Sittin' in with the CAT Classic Artists Today, LLC

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!

Better Than Ezra was formed in 1988 in Louisiana.  Their first major label album, Deluxe, went Platinum.  Throughout the years a dozen of their singles have landed on the charts.  Multi-award winning program director, Ray White, caught up with co-founders Kevin Griffin and Tom Drummond backstage at their show to talk about their All Together Now album, the early days of the band and their approach in writing songs and putting together albums.  Billboard tapped the band as one of the "100 Greatest Alternative Artists of All Time."  They've released several singles recently from their forthcoming album and have a full tour schedule in 2024.  In our showcase segment we feature the latest on Billboard Music Award multi-winners, The Goo Goo Dolls and Ambrosia members Burleigh Drummond and Mary Harris and their Tin Drum Family Band which just released Emerson Street.  Gotta dig it as they're Sittin' In With The CAT!!

Russ Kunkel is one of the most sought after drummers in the world.  A renowned session player, he has recorded or performed for the likes of Jimmy Buffett, CS&N, Stevie Nicks, Carole King, Dan Fogelberg and many more superstars in the music industry.  He's produced nearly two dozen albums, too!  He started to make a name for himself at L.A.'s Whiskey a Go Go, in the late 1960's.  Multi award-winning program director Ray White hung out with Russ in Charlottesville, VA during the Virginia Film Festival to preview the movie (Immediate Family) and talk about his new band The Immediate Family - which includes super session players Danny Kortchmar, Waddy Wachtel, Leland Sklar and Steve Postell.  We talked about the collaboration, his career, the film and their music including brand new album Skin In The Game - which now will be released on February 16, 2024.  We'll featue several of Russ's "friends" on this episode, too!!  Be sure to check out more about the band, their music and the film on Episodes 143 and 164 when Waddy Wachtel and movie director Denny Tedesco join us.  This musical story of our lifetime - we've got it on Classic Artists Today.

Jeff "Skunk" Baxter is one of the elite guitarists today.  He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of The Doobie Brothers.  His career on the national scene was launched in 1968 as a member of Ultimate Spinach.  In 1972, Skunk became a founding member of Steely Dan, playing on their first three albums.  Joining the Doobies in 1974, after doing session work on several of their earlier albums, he was with the band until 1979.  Most of his musical career was dedicated to doing session work for many other bands and artists.  In our November of 2023 interview, multi-award winning program director Ray White caught up backstage with Jeff before a show supporting his 2022 album Speed of Heat.  We touched on a series of highlights from his early days, stints with Steely Dan and The Doobie Brothers, and about his latest solo album and tour.  You won't want to miss this episode!  We close our show with the latest from The Doobie Brothers.  Their latest single is "Lahaina" was recorded to benefit families and individuals affected by the 2023 Hawaii wildfires.  Be sure to listen to our other shows featuring current and former Doobies' on Episodes 18, 44, 75 & 128.  World-class musicians (always) right here on the CAT!!