'60s '70s '80s - Warm, Candid, Classic, Rock Interviews with Music Legends - A BREATH OF FRESH AIR – Details, episodes & analysis

Burton Cummings' voice has been rated among the finest in rock music. Today he continues at the top of his game as performer, singer, songwriter, poet and recording artist.

As lead singer and songwriter for Canada’s original rock ‘n’ roll superstars, The Guess Who, Burton scored an unprecedented string of international hit singles and albums including “American Woman,” “These Eyes,” “Laughing,” “No Time,” “Share the Land,” “No Sugar Tonight/New Mother Nature,” “Clap for the Wolfman”, “Albert Flasher” and others, all written or co-written by Burton. By 1970, The Guess Who had sold more records than the entire Canadian music industry combined before breaking up in 1975.

The group achieved a long list of firsts including first Canadian group to reach #1 on Billboard charts -- holding that spot for three weeks - and first to earn a platinum album for U.S. sales of more than one million copies. Rolling Stone magazine hailed The Guess Who as “one of rock’s most consistently fascinating maverick bands” with a succession of songs “that has few equals among contemporary North American groups.” Dick Clark described the group as rock innovators and ambassadors of Canadian music.

Beginning his career as a solo artist in 1976, Burton continued his winning streak with a gold record for his solo debut single “Stand Tall,” produced by legendary hitmaker Richard Perry who numbered among his clients Barbra Streisand, Carly Simon and Ringo Starr. The choice of producer was evidence of Burton’s star power in the music industry. He followed his inaugural solo success with more than a dozen hit singles and albums including “I’m Scared,” “My Own Way to Rock,” “I Will Play a Rhapsody,” “Timeless Love,” “Break It to Them Gently,” “Dream of a Child,” and “You Saved My Soul.”

Sold-out tours across Canada and the United States solidified Burton’s stature as a top entertainer. He starred in several highly rated television specials and, between 1977 and 1980, earned five Juno Awards for Best Male Vocalist and Best Album, serving as host of the annual Juno gala a record four times. Burton’s 1978 album Dream of a Child became the first quadruple platinum-selling album by a Canadian artist.

Through the ‘80s and ‘90s, Burton continued to tour and joined Beatles drummer Ringo Starr’s All Starr Band. In 1980, a starring role in the feature film Melanie with Miami Vice star Don Johnson earned Burton a Genie Award for Best Original Song.

He also launched his acclaimed Up Close and Alone solo concert series. A live album of the same name followed.

The success of Lenny Kravitz’ cover of “American Woman” in the hit feature film Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me brought renewed attention to the original Guess Who. The group reunited in 1999 for the closing ceremonies of the Pan-American Games with a television audience numbering in the tens of millions. Several high-profile North American tours followed.

As the VOICE of all the classic Guess Who hit songs, Burton has toured with his long-time band, for the past twenty-three years across North America as well as joining Randy Bachman onstage as Bachman Cummings, performing his songs from the original The Guess Who, Bachman-Turner Overdrive and Burton’s solo career.

Described as Canadian rock ‘n’ roll royalty, a national treasure, and a living legend, for Burton Cummings there has always been one constant: he remains true to himself and his own way to rock… and continuing to perform the songs the way they were originally conceived by the artist who sang and wrote/co-wrote them.

Burton joins us this week to share his musical story and lets us know about his other passion - writing poetry.

For more information head to his website burtoncummings.com

Born in New York City and raised in the Caribbean as Richard Gerstein - Richard T. Bear boasts a career that spans more than 40 years, one that led to a string of acclaimed solo albums and collaborations with a number of influential icons, including Al Kooper, Stephen Stills, former Rascals Gene Cornish and Dino Danelli, Kiss, Pat Benatar and many more. He has shared stages with artists such as Dave Mason, Mick Fleetwood, the Doobie Brothers, Richie Havens and Odetta. T. Bear penned "Love and Pain," a track found on Take Me Home, one of Cher's most successful albums and also tallied several hits on his own, including the single "Sunshine Hotel" from his debut album Red, Hot and Blue. He has appeared on a number of recordings including CSN's Southern Cross, Billy Squier's Tale of the Tape and The Blues Brothers Soundtrack album.

After taking some time to focus on his own sobriety, T. Bear became an early activist helping others with addiction. His self-imposed hiatus lasted nearly three decades, and now T Bear is back with two striking new releases, Fresh Bear Tracks and The Way of the World, his first studio albums in 25+ years.

Richard is a distinctive singer and talented keyboard player. His latest albums feature a host of special guests. From Stephen Stills, Robby Krieger, Edgar Winter, Walter Trout, to former Paul McCartney & Wings members Laurence Juber and Denny Seiwell and The Heartbreakers’ Benmont Tench.

His latest album, The Way of The World, was written and recorded as the world emerged from the pandemic. It boasts a stunning set of 13 original songs. Musically, it's a stirring melodic mix of blues, rock n roll, Americana, and roots.

T. Bear's first album spawned the single “Sunshine Hotel.” A remix of the song climbed to #4 on the world dance charts before becoming the dance staple that it remains today. Richard has appeared on numerous recordings by iconic artists including Crosby, Stills and Nash's Southern Cross, The Blues Brothers Soundtrack, Richie Havens Mixed Bag II, Kiss members Gene Simmons and Peter Criss' solo ventures, as well as Toby Beau’s hit single My Angel Baby.

As a soloist T Bear found his initial inspiration in the sounds of the British Invasion. At age 13 he was writing his own songs.  An early break came when he was working at Manny’s Music in New York City when Hot Tuna’s Jorma Kaukonen and Jack Casady stopped in and hear him improvising on piano. They were impressed enough to ask him to sit in with them during a Hot Tuna show at the famed Fillmore East. He worked for a time as Carly Simon’s road manager and opened shows for the likes of Jeff Beck and Richie Havens before moving to Los Angeles. 

In 1983, he took a lengthy hiatus from making music to get his personal life in order before returning to action in 2017. Fast forward to the present and T Bear is so excited about the new album.  As he puts it, “Making The Way of the World was like getting a new pair of glasses. I see everything more clearly and in focus around me. These are songs that made me think and dream. It’s an oasis for the mind.”

Meet Richard T Bear this week as he unravels his incredible story of survival and comeback against all odds.

I hope you really enjoy this episode.

Phil Manzanera is one of the UK’s best-known musicians and record producers, having shot to prominence in the early ‘70’s as the lead guitarist with the seminal band, Roxy Music. He is widely acknowledged as one of the world’s leading guitarists and remains in huge demand. 

Roxy Music were inducted into  the US Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2019 and recently Phil was awarded the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for his services to music.

He was born to a British father and Colombian mother and has collaborated with musicians from South and Latin America, South Africa, Cuba and continental Europe.

His recent album releases  include The Liberation Project: Songs That Made us Free,  Corroncho 2 and Live in Japan as well as The Ghost from Santiago that he did with Split Enz's Tim Finn.

In recent years Phil has co-produced Pink Floyd’s ‘The Endless River’. He released, ‘The Sound of Blue’, his own autobiographical album, co-produced David Gilmour’s new album, ‘Rattle That Lock’, toured with Gilmour in the UK, Europe and South America.   In 2015 he was Maestro Concertatore at Italy’s largest free festival. He also took part in ‘Sunshine of Your Love’ a tribute concert to his friend, Jack Bruce.

Phil’s musical influence stretches far and wide, but even he was taken by surprise when his guitar riff from 1978’s K-Scope was sampled by Jay Z and Kanye West and became the Grammy winning smash hit ‘No Church in the Wild’ the first track on their multi-million selling album, ‘Watch The Throne’.

At 73, Phil is now in his fourth decade as a professional musician.  He joined Roxy Music in 1972, aged 21,  as lead guitarist. Roxy’s rise was meteoric, with the band being hailed as the stylistic influence of the early 1970’s. During the next 12 years, until 1983 when the band members went on a ‘long break’, Roxy Music released a series of international best selling albums, achieving ten UK top ten albums and touring extensively throughout the world. The 18 year hiatus ended in 2001 with a critically acclaimed, sellout 52-date world tour featuring Bryan Ferry, Andy MacKay and Paul Thompson. The world rediscovered Roxy Music.

In the summer of 2003 Roxy again played in the US and Europe. 2010 saw Roxy Music thrilling fans at Festivals in the UK, Europe and Japan, which was followed by a Winter UK tour, and dates in Australia and New Zealand. 

As a writer, producer and solo artist, Phil Manzanera has worked with many of the luminaries of modern music, such as Steve Winwood, David Gilmour, John Cale, Godley and Creme, Nico (Velvet Underground) and John Wetton (King Crimson, Asia). He has co-written material with many artists, including Brian Eno, Tim Finn and David Gilmour.

Phil co-wrote Pink Floyd’s single ‘One Slip’from their 1988 ‘Momentary Lapse of Reason’ album.

He has recently been awarded an OBE.

Phil joins us this week to share his amazing story.

For more information about Phil and his music head to his website: https://manzanera.com/new/

If you have a request for a '60s '70s or '80s musician contact me through my website https://www.abreathoffreshair.com.au

Guitarist Martin Barre was an integral part of English band Jethro Tull for many years and had been joined at the hip with founder, Ian Anderson since 1969. The two had a massive falling out which led to the band breaking up in 2011 but Martin refused to lay down his guitar and today travels solo with his own band making wonderful music. We catch up with Martin to discover the roots of Jethro Tull and how being in that band, changed him forever.

American singer, Merrilee Rush is best known for her song "Angel of the Morning", a top-10 hit which earned her a Grammy nomination for female vocalist of the year in 1968. This week we meet Merilee to hear the incredible story behind that song and to get to know a little more about the woman who insisted on singing it.

New Zealand-born Australian guitarist, singer-songwriter Kevin Borich is a quintessential stalwart in the Australian and New Zealand music scene. He’s been around for 56 years and has just released a fabulous new album called 'Legacy'.  As a founding member of  the rock outfit, The LaDeDas as well as The Kevin Borich Express and The Party Boys, Kevin is loved from Gympie to Gundagai and everywhere between. 

Join me? And send your requests - [email protected] or head for my website www.abreathoffreshair.com.au

To learn more about Martin Barre https://martinbarre.com/

If you'd like to check out Merrilee Rush and her husband Billy Mac  https://billymac.com/

And for Kevin Borich head for https://kevinborich.com.au/

Meet Lee Loughnane, founding member of the band Chicago who shares details about the band's 38th studio album release - Born For This Moment as well as their most recent tour. 

Lee reflects on the band's success over the years, including their 100 million in record sales, 21 top 10 singles, and 11 number one hits and discusses how the band has managed to stay together and remain relevant for over 50 years.

The trumpet player tells us how music always came first in his life from the time he learned to speak. His dad had been a trumpet player and had a collection of big band records from the thirties and forties that influenced him heavily. Leigh loves his instrument and chats about his father had tried to discourage him from becoming a musician, how his dad reacted when he went against his advice, and how his wives and children have reacted to his being on the road every single year for the last 55 years.

Lee also laments the loss of founding member and guitarist Terry Kath, who died in 1970 and tells us how that it’s the passion for the music that has kept the band together and playing for audiences right around the world for more than half a century.

Would you like to request a guest? Just send me a message through the website www.abreathoffreshair.com.au

If you'd like to know more about Chicago, head for https://chicagotheband.com/

This week, Irish family band, THE CORRS, joins me for an interview. They're an outfit that combines pop rock with traditional Irish themes. The group consists of the Corr siblings, Andrea, Sharon, Caroline and Jim who all hail from Dundalk, County Louth, Ireland. The Corrs have released seven studio albums and numerous singles, which have reached platinum in many countries, and have sold 40 million albums worldwide. SHARON CORR joins us to tell us all about what The Corrs are up to today and fill us in about her own solo projects.

We’re also going to check in with ROLAND KENT LAVOIE. No idea who that is right? Well, think 'Me and You and A Dog Named Boo'. The artist is much better known to us as LOBO. Today Lobo is semi-retired and living in Florida with an incredible life story to share - one where he talks about always shunning fame and fortune in favour for being able to mow his lawns anonymously,

Founded in 1964, English rock band, the Strawberry Hill Boys quickly became known as THE STRAWBS. The band played folk rock, progressive rock, and (briefly) glam rock. Best known for their hit "Part of the Union",  Strawbs toured with Supertramp in their "Crime of the Century" tour.  

We catch up with guitarist CHAS CRONK  for a walk down memory lane. He tells us all about serendipity and success and gives us the lowdown on his very first  solo album that's been recently released.

Do you have a favourite artist you'd like to hear from? If so, just send me a message either through the website www.abreathoffreshair.com.au or [email protected]

If you'd like to know more about The Corrs  https://www.facebook.com/thecorrsofficial/

You can read about Lobo here https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2499367/bio

To read more about Chas Cronk https://chascronk.com/  and The Strawbs can be found here https://www.strawbsweb.co.uk/index0.asp

I hope you enjoy listening!

Meet one of rock’s most recognisable musicians – GRAHAM NASH. Graham’s been making music for more than 60 years - first with English band The Hollies then as Crosby Stills and Nash and later when Neil Young joined them, as Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young. 

At 80 years young, Graham Nash has recently released a new solo album. Graham Nash: Live - a new concert album featuring the acclaimed musician performing his first two solo LPs, 1971’s Songs For Beginners and 1974’s Wild Tales, in their entirety. The album spans 20 tracks that were recorded over the course of four shows he’d booked prior to the pandemic. 

During our warm and intimate conversation, Graham Nash discusses his new solo album. He talks about why he chose those two albums, and how they are personal and easy to understand. He also discusses CSNY, and why they are no longer able to make music together.

He also discusses how relevant his songs are still today, that the album is a message to the world, and how, sadly, we haven't learned a thing from the past. 

During the interview, Graham talks about his musical career, spanning over 60 years. He talks about how he got his start in music, and how he has continued to be passionate about music throughout his life. He also talks about the importance of songwriting, and how it is a lost art form. He also talks about the success of his earliest band, The Hollies, and why he feels they enjoyed successful over the years.

Graham also  tells us about what he believes was the strength of Crosby Stills and Nash and that the three part harmonies were destroyed when Neil Young joined the group, bringing with him a dark edge. He talks about how Crosby Stills Nash and Young can no longer make music together since losing their connection, where he stands on life and society in general and about his passion for photography and the release of his new photographic book called Life in Focus.

Graham also details his love of life, how his glass is always half full and how he manages to keep himself in great shape at 80. Quite inspirational indeed.

It's a great chat peppered with some awesome music. I hope you'll enjoy listening to our conversation as much as I enjoyed speaking with Graham.

Don't forget, if you'd  like to request a guest to be interviewed on the show - anyone from the '60s '70s or '80s who's produced classic hits - simply message me through the website www.abreathoffreshair.com.au or directly [email protected]

To learn more about Graham Nash head for his website https://www.grahamnash.com/

Meet THE RUBETTES - Mick Clarke and John Richardson who founded the UK band in 1973. They were the definitive one-hit-wonder band that came together after they had that instant smash hit with 'Sugar Baby Love’. Somehow they are still at it today delighting the crowds wherever they play. But there’s so much more to these guys than what meets the eye. Find out about their unlikely path to success which has seen them both on top of the world and wondering where their next hit will come from.

Was MATT BIANCO's first album 'Whose Side Are You On' one of your faves? It left an indelible impression on me, perhaps because of its catch jazzy sound. Strange really that I've been under the impression for many years, that Matt Bianco was a man. (Were you too?) I'm embarrassed to say I only just learned that Matt Bianco is the group's name not the man's. The man is MARK REILLY and this week we go behind the band to meet the man who was, and still is, at the heart of that awesome trio. Enjoy!

If you've been around for a while (and have lived in Australia at some stage of the game) you may remember British born Australian singer and entertainer BRYAN DAVIES. He was the youngest person ever in the world to host his own evening TV variety show back in the ‘60s!. Thanks to a listener request, we catch up with Bryan this week to hear how he got the gig at the tender age of 17 and let Joy from Coffs Harbour in New South Wales, chat with the star she's idolised since her teens.

Would you like to request a guest too? If you have someone from the '60's '70's or '80s that you'd like to hear being interviewed (and maybe you'd like to say hi to them too!!) just send me a message either through the website www.abreathoffreshair.com.au or directly [email protected] I'd love to hear from you.

You can check out lots of additional information about our guests on the website www.abreathoffreshair.com.au and you can also take a look at the video interviews on my youtube page https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCa_p5zKTRrIfpAtwXVKBQVw

https://rubettes.uk/

http://www.mattbianco.com

https://www.facebook.com/AustralianVariety

Hope you enjoy this week's show. Please let me know if you do!

Englishman KENNEY JONES has spent the best part of five decades at the heart of the rock music industry.
As drummer with the Small Faces, Faces and The Who, he has been involved in three of the biggest bands the music business has ever known.
From the moment he started drumming in the front room of his parents home, Kenney became hooked on music.

He shot to fame with the Small Faces in 1965 and had his first hit single when he was just 17. The band were at the heart of the Mod revolution that swept Britain and in the years that have followed they have been cited as a major influence on all sorts of musicians over the past 50 years.

When the Small Faces eventually disbanded Jones was instrumental in forming The Faces featuring Rod Stewart as lead singer.

The Faces took the rock world by storm and by the time they split in the mid 70's, Kenney was known far and wide for his drumming prowess and was asked to replace Keith Moon in The Who after Keith died.

Meet Kenney Jones this week and enjoy his humorous story telling. 

He tells us about stealing money from his mum to kick off his drumming career, how Rod Stewart came to be involved in the band in the first place and how he never wanted to rival the drumming of his good friend, Keith Moon and had serious reservations about joining the Who.

Kenney has incredible tales to tell. And did I mention the music? 

Kenney also has a new book out called 'Let the Good Times Roll: My Life in Small Faces, Faces, and The Who' that makes an incredible read.

Kenney Jones: www.kenneyjones.com

Check out my youtube channel for the video of the podcast: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCa_p5zKTRrIfpAtwXVKBQVw

And my website for more information www.abreathoffreshair.com.au

Don't forget too - send me a message through the website if you'd like to hear from someone from the 60s 70s or 80s and I'll do my best to get them onto the show for you!

Happy listening!

Love Sandy

His dad was known as 'The Father of Rock and Roll' but he was, unfortunately, no father to his own son. BILL HALEY JR has a new book out about his legendary dad and tells us that all Bill Haley wanted to do was get kids up and dancing again. Join me to hear that despite Bill Haley being way ahead of his time, playing ‘race music’ with a ‘hillbilly touch’ he enjoyed success for only a few short years before Elvis 'pipped him at the post', sending him spiralling into depression until his life was tragically cut short.

Meet BILL PASCALI,  a singer known as the ghost of rock n roll. You may not have heard his name but he's best known for carrying on the legend of that one hit wonder group, STEAM, into current times. You remember Steam don’t you? Or at least their monster hit- Na Na Na Hey Hey?  Bill debunks all the myths around the track and the band for us.

For self taught bluesman, LARRY MCCRAY, his latest success is somewhat bittersweet. The 62 year old has recently been taken under the wing of  blues guitarist Joe Bonamassa who has helped him cut his latest album 'Blues Without You'. We catch up with Larry to hear all about his roots, what his sadness is and what he sees as the future of the Blues genre he grew up with.

Join me won’t you? And don’t forget if you’d like to request a guest from the 60’s 70’s or 80’s, simply send me an email to [email protected]

You can find more information about the artists I speak with every week by heading to the website www.abreathoffreshair.com.au