When Ben Fong-Torres’ father immigrated to the United States from China, his surname was Fong, but he changed it to Torres and posed as a Filipino in order to avoid prosecution under the Chinese Exclusion Act which restricted Chinese immigration. Ben seems to have a pedigree totally of his own making. He graduated from San Francisco State in the mid-sixties and went on to become the senior editor for Rolling Stone magazine and author of books on Top 40 radio, the Doors, the Grateful Dead, and the Eagles. On this week’s show, we talk about some of the classic interviews he’s conducted for Rolling Stone and the awards he’s won for magazine writing.

This is a replay from the Top Ten of our highest rated shows – Episode 11. Sandy Deane has been with Jay and the Americans since their inception back in the early Sixties and the hits never stopped coming – Cara Mia, Come a Little Bit Closer, Only in America, and This Magic Moment. Would you believe they were one of the bands that was on the bill when the Beatles played their first concert in the U.S. at the Washington Coliseum in 1964? I’ve got a ton of questions for Sandy and he has a raft load of ‘60s rock stories for us on this week’s show.

This is a replay from the Top Ten of our highest rated shows -  Episode 18. On this week’s episode, we’re going to meet three different stars. The festivities begin with a 1967 song written by Jim Webb for the 5th Dimension. Florence La Rue, one of their original members who is still performing today, remembers Up, Up, and Away with us. Then we’re shifting the tone to San Francisco’s Summer of Love and the Sixties music scene recalling dj’s Big Daddy Tom Donahue and Bobby Mitchell. We’re talking with Tom’s wife, Raechel Donahue who recalls not only those exciting times, but she became an entertainment reporter for CNN and is today the host of her own internet radio show. Finally, who can forget Hang On Sloopy? Our last segment is with Rick Derringer of the McCoys who’s appeared on numerous albums with Steely Dan, Air Supply, and Cindy Lauper.