Game Changers With Vicki Abelson Vicki Abelson

Felix Solis Live On Game Changers With Vicki Abelson by Vicki Abelson

Korel Tunador Live on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson

It was such a treat to sit down again with treasured friend, Korel Tunador. I’ve sure missed him. Crazy talented and oh, so fun, quintuple threat––guitar, keyboards, sax, accordion, and vocals, Korel, who’s been playing with Rob Thomas the last many years, spent a dozen + with the Goo Goo Dolls, toured with Katy Perry, and Jada Pinkett Smith’s Wicked Wisdom, and prepped to tour with Hanson, filled us in on how he got each, how the experiences played out, from never making it on the road (the latter) to the Ted Lasso almost religious experience he’s currently living with Rob Thomas and company. Now focused on vocal coaching - pros to unknowns, Korel took us on his journey from piano at 5 in Pittsburgh to stadiums and TV.

Explaining how anyone can sing… on key, and learn to harmonize… it’s all about patience and perseverance. Even me? I may have to take him up on that. Korel’s primary instrument of choice is his voice. As if to punctuate the point, he treated us to his new, emotive, Drain on Me, the also new, You Belong to Me, not sad he said, yet it also brought a tear… and Korel’s closer, his classic, The Town of Artichoke, which left me giddy, and flying high, as it always does.

One of the sweetest humans on the planet, Korel’s played my living room thrice, and was part of the Women Who Write extravaganza produced by Mike Nesmith at the Henry Miller Library in Big Sur. I’ll be forever grateful to Zoe Moon for connecting us, and for Zooms like these that reconnect us even when he’s busy as hell, and miles away.

If you’re a pro on the road looking to up your vocal game, or a layman like me, considering how lovely it would be to shock your loved ones and whip out an unexpected harmony or two, Korel can be reached @koreltunador.com - few funner to hang with for any reason.

Korel Tunador Live on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson
Wed, May 24th, 5 pm PT, 8 pm ET
Streamed Live on The Facebook
Replay here :
https://bit.ly/3q6hpge

Friends who used to be 30 Something, Wingnuts, and Field of Dreamers, lend me your ear (s), and your eyeballs. Emmy-winner Timothy Busfield is a scream! His Burt Lancaster alone is worth the watch. Hysterical, and right on point.

Tim’s amazing bride, Melissa Gilbert joined us for a sec, she’ll be back! But she was a big part of the conversation––how they met, and where––great story. I love how he loves her, and her, him. Their togetherness is epic. We talked how they do it, handle challenges, and resolve them, so quickly. Merging their families - both married for the thrice time… co-parenting and grandparenting, building a home, and a life. Ain’t love grand.

We talked Tim’s early years in Michigan, his mother, her challenges, his father, and his. Tim getting the bug after seeing Burt Lancaster on the big screen, and going full circle co-starring with him in Field of Dreams so many years later––the challenges of that film. First, theatre out the wazoo… Actors Theater of Louisville to Circle Rep… being Matthew Broderick’s understudy on Broadway in Brighton Beach Memoirs and never getting on - Trapper John, getting an actors education, Nerds, Stripes, thirtysomething, his first gig with a guy named Snuffy, turns out there are 10 so far, 12 with Melissa’s… starring on Broadway for Sorkin, Sports Night, The West Wing, Studio 60 on The Sunset Strip, his two theatre companies intended to serve the young - the guppies did he call them? Being of service a major theme throughout. Turning down hosting SNL, thrice, auditioning for it without knowing, giving up the drink two weeks ago, how and why… his latest, The Cleaning Lady, and more importantly, his next binge with Melissa and their morning flight to Florida.

We talked for almost two hours, from LA to Michigan to Upstate NY and the UWS…. and I could have talked all night. Ridiculous fun. Down to earth, open, warm, thoughtful, helpful, funny, loving, fun, fun, fun. Do they come more likable than Tim? You’ll have to prove it.

Timothy Busfield Live on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson
Wed, May 17th, 5 pm PT, 8 pm ET
Streamed Live on The Facebook
Replay here:
https://bit.ly/3IjV5WJ

Michael Ruff Live on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson

In his first ever interweb interview, perhaps interview period, 3rd Zoom of his lifetime, and that includes 2 with his family, multiple Grammy-nominated producer and songwriter, BMI Award and Cable Ace Award winner, Michael Ruff, tried to be a little ruff, deflecting and avoiding answering questions about his past but ultimately, answering my questions he did. Even the really tough ones. And the password was FUN!

I’ve had a bit of a run with bad boy musicians who are a tad unpredictable and contrarian- I love a good challenge. Well, I’m actually getting too old for that shit, but Michael’s worth it. HIs story hasn’t been told. Research for the show came up with a bio he’d written himself on his website, or had written for him, a few brief liner notes on a couple of videos, and 3 really short blogs, I mean really short. The end. No Wiki, no articles, no interviews for background. I was tightrope walking without a net of any kind for the first time myself and after getting over the initial shock of his response to a question being, “No, I don’t wanna…” That’s not an exact quote, fyi, I’m too fatigued to try to find the moment, at the moment, it’s also the first time in 7 years I didn’t stay up no matter how late and write liner notes, on the same night as the show, ever. Consider this a cherry breaking for both of us.

Too harsh? For a man who values honesty seemingly above almost all else, except maybe love, I think he can take it.*

*See his story about how he, with the help of his higher power to hear him tell it, saved and changed Snuffy’s life for good.

For someone who’s never done a Zoom podcast, Michael had arguably the best sound and set up of any guest I’ve had the privilege to sit down with––pointing up how much work I have to do on my own deal. Also pointing up his greatness, what makes him a one-of-a-kind brilliant artist, worth everything and anything. He displayed that brilliance tinkling throughout and featured on his new, as yet unreleased, Nobody But You, his classic, I Love You More Than You’ll Ever Know, my favorite, Wishing Well, and a taste of the brand new, Beautiful Children. *sigh*

We talked about being born in Utah, Connecticut, Boston, Upstate New York, The Bitter End, The Flying Jib, At My Place, Hawaii, a bounty of musicians who populated them, playing with Rickie Lee Jones, MDing Chaka Khan, bringing in the Snuff, being brought into Laura Brannigan by the him, Eric Burdon, Clive Davis’s pass, his Warner Brothers deal, Bonnie Raitt covering his Cry on My Shoulder on Nick of Time, self sabotage in work and in life, and the work to right that latter wrong. HIs massive love of his wife, his kids, his grandkid, his Island, its people, his music, faith, and his life.

Michael’s jazz… an improvisation…his artistry, his impromptu, in the moment, in his skin, funny, irreverent, genius… fun, complicated, incomprehensible for its difficulty, made to look easy, is the stuff that makes him a treasure I hope he gifts us more of in the days and years ahead. A short west coast tour in June with John Cruz approaches. Dates here: JohnCruz.com We’ll be there with massive smiles on.

My takeaway - underneath the self-assured confidence Michael is a man who cares very much about pleasing, with his art, his craft, his life––he gives his very best. Even when he tries to withhold, he shares without filter. I’m even more enamored now, even if I did have to work for it.

Michael Ruff Live on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson
Wed, May 10th, 5 pm PT, 8 pm ET
Streamed Live on The Facebook
Replay here:
https://bit.ly/3MgM0iL

Like fine wine gaining depth, strength, and taste with age, so is Grammy-winning comedian, actor, writer, director, cannabis activist, Tommy Chong. After a lifetime of adoring this man and his art, having spent countless hours laughing over and over and over again at his funny, I’ve been struck by his warmth, generosity, intelligence, centeredness, spirituality, self-awareness, business acumen, and intuitive good sense, since first meeting him in the parking lot of a Chinese restaurant 3 years ago. This Tommy––a pandemic, a book, tango lessons, massive product output, and some health issues later, I found to be even more thoughtful, profound, emotional, and vulnerable. I sit here reflecting, very moved. What a beautiful thing.

Before we went Live we talked about last weekend’s Willie Nelson 90th Birthday Celebration and why he and Cheech weren’t there. Of course, they were asked! A work conflict prevented it - but man! That’s the only topper I could imagine for those 2 nights. Talk about a match striking weed heaven!

We began with his drop-dead gorgeous wife Shelby, who continues to defy age and gravity. It’s inconceivable that this knock-out has been with Tommy for 50+ years and they have a 50-something daughter to prove it. His respect, adoration, and appreciation of her after all these years is admirable and enviable.

We talked at great length about Tommy's very humble beginnings, his mother's illness leading him and his siblings to a year plus in a children's home. Returning to his own with nary electricity, let alone a telephone, or a toy. They made their own. Thus, the imagination. And, he played house with the girls, hour after hour, day after day. Thus, the beginning days of honing his improv skills.

From his early career as a guitarist, getting signed by Berry Gordy, discovering the Jackson 5, following them on the bill, writing a hit, having it covered by the Supremes, owning a club, seeing The Committee, and redirecting himself to Improv... how Cheech and Chong began. Tommy takes us through those very early daze, to Up in Smoke, landing with the iconic, Dave's not here!

We talked about his getting erroneously busted, copping a plea, and doing the time because it was something he was meant to do. Being of service, the I Ching, redirecting thought, seeing things through, and getting them done. We talked pot, of course... as a medicinal tool which he claims, along with traditional treatment helped him beat cancer, twice. His cannabis business, which almost and may still go public, and his thoughts on the state of politics and what has to happen.

What I came away with is if I could accomplish what Tommy has and continues to, I’d still be smoking the whacky weed. Nah! Not for me. But damn, the man has done so much and had such enormous success, with all the weed. How the hell does he focus? I’m sitting here sober as a straight grandma and I’m distracted and paused at every turn.

There was a certain wistful sadness underlying the stories and the funny. A man in the third chapter, as I believe he called it, accepting that the best is in the past. I trust there’s more greatness and creativity to emerge. And, who knows, maybe he’ll save the very best for last. With Tommy’s energy, passion, and vitality, it’ll no doubt be a long way away.

Thomas Chong Live on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson
Wed, May 3rd, 5 pm PT, 8 pm ET
Streamed Live on The Facebook
Replay here:
https://bit.ly/3nqWSC0

Snuffy Walden Live on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson

There are no accidents. House stand-in as he so aptly named hisslef, Emmy-Winning Composer, Snuffy Walden, was just what the doctor ordered. Live from the dining room, with Rufus for the most part chillin’ between us, Snuffy got down, got real, letting us in as he seamlessly weaved through music, alcoholism, geographics, hitting big, breaking bad, highs, lows, getting sober, switching gears, success beyond his imaginings, the pandemic abyss, to slowly stepping back out amidst life’s challenges.

From piano to trombone, finding guitar, playing with BJ Thomas at 14 and strip clubs at 17, DJing, to living in a park with a roadie, Aphrodite in Denver to fronting Stray Dog, rocking like hell, and opening for Emerson, Lake & Palmer around the world, a near-miss with me in ’74, drinking and debauchery, recording Songs in The Key of Life with Stevie Wonder, earning a platinum record, being in the passenger seat when Stevie drove––oh yes, he did; playing with Dave Mason at the peak, Chaka Khan when she was breaking I Feel For You, touring with Eric Burdon and having an epiphany, thanks to longtime friend and bandmate, Michael Ruff, which would change, and save, his life.

With all his success before, a few years later, without experience or training, he scored Thirty Something, then The Wonder Years, both Emmy nominees their first year, then meeting Sorkin and doing Sports Night, and then The West Wing, where he won that Emmy with his iconic main title, and then a dozen other Emmy nominations and 51 BMI Awards, representing over a hundred other shows… then the pandemic slowdown to almost shut down, and a recent rebirth doing what he loves and loving what he’s doing, committed to turning up the joy in the monitors, because of and in spite of recent news.


Snuffy’s humility, humanity, and heart soar in his words and music. His dedication to being of service, hIs talent, and his sweetness, are ongoing inspirations to me and countless others.

I neglected to say Happy Passover. Historically I’ve been a second-nighter, and this year is no exception. Tomorrow, Snuffy will be attending his first Seder. Hide the Manischewitz. From both of us.

Snuffy Walden Live on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson
Wed, April 5th, 5 pm PT, 8 pm ET
Streamed Live on The Facebook
Replay here:
https://bit.ly/3mbZT8I