Saturday, July 4, 2020

JONELL MOSSER MULTI-TALENTED BLUES/SOUL SINGER SPECIAL GUEST ON INTERVIEWING THE LEGENDS WITH RAY SHASHO ON BBS RADIO

J  O  N  E  L  L  
M  O  S  S  E  R
REVERED SOUTHERN ROCK-BLUES-SOUL-COUNTRY SINGER FROM NASHVILLE
performed with

Ringo Starr, John Hall & Orleans, Delbert McClinton, B.B. King, Trisha Yearwood, Jesse Winchester, Etta James, Wynona, Rodney Crowell, Vince Gill, Waylon Jennings, Patty Smythe, A.J. Croce, Bruce Cockburn and many-many more!
Exclusive Interview


JONELL MOSSER INTERVIEW
CLICK BELOW TO LISTEN
Thirty years ago, John Hall of Orleans met Jonell Mosser, queen of the Bluebird in Nashville. They immediately wrote a song together, a collaboration that caught fire when Johanna Hall came into the mix.  They wrote dozens of songs over the next decade. 

As a duo, John and Jonell did some memorable gigs in Woodstock. Recently, a cassette of one of those shows—an acoustic duo show at the Bearsville Theater in 1994—surfaced from a neglected drawer. A lost gem, the performances were so stellar, the songs so new they still had dew on them. Twenty-five years later, after Johanna digitized and edited it, that performance is finally released to the public as Little Black Dress.
Jonell Mosser’s first record was Around Townes, a collection of songs by Townes Van Zandt. She then came to the attention of producer Don Was (Bonnie Raitt, Waylon Jennings, Rolling Stones) who cut an album with her. He also put together the band New Maroons which performed at Farm Aid with Jonell singing in front of Benmont Tench, Mark Goldenberg, Was, and Ringo Starr. Two CDs--So Like Joy and Enough Rope--were released on Hall’s Siren Songs label, followed by Trust Yourself (Better Angels) and Fortunes Lost, Fortunes Told (Brother’s Mother’s Music).

Singing in venues large and small, touring the US and Japan with Orleans, Delbert McClinton, and other, Jonell has seen her audience grow. She’s sung studio vocals for B.B. King, Trisha Yearwood, Jesse Winchester, Etta James, Wynona, Rodney Crowell, Vince Gill, Waylon Jennings, Patty Smythe, A.J. Croce, Bruce Cockburn….
John Hall’s written songs for Janis Joplin, Bonnie Raitt, Ricky Skaggs, Steve Wariner, and James Taylor. He’s played guitar on tours and records with Little Feat, Taj Mahal, Jackson Browne, and Seals and Crofts. His music and environmental activism led him to 10 years in elective office. Now, back to music full time, he writes songs and performs solo and with Orleans. 
"Listen to Jonell Mosser just once in concert and you'll be an instant believer. She sings with all-out passion and heart. No frills. No games. Just a soulful intensity that makes you realize you're in the presence of the real 
thing."


JONELL MOSSER

with

(Orleans Legend)
JOHN HALL

LITTLE 
BLACK DRESS


available at amazon.com 




For more information about Jonell Mosser
Visit



MY NEW BOOK IS FINALLY OUT!

THE
 ROCK STAR CHRONICLES
SERIES ONE


CHRONICLES, TRUTHS, CONFESSIONS AND WISDOM FROM THE MUSIC LEGENDS THAT SET US FREE



 …Order yours today on Hardcover or E-book
 at bookbaby.com or amazon.com

Featuring over 45 intimate conversations with some of the greatest rock legends 
the world will ever know.
CHRIS SQUIRE... DR. JOHN... GREG LAKE... HENRY MCCULLOUGH... JACK BRUCE … JOE LALA…  JOHNNY WINTER... KEITH EMERSON... PAUL KANTNER...  RAY THOMAS... RONNIE MONTROSE... TONY JOE WHITE... DAVID CLAYTON-THOMAS… MIKE LOVE... TOMMY ROE... BARRY HAY... CHRIS THOMPSON... JESSE COLIN YOUNG... JOHN KAY... JULIAN LENNON... MARK LINDSAY... MICKY DOLENZ… PETER RIVERA ...TOMMY JAMES… TODD RUNDGREN... DAVE MASON... EDGAR WINTER... FRANK MARINO... GREGG ROLIE... IAN ANDERSON... JIM “DANDY” MANGRUM... JON ANDERSON... LOU GRAMM... MICK BOX... RANDY BACHMAN… ROBIN TROWER...  ROGER FISHER... STEVE HACKETT... ANNIE HASLAM… ‘MELANIE’ SAFKA... PETULA CLARK... SUZI QUATRO... COLIN BLUNSTONE… DAVE DAVIES... JIM McCARTY... PETE BEST


THE ROCK STAR CHRONICLES
BOOK TRAILER


B O O K   R E V I E W

-By Literary Titan (5) STARS
The Rock Star Chronicles, by Ray Shasho, is a splendid book written by a music enthusiast who has poured their heart and soul into it. It’s a story of a boy who loved rock music, and his obsessive passion of it earned himself the name Rock Raymond. He went to school but instead was schooled in all matters of music while his peers were buried chin-deep in coursework. He then became a radio DJ and has now compiled a book on all interviews he held with Rock gods who raided the airwaves back in the 70s and 80s. It’s a compilation of interviews with outstanding vocalists, legendary guitarists and crazy drummers in the rock music scene. Each interview gives a reader an in-depth view into their personal lives and the philosophies that guide their lives which all serve to humanize these great icons. For readers who are old enough to call themselves baby boomers this book will bring old memories back to life. Millennials, on the other hand, may think of this book as a literal work of the Carpool Karaoke show.
The Rock Star Chronicles is a book I didn’t know I was waiting for. To come across a book that will talk me into trying something new. One brave enough to incite me to venture into new frontiers. This book made me a believer- I am now a bona fide Rock and Roll music fan.
Ray Shasho masterfully gets the interviewees talking. He smartly coaxes answers from them with crafty questions designed to get a story rolling out of them. The artists talk about diverse issues ranging from music, politics, and their social engagements. Having been on the music seen all his life, Ray Shasho knows the buttons to press, how to get them comfortable about talking about their lives.
The book’s cover is befitting of its subject matter with the leather look offering a royal background to the golden letter print. It speaks to how high a level rock music holds in the pecking order- arguably, modern music as we know it has originated from blues and rock music.  The second noteworthy thing is the use of high definition pictures to reference the musician being interviewed in every sub-chapter. This ensures that the book is for both original rock and roll lovers and aspiring new ones. Together is makes for a refreshing and consistently enjoyable read.
I recommend this book to rock music enthusiasts, aspiring musicians wondering what it takes and all readers curious to learn new things by going back in time.

https://literarytitan.com/2020/05/03/literary-titan-book-awards-may-2020/   Gold Award Winner



Author Interview - Ray Shasho
by Literary Titan

The Rock Star Chronicles uses your interviews with rock legends to humanize them and preserve their contribution to the genre. Why was this an important book for you to write?

I was fortunate to have lived through two of the greatest decades for music. It was a time when radio played incredible music and rock concerts were a bargain and a happening thing to do. Rock groups featured incredibly talented musicians with guitarists and lead singers in the spotlight. There has never been a generation to match that period of music expertise and staying power. I wanted the reader to understand and realize how great a talent they really were and still are. Especially to wannabe musicians and the young. Many of the artists I have interviewed have passed on and others nearing retirement. It was important to me to tell their stories at a vulnerable period in their lives and be recognized as the greatest music legends the world will ever know.

What is one interview in this book that stands out as the most exciting one you had?

Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull has always been a rock hero to me. He has written and performed complex music and always had an incredible stage presence. Going to a Tull concert back in the day was a huge event. I will admit the first time I interviewed Ian Anderson I was quite nervous. I remember when the phone rang for the interview, I thought, that’s Jethro Tull calling me! During the second interview I got him to chat about politics, religion, ancestry, and world events. I tried not to ask the same mundane music questions that have been asked of him many hundreds of times. He was intellectual and I was on my best game that day.

What do you think is one thing modern musicians have to learn from the icons of the rock and roll genre?

Bands must perform live. All the legends started performing at school dances, bars, clubs, and anywhere they could be seen by an audience big or small. If they are talented eventually someone will give them a break, but it will not be easy. Having a You Tube video with a lot of page views is a start, but it will never have the impact of playing in front of live audiences.

What do you find is a common misconception people have about music?

People that pay big money to watch an artist lip sync on stage and still call it a great show. Music lovers who go see a legendary rock band and there are no original members in the band. Ringo Starr would never bill himself as The Beatles, instead he created an All-Starr band. All generations need to do a little homework before purchasing expensive tickets to concerts nowadays. My book will certainly help identify who the real legends are.

Music is a universal language that we all share and cheri

Friday, June 19, 2020

JIMMY HALL 'WET WILLIE' LEGEND SAYS 'KEEP ON SMILIN'- EXCLUSIVE ON INTERVIEWING THE LEGENDS WITH RAY SHASHO ON BBS RADIO

J  I  M  M  Y
H  A  L  L
SINGER-MULTI-INSTRUMENTALIST-
FRONTMAN
 for
SOUTHERN SOUL/ROCK GROUP
W  E  T
W  I  L  L  I  E
(Keep On Smilin')
EXCLUSIVE
JIMMY HALL INTERVIEW
CLICK BELOW TO LISTEN

Jimmy Hall was born in Birmingham, Alabama and raised in Mobile by a musical family steeped in gospel tradition.
Jimmy Hall first gained notoriety as the lead vocalist, saxophonist, and harmonica player for the band Wet Willie, which emerged from Mobile, Alabama in 1970. 
His unique brand of R&B-infused rock and roll swagger propelled the group’s “Keep On Smilin’” to the Top 10 on the Billboard singles chart in 1974. After five albums with Capricorn Records, Wet Willie moved to the Epic label in 1977, carrying the singles “Street Corner Serenade” and “Weekend” to the Top 40. As a solo artist, Jimmy appeared in the Top 40 yet again with “I’m Happy That Love Has Found You” in 1980. His songs have been recorded by Gregg Allman, The Marshall Tucker Band, The Amazing Rhythm Aces, Blackberry Smoke, Johnny Russell, and others. Additionally, Jimmy has been a vocalist and bandleader for Hank Williams, Jr. since the 1980s.
Jimmy Hall on tour with Jeff Beck

Jimmy is an inductee of both the Georgia Music Hall of Fame and the Alabama Music Hall of Fame. A 2017 Alabama Media Group article dubbed Jimmy “Alabama’s greatest Southern rocker." Additionally, Jimmy Hall, has toured as a vocalist with Jeff Beck's US Tour over the years. According to Jeff Beck's Website, Hall is referred to as “A Southern Boy with Lots of Soul.”


JIMMY HALL 
APPEARS ON THE NEW EP FROM 

BLACKBERRY SMOKE 

"LIVE FROM
CAPRICORN SOUND STUDIOS".

Order you copy at


Jimmy Hall 
is in the new
JEFF BECK 
"Live At The Hollywood Bowl" DVD and CD!

The Band: Jimmy Hall, Rhonda Smith, Jonathan Joseph, Rosie Bones, and Carmen Vandenberg. Special guests: Jan Hammer, Billy Gibbons, Steven Tyler,
 and Beth Hart.

Available now at amazon.com

For more information about 
JIMMY HALL
And WET WILLIE
Visit

www.facebook.com/WetWillieBand/

Jimmy Hall discography
Touch You (Epic, 1980)
Cadillac Tracks (Epic, 1982)
Flash (Jeff Beck album), 1985
Rendezvous with Blues (Capricorn, 1996)
Triple Trouble (Telarc, 2003) with Tommy Castro, Lloyd Jones, Tommy ShannonChris Layton
All Night All Stars (Capitol, 2003)
The Mighty Jeremiahs (Ear X-tacy, 2005), with Greg Martin, Mark Hendricks, Jon McGee
Build Your Own Fire (Zoho Music, 2007)
Shoals Rhythm Collective (Music Avenue, 2007)
Jeff Beck Live At The Hollywood Bowl (Eagle Vision 2017)

WET WILLIE
Studio albums
Wet Willie (1971)
Wet Willie II (1972)
Keep On Smilin' (1974)
Dixie Rock (1975)
The Wetter The Better (1976)
Manorisms (1977)
Which One's Willie? (1979)




MY NEW BOOK IS FINALLY OUT!

THE 
ROCK 
STAR 
CHRONICLES

SERIES ONE



CHRONICLES, TRUTHS, CONFESSIONS AND WISDOM FROM THE MUSIC LEGENDS THAT 
SET US FREE



 …Order yours today on Hardcover or E-book
 at bookbaby.com 

Featuring over 45 intimate conversations with some of the greatest rock legends the world will ever know.

CHRIS SQUIRE... DR. JOHN... GREG LAKE... HENRY MCCULLOUGH... JACK BRUCE … JOE LALA…  JOHNNY WINTER... KEITH EMERSON... PAUL KANTNER...  RAY THOMAS... RONNIE MONTROSE... TONY JOE WHITE... DAVID CLAYTON-THOMAS… MIKE LOVE... TOMMY ROE... BARRY HAY... CHRIS THOMPSON... JESSE COLIN YOUNG... JOHN KAY... JULIAN LENNON... MARK LINDSAY... MICKY DOLENZ… PETER RIVERA ...TOMMY JAMES… TODD RUNDGREN... DAVE MASON... EDGAR WINTER... FRANK MARINO... GREGG ROLIE... IAN ANDERSON... JIM “DANDY” MANGRUM... JON ANDERSON... LOU GRAMM... MICK BOX... RANDY BACHMAN… ROBIN TROWER...  ROGER FISHER... STEVE HACKETT... ANNIE HASLAM… ‘MELANIE’ SAFKA... PETULA CLARK... SUZI QUATRO... COLIN BLUNSTONE… DAVE DAVIES... JIM McCARTY...
 PETE BEST


THE ROCK STAR CHRONICLES
BOOK TRAILER




BOOK REVIEW
-By Literary Titan 
(5) STARS
The Rock Star Chronicles, by Ray Shasho, is a splendid book written by a music enthusiast who has poured their heart and soul into it. It’s a story of a boy who loved rock music, and his obsessive passion of it earned himself the name Rock Raymond. He went to school but instead was schooled in all matters of music while his peers were buried chin-deep in coursework. He then became a radio DJ and has now compiled a book on all interviews he held with Rock gods who raided the airwaves back in the 70s and 80s. It’s a compilation of interviews with outstanding vocalists, legendary guitarists and crazy drummers in the rock music scene. Each interview gives a reader an in-depth view into their personal lives and the philosophies that guide their lives which all serve to humanize these great icons. For readers who are old enough to call themselves baby boomers this book will bring old memories back to life. Millennials, on the other hand, may think of this book as a literal work of the Carpool Karaoke show.
The Rock Star Chronicles is a book I didn’t know I was waiting for. To come across a book that will talk me into trying something new. One brave enough to incite me to venture into new frontiers. This book made me a believer- I am now a bona fide Rock and Roll music fan.
Ray Shasho masterfully gets the interviewees talking. He smartly coaxes answers from them with crafty questions designed to get a story rolling out of them. The artists talk about diverse issues ranging from music, politics, and their social engagements. Having been on the music seen all his life, Ray Shasho knows the buttons to press, how to get them comfortable about talking about their lives.
The book’s cover is befitting of its subject matter with the leather look offering a royal background to the golden letter print. It speaks to how high a level rock music holds in the pecking order- arguably, modern music as we know it has originated from blues and rock music.  The second noteworthy thing is the use of high definition pictures to reference the musician being interviewed in every sub-chapter. This ensures that the book is for both original rock and roll lovers and aspiring new ones. Together is makes for a refreshing and consistently enjoyable read.
I recommend this book to rock music enthusiasts, aspiring musicians wondering what it takes and all readers curious to learn new things by going back in time.

https://literarytitan.com/2020/05/03/literary-titan-book-awards-may-2020/   Gold Award Winner


Author Interview - Ray Shasho
By Literary Titan

The Rock Star Chronicles uses your interviews with rock legends to humanize them and preserve their contribution to the genre. Why was this an important book for you to write?

I was fortunate to have lived through two of the greatest decades for music. It was a time when radio played incredible music and rock concerts were a bargain and a happening thing to do. Rock groups featured incredibly talented musicians with guitarists and lead singers in the spotlight. There has never been a generation to match that period of music expertise and staying power. I wanted the reader to understand and realize how great a talent they really were and still are. Especially to wannabe musicians and the young. Many of the artists I have interviewed have passed on and others nearing retirement. It was important to me to tell their stories at a vulnerable period in their lives and be recognized as the greatest music legends the world will ever know.

What is one interview in this book that stands out as the most exciting one you had?

Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull has always been a rock hero to me. He has written and performed complex music and always had an incredible stage presence. Going to a Tull concert back in the day was a huge event. I will admit the first time I interviewed Ian Anderson I was quite nervous. I remember when the phone rang for the interview, I thought, that’s Jethro Tull calling me! During the second interview I got him to chat about politics, religion, ancestry, and world events. I tried not to ask the same mundane music questions that have been asked of him many hundreds of times. He was intellectual and I was on my best game that day.

What do you think is one thing modern musicians have to learn from the icons of the rock and roll genre?

Bands must perform live. All the legends started performing at school dances, bars, clubs, and anywhere they could be seen by an audience big or small. If they are talented eventually someone will give them a break, but it will not be easy. Having a You Tube video with a lot of page views is a start, but it will never have the impact of playing in front of live audiences.

What do you find is a common misconception people have about music?

People that pay big money to watch an artist lip sync on stage and still call it a great show. Music lovers who go see a legendary rock band and there are no original members in the band. Ringo Starr would never bill himself as The Beatles, instead he created an All-Starr band. All generations need to do a little homework before purchasing expensive tickets to concerts nowadays. My book will certainly help identify who the real legends are.

Music is a universal language that we all share and cherish.

Wednesday, June 10, 2020

VINNY APPICE PAYS TRIBUTE TO RONNIE JAMES DIO ON TEN YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF HIS DEATH: EXCLUSIVE ON INTERVIEWING THE LEGENDS -BBS RADIO

V   I   N   N   Y
A   P   P   I   C   E
LEGENDARY DRUMMER
 with
D  I  O
B L A C K  S A B B A T H
HEAVEN & HELL
RELEASING VIDEO TRIBUTE
with BROTHER CARMINE APPICE
to R O N N I E  J A M E S  D I O
VINNY APPICE INTERVIEW
CLICK BELOW TO LISTEN

A special Ronnie James Dio tribute video By Carmine & Vinny Appice will be releasing soon. This Dio video celebration will commemorate the ten-year anniversary of the passing of the late, great singer, who died on May 16, 2010 from cancer. The video will be released on Sunday, May 16, 2020 on YouTube and on the Internet in general.

Besides being a close friend, Vinny Appice was also a longtime musical sidekick of Dio’s, performing with him in Black Sabbath and Heaven & Hell.  Vinny also performed with Rick Derringer and, as a sixteen-year old in 1974, met John Lennon at the Record Plant Studios in New York during the recording of Lennon’s classic Walls and Bridges album, adding background hand claps to the hit single Whatever Gets You Through the Night.  And he and his original bandmates from the first Dio lineup reformed in 2012 as Last in Line to record and perform live. 
A consummate performer and drummer, Vinny also is a brilliant clinician, performing clinics and master classes all across the globe as well as making appearances in films and television.
 He has recorded and co-written songs on over 25 albums and CDs including many multi-platinum records. Touring the world for over 2 decades resulted in selling millions of records!
Vinny's drumming can also be heard on numerous movie soundtracks including Wayne's World 2, Heavy Metal, Iron Eagle and Bedazzled. Vinny, the author of drum instruction book "Rock Steady" and DVD "Hard Rock Drumming Techniques" has performed incredible powerhouse drum clinics around the globe also. Numerous books have been written about Black Sabbath and Dio with the authors always mentioning Vinny's unique powerful drumming style!
Some of the boys that got Vinnie’s drumming blood flowing......John Bonham, Buddy Rich, Billy Cobham and Mitch Mitchell.


For more information about
 Vinny Appice
Carmine Appice
And Ronnie James Dio
visit … 
Vinny Appice website - https://www.vinnyappice.com 
Carmine Appice website - https://www.carmineappice.net
Ronnie James Dio website - https://www.ronniejamesdio.com 
Last In Line …http://www.lastinlineofficial.com/


DRUM WARS 
Realistic Drum Solos Unfolded, 
Book & DVD
 by 
Carmine Appice (Author) 
Vinny Appice (Author) 
Eric Fischer (Author)
The Drum Wars book and DVD kit takes drum solos of Carmine and Vinny Appice, and breaks them down into easily digestible sections. By viewing the included video footage of the solos at 75% and 50% of their normal speed, students can see, hear, and thoroughly understand each section. With the addition of MP3s, each solo is presented with the clearest sound, even at slower speeds. In the book, each section of the solos is notated and explained, and also comes with foundational patterns that will help students learn the recorded solo patterns slowly. A complete transcription of each solo is also included for reading students.


L A S T  I N  L I N E
II
featuring Vinny Appice

 Last In Line was formed in 2011, when Vinny Appice, Jimmy Bain, and Vivian Campbell, (Ronnie James Dio s co-conspirators and co-writers on the "Holy Diver", "Last In Line" - the album from which they took their name, and "Sacred Heart albums) teamed up with esteemed vocalist Andrew Freeman.



VINNY APPICE DISCOGRAPHY
with
John Lennon
Rick Derringer
Black Sabbath
DIO

John Lennon
Walls and Bridges (hand claps on "Whatever Gets You Thru The Night"; uncredited) (1974)
Rick Derringer
Derringer (1976)
Sweet Evil (1977)
Derringer Live (1977)
Black Sabbath
Mob Rules (1981)
Live Evil (1982)
Dehumanizer (1992)
Black Sabbath: The Dio Years (2007)
Live at Hammersmith Odeon (2007)
Dio
Holy Diver (1983)
The Last in Line (1984)
Sacred Heart (1985)
Intermission (1986)
Dream Evil (1987)
Strange Highways (1993)
Angry Machines (1996)
Inferno - Last in Live (1998)
Last in Line
Heavy Crown (2016)
II (2019)




MY NEW BOOK 
IS FINALLY OUT!

THE 
ROCK STAR 
CHRONICLES
SERIES ONE

CHRONICLES, TRUTHS, CONFESSIONS AND WISDOM FROM THE MUSIC LEGENDS THAT SET US FREE




…Order yours today on Hardcover or E-book
 at bookbaby.com 

Featuring over 45 intimate conversations with some of
the greatest rock legends the world will ever know.
CHRIS SQUIRE... DR. JOHN... GREG LAKE... HENRY MCCULLOUGH... JACK BRUCE … JOE LALA…  JOHNNY WINTER... KEITH EMERSON... PAUL KANTNER...  RAY THOMAS... RONNIE MONTROSE... TONY JOE WHITE... DAVID CLAYTON-THOMAS… MIKE LOVE... TOMMY ROE... BARRY HAY... CHRIS THOMPSON... JESSE COLIN YOUNG... JOHN KAY... JULIAN LENNON... MARK LINDSAY... MICKY DOLENZ… PETER RIVERA ...TOMMY JAMES… TODD RUNDGREN... DAVE MASON... EDGAR WINTER... FRANK MARINO... GREGG ROLIE... IAN ANDERSON... JIM “DANDY” MANGRUM... JON ANDERSON... LOU GRAMM... MICK BOX... RANDY BACHMAN… ROBIN TROWER...  ROGER FISHER... STEVE HACKETT... ANNIE HASLAM… ‘MELANIE’ SAFKA... PETULA CLARK... SUZI QUATRO... COLIN BLUNSTONE… DAVE DAVIES... JIM McCARTY... 
PETE BEST

THE ROCK STAR CHRONICLES
BOOK TRAILER





BOOK REVIEW
-By Literary Titan (5) STARS
The Rock Star Chronicles, by Ray Shasho, is a splendid book written by a music enthusiast who has poured their heart and soul into it. It’s a story of a boy who loved rock music, and his obsessive passion of it earned himself the name Rock Raymond. He went to school but instead was schooled in all matters of music while his peers were buried chin-deep in coursework. He then became a radio DJ and has now compiled a book on all interviews he held with Rock gods who raided the airwaves back in the 70s and 80s. It’s a compilation of interviews with outstanding vocalists, legendary guitarists and crazy drummers in the rock music scene. Each interview gives a reader an in-depth view into their personal lives and the philosophies that guide their lives which all serve to humanize these great icons. For readers who are old enough to call themselves baby boomers this book will bring old memories back to life. Millennials, on the other hand, may think of this book as a literal work of the Carpool Karaoke show.
The Rock Star Chronicles is a book I didn’t know I was waiting for. To come across a book that will talk me into trying something new. One brave enough to incite me to venture into new frontiers. This book made me a believer- I am now a bona fide Rock and Roll music fan.
Ray Shasho masterfully gets the interviewees talking. He smartly coaxes answers from them with crafty questions designed to get a story rolling out of them. The artists talk about diverse issues ranging from music, politics, and their social engagements. Having been on the music seen all his life, Ray Shasho knows the buttons to press, how to get them comfortable about talking about their lives.
The book’s cover is befitting of its subject matter with the leather look offering a royal background to the golden letter print. It speaks to how high a level rock music holds in the pecking order- arguably, modern music as we know it has originated from blues and rock music.  The second noteworthy thing is the use of high definition pictures to reference the musician being interviewed in every sub-chapter. This ensures that the book is for both original rock and roll lovers and aspiring new ones. Together is makes for a refreshing and consistently enjoyable read.
I recommend this book to rock music enthusiasts, aspiring musicians wondering what it takes and all readers curious to learn new things by going back in time.

https://literarytitan.com/2020/05/03/literary-titan-book-awards-may-2020/   Gold Award Winner



Ray Shasho Author Interview
By LITERARY TITAN


The Rock Star Chronicles uses your interviews with rock legends to humanize them and preserve their contribution to the genre. Why was this an important book for you to write?

I was fortunate to have lived through two of the greatest decades for music. It was a time when radio played incredible music and rock concerts were a bargain and a happening thing to do. Rock groups featured incredibly talented musicians with guitarists and lead singers in the spotlight. There has never been a generation to match that period of music expertise and staying power. I wanted the reader to understand and realize how great a talent they really were and still are. Especially to wannabe musicians and the young. Many of the artists I have interviewed have passed on and others nearing retirement. It was important to me to tell their stories at a vulnerable period in their lives and be recognized as the greatest music legends the world will ever know.

What is one interview in this book that stands out as the most exciting one you had?

Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull has always been a rock hero to me. He has written and performed complex music and always had an incredible stage presence. Going to a Tull concert back in the day was a huge event. I will admit the first time I interviewed Ian Anderson I was quite nervous. I remember when the phone rang for the interview, I thought, that’s Jethro Tull calling me! During the second interview I got him to chat about politics, religion, ancestry, and world events. I tried not to ask the same mundane music questions that have been asked of him many hundreds of times. He was intellectual and I was on my best game that day.

What do you think is one thing modern musicians have to learn from the icons of the rock and roll genre?

Bands must perform live. All the legends started performing at school dances, bars, clubs, and anywhere they could be seen by an audience big or small. If they are talented eventually someone will give them a break, but it will not be easy. Having a You Tube video with a lot of page views is a start, but it will never have the impact of playing in front of live audiences.

What do you find is a common misconception people have about music?

People that pay big money to watch an artist lip sync on stage and still call it a great show. Music lovers who go see a legendary rock band and there are no original members in the band. Ringo Starr would never bill himself as The Beatles, instead he created an All-Starr band. All generations need to do a little homework before purchasing expensive tickets to concerts nowadays. My book will certainly help identify who the real legends are.

Music is a universal language that we all share and cherish.