THE CLASSIC ROCK MUSIC REPORTER: 12/01/2015

Saturday, December 19, 2015

THE RAY SHASHO SHOW WELCOMES LEGENDARY DRUMMER CORKY LAING

MOUNTAIN LEGENDARY DRUMMER CORKY LAING

Our Very Special Guest Today is Canadian powerhouse drummer Corky Laing is essentially associated with rock and roll folklore and as one of the elite drummers in the world. Laing is a longtime member for hard rock/heavy metal giant’s Mountain and the blues-rock power trio of West, Bruce & Laing. But Laing’s musical collaborations are seemingly endless. A list that includes alliances with John Lennon, Jack Bruce, Meat Loaf, Noel Redding, Mahogany Rush, Ten Years After, Ian Hunter, Mick Ronson, Bo Diddley and Gov’t Mule …to name a few. Laing is also a producer and composer.

Corky Laing has recently added a brand new chapter to his illustrious musical career. Laing’s most recent project is a fascinating collaboration with two internationally acclaimed professors intermingling the decree of genetic engineering with a rock opera music scheme. The concept album entitled … Playing God is performed by the Perfect Child, an incredible ensemble of musicians and singers. At the core of the rock opera is Corky Laing who astounds instrumentally, lyrically and vocally. The album concept is brilliant and the music is colossal. It’s an awe-inspiring rock musical production and a cross between … Welcome to my Nightmare, The Wall and The Rocky Horror Picture Show.

… CORKY LAING PLAYS MOUNTAIN …

Sitting in with K2 (Peter Baron, Ken Sidotti & Joe Venti), a band saluting Mountain’s music, for a couple of gigs during 2014 and 2015 reminded Corky how much he liked playing Mountain songs the way they were originally written. Now he is looking at touring both Europe and the US celebrating the Mountain legacy. On the European tours Corky is joined by Joe Venti (formerly e.g. Leslie West Band) on bass and vocals, and Phil Baker (e.g. Uriah Heep Legends & Pulse Echoes of Floyd) on guitar and vocals. In November 2015 they tour the UK and in February 2016 Germany, playing the immortal Mountain classics and throwing in some West, Bruce & Laing and Cream for good measure.

… CORKY LAING PLAYS MOUNTAIN … is currently on tour

Playing God:The Rock Opera will return to Helsinki in April 2016.

Corky says ...“The drums are the best instrument in the world. When you’re a kid you go to your dad and say, dad, I want to grow up and I want to be a drummer. Your dad says …You’ve got to choose one or the other.”

Welcome to the Ray Shasho Show legendary drummer, composer, producer, singer, and member of classic rock legend’s Mountain and West, Bruce & Laing … CORKY LAING.

Ray Shasho Interviews
Legendary Drummer
CORKY LAING

on BBS Radio 1 posted on You Tube

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Saturday, December 5, 2015

THE RAY SHASHO SHOW WELCOMES LEGENDARY HITMAKER TOMMY JAMES

TOMMY JAMES IS THE SPECIAL GUEST ON THE RAY SHASHO RADIO SHOW

Our Very Special Guest Today is legendary Hit-maker Tommy James of The Shondells who has also written a bestselling book about his infamous and often intimidating association with Roulette Records and the “Godfather” of the music business Morris Levy.

After Tommy James and his family moved to Niles, Michigan he assembled what became a very popular local act called The Tornadoes. A local deejay asked the band to sign with his new label called Snap Records. One of the tunes recorded was a catchy rock and roll ditty written by Jeff Barry and Ellie Greenwich called “Hanky Panky.”

The song quickly became a local hit and then rapidly faded away into oblivion.

Two years later an improbable occurrence unfolded when “Hanky Panky” was discovered in a record bin by a nightclub deejay in Pittsburgh. He began playing the newly discovered 45 at weekend dances and the response was beyond overwhelming. A local record distributer bootlegged it and sold 80,000 copies in just ten days. By May of 1966 “Hanky Panky” became a number one hit in Pittsburgh. Later a promoter hunted down Tommy in Niles, Michigan and urged him to come to Pittsburgh where he was already a huge sensation.

A young and impressionable Tommy James would soon be trying to sell “Hanky Panky” to the largest record companies in New York. With an original copy from Snap Records and a bootleg copy in hand the executives from all the major labels positioned themselves to sign the rock and roll Boy Wonder. Strangely the next morning Tommy received a phone call informing him that all those record companies that were so eager to sign him had decided to pass. A disconcerted James then received a call from Jerry Wexler of Atlantic records who informed Tommy that he received a call from Morris Levy president of Roulette Records. The message was made crystal clear to Wexler and all the other record execs.

Levy said, “This is my F’ing record! Leave it alone.”

(Hanky Panky became number one on the charts in America and the biggest summer hit of 1966)

Thus began the infamous relationship between Tommy James, Roulette Records and music mogul/ gangster Morris Levy. After every crime family member connected to Roulette Records had passed away, Tommy James was compelled to profess his incredible story. So with help from author Martin Fitzpatrick, James confessed his story into a book called Me, the Mob, and the Music which became a Simon and Schuster Best Seller.

Tommy James has sold over 100 million records and was awarded 23 gold singles plus nine gold and platinum albums. Some of his legendary hits include “Hanky Panky,” “I Think We’re Alone Now,” “Mony Mony,” “Crimson and Clover,” “Crystal Blue Persuasion,” “Sweet Cherry Wine” and “Draggin’ The Line.”

During 1968-69 Tommy James and The Shondells sold more single records (45’s) than any artist in the world, including The Beatles.

Please welcome legendary hit-maker and best-selling author TOMMY JAMES!

TOMMY JAMES INTERVIEW POSTED ON YOU TUBE