom Peterrson's story. For more information about Tom and Cheap Trick head for the band's website http://www.cheaptrick.com/ or https://watch.countrymusichalloffame.org/videos/tom-petersson-of-cheap-trick-demonstrates-gretsch-white-falcon

If you'd like to request a future guest for the show, please get in touch with me through my website https://www.abreathoffreshair.com.au

Ian Gillan was one of the foremost vocalists of the heavy metal style of rock that emerged in the ‘70s, earning his greatest celebrity as a member of Deep Purple despite the fact that he also led his own bands. Ian began singing while still in his teens and was a member of several pub rock
bands.  It was in one of these that he met bass player Roger Glover, and the two were invited to join Deep Purple in 1969. They debuted with the band in London of the same year. Ian Gillan’s voice was the making of Deep Purple and he was featured on a series of hugely successful  recordings including Fireball, Machine Head, Made in Japan and Who Do We Think We Are.

He also starred on Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's concept album Jesus Christ Superstar where he sang the title role. That album topped the U.S. charts in 1971.

Ian Gillan recorded and toured the world relentlessly in those days until he was hospitalised for exhaustion in 1971. He decided to take leave of the band and, just as he left, "Smoke on the Water" from Machine Head began making its way up the U.S. charts, where it would peak in the Top Five and go gold, becoming Deep Purple's biggest ever career hit.

Ian then bought a recording studio and signed a solo deal with a small record company. He formed the Ian Gillan Band and in 1975, their debut album, Child in Time, entered the charts. Switching record labels, the group simplified its name to Gillan and recorded a series of albums, many of which hit the charts worldwide.

At the end of 1982, Ian disbanded Gillan, announcing that he had to rest his vocal cords on doctor's orders. The following year, he surprised fans by joining Black Sabbath and recorded their album Born Again. He also began touring with the band. Ian says he was lucky to survive that ongoing party.

In 1984, the original 1969-1973 line up of Deep Purple got back together. They cut the million-selling Perfect Strangers and the House of Blue Light. In 1989, Ian Gillan again
quit the band. That December, he participated in an all-star
remake of "Smoke on the Water" issued as a charity single which made the British Top 40.

Ian Gillan continued to release solo albums. At the end of 1992, he again returned to Deep Purple and the band commenced a world tour. Ian left yet again and in 1998, he released yet another solo album. After 2009's offering, he continued to focus on Deep Purple and didn’t make another solo album for almost a decade.

These days Ian Gillan remains at the helm of Deep Purple and the album "Machine Head - Deluxe 50th Anniversary Edition" has just been released.

The box set with LP, three CDs, Blu-Ray, booklet and various
memorabilia also includes a remastered version of the original mix, a 1972 concert recording from London and a previously unreleased recording from 1971 made at the Casino Montreux which later burned down. It was included, despite its limited sound quality, "because of its historical relevance" according to the notes on the back of the box.

Despite all the nostalgia and the loss of his wife a
couple of years ago, Ian Gillan is again looking forward. He is currently living on the coast in Portugal and is at work on the band's next studio album - number 23 - with his long-time band mates Roger Glover and Ian Paice. The 78 year old is getting set for yet another Deep Purple tour that’s about to kick off in Australia.

To learn more about Deep Purple and Ian Gillan head for https://deeppurple.com/ and https://www.ian-gillan.com/

To request a future guest for A Breath of Fresh Air feel free to reach out to me or if you have comments and feedback https://www.abreathoffreshair.com.au



 

Elliott Randall is one of the greatest guitarists of the Rock era. His solos on Steely Dan’s hit “Reelin’ In The Years” and Irene Cara’s “Fame” are nothing short of iconic.

To the uninitiated, it might seem like Elliott has made a career out of saying no to great opportunities. Steely Dan, The Doobie Brothers, The Blues Brothers and Toto all asked him to join their bands and he said no.

But Elliot is different. He has always trusted his intuition. Known as one of the greatest session musicians around, he's the man behind that renowned Reelin' In The Years Steely
Dan solo (which is said to be Jimmy Page's favourite ever lead guitar break) among literally hundreds, if not thousands, of other cuts. He also continues to write, produce, consult, engineer, tutor and perform to this day.

In this interview we turn back the clock to learn about his upbringing in NYC and his passion for music ignited at a young age. During his formative years, Elliott immersed himself in the vibrant musical culture of the 50s and 60s. He took guitar lessons, honed his skills and his dedication caught the attention of instructors and peers alike.
By the time he had ended his teens, Elliott
had already been a pro' player for four or five years.
In 1967, Musicor Records (who gave the world Gene
Pitney) offered him a role as a Staff Musician. He then joined the roots fusion act Seatrain briefly in 1969, and
signed as a solo artist, releasing his debut album in 1970.

It was the death of his good friend Jimi Hendrix that helped
Elliott realise he didn't need to be the rockstar or the centre of attention so he began working with other artists and clients, providing solutions for their musical and commercial success.

The most well known four-and-a-half minutes of
his guitar life became the lead breaks he added to
Steely Dan's megahit Reelin' In The Years in 1972. It has received acclaim from other players and audiences alike.

Since then Elliott Randall has played with
Joan Baez, Chuck Berry, Kate Bush, The Doobie Brothers, Peter Frampton, Art Garfunkel, Albert Hammond, Bob Marley, Yoko Ono, Gene Simmons, Loudon Wainright
III, Gary Barlow of Take That fame, and many, many more.

He has also soundtracked jingles for some of world's biggest brands including Coca-Cola, Budweiser, McDonald's, Citi Bank, Procter & Gamble, MTV, ESPN and BBC TV. He's also performed for musicals like Jesus Christ Superstar on Broadway, and has been a musical consultant for Saturday Night Live and the film director Oliver Stone.

Elliott's passion for music continues unabated today. His story is fascinating and I hope you will enjoy every minute of it.

To learn more about Elliott Randall head for his website https://elliott-randall.com/

To contact me head for my website https://www.abreathoffreshair.com.au