Vicki Abelson's Broadcast: The Road Taken

Now that's what I call early afternoon delight. Crazy fun with Harry Shearer, who was just as lovely as he is funneeeee! The Emmy-winning actor for his work on The Simpsons was laid back, tuned in, and willing to follow me everywhere. From his young early show biz days working with Jack Benny to Abbott and Costello, and Richard Burton, what? We talked the Credibility Gap, where he teamed with David Lander and Michael McKean. A lot fruit's been borne from that framily tree. Laverne & Shirley, Fernwood & America 2-Night, Fred Willard, Martin Mull, Norman Lear, SNL, two times, not so much like, either time, Spinal Tap, the most fun ever, well maybe along with the Mighty Wind. Working with Fred and Catherine O'Hara, Albert Brooks, Lorne Michaels, who told him he was his first "Jewish" boy cast hire, For Your Consideration, to The Simpsons, where he'e been for 32 years and 23 or os so characters later, garnering an Emmy-award. We crammed a lotta great in, before Harry's off to do a Porch Concert in New Orleans

It's raining rock icons! Sitting down with The Immediate Family, Danny Kortchmar, Waddy Wachtel Leland Sklar, Russell Kunkel, & Steve Postell, icons, heroes... I was surrounded by almost my entire record collection in the Zoom room. Collectively, they've played on pretty much everything, period. James Taylor, Carole King, Linda Ronstadt, Stevie Nicks, Keith Richards, The Stones, Jackson Browne, Warren Zevon, Graham Nash, Neil Young, David Crosby, Stephen Stills, Randy Newman, Brian Ferry, Don Henley, Phil Collins... on and on, and on... Loved hearing how they each arrived at the party, their mutual admiration - love, and respect... how they're living their ultimate dream to be front and center together in a band of their creation-how they're thriving in the pandemic, in spite of it all. What they're doing now and what's coming soon... their EP, Slippin’ And Slidin’ will be released this Friday, the 16th, and they'll be performing live on the StageIt this Saturday, the 17th. You can RSVP and purchase your

Don't get me started! Off the rails! Original #Wings drummer, #DennySeiwell - #PaulMcCartney #JanisJoplin #JoeCocker #JamesBrown - Played Live- GREAT stories! #GameChangersWithVickiAbelson Replay here: https://bit.ly/3iEOmXC Don't get me started! Off the rails! Original Wings drummer, Denny Seiwell, from the little three year old drummer boy, playing in the service during the Vietnam War, jazz clubs in NY, sessions, sessions, sessions, which led to... a Beatle. How he got the Paul McCartney gig, Ram, including Denny playing Live... to Wings, the gigs, the fun... Denny played live again... to leaving... sessions, sessions, sessions... Janis Joplin (posthumously), James Brown, Art Garfunkle, Joe Cocker, to name just some, to the current, TBear and Route 66, and his beloved, Denny Seiwell Trio. Check out Reckless Abandon, and Boomerang (https://dennyseiwell.com/denny-seiwell-shop/). D.enny took us out playing Live again, leaving me sated, blissful and ready for Kamala. Loved every second, love the man. Denn

I don't even know where to begin. Zane Carney is a brilliant guitarist, singer/songwriter, actor, tech wiz, gamer... and his mind! Dare I say, genius? I do. A seeker, he's always asking questions, and he actually listens to the answers. Zane puts the knowledge into action, sans ego, bettering himself, and all in his wake, at every turn. I'm blown away. Literally, mind, heart, and spirit, blown! I knew his music, and I've had enough dealings with him to know how personable, enthusiastic, demonstrative, kind, thoughtful, and lovely he is. Put all that together and the time spent in his good company was like a warm, sweet, cleansing bath, which for two hours washed away and healed six months of pandemic virus. We talked Zane's tenure as a seven-year-old to start, co-star on Dave's World with Harry Anderson, his crazy talented family, picking up a guitar at ten to catch his quickly rising, two years older brother, Reeve, getting good enough, fast enough, to be out touring with major artists while still a teen.

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So great to be Live with keyboardist/vocalist for The Who, and now, treasured friend, Loren Gold. Loren's played the living room multiple times, backing up both Anson Williams and Donny Most, for two - Happy Days! Not sure I know anyone who appreciates 70s and 80s TV more than Loren. We’ve sat down, and run around, it's always fun. Quintessential Loren… seeing him man the keyboards and backup vocals for The Who at the Hollywood Bowl last October, arguably the greatest concert I’ve yet to see… and that’s saying something. Loren’s been with The Who since 2012 and has played with Roger Daltrey since 2009. Ridiculously accomplished, talented, humble, Loren grew up in Palo Alto with older siblings and music-loving dad who turned him on to The Beatles, The Stones, and The Who, foreshadowing his inevitable future. From a High School band to LA clubs, working as a messenger by day, Loren paid his dues with diligence and focus. Once the great gigs started, he parlayed one into the next… from Hilary Duff to Taylor Hic

How do I love Lee, let me count the ways… Leland Sklar, one of the most storied and successful musicians to ever grace a stage or session, was back in the virtual living room and kicked COVID ass. Passionate, intelligent conversation on the travesty that is the idiot in the chief, censorship, getting creative, his soon to drop coffee table book, named here publicly for the first time, playing alone in the pandemic, daily commitment to his YouTube channel to provide meaningful content and music, currently, socially distancing and masking to record with The Immediate Family: Russ Kunkel, Danny Kortchmar, Waddy Wachtel, and Steve Postel; as well as with Judith Owen with Pedro Segundo. We went back to his early days, an award-winning child protege on piano, who became a bassist when his school orchestra needed one. Some things are just meant to be... James Taylor changed his life, The Section a huge part of his life, Carole King, Billy Cobham, Phil Collins, Jackson Browne, The Wrecking Crew, the upcoming Denny

It's only taken us 35 years to sit down and have a conversation, but it was worth the wait. Bette Sussman and I yakked for two hours and the time flew with nary a moment of dead air. Bette's served as Musical Director/Pianist for Cissy Houston, Bette Midler, Whitney Houston, Carly Simon, Darlene Love, Patti LuPone, Rev. Al Green, Martin Short, and so much and many more. We talked about all of them. I forgot to ask about Carly, but she did come up. Bette's worked with pretty much everyone and had great stories about all of the above, plus Aretha, Stevie Wonder, Keb' Mo', Cyndi Lauper, Paul Schaffer, Cher, and unbeknownst till tonight shared experience with then-President Bill Clinton, running for senate Hillary (we both have the pics to prove it), Nathan Lane, the beforementioned Cher, DeNiro, Cruise, Affleck, Paltrow, the list goes on... so fun to reminisce it. We talked Allee and The Color Purple, Waitress, playing the Garden to the World Cup. Gold Records, I forgot the Emmys! Bette's Diner... surviving CO

Pedro Segundo, just what the corona doctor ordered. Killer percussionist, drummer, beautiful soul, Pedro treated us to magnificent sounds, gentle humility, and a heartfelt message about human connection through music. From classical to jazz, Pedro studied, honoring his gifted craft with the passion and unique vision he presents through it. Ever since seeing Pedro at NAMM, I’ve been obsessed. I couldn’t take my eyes or ears off him. Pedro is the embodiment of dynamism. Equally, at home behind 18th-century-style kettle drums and a five-piece drum kit, Pedro makes every object he touches a channel for his incredible musical energy. Pedro’s been the house drummer for Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club for the past 10 yrs. He’s toured Europe, North America, and the Far East with Dennis Rollins Academy of Saint Martin in the Fields, as guest timpanist with Sir Neville Marriner, Murray Perahia, and Joshua Bell and more recently with his own Solo Segundo, Dennis Rollins’ Velocity Trio, Judith Owen, and his Hammond Organ an

Chicken soup for the COVID soul. Seventy minutes in heaven with impressionist, comedian, actor, icon, John Byner. A hero of mine for as long as I can remember, he exceeded all my hopes, as a talent and a human. What a lovely, lovely man. I suspect his fabulous attitude had much to do with his wonderful career and the spectacular life he lives. He appreciates and cherishes it all. John's a power of example. We talked his early days at The Vanguard in the Village, getting his first TV break on a Merv Griffith talent show and then, Ed Sullivan, for John, a life changer. He treated us to his iconic Sullivan impression with Topo Gigio, including my favorite, "Kiss me goodnight, Eddie." Swoon. Dean Martin, Jerry Lewis, Frank Sinatra, Georgie Jessel, Walter Brennan, John Wayne, Johnny Mathis, Mel Torme... a comic feast. John talked about Get Smart, The Carol Burnett Show, Hollywood Squares, Soap, hosting Something Else, The John Byner Comedy Hour, Bizarre, Super Dave writing his memoir, Five Minutes, Mr. Byner! h

For an hour + I forgot there's a pandemic and that I haven't heard live music in 5 months. Liberty Devitto filled the air and my heart with rock 'n roll. One of the greatest drummers of all time, Billy Joel's, Liberty Devitto, now bestselling author of LIBERTY, Life, Billy & the Pursuit of Happiness (https://amzn.to/2CP8qrg ) sat down and banged it out with me. We talked Billy, of course, the reconicliation, the angry years, the beginning, 30 yrs of crazy fun and brilliant creativity, to growing up and cooling down. We talked his whacky, wild, family of origin, his beautiful successful daughters, and his baby, at 3, a Beatles aficionado ... Vanilla Fudge, touring with Mitch Ryder as a teen, arenas, stadiums, Steve Winwood, The Lords of 52nd Street, Richie Cannata, Russell Javors, NYC Hit Squad and Clean Getaway with Ricky Byrd, Little Kids Rock, writing a bestseller and now playing Drive-ins, the new not normal concert venues. Affable, entertaining, warm and real, I love this man, and can't wait to see h

Spectacular chat with Butch Patrick, from pre-Eddie Munster... a cute sister and a charming mom helped pave the way to his first film at 7, with Eddie Albert, Jane Wyatt, and Soupie Sales, on The Two Little Bears. His resume is a time capsule of my youth. We talked about his guest starring roles on Ben Casey, Bonanza, My Favorite Martian, Mister Ed, Rawhide, The Real McCoys, and General Hospital, leading to The Munsters. The fun there with mentors Al Lewis and Fred Gwynne, and movie star at the time, Yvonne DeCarlo. How life changed and led to roles on My Three Sons, I Dream of Jeannie, and a week on The Monkees having the time of his life. Passing on a starring role in unknown George Lucas's American Grafitti, missing the draft by thismuch... partying himself into some troubled times, becoming a pop star with Whatever Happened to Eddie Munster, which led to MTV's Basement Tapes. Some more partying and trouble followed, leading to gettting sober and finding his niche. He's survived cancer, is COVID comfortabl

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Sam Harris, singer/songwriter, Tony-nominated, film &, TV star, writer, director, producer, author, 1st Star Search Winner, gave his all, as that's all he knows how to do. What a spectacular time. Opening with song, at my beg-quest, he picked the perfect COVID lead-in and treated us to the skinny on his just dropped, The Substance of All Things, which I am in the middle of, and must hurry through this recap to jump back in. It's masterfully written, thrillingly engaging, moving, disturbing, and immensely entertaining. Sam treated us to a delicious read of the prologue, goose-bump city. I love having my own experience with words, but I will be buying the audiobook when it lands. Sam took us through his beginnings, Oklahoma, an outcast with a gift, through his triumphant life-changer, being the inaugural winner of Star Search. There's Lucy, Sammy Davis Jr., Whitney Houston, Liza, Sinatra, Billy Holiday... stories, stories, stories. Plus, current events! In addition to his just dropped novel, he sold a TV sho

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Timely, inspiring, powerful, conversation from today's arrests to the need for protests, new thinking, actions, and much more conversation, with actress, activist, and advocate, Monica Horan Rosenthal of Everybody Loves Raymond. Monica walks her talk and has in big ways for years. From Inner-City Arts, where's she's a fierce advocate and facilitator for arts in the schools, The Rosenthal Theatre, which is a creative home for innovative and diverse performance, education and artist engagement which seeks to nurture and illuminate the creative spirit of young people and adults by enabling them to create, present and experience new work, Homeboy Industries, working alongside Jane Fonda, producing Deaf West Theatre, and championing a young Barak Obama while still a senator, are just some of her passions. We talked her path as a young girl outside Philly, with a forward-thinking father, going to Hofstra and a fated meeting with another alum, a Mr. Phil Rosenthal. Great stories about their parents, kids, and how