Game Changers With Vicki Abelson

Vicki Abelson
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Game Changers With Vicki Abelson

Celebrity Maps to Success... people living their dream... the paths they took to get there

  1. Mark Metcalf On Game Changers With Vicki Abelson

    2 DAYS AGO

    Mark Metcalf On Game Changers With Vicki Abelson

    Mark Metcalf on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson As if sitting down twice with Animal House’s Mark Metcalf was not enough (it wasn’t), thrice was the charm. And, I suspect, just the beginning of many more conversations to come… and that’s exactly what this was… a conversation. Sparked by Mark’s just-dropped memoir, Tim Tim Timmy, which is at once gut-wrenching, heart-stopping, terrifying, life-affirming, informative, entertaining, and inspiring, we talked about suicide, family dysfunction, addiction, mental illness, the differences… Asperger’s, ADD, depression, neurodiverse, obsessive-compulsive disorder, bipolar, being on the spectrum, and how one size doesn’t fit all. How a proper early diagnosis can change the course of a life, prematurely ending Tim’s and giving space for Mark’s son Julius to thrive way beyond expectations. We talked about Mark’s life choices, and how they impacted his brother, his marriage, his son, and his career. How a misstep may have led to a seasoning, a reasoning, his ultimate redemption. The beach in Gaza was not lost on us, the scary insanity crept in more than once. We touched on the current state of the business too, self-tapes, and the horror of it all. With a quick streaming recommendation. In the end, it came down to love, responsibility, willingness, and action. That works at home, with our work, and with our nation. I’m hopeful. I’m inspired. I’m better informed. And I adore, even more, Mr. Metcalf. Treat yourself to Tim Tim Timmy. In this dumbed-down mess of times, it’s a smart, sophisticated, thought-provoking, yet accessible and non-putdownable enticing read. https://www.amazon.com/Tim-Timmy-Mark-Metcalf/dp/B0DQ6M7XTV?source=ps-sl-shoppingads-lpcontext&ref_=fplfs&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER Mark Metcalf Live on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson Wednesday, 2/5/25, 5 PM PT, 8 PM ET Streamed Live on my Facebook Replay here: https://bit.ly/4aV1vJ2

    1h 16m
  2. John Conte Live On Game Changers With Vicki Abelson

    JAN 30

    John Conte Live On Game Changers With Vicki Abelson

    John Conte Live on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson What crazy fun to sit down with my old dear friend, bassist John Conte, whom I hadn’t seen in decades. How is it possible that he appears to have aged barely a day? Seriously! John took us back to childhood days, his jazz-singing mother, Rosemary, his early days on guitar, and his brother Steve at first on drums. Their first band when John was 8 or 9, their early songwriting, including John’s first song, Maryanne, Sittin on a Log, which he gave us a little taste of. He was a boy with a dream of playing arenas with rock stars. He told us how they flipped instruments, with John choosing bass. His college days, jazz-infused, where he gigged around with stellar players like Terence Blanchard. We tripped down memory lane, where we met, in the md-80s at The Rock ’n Roll Cafe on Bleecker Street, 1/2 of The Brothers of Conte, as I affectionately came to call them, with his brother Steve, they were weekly regulars whenever their schedules allowed. John was in Blood, Sweat & Tears, his first major gig, at the time, and told us all about that. Great stories there, including playing Madison Square Garden. Not bad for a 23-year-old. During their tenure at the Rock ’N Roll, late one rainy night they brought in their friend, Phoebe Snow, a life changer for me who had been a diehard fan since high school. The Phoeb’s and I became fast friends, and I have the boys to thank for that as well as for years of amazing live music there, and at Spo-dee-o-dee’s, Woody’s, RockGirl, The Marquee, The Cafe Wha, True Blue and The China Club, where they were also a part of my RockGirl Jam Band. A stellar bassist, with an easy temperament and oh so easy on the eyes, it was always a joy when John was around. I made him tell his requisite Chuck Berry story. At that same time, the Conte brothers, as part of The Hudson River Rats, were laying the foundation for much of the session and road work that was to follow. Like Finding himself in the studio with Tony Visconti and David Bowie. John’s description of hearing Bowie vocalize in his ear gave me goosebumps. He talked about laying down tracks with Peter Wolf and Ian Hunter, getting to jam with loads of his heroes. The Conte Brothers connected with Kyf Brewer and Company of Wolves were borne. They did some showcases, got signed, did a tour with Richard Marx, and foreshadowed John’s future, one with Southside Johnny and The Asbury Jukes. John talked us through touring with Joan Osbourne (beautiful words here), Roseanne Cash, and Southside Johnny choosing him in 2007, a gig that would take him through to present day. There was a short tour with Billy Joel during his 2012 comeback with our friend, Tommy Byrnes, lovely to hear John’s take on it, and great stories about his tenure playing with The Disciples of Soul, the house band for the American Music Honors where he got to play with honorees, Jackson Browne, Mavis Staples, John Mellencamp and Dion, as well as host, Bruce Springsteen and Steven Van Zandt. John’s shared the stage with Bruce numerous times before, memorably for an impromptu 45-minute set with Southside. John’s recounting of that and of playing with Peter Frampton (and Sheryl Crow) at the Sandy Hook Promise Benefit is another moving, goosebump-inducing tale. I loved every single second with my old friend. It’s thrilling to see how his life has played and continues to play out. The young boy living his dream. Southside Johnyy’s future may be unsure, but John’s certainly isn’t. He’s always got multiple projects cooking, his own music in the works - check him out here johnconte.bandcamp.com and here Facebook.com/johncontebass I just adore the boy. He’ll always be a rockboy to me and damn, he sure still looks like one. John Conte Live on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson ****Wednesday, 1/29/25, 1 PM PT, 4 PM ET**** Streamed Live on my Facebook Replay here: https://bit.ly/4hbKHj6

    1h 15m
  3. Laurence Juber Live On Game Changers With Vicki Abelson

    JAN 23

    Laurence Juber Live On Game Changers With Vicki Abelson

    Laurence Juber Live on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson How life-affirming to be back Live with 2x Grammy Winner Laurence Juber. Laurence got us started with his Cobalt Blue. Loved it! What an extraordinary finger-playing guitarist. Gorgeous. We talked the LA fires, the Juber evacuation plan, fortunately not taken to fruition. Animals before guitars, his one-of-a-kind custom shop signature Martin, and a Les Paul were the two that made the cut. Laurence is doing what he can to help, performing at a series of gigs that will donate their proceeds, including Tuesday’s big fundraiser at The Canyon Club. Laurence talked with great pride about his two daughters, both achieving big things in the biz. He also spoke with great love and reverence of his wife, Hope, to whom he’s been married and a true partner in life and oft in art, for 42 years. It’s clear that it’s family first and creating for the Jubers. There’s no sitting around eating bonbons and watching the tube for this high-functioning family. We talked about Laurence’s early days and influences, clarinet his first instrument, finding guitar, and learning to read music in a day. He claims. everyone was doing it. His dream was to be a session player, and he quickly realized it in Abby Road Studios with the likes of George Martin. He gigged around with innumerable bands, quite happy to be doing so, until Denny Laine made that fateful connection. Auditioning with drummer Steve Holley, their lives both changed that day when Paul McCartney asked what they’d be doing for the next few years. A childhood fantasy realized, until a pot bust in Japan. Laurence spoke of his solo work, lots more session work, segueing to TV, which led him to some work with a guy named Snuffy, and ultimately to scoring and composing… writing two musicals with Hope, one, the ever popular, Gilligan’s Island: The Musical. There was a Grammy with Sir Paul for Rockestra, the first instrumental Grammy, and his solo arrangement of The Pink Panther Theme earned him a second Grammy. Laurence has played on innumerable hits, some he’s found out about years later reading about them. He’s an amazing man with incredible talents. This was a much-needed soul-filling reminder of all that’s good and right with the world during troubled and turbulent times. He took us out with guitar perfection. Click here for all that’s Laurence Juber laurencejuber.com including info on where to purchase his own coffee blend, and download his latest, A Day in My Life. Or grab the vinyl! Laurence Juber Live on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson Wednesday, 1/22/25, 5 PM PT, 8 PM ET Streamed Live on my Facebook Replay here: https://bit.ly/42oDeZq

    1h 11m
  4. Jim Beaver Live On Game Changers With Vicki Abelson

    12/19/2024

    Jim Beaver Live On Game Changers With Vicki Abelson

    Jim Beaver Live On Game Changers With Vicki Abelson by Vicki Abelson

    1h 33m
  5. Jimmy Vivino Live On Game Changers With Vicki Abelson

    12/12/2024

    Jimmy Vivino Live On Game Changers With Vicki Abelson

    Jimmy Vivino Live on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson It had been six long, 4 1/2 COVID years since last I sat down with my old friend, multi-instrumentalist, producer, composer, and long-time musical director for Conan O’Brien, Jimmy Vivino. It was like coming home. Almost the same age, we have many shared (unbeknownst to us at the time) memories of concerts at The Filmore East, Watkins Glen, the glory daze of the NY club scene, and a bounty of mutual friends. Talk about being in one’s comfort zone. Jimmy talked growing up in New Jersey, his carpenter trumpet-playing father, his talented brothers, Jerry and Floyd, and how they began and evolved - he talked Conan, Laura Nyro, Phoebe Snow, Donald Fagen, John Sebastian, Al Kooper, Levon Helm, The Allman Brothers, Albert King, Tom Petty, Prince, Bruno Mars, Michael McDonald, Johnny Johnson, Hubert Sumlin, Stevie Wonder, Muddy Waters, Pinetop Perkins, John Sebastian, The Dead, The Band, Harry Shearer, Paul Shaffer, whom he credits as his mentor, Leader of the Pack, Broadway, Ronnie Spector, Felix Cavaliere, The Rascals, Frankie Valli, Slash, Sly Stone, The J. Geils Band, Elvis Costello, and the James Brown and Friends Set Fire To The Soul with Aretha, Robert Palmer, and Joe Cocker, that he orchestrated. Incredible stories all around, and this special is available on YouTube… wow - Snuff and I just watched it. Spectacular. We talked about COVID and Jimmy joining Canned Heat, currently touring with them, and Bill Murray, as well as still doing shows with Will Lee and The Fab Faux. His first all-original album, Gonna Be 2 of Those Days, is due to drop in February, signed copies are available for pre-sale at jimmyvmusic.com He treated us to a track to close the show. Life is busy, busy. busy… just the way Jimmy likes it. And so do we who follow and adore him. I so enjoyed every second of this. Jimmy needs to write a book and get all these stories down. He knows and has played with everyone. Such fun! Jimmy Vivino Live on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson Wednesday, 12/11/24, 5 PM PT, 8 PM ET Streamed Live on my Facebook Replay here: https://bit.ly/49vuRwT

    1h 43m
  6. Bruce Vilanch Live On Game Changers With Vicki Abelson

    12/05/2024

    Bruce Vilanch Live On Game Changers With Vicki Abelson

    Bruce Vilanch Live on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson We were Live with 6x Emmy Winner, Bruce Vilanch, even though he only stakes genuine claim to 2 of them, he’s got 6. Well, he was awarded 6, he gave one to his mother, one to his manager, one to his business manager, and he’s got 2 in his possession. They all still count, Bruce. And they’re all deserved. This human has brought so much joy, and so much laughter to audiences around the globe for decades. Bruce has written for 24 Oscar broadcasts, was head writer for 14 of them, and collaborated with hosts such as Whoopi Goldberg, David Letterman, and Billy Crystal, we talked about all of those: fun with Whoopi, outsider Dave, magic with Billy, and the infamous Rob Lowe/ Snow White monologue, difficult Ellen, no surprise there, wildness with Jack Palance, apologies from James Franco, great stories, all! We talked the Hollywood Squares, which brought Bruce front and center - put him on camera, made him a celebrity, helped him land Hairspray and his star turn as Edna Turnblat on Broadway… how the show worked, great tales about Little Richard, Garth Brooks having the funny, Whoopi, again, John Davidson hosting and the adlib that brought the house down, or was it? Starting as a child actor, always funny, writing the funny for the Chicago Tribune, meeting Bette Midler, a relationship that has spanned 55 years and has been a game and life changer. Writing for Joan Rivers, Lily Tomlin, Robin Williams, Roseanne, Nathan Lane, and pretty much everyone else in Hollywood. The pandemic kept Bruce busy - his book, It Seemed Like a Bad Idea at the Time, drops March 4th and is available for pre-order now https://www.amazon.com/Seemed-Like-Bad-Idea-Time/dp/0914091921 he wrote the book for the Dolly Parton musical, Here You Come Again, which has enjoyed successful runs across the states and is currently readying a run in London’s West End. Bruce is featured in Studio One Forever, about America’s first iconic gay disco, streaming now on Prime. Bruce is everywhere and has done everything. Indefatigable and talented beyond compare, Bruce can get inside the head of just about anyone - be them and make them funny. Funnier. What a gift. He’s a treasure. I adore him and I’m damn grateful he never stops working. Do us all a continued favor, Bruce, stay busy! Bruce Vilanch Live on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson Wednesday, 12/4/24, 5 PM PT, 8 PM ET Streamed Live on my Facebook Replay here: https://bit.ly/3BdtJ4d

    50 min
  7. Bruce Watson Live On Game Changers With Vicki Abelson

    11/21/2024

    Bruce Watson Live On Game Changers With Vicki Abelson

    Foreigner guitarist Bruce Watson was having a better hair day, finished his crisp white shirt with a black jacket (I’d intended to do in kind with mine, but I was rushing and couldn’t get my cuffs through my sleeves), and surrounded himself with cool guitars and warm lights. Rockstar! I dig the cut of his jib. Almost as much as I appreciate how accessible, down-to-earth, humble, and lovely he is. Not a likely combination, but oh, so charming. And entertaining! What a great storyteller! Bruce took us through his extraordinary ancestry. The Watsons have been Valley Boys since the 1600s. Not! But they have been in America since then, in LA since the 1890s or so… likewise, his mother’s people, from Cork. Great story there - how and why they got here. We got the skinny on where the passion started - The Monkees - Hey Micky - and Creedance- the dream - to be a rockstar - his first band, Eragon, that no one, including me, could say correctly, covering The Eagles and Zeppelin - hysterical day jobs, great stories there, his first big gig touring with Toto’s Bobby Kimball, then Patty Smyth with Rod Stewart, then Rod hisself. Bruce, although not a “reader,” was getting lots of session work for film, TV, and commercials, one of which was producing a spot with B.B. King- what a poignant, moving story. Recording with a very young Christina Aguilera, her break out, What a Girl Wants, and just out of the box, Sara Bareilles’ Love Song, through Bennett Salvay meeting composer W.G. Snuffy Walden, and giving them just what they needed for their Friday Night Lights, getting the call to fill in for an ill Mick Jones - a temp gig - Bruce was busy, enjoying session work, his home and his family, with no intention of touring - then getting extended… again and again… finally joining Mick and becoming a permanent member of Foreigner. The Rockstar young Bruce dreamt of being realized in full force and boy does he wear it well. A killer player, he’s got the hair, the moves, and the clothes, and I got him to tell us where he shops. I wanna hit the stores with him. It’s all about how he puts it together. Bruce Watson is all that… and a jumbo bag of Cheetos. Talent, looks, genuine sweetness, and fun. Rockers, please take note… you can reach the pinnacle, look amazing doing it, and still be a mensch. Be like Bruce! Bruce Watson Live on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson Wednesday, 11/20/24, 5 PM PT, 8 PM ET Streamed Live on my Facebook Replay here: https://bit.ly/48YTzp0

    1h 4m
  8. Jack Casady Live On Game Changers With Vicki Abelson

    11/14/2024

    Jack Casady Live On Game Changers With Vicki Abelson

    It turns out it’s not all about the bass when talking with my hero, iconic legend, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Inductee, Jack Casady, of Jefferson Airplane and Hot Tuna. We did a deep dive into Jack’s family history, which is documented back to 1600s America on one side. There’s Irish, there’s Jewish, smoked whitefish on Sunday mornings whilst being raised Protestant. There are stories aplenty of Jack’s father with whom he shared a passion for music and a complicated relationship. Jack found a banjo and a guitar in their attic, where his musical journey began. Jack shares the details, suffice it to say, his solid work ethic, intelligence, talent, and perhaps his penchant for alcohol took root here. Unlike his father, Jack got to live his passion, and got sober 34 years ago. Bravo, sir! He tells a most poignant tale with a prop of losing his father thisclose to a lovely milestone. One of many very moving moments shared today. Jack took us through his early musical influences and experiences, and a couple of non-musical ones like his paper route… he spoke of Danny Gatton, meeting Jorma, how he went from guitar to bass, the invitation to join Jefferson Airplane, in my top 5 bands of all time, what that was for him creatively - those days, San Francisco, those people, Signe, Marty, Paul, then Grace, Skip, Spencer… and the lifestyle, going club to club, playing and supporting each other, The Dead, Big Brother, Jimi, and recording Voodoo Chile, and the impact Mitch Mitchell had on the music, Jimi, and on Jack. We talked The Filmore, West, and East, the special pull of New York, Woodstock, how that went down for Jack & Jorma, and the aftermath… Hot Tuna, how and why… he and Jorma and why it still works almost 60 years later… SVT, The Starship, KBC… teaching at Fur Peace Ranch, and now virtually - you too can study with Jack! He played Somebody to Love on his signature Diana and almost made me cry, and, at my request, his iconic White Rabbit riff, in my top 5 songs of all time and the reason I picked up a bass 40 years ago. Speaking of Diana, Jack spoke of their life together and their fight to keep his wife alive after her cancer diagnosis. He was visibly overcome and still for a few moments when speaking of her passing over a decade ago. The bright side, he announced he’s betrothed to Debra Evans, who was part of Diana’s care team. Lots of full-circle moments, Jack shares a birthday with my son, Harry. We’re all connected, aren’t we? This was a dream come true for this Airplane, Hot Tuna, loving, bass-playing wanna-be. One for the books. If someone had told me when I was a girl in Queens playing the grooves off Surrealistic Pillow that I would one day sit down with Jack (and Jorma), I would’ve wanted what they were having. I was probably already having it. And look at us now, all three, clean and sober. This old girl is grateful beyond words for this wondrous day with Jack. Jack Casady Live on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson Wednesday, 11/13/24, Noon PT, 3 pm ET Streamed Live on my Facebook Replay here: https://bit.ly/4hOGeUs

    1h 57m
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4.9
out of 5
15 Ratings

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Celebrity Maps to Success... people living their dream... the paths they took to get there

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