ROGER FISHER 'HEART' GUITAR LEGEND & MICHAEL FISHER "the MAGIC MAN" IN-DEPTH AND UNFILTERED ON ZOOM TV INTERVIEWING THE LEGENDS WITH RAY SHASHO

 

R O G E R   F I S H E R 

LEGENDARY HEART GUITARIST 

ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAMER

M I C H A E L   F I S H E R 

HEART CO-FOUNDER/MANAGER/PRODUCER

the MAGIC MAN

EXCLUSIVE IN-DEPTH & UNFILTERD

ZOOM TV INTERVIEW

CLICK BELOW

 TO WATCH IN ITS ENTIRETY

Roger Fisher was founding guitarist of the rock group Heart, globally known through the sales of more than 30 million albums. Roger has played in almost every major city in North America.

He has also toured Europe, Japan, Australia, Uzbekistan, and Russia, and performed at massive events in the Czech Republic, Japan, Canada, and the United States for as many as 300,000 people at a single rock show. He has appeared on a multitude of television shows and television broadcasts for more than 60 million people in Europe. Songs featuring Roger's songwriting and iconic guitar riffs have been used in numerous TV commercials, TV shows, video games, and in many movies. A diverse variety of other artists have covered his material. 

“I’m not an atheist, nor do I conform to any religion. I belong to no political party. I believe in breathing.” 

His timeless anthem guitar intro to Barracuda is frequently used in major sports broadcasts, political movements, etc. Tony Robbins refers to Barracuda as part of the turning point in his life. The opening riff of Barracuda was voted, by over a half million people via the magazine, Ultimate Classic Rock, “BEST GUITAR RIFF OF ALL TIME!” The original line-up of Heart was inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 2013. Rog continues to release new material with brother Mike, aka Magic Man.

PURCHASE THE LATEST RELEASES

BY HEART GUITAR LEGEND

ROGER FISHER

BORN TO FLY

REACH FOR THE SKY

Produced by Roger & Michael Fisher

Available at www.rogerfisher.com

Born To Fly is an acoustic, harmony focused, americana band who writes and performs their own music. The band is based in the Portland, Oregon area. The core of the group is a duo comprised of singers/songwriters Carol Ann Wood and Brian Thompson. They also perform as a five piece with piano, bass and drums when appropriate for the situation.

The band is comprised of Carol Ann Wood (vocals and guitar), Brian Thompson (vocals and guitar), Marty Hoyle (vocals and piano), Jimmy Cliff (vocals and bass), Rick Boyce (percussion) and featuring (on guitar, mandolin & vocals) as well as produced by, Roger Fisher (former Heart member and current Rock & Roll Hall of Fame member) and brother Michael “Magic Man” Fisher. 
Carol Ann Wood comes from a musical family and has an extensive history of performing all over the country. Brian Thompson has been playing, recording, and entertaining for 35 years, from Nashville to California.

The magnitude of talent of these five artists combined with their diverse backgrounds and experiences have proven to be invaluable in developing their masterful and fresh sound.  

HEART

OF THE BLUES

by

ROGER FISHER

 & 

THE

 HUMAN TRIBE

at

www.rogerfisher.com

ROGER FISHER 

& THE HUMAN TRIBE

HUMAN TRIBE 

TEA

At Roger Fisher & The Human Tribe Store

PURCHASE AT

https://humantribe.square.site/

 

ROGER FISHER

and

THE

 HUMAN TRIBE 

HEART OF THE BLUES

WHISKEY

Mike and Roger Fisher, co-founders of rock group Heart, wanted their own whiskey. After trying many different samples to get an idea of the direction they wanted to go, Rose City and the boys discovered a blend that Mike and Rog immediately recognized as “IT.” 100% Rye, 100 proof, aged in oak barrels, this experience is… well, let Roger tell it, “I’ve compared Heart Of The Blues with many, many others. What is special about it is, for a 100-proof liquor, it doesn’t assault the tongue like most others. It is simply more smooth. And the taste!!! It is sweet, with a flavor that simply delights. And it is light. Not a dark or heavy sensation, it floats like a butterfly on your tongue.”

Named after their 2018 album release, HEART OF THE BLUES, the music was inspired by time spent in the Mississippi Delta, home of the foundation of jazz, blues, rock, and all subsequent related styles of music. Roger Fisher and his band will spearhead the introduction of their whiskey with live performances across the nation. 

The art of music is like the art of distillation: go to any length to produce the best, most fulfilling and inspiring work.

PURCHASE AT

 www.rogerfisher.com/heartoftheblueswhiskey

For more information

About

ROGER FISHER

and MICHAEL FISHER

Visit

https://borntoflyband.com/home

Born to Fly Official website

www.rogerfisher.com

official website

www.facebook.com/Rog4Real

Facebook

https://twitter.com/rrrog

twitter

www.instagram.com/rogerfishermusic

Instagram

www.rogerfisher.com/heartoftheblueswhiskey

Roger Fisher Heart of the Blues Whiskey

ROGER FISHER 

Discography

Heart

1976: Dreamboat Annie

1977: Little Queen

1977: Magazine

1978: Dog and Butterfly

1979: Bebe Le Strange 1979

1980: Heart – Greatest Hits/Live

  

Alias

1990: Alias – Starring Freddy Curci on vocals, Steve DeMarchi and Roger Fisher on guitars, Steve Fossen on bass and Mike Derosier on drums

2001: Second Coming

2009: Never Say Never

Solo

2000: Evolution – Roger Fisher plays guitar, Sitar, Bouzouki, Percussion, Bass Guitar and Lead Vocals. Produced by Roger & Mike Fisher

2016: All Told – Listed as Roger Fisher And The Human Tribe

2018: "Heart of the Blues" - Listed as Roger Fisher and The Human Tribe

Songwriting credits include:

Barracuda

Dream Of The Archer

Crazy On You

Go On Cry

Love Alive

Bebe Le Strange

Little Queen

Sing Child Sing

Sylvan Song

Mistral Wind

Say Hello

Heart - Barracuda (cover by Sershen & Zaritskaya feat. Kim and Shturmak) 

From Ukraine

ROGER FISHER & 

MICHAEL FISHER

APPEAR

on INTERVIEWING THE LEGENDS

with RAY SHASHO

NOW STREAMING ON

The Classic Rock Music Reporter   

 Classic Rock Here and Now

Music Tried and True  

www.rockmusic.show  

 TuneIn   YouTube   Facebook   Apple   amazon music   iHeartRadio  Podcastics   Podchaser   Spotify  

 PANDORA   Deezer   Google Podcasts 

RAY’S BEST-SELLING BOOK

ENTITLED

THE ROCK STAR CHRONICLES

featuring ROGER FISHER

SERIES ONE

CHRONICLES, TRUTHS, CONFESSIONS AND WISDOM FROM THE MUSIC LEGENDS 

THAT SET US FREE!

BY RAY SHASHO

 …Order yours today on (Collector edition) Hardcover  or E-book  at bookbaby.com and 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

 

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

MORE BOOKS BY RAY SHASHO

MARKY RAMONE DRUMMER FOR THE LEGENDARY 'RAMONES' IS THE SPECIAL GUEST ON THE RAY SHASHO SHOW

MARKY RAMONE INTERVIEWED

 ON THE RAY SHASHO SHOW

Our Very Special Guest Today is Marky Ramone the drummer for the legendary punk rock band the Ramones. 

Marky Ramone is best known for the 15 years he spent drumming for the Ramones. Prior to joining the Ramones, Marky played with an array of influential musicians dating back to his high school years when he was a member of the Brooklyn based hard rock band, Dust. Recording two albums with his friends, Richie Wise (guitar and vocals) and Kenny Aaronson (bass) for Neil Bogart’s Karma Sutra/Buddha label.

In 1976, Marky was introduced to Richard Hell. Along with Bob Quine and Ivan Julian, they formed Richard Hell & the Voidoids. The Voidoids released their groundbreaking debut album in 1977 on Sire Records, entitled “Blank Generation”. Shortly after the Voidoids historic U.K. tour with The Clash, Marky found himself at the bar at CBGB with Dee Dee Ramone. Dee Dee asked him if he would be interested in joining The Ramones. The spring of 1978, Marky joined the Ramones. In a matter of weeks he was in the studio recording his first album with The Ramones entitled, “Road to Ruin”, which features one of the biggest Ramones songs “I Wanna Be Sedated”. The following year the Ramones filmed the cult classic “Rock 'n' Roll High School”. Later that year, they joined forces with producer legend, Phil Spector to record “End Of The Century”.

After several tours and two more studio albums, Marky was asked to leave the band in 1983, only to rejoin his band mates in 1987 until they decided to call it quits in 1996. His tenure with the Ramones spanned a total of 15 years. Performing over 1700 shows and more than 15 releases, including songwriting credits on both Mondo Bizarro and Adios Amigos, the bands farewell release.

 In 2000, Marky reunited with long time friend Joey Ramone for Joey’s solo effort “Don't Worry About Me”. In 2001, Marky along with his former band mates (Johnny, Dee Dee and Tommy), were inducted into the Rock 'N' Roll Hall of Fame. That same year, U2’s Bono presented the Ramones with the MTV’s Lifetime Achievement Award. The DVD release, “Raw”, a compilation of mostly home videos filmed predominantly by Marky was release in 2004 and entered the Billboard video chart at number 5. Certified gold in three countries and currently the best selling Ramones DVD release to date.

In the spring of 2009, Marky launched a capsule collection clothing line with Hilfiger Denim. In 2010, Marky shared his recipe for pasta sauce by introducing Marky Ramone’s Brooklyn’s Own Pasta Sauce. In February 2010 The Ramones received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. It was the first Grammy for the punk rock pioneers. In early 2010 Marky Ramones Blitzkrieg with Michale Graves released their first single “When We Were Angels” with former member of Sheer Terror, Mark Neuman, playing bass and guitar. With no signs of slowing down, Marky Ramone continues to tour the world with his band, Marky Ramone’s Blitzkrieg, featuring various lead vocalists including Andrew W.K. and Michale Graves.

Marky is currently in his eighth year as a D.J. on SiriusXM Satellite Radio hosting “Marky Ramone’s Punk Rock Blitzkrieg”.

Ramone is also a best-selling author who recently released Punk Rock Blitzkrieg …My Life As A Ramone – It’s the final word on the genius and mischief of The Ramones told by the man who kept the beat and lived to tell about it. -Available to purchase everywhere including amazon.com and www.markyramone.com.

It’s my great pleasure to welcome to the Ray Shasho Show …drummer, songwriter, author and radio host … Marky Ramone.

MARKY RAMONE INTERVIEWED

 ON BBS RADIO 1 POSTED ON YOU TUBE 

Be sure to visit these great sites for all the latest Marky Ramone news and touring information …

www.markyramone.com  -the official site of Marky Ramone

www.facebook.com/OfficialMarkyRamone  -on Facebook

https://twitter.com/markyramone  -on Twitter

Marky Ramone's Punk Rock Blitzkrieg radio show can be heard on SiriusXM Faction Ch. 41:Wednesday 8PM EST / 5PM PST Rebroadcasts: Friday Midnight EST / 9PM PST Saturday 3PM EST / 12 Noon PST

THE RAY SHASHO SHOW

Bi-weekly Monday Afternoon at 3pm Pacific/6 pm Eastern

On the BBS Radio 1 Network

THE RAY SHASHO SHOW

 IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY

‘THE PUBLICITY WORKS AGENCY’

We Shine Only When We Make You Shine

Website http://www.publicityworksagency.com/

Contact Ray Shasho at 941-877-1552

Email us at ray@publicityworksagency.com

http://bbsradio.com/therayshashoshow

‘Dangerous Dan’ Toler BENEFIT Headlines Dickey Betts-Bonnie Bramlett- Blackhawk

 
By Ray Shasho

This coming Saturday and Sunday November 12th and 13th will be “The biggest and best concert this area has seen for a long a time” says Mark Serio guitarist and organizer for the benefit to support ‘Dangerous Dan’ Toler and raise awareness for ALS or better known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. Guitarist ‘Dangerous Dan’ Toler is best known as a member of The Allman Brothers Band, The Gregg Allman Band and Dickey Betts & Great Southern. Earlier this year Toler announced that he had the disease. Recently his condition has worsened and now has trouble speaking.

His younger brother David “Frankie” Toler drummer and former member of The Allman Brothers Band died earlier this year from a prolonged illness.

Last year I covered an event hosted by “Sarasota’s Littlest Heroes” (who were many of the same organizers) to help raise money for two year old Emalynn Roberts diagnosed with Chronic Inflammatory Polyneuropathy. The concert was held at the same location and headlined by Dickey Betts & Great Southern. The event was a huge success.

The ‘Dangerous Dan’ Toler benefit is promising to be a monumental event. Mark Serio says “The concert is going to be huge.” Musicians are flying in from everywhere to help their friend and fellow musician ‘Dangerous Dan’ Toler.

The event takes place on Hershberger Ranch at 13010 Fruitville Rd in Sarasota just 7.3 miles east of I-75 on the right. It’s two full days of non-stop music –including free Barbeque, silent and live auctions and raffles. Online auction at http://www.dantolerbenefit.myevent.com/3/auction.htm
BYOB or beer is available to purchase at the event. The festivities begin at 12pm and ends at 11pm each night.

Tickets are $20.00 for a one day pass and only $35.00 for both dates. There are also VIP tickets available. Purchase tickets here or at the door on the day of the concert. http://www.dantolerbenefit.myevent.com/3/online_payment.htm
Call Mark Serio at (941)228-5099 for further information about the event.

Day 1- Saturday’s music schedule kicks off at 12pm with Cowboy Keith.

Later in the evening Bonnie Bramlett and harp virtuoso T.C. Carr take the stage.
Bonnie Bramlett was part of the legendary husband and wife duo Delaney & Bonnie. Delaney & Bonnie & Friends collaborated on stage with legendary “Friends” George Harrison, Eric Clapton, Leon Russell, Dave Mason, Rita Coolidge, Gram Parsons, Duane and Gregg Allman and King Curtis to name just a few.

In 1969 Delaney & Bonnie supported Eric Clapton’s short-lived Blind Faith band on the road. Their certified gold third album On Tour with Eric Clapton was their most commercially successful release. In 1970 Delaney & Bonnie & Friends participated in the Festival Express tour (originally billed as the Transcontinental Pop Festival) by train across various Canadian cities with The Grateful Dead, Janis Joplin and The Band. Festival Express was a 2003 documentary film about the 1970 train tour including concert footage across Canada. Also in 1970 the band appeared at The Strawberry Fields Festival in front of an estimated 100,000 people in Ontario, Canada.

Delaney & Bonnie divorced in 1973 after releasing their final album D&B Together. The album featured such illustrious artists as Steve Cropper, Eric Clapton, Tina Turner, Duane Allman, Dave Mason, Leon Russell and Billy Preston.

Delaney & Bonnie’s most memorable hits were Dave Mason’s penned “Only You Know and I Know” and “Never Ending Song of Love.” Bonnie Bramlett also co-wrote “Let It Rain” with Eric Clapton.

Bonnie enjoyed continued success as a solo composer and recording artist while sharing her amazing vocals with Elvin Bishop, Stephen Stills, Little Feat and The Allman Brothers Band throughout the 70’s and 80’s.
In 1979 Bonnie Bramlett participated in the acclaimed Havana Jam Festival in Cuba.
Under a new married name Bonnie Sheridan, she became an actress with an ongoing role on the TV sitcom Roseanne from 1991-95.

Delaney Bramlett died in 2008.

Bonnie Bramlett’s latest album is called ‘Beautiful’ and available at Rockin’ Camel Music.

The Dan Toler Band follows Bonnie Bramlett and then headliner’s Dickey Betts & Great Southern take the stage at around 8:30pm.

Dickey Betts, a Bradenton native, had formed a band in Florida with bassist Berry Oakley.One night they jammed with another local group featuring Duane and Gregg Allman, and The Allman Brothers Band formed in 1969. After the death of Duane Allman in 1971, Betts became the bands sole guitarist.
Dickey Betts was inducted along with the rest of The Allman Brothers Band into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995.

Day 2 –Sunday’s music itinerary will feature The Boogiemen opening at 12pm.

The afternoon lineup includes a rendition of 50’s rock and roll icon’s The Platters recreated by Wilson Williams and his Platters.

The Artimus Pyle Band will take the stage late afternoon. Artimus Pyle was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2006 as a member for the Southern Rock /Classic Rock radio mainstay Lynyrd Skynyrd.

Blackhawk (The Outlaws) are the headliners for Sunday evening and will be performing at 8:30pm.
There may even be surprise guests performing during the two-day event.

For a complete listing of performers appearing at the ‘Dangerous Dan’ Toler two-day benefit concert go to http://www.dantolerbenefit.myevent.com/3/miscellaneous2.htm

The event is this coming Saturday and Sunday November 12th and 13th on Hershberger Ranch at 13010 Fruitville Rd in Sarasota just 7.3 miles east of I-75 on the right. 12pm to 11pm each day.
Come out and enjoy good food and great music by legendary performers and help support the fight against ALS.

Concert benefit for ‘Dangerous Dan’ Toler official website http://www.dantolerbenefit.myevent.com/
Dickey Betts & Great Southern official website http://www.dickeybetts.com/
Bonnie Bramlett official website http://www.bonniebramlett.com/index.htm
Blackhawk /The Outlaws official website http://www.blackhawklive.com/news/

Order columnist/author Ray Shasho’s new book called Check the Gs – The True Story of an Eclectic American Family and Their Wacky Family Business at amazon.com, iuniverse.com, barnesandnoble.com or borders.com. Order now for the holidays!

“Original, Entertaining and Hilarious-- This book has all the elements of a classic in the making. The novel is centralized around Raymond, a boy growing up around the family business in Washington, DC...but that is just the tip of the plot. The dynamic characters really make this memoir.”  - Reviewed by a local high school English Teacher.

Contact Ray Shasho at rockraymond.shasho@gmail.com

Dave Mason Is Feelin’ Alright In An Interview With Music Journalist Ray Shasho

Dave Mason with his good friend Jimi Hendrix

 By Ray Shasho

Dave Mason headlines Hippiefest 2011 at Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater on Saturday August 27th.
Dave will be sharing the stage with an impressive lineup of classic rock hitmakers.
Joining Dave Mason will be Mark Farner the inspirational leader for Grand Funk Railroad (“We’re An American Band,” “I’m Your Captain,” “Some Kind of Wonderful” and “The Loco-Motion”), Rick Derringer(“Rock and Roll, Hoochie Koo,” “Hang On Sloopy”), Felix Cavaliere(“Good Lovin',” “Groovin'” and “People Got To Be Free”) and Gary Wright (“Dream Weaver,” “Love Is Alive” and “Really Wanna Know You”).

Order your tickets right here for an outta sight night of kicking out the Jams.

Songwriter/Guitarist/Vocalist Dave Mason cofounded the band Traffic after Steve Winwood left the Spencer Davis Group. In 1967 Mason left the band after the release of the Mr. Fantasy album. Mason rejoined the band for awhile in 1968 and recorded “Feelin’ Alright,”a song that became Mason’s trademark.“Feelin’ Alright” was covered by Joe Cocker in 1969. Mason went on to join Delaney & Bonnie & Friends in 1969 and released his debut solo album Alone Together  producing the hit single-  “Only you know and I know” The album reached gold in the U.S. hitting # 22 on the record charts.

Mason shared his extraordinary musical talents with a list of legends- including George Harrison, (Mason appeared on Harrison’s critically- acclaimed album All Things Must Pass) Eric Clapton’s Derek & the Dominos,The Rolling Stones, Leon Russell, Cass Elliot, Fleetwood Mac and his good friend Jimi Hendrix. Mason played his 12- string acoustic guitar on "All Along the Watchtower" and sang on “Crosstown Traffic.”

Dave Mason hit superstardom throughout the 70’s with a handful of highly successful albums reaching platinum and gold status - It’s Like You Never Left, Split Coconut, Certified Live,Let it Flow and Mariposo de Oro. Top 40 hits “We Just Disagree” and “Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow” were spawned from that triumphant period.

In 1978 Mason performed in front of more than 300,000 people at California Jam II.
Mason and Traffic bandmate Jim Capaldi reunited for a tour that produced the 1999 album Live: The 40,000 Headmen Tour.  Traffic was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame in 2004.

Here’s my recent interview with renowned songwriter/musician/humanitarian Dave Mason.

Dave, I want to thank you for spending some time with me today, where do you call home nowadays?

“No problem thank you, I live near Santa Barbara in California.”

I understand that this is your first Hippiefest tour. I talked with Mark Farner the other day and he let me know that he and Rick Derringer were actually really good friends. Are you buddies with anyone that you share the bill with?

“Not really, I’ve played shows with all these guys but back in the Traffic days it would be Gary. When Gary(Gary Wright) had a band called Spooky Tooth.”

When I do a Dave Mason search on the web, I see a lot of involvement in charity work. What sort of charity events are you involved with?

“I have a charity that I helped start and I’m very involved with it that we do for veterans. And that is we help people transition out of the service to start their own business. It’s called Work Vessels for Veterans at http://wvfv.net/.”

You also participate in various benefit concerts and celebrity golf classics including partnering with Michael Bolton. Do you play golf Dave?

“No I don’t play golf. Michael Bolton’s charity is for abused women and I’ve done that with his charity for about the last five or six years. And for 14 years he was doing it in Stanford Connecticut and then last year I kind of talked him into trying it somewhere else so we moved it to the Ojai Valley Inn Golf Course and this year we’re combining his charity with the Work Vessels charity and the event out there and on the 23rd of September then I have The Feelin’ Alright Second Annual Golf Tournament in Virginia at Fort Belvoir and that is with a group called (CAMMO) which does a lot of work with vets and music and there’s a number of them that have been signed to recording contracts and it’s pretty interesting you know, last year we had a band that the drummer had titanium legs and those guys were really good. And they’re getting a lot of results with post traumatic stress through the music. So it’s interesting work and a great group of people.” http://cammomusic.org/main/

Music has gotten a lot of our servicemen through tough times over the years especially during wartime.

“I did a Toys for Tots show in Atlanta back in 1977 and I was getting ready to walk up on stage and this Marine came up to me and said “You know man, me and my buddy were stuck in a foxhole for three days and we would have gone absolutely nuts if it weren’t for a Jimi Hendrix tape and a Dave Mason tape.”

You’re doing great work for our vets Dave. Sometimes our veterans are not treated with the respect that they deserve are they?

“The way that our vets are treated when they come back is shameful, they’re kind of swept aside a little bit, I mean you know you’ve got the Veterans Administration and all that stuff but there’s a lot that still could be done, anyways that’s why we pick up the void. There’s a number of us, a number of organizations out there that try to fill those holes, fill that gap.”

Bless you man for all you do.
I want to talk some about your music; your first band was actually called The Jaguars back in the early 60’s and was reminiscent musically to The Shadows and Ventures?

“Yes, that was my first band The Jaguars. I worked a little instrumental version called Opus To Spring when I was about 16 and a local record store put a record out on it. We only did the one recording with that band and then that’s all we did with that. There was another band called The Hellions with Jim Capaldi we had a record out on Pye records that was produced by Kim Fowley, the guy that did ‘They’re Coming to Take Me Away Ha Ha Ho Ho He He.’” And we did a Jackie Deshannon song called “Daydreaming of You.”

And I heard you guys played the famous Star-Club in Hamburg, Germany where The Beatles played?

“No we never got to Hamburg we played some little town outside of Hamburg and played  Saturday nights, we use to play for about eight hours on Saturday nights, fifteen minute songs, fifteen off, fifteen on, fifteen off.”

So you knew Jim Capaldi (Drummer and a founding member of Traffic) because of The Hellions?

“Jim and I knew each other for a long time. Jim (Capaldi) grew up 12 miles from me. Yea, Robert Plant also grew up around 12 miles away and John Bonham.”

You met Steve Winwood when he was in The Spencer Davis Group?

“Yea he was in The Spencer Group and The Hellions use to play up in Birmingham which is 25 miles from Worcester and through that we met Steve and Chris Wood and basically we just hung out for a year or so just run into each other and then at one point Steve had decided he was going to leave The Spencer Davis Group. And during that time during that break I’d sung on a couple of their recordings, ‘Somebody Help Me’ and most of Traffic was on ‘Gimme Some Lovin’ and it’s pretty much all of us singing in the background of ‘I’m A Man.’
I kind of played Roadie for a couple of months with them and then we formed Traffic.”

Then you guys rented a cottage in Berkshire?

“A famous jockey had a racing stable down there so we kind of commandeered this cottage sitting in the middle of nowhere. It’s where they trained and canter the horses. There was no gas, no electricity and no running water in the place. We lived there like that for about six months.”

Man that was primitive living. If you didn’t have electricity how did you plug into the amplifiers and rehearse your music?

“We had a generator.”

Those were the good old days huh? (All laughing)

“Yea whatever we were kids, I was 18 years old and you think there’s not anything you can’t do.”

So how did Traffic get their big break?

“Well Steve already had three, four, top ten records so he had kind of an entree in that way and then I started writing and Jim and Steve started writing and my writing I pretty much did on my own and then the problems started to happen when the stuff that I was writing was the stuff picked for singles. And their biggest hit at the time was the first song I’d ever written and was kind of a fantasy tune called ‘Hole in My Shoe’ and that got to number two in England and was really their biggest single hit. After the first album I left and the reason I left was because I couldn’t really deal with the fame so quickly it was just a little overwhelming for me. So I actually left and did a couple of things worked with starting to produce an album for a group called Family, ‘Music in a Dollhouse’ and then I got to know Hendrix and spent a little time recording with him and some of it was on Electric Ladyland.
Then I did a little stint with what was known as a satirical group called The Scaffold, it was Paul McCartney’s brother (Professionally known as Mike McGear) and I did a number of shows with them and so just roamed around playing with different people and then at one point I just took a little bag and a guitar and worked this little island called Hydra (Greece) and I really didn’t have any money at the time but it was a great time and that’s where I wrote ‘Feelin Alright.’”
Then I met up again with them in New York and they were working on the second album, and then he had five songs and I had five songs so it was like okay let’ s get back together again. And I thought it was a really good second album it was a good transition from Fantasy (Mr. Fantasy debut album) it had a lot of kind of Fantasy stuff on it but giving a lot more cohesive I thought musically. And after that album pretty much again my songs were being picked for the singles and that’s just what caused the riff with Winwood. And I pretty much just spent days where he’d never talk to me.”

Wow that’s a real shame. Unfortunately I hear a lot of stories like that in bands.

“Yea, even marriages break up.”

Bands are like a family with lots of emotion and drama.

“The kind of difference is that sometimes it makes things really good though you know. When you’ve got kind of an edge going in there you can create some really good stuff rather than following one thing all the time but at any rate whatever that’s the way it was so at that point I just decided there wasn’t much point to staying in England or Traffic so I just upped and moved to America."

It’s amazing even though you hailed from England your accent is all but gone man.

“The way they talk where I grew up, I mean I can’t even understand some of the people.”

I always found it fascinating when the early Beatles talked in their Cockney accents, but then when they sang on a record it was gone.

“It’s because they were copying all those American singers that’s why. America is the home of all contemporary music. Jazz, Blues and Rock & Roll it comes from here.”

You know it’s amazing how many musicians that I talked with from the 60’s that had never met Jimi Hendrix. I always figured that at one point or another there would have been a moment spent with him. What was Jimi Hendrix Like?

“He was just a pretty quiet guy as a matter of fact. Most of the time that I spent with him I never saw him basically without a guitar in his hands.”

And you worked on the ‘All Things Must Pass’ Album with George Harrison?

“Well I knew George for quite awhile he gave me my first Sitar. And McCartney I use to go down to the Sgt. Peppers sessions and hang out or stay in the studio while they were recording and spend a good time with George. Nice Man. But playing on All Things Must Pass, I couldn’t recall what tracks that I played on to be perfectly honest with you.”

So what’s on your plate these days Dave?

“Well I tour a lot and obviously the charity for the Vets. Trying to grow the charity is very important for me. And basically just keep on rolling down the road and singing.”

Do you have a CD being released soon or involvement in new collaborations?

“At this point, there’s no point in me putting anymore CD’s out because there’s just no outlet for it, there’s no promotion for it, there’s no radio anymore ever, there’s no way for anyone to know that you’ve got something new out.”

Well you’ve got me Dave. (Laughter)

“I mean national radio, it’s somebody goes in and puts a cart in and pulls it out after thirty days and then puts another one in and there’s nobody home.”

I know exactly what you mean Dave. I was a radio deejay in the late 70’s early 80’s. My dream was to become like one of those deejays from back in the 60’s. Radio is not about the music anymore it’s basically all about advertisers. And who wants to listen to radio to hear back to back to back commercials.

“Yea, there’s just nothing there and no way to get anything promoted. There’s no way for anyone to really hear something or know if they’re even going to like it. So basically anything new that I have is just going to go on my website and you can go there and download it. And until something comes along where you can promote properly it’s economically not feasible to do another CD.”

My column is only about Classic Rock Music and Classic Rock Artists. And my articles are viewed globally on the internet with the sole intention of keeping that dream alive and the fire burning.  

“I appreciate that.”

My favorite Dave Mason tune unfortunately was a song that you didn’t write. And it was your biggest hit “We Just Disagree” written by Jim Krueger. I own that awesome performance of the song that you did on Burt Sugarman’s The Midnight Special.
Dave I just want to tell you man that you’re a legendary artist, great songwriter and studio musician and just a classy guy and thank you so much for spending time with me today I really appreciate it. 

“You’re quite welcome.”

Keep on doing what you’re doing and I'll see you at Hippiefest in Clearwater.

“I will Ray thank you.”

Dave Mason will be headlining Hippiefest 2011 on Saturday August 27th at Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater.  So let your freak flag fly!

Dave Mason’s website is http://davemasonmusic.com/
Dave Mason Charities Work Vessels for Veterans     http://wvfv.net/
CAMMO -Giving our veteran artists a place to thrive http://cammomusic.org/main/
2nd Annual Dave Mason’s “Feelin Alright” Golf Classic
  http://www.tournevents.com/_tournament/?event=davemason2nd

Special thanks goes out to Jeff Albright of The Albright Entertainment Group.

Order author Ray Shasho’s new book Check the Gs –The True Story of an Eclectic American Family and Their Wacky Family Business at http://rayshasho.com/
 
Its My Big Fat Greek Wedding meets Almost Famous meets Seinfeld.



Contact Ray Shasho at rockraymond.shasho@gmail.com

© Copyright rayshasho.com. All Rights Reserved