San Joaquin Sound

AJ Rodriguez
  • 5.0 (2)
  • MUSIC HISTORY

All the music you never knew about in Bakersfield, California and the surrounding valley. Decade and genre hopping interviews about important people, venues, and events in Bakersfield Music History.

  1. Doug Davis: Jazz Extraordinaire - History of the Bakersfield Jazz Festival

    JAN 28

    Doug Davis: Jazz Extraordinaire - History of the Bakersfield Jazz Festival

    Did you ever go to the Bakersfield Jazz Festival in the 30 plus years it was running? If so, you have Doug Davis to thank. He ran the festival, booking artists like Dizzie Gillespie and Larry Carlton. And Local legends Mary Osborne and Mento Buru. In addition to running the festival, he was also a professor in charge of the Jazz Program at CSUB. Doug Davis is an incredible professor, amazing pianist, saxophone player, and award winning composer of classical music, Jazz, and even radio jingles. He has played hundreds if not thousands of concerts in Bakersfield and has even played in Paris, France and New York. Listen to Episode 14 of the San Joaquin Sound podcast to hear an interview with Doug Davis.

    1h 32m
  2. Matt Riot: Adventures with The Soulsteppers and Death Valley Driver

    JAN 7

    Matt Riot: Adventures with The Soulsteppers and Death Valley Driver

    Matt Riot played guitar and drums in multiple Bakersfield bands. He played drums in a reggae band called The Soulsteppers. He also played in Death Valley driver, a wrestling themed powerviolence band that had the band members fighting each other mid-concert. They often played in the Munoz Boxing Gym (see Episode 1.) Matt also played in bands The Prolapse Nation, and The Kill. This interview is filled with wild stories from the Bakersfield music scene from the late 90s and early to mid 2000s.

    53 min
  3. Willie Cantu Part 3: From Buckaroo to The Avant-Guarde - Bakersfield, Toronto, San Francisco, and Nashville

    12/24/2025

    Willie Cantu Part 3: From Buckaroo to The Avant-Guarde - Bakersfield, Toronto, San Francisco, and Nashville

    This is Part 3 of a 3 Part series of interviews with Willie Cantu, the Buckaroo. This episode covers his time after he left Buck Owens and the Buckaroos and went on to pursue other musical adventures. He spent time in Toronto as a studio musician, then moved to San Francisco and pursued Jazz while becoming a part of the Avant-Guarde movement. Then he moved to Nashville and continued drumming including starting 2 different Scottish Pipe Bands. Listen to the final chapter of the Willie Cantu story on the San Joaquin Sound podcast.

    1h 13m
  4. Willie Cantu Part 2: On the Road with Buck Owens and the Buckaroos

    12/17/2025

    Willie Cantu Part 2: On the Road with Buck Owens and the Buckaroos

    This is Part 2 of a 3 Part series of interviews with Willie Cantu, the Buckaroo. This episode covers his time with Buck Owens and the Buckaroos. Icons of Country music, they took Bakersfield Sound on the road, toured the world, and recorded hit after hit. Stay tuned for Part 3!

    1h 9m
  5. Willie Cantu Part 1: From Corpus Christi's Youngest Working Drummer to Buck Owens Buckaroo

    12/10/2025

    Willie Cantu Part 1: From Corpus Christi's Youngest Working Drummer to Buck Owens Buckaroo

    This is Part 1 of a 3 Part series of interviews with Willie Cantu, the Buckaroo. This episode covers his time growing up in Corpus Christi, Texas and working the clubs as a drummer while still a teenager. It also talks about him joining Buck Owens and the Buckaroos and moving to Bakersfield and his first experiences there. Stay tuned for part two!

    1h 16m
  6. Chris Goodsell: The Adventures of Purdy Spackle and Big Jed

    11/19/2025

    Chris Goodsell: The Adventures of Purdy Spackle and Big Jed

    Chris Goodsell has been performing music since he was a child. He got into punk music in the 80s and learned guitar and bass. He was in bands like Big Jed, The Mutilators, Cradle of Thorns, and The Wichitas. He has played shows for decades all over Bakersfield and has gone on multiple worldwide tours. He has opened for Dee Dee Ramone, Willie Nelson, and even Korn.

    1h 55m
  7. Norm Hamlet: Ridin' the Frets with Merle Haggard & The Strangers

    10/22/2025

    Norm Hamlet: Ridin' the Frets with Merle Haggard & The Strangers

    Norm Hamlet was the Pedal Steel guitarist for 49.5 years with Merle Haggard and The Strangers. He was a pioneer of The Bakersfield Sound. He played on 9 Gold and Platinum albums. He has toured all over the United States and internationally. This interviews covers his beginnings with as a musician, touring with Merle, and his current tours.

    58 min
  8. Marc DeLeon: Jack of All Trades, Master of Drums

    10/08/2025

    Marc DeLeon: Jack of All Trades, Master of Drums

    Marc DeLeon promoted many concerts throughout the 1980s and 1990s. He played guitar, bass, and drums in many bands including Hossbruten, Adema, Premonition, American Standard, Cholo Biafra, and the Mentors. He has owned Mad Dog Tattoo for over 30 years. He has played our local American Legion, Gilman, CBGBs, and even the Eindhoven Metal Meeting. This conversation covers Bakersfield scene, San Francisco, and some touring stories.

    1h 24m
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

All the music you never knew about in Bakersfield, California and the surrounding valley. Decade and genre hopping interviews about important people, venues, and events in Bakersfield Music History.

Information

  • Creator
    AJ Rodriguez
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    14
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © AJ Rodriguez
  • Show Website
    San Joaquin Sound