Sittin' in with the CAT Classic Artists Today, LLC

Leon Medica, bassist and producer of LeRoux, co-founded the band in 1977.  Throughout the years the band was featured on music television shows including Solid Gold, The Midnight Special and Don Kirshner's Rock Concert.  They had 7 songs land on Billboard's Top 100 chart.  Leon won an American Music Award for producing a song from the movie "Dirty Dancing" and also is a Grammy nominated musician who played on an album with blues great Tab Benoit.  This tribute to Leon, who passed away on June 9, 2024, includes our interview with him from July of 2008 which touched on LeRoux, the Louisiana rock sound and LeRoux's album, Ain't Nothing But A Gris Gris.  In our showcase segment, we feature Leon's friend and frontman for Wet Willie, Jimmy Hall.  His latest album is Ready Now.  Sounds of the deep south on this special edition of the CAT!

John Cafferty and the Beaver Brown Band hit their stride in the early and mid-1980's with four Top 10 songs.  Many people know the band from the tremendous success of the Eddie and The Cruisers movie soundtrack.  Throughout the years, that band had 11 singles land on the music charts.  Multi-award winning program director Ray White sat down with John in January of 2012, shortly after the passing of his good friend Clarence Clemons - at a tribute show, to talk about The Big Man and the Jersey Shore music vibe.  John's recently released several singles by his band.  In our showcase segment we feature another Jersey band that's in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame - Bon Jovi.  Their latest album is Forever and it's full of rock songs and power ballads.  We'll also feature the latest from another superstar from just across the border in Pennsylvania who unfortunately split with his longtime musical partner.  Daryl Hall has his first album out since parting with John Oates, which is called "D".  The CAT rocks you on this episode as we focus on the Jersey to the Philly sounds!!   

Franke Previte formed Franke and the Knockouts in 1980, who had three Top 40 singles and two Top 50 albums.  Franke co-wrote music for the hit soundtrack Dirty Dancing featuring the Academy Award winning "The Time of my Life."  He also co-wrote "Hungry Eyes," which was a #1 U.S. Adult Contemporary hit sung by Eric Carmen.  Franke and the Knockouts most recent album was titled The Complete Collection.  We interviewed Franke in June of 2011.  In our Showcase Segment, we feature Gerry Beckley (interviewed in Episode 71) of America, who has released 10 solo albums including his 2022 release Aurora.  In 2024, he's dropped several singles including "Crazy" and we expect a new album from him soon.  We close out this episode with the legendary Billy Joel who released his first new single since 2007 titled "Turn The Lights Back On."  Kick back and chill as you listen to this episode from the CAT!

In Part 2 of our interview and feature with the phenominal Jeff "Skunk" Baxter, we focus on his years with Steely Dan and talk about the multi-Grammy award winning album (Minute by Minute) by The Doobie Brothers.  We'll also get Jeff's insights on his awesome solo album Speed of Heat and dive into his thoughts on the music industry today.  Be sure to listen to our other shows featuring current and former Doobies on Episodes 18, 44, 75, 128 and 167.  In our showcase segment, we look back at the career of Electric Light Orchestra's keyboardist Richard Tandy who passed away on May 1, 2024.  Tandy's playing was an important part of ELO's sound, playing various keyboard instruments and adding vocals on many songs.    World-class musicians...world-class shows, from your friends at Classic Artists Today! 

Jai Johanny Johanson aka Jaimoe is the only living original member of the Allman Brothers Band, that was formed in 1969.  During his illustrious career he was also a member of Sea Level.  Jaimoe presently leads a jazz-rock group called Jaimoe's Jasssz Band.  In 1995, he was inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of the Allman Brothers Band.  Award winning program director Ray White caught up with Jaimoe at his hotel in September of 2013 to talk about his early days as a musician, hooking up with Duane Allman and his most recent release Jaimoe's Jasssz Band's Renaissance Man.  In our showcase segment, we look back at the career of guitarist/singer/songwriter Dickey Betts who was a mainstay in the Allman Brothers Band for many years and launched several other bands after his departure.  Dickey passed away on April 18, 2024.  Two of Southern/Country Rock stalwarts are brought to you by your authority on the latest happenings about "classic" rock bands...the CAT!

Don Dokken launched Dokken in 1978.  The Grammy nominated band has had three Platinum albums and ten Top 40 hits on Billboard's Mainstream Rock charts.  Their latest studio release is 2023's Heaven Comes Down.  Multi-award winning program director Ray White caught up with Don in November of 2012, in this legacy edition of the CAT, to talk about their Broken Bones album and other key insights into the band's history.  In our "showcase segment" we feature Black Country Communion - a band made up of superstars Joe Bonamassa, longtime member of Deep Purple, Glenn Hughes, son of Led Zepplin drummer John Bonham, Jason, and former Dream Theater keyboardist Derek Sherinian.  Their latest release is titled V.  We conclude this episode with classic rock icons Blue Oyster Cult, whose latest album is Ghost Stories.  This show features Rock 'N' Roll to the core, brought to you by Classic Artists Today!