Chip Davis is the biggest-selling Christmas music artist of all time as a founding member of Mannheim Steamroller. The band is celebrating the 35th anniversary of their first Christmas album with a new tour, which comes to the Rosemont Theater on Friday, December 20.
Follow @bigwakeupcallTag Archives: Musicians
Cyndi Lauper
Grammy, Tony, and Emmy Award winning singer-songwriter )that’s 3/4 of an EGOT!) called in to talk about some of her newest projects as well as her work as a spokesperson for the 8 million Americans dealing with symptoms of psoriasis.
Follow @bigwakeupcallLaurie Berkner
I was very happy to have Laurie Berkner return to the show for her third appearance. We talked about her new album “Waiting for the Elevator,” along with the challenges of being an independent artist and label owner in the current music industry of streaming and downloads.
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It was a thrill to chat with John Flansburgh of They Might Be Giants. The Big Wakeup Call has just become an affiliate of the They Might Be Giants Radio Network, and we’ll be featuring a new, exclusive Dial-A-Song tune every week. John and I had a fun conversation where unabashed flattery sits comfortably alongside genuine questions. A great visit with one of my all-time favorites.
Laurie Berkner
Laurie Berkner returned to the show for a chat about her new project, “Laurie Berkner’s Song and Story Kitchen,” which is now available as a 10-part Audible Original Series.
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Tower of Power
Tower of Power founding members Emilio Castillo and Doc Kupka, along with new singer Marcus Scott, called in to talk about their fall tour and new album Soul Side of Town, which recently hit #1 on the Billboard Jazz charts. Topics: writing and recording new material, finding new ways to approach songs and instruments, and touring in 2018 vs. 1968. Plus: what it takes to get the Tower of Power horns to play on your record.
Rita Coolidge
It was great to have the chance to catch up with the great Rita Coolidge as she called in to talk about her new solo album, “Safe In the Arms of Time,” featuring her original tunes, collaborations with Keb’ Mo’, Stan Lynch and Chris Stapleton, and a special composition from Graham Nash.
Scott Ian
Scott Ian from Anthrax returned to the show to talk about his new book Access All Areas: Stories From a Rock Hard Life. We discussed how the book is not a sequel to I’m the Man (since that would require writing a second autobiography, an absurd yet interesting thought), telling an honest version of tales of debauchery, and his most requested story (involving Lemmy and a pair of Daisy Dukes).
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Award-winning pianist and composer Jim Brickman called the show to promote his new holiday album, A Joyful Christmas. We talked about Jim’s own radio show, tracking down celebrity guests in an unusual way, and how he’ll have to skip the levitating piano and pyrotechnics when he plays at Wentz Concert Hall in Naperville this Sunday.
Follow @bigwakeupcallEmmylou Harris
Country Music Hall-of-Famer Emmylou Harris called in to talk about her appearance in a new holiday special, “A Nashville Christmas,” premiering December 7th on Get TV. We also discussed Emmylou’s Bonaparte’s Retreat dog rescue and our mutual love for shelter dogs.
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