Sittin' in with the CAT Classic Artists Today, LLC

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!

Paul Nelson, a guitarist/record producer/songwriter won a Grammy award for Best Blues Album in 2015 for Johnny Winter's Step Back release.  Paul's played with the elite guitarists in the world and was a phenomenal guitarist himself.  He produced albums and toured with Johnny Winter for several years until Johnny passed in 2014.  Working with many of the blues and rock greats, he also found time to release several of his own projects.  In November of 2023, multi-award winning program director Ray White hung out with Paul to talk about his guitar training, several of his projects and hooking up with Johnny Winter.  I was sad to learn that Paul passed away on March 10, 2024, while out on tour.  He was a great talent that will be missed by many.  We hope you'll enjoy one of his last interviews and the awesome work from Paul on this insightful episode.    

Fred LeBlanc is a co-founder of Cowboy Mouth, a Louisiana band formed in 1990.  Along with drumming, he's the vocalist for the band too.  Throughout the years the band has performed for over 10 million people.  Before forming Cowboy Mouth, Fred was in the "cowpunk" band Dash Rip Rock.  Multi-award winning program director Ray White caught up with Fred on a windy oceanfront day to talk about the band's unique sound, their relationship with their devoted fans, their latest music and support of worthy causes like Raising a Hand for Rhett.  In our showcase segment we feature Green Day whose latest album is Saviors, along with country rock stalwarts Blackberry Smoke, who just released Be Right Here.  We close out this episode featuring The Black Crowes, who are releasing their first studio album in 15 years titled Happiness Bastards.  Don't miss this awesome episode that'll rock your socks off, here on the CAT!