Tony Orlando has spent an incredible six decades in entertainment. From signing his first record deal at the age of 15 years old to segueing to the other side of the desk as a successful music publisher working for the legendary Clive Davis to accidentally becoming an even bigger pop star with the accidental pop group Dawn, Tony's career reads like something out of fiction but it all happened. Still going strong today, Tony hosts "Saturday Nights With Tony Orlando," heard worldwide via WABC New York and his music is still heard everywhere. Songs like "Tie A Yellow Ribbon," "Knock Three Times," "Candida," and "He Don't Love You (Like I Love You)," are all part of the fabric of contemporary music. In this episode, Tony tells us about growing up in both New York and New Jersey; how a chance meeting outside New York's famous Brill Building led to being signed by the legendary impresario Don Kirshner and how at 15 he was working alongside fellow teenage rookies Carole King, Gerry Goffin, Cynthia Weill and Barry Mann; and, most comedically, how doing a throw-away favor singing a demo for his friend Hank Medress led to two of the biggest hit records of the year 1970. Even iconic DJ Casey Kasem pays us a visit on this episode. A must listen episode for anyone interested in great stories about many, many big hit records and a remarkable career in music.

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Chris Difford is a founding member and primary lyricist for the UK rock band Squeeze. Celebrating their 50th anniversary as a band in 2024, Squeeze has spent the past half-century recording some of the most notable albums of the New Wave era and beyond with songs, including "Tempted," "Pulling Mussels From Shell," "Cool For Cats," and "Annie Get Your Gun," that have all become worldwide favorites. Working alongside his Squeeze co-founder and its principal music writer Glen Tilbrook, Chris' musical and cultural knowledge and passion runs deep with a love for everyone from The Velvet Underground (whose final studio album would give the band their name) to Damon Runyon (whose characters inspired the long dormant "lost" Squeeze album "Trixie's" - to be released later this year). Apart from his creative work, Chris has also worked as a music manager, most notably managing Roxy Music's Bryan Ferry. Chris, Glen and Squeeze will be on tour again, in the US and the UK, in 2025.

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Since 1969, Billy Gibbons has been the lead singer, guitar slinger and principal songwriter of the legendary Texas blues-rock band ZZ Top. With his signature smoky growl, 1959 Gibson Les Paul and instantly recognizable chest-length beard, Billy's music has become one of the soundtracks to the history of rock and roll for over six decades. Inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2004, ZZ Top have sold over 50 million records and performed close to 2000 live shows. In this episode, Billy tells us all about his storied career, from growing up in Texas with his bandleader father to meeting his future ZZ Top bandmates on a night that began with Dusty Hill passing out drunk, to bringing the Worldwide Texas tour to life in the late 1970's - a tour that included live buffaloes and rattlesnakes on stage with the band every night. We talk about Billy's friendship with Jimi Hendrix, the night ZZ Top inducted their hero Jimmy Reed into the Rock Hall, and a fateful early gig where the band played an entire show (with encore!) to an audience of only one fan. Billy is a born raconteur and his colorful stories are sure to make you want to re-listen to all of the indelible music he's been sharing with us for over 50 years.

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Chaka Khan is a true musical icon. Inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2023, Chaka is now celebrating over 50 years of musical excellence. Honored with 10 Grammy Awards, her hits have transcended music genres, embodying the essence of pop, soul, jazz, gospel, classical, and funk. Her career took off in Chicago with the group Rufus and skyrocketed via the Stevie Wonder-penned hit "Tell Me Something Good." This success laid the foundation for an illustrious solo career, beginning with the empowering global anthem "I'm Every Woman." Chaka’s impact on pop culture extends beyond music; she has ventured into theater, made history-making collaborations, and contributed to children's television. Beyond her rich entertainment success, she has mastered the art of business with entrepreneurial ventures, including gourmet chocolates and a signature fragrance, 'Chaka by Chaka Khan.' Her life story is detailed in her autobiography “Through the Fire," serving as a testament to resilience and optimism. Chaka has changed lives through philanthropic efforts focusing on mental health and education. Celebrated by her peers and adored by fans worldwide, she remains a beacon of musical excellence, passion, empowerment, and love, uplifting hearts around the world. She embodies all the qualities of a true legend.

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Paul Williams is one of the most beloved and respected music creators in the world today; a lyricist and composer who has won an Oscar Award, three Grammy Awards, two Golden Globe Awards, an Ivor Novello International Award and earned induction into the Songwriters Hall of Fame, Williams’ timeless classics range from “We’ve Only Just Begun”, “You and Me Against the World” and “The Rainbow Connection” to "Touch" and "Beyond" on Daft Punk’s chart-topping Album of the Year, Random Access Memories on which he also performed, receiving a Grammy as Featured Artist. As President and Chairman of the Board of the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP), he is also a leading spokesman for music creators in the digital age.

In addition to music creators’ rights, Paul is also passionate about recovery, and works tirelessly to destigmatize alcoholism and addiction. Sober 33 years, his humorous observations of life, love, and creativity, augmented by the education and knowledge he gained through his studies and certification from UCLA as a Certified Drug Rehabilitation Counselor, has been shared in a best-selling book co-written by Tracey Jackson, entitled Gratitude and Trust: Six Affirmations That Will Change Your Life. While publicly lauded for his work as a songwriter, author and actor, most recently for his role with Billy Bob Thornton in Goliath, Paul predicts he’ll be remembered for playing Little Enos in the Smokey and the Bandit trilogy and for his lyrics to “The Love Boat” theme.

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Jason Mraz is a two-time Grammy award winning singer/songwriter, winner of the esteemed Hal David Starlight Award from the Songwriters Hall Of Fame and owner of his own organic home farming organization, Mraz Family Farms. Having sold over 13 million album equivalents, Jason is celebrating the 15th anniversary of his 2008 album We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things, recently reissued as a deluxe 2 vinyl set. He also founded the nonprofit Jason Mraz Foundation, which has a mission of shining for inclusive arts education, food security and the advancement of equality.

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Danny Goldberg, President of Gold Village Entertainment, has worked in the music business as a personal manager, record company president, public relations man and journalist since the late 1960s. Goldberg began his career as a music journalist writing for among others Rolling Stone and Billboard Magazine. He later formed and co-owned Modern Records (Stevie Nicks), the artist management firm Gold Mountain Entertainment (Nirvana, Hole, Sonic Youth, Bonnie Raitt, The Allman Brothers, and more), and independent label Artemis Records. He served as President of Atlantic Records and Chairman of Warner Bros. Records, as CEO of Air America Radio and Chair of the ACLU of Southern California.

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Miles Copeland, founder of I.R.S. Records, BTM (British Talent Management), Illegal Records, Deptford Fun City Records, New Bristol Records, and Copeland International Arts (C.I.A.). He has worked with The Police, Sting, Berlin, Dead Kennedys, The Cramps, The Go-Gos, Squeeze, R.E.M., The Alarm, and The Bangles, among others.

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