From the Heart of Alabama (Part II) - Former 'Split the Dark' Member Scott McDavid Talks about His Journey as a Musician
Release Date: 10/22/2017
Stray Deuce -- Another Name You Should Know in the History of Popular Music
Robert Neil Speaks with...
Robert Neil Speaks with… Chuck Smith (a.k.a. Stray Deuce), musician/singer/songwriter. “I really enjoy finding artists whose names you might not know, but who have made important contributions to popular music. Chuck Smith, who goes by the stage name Stray Deuce, is one of those artists. He’s been in the music industry for decades and has played with some of the best musicians in the business. At a young age he was signed to Columbia Records and later earned a contract from Motown Records. “One of Motown’s biggest artists, Diana Ross, recorded a song Smith had...
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Gordon Lightfoot, Part III: Robert Neil Speaks with...author Nicholas Jennings
Robert Neil Speaks with...
Robert Neil Speaks with… In the third of a three-part series about legendary singer/songwriter Gordon Lightfoot, Robert Neil speaks with music journalist and historian Nicholas Jennings about his book ‘Lightfoot,’ the authorized biography of the legendary Canadian icon. In this final installment, Jennings tells Robert Neil about the serious health incident that threatened his life and put him in a coma for six weeks in 2002. A video presentation of this episode is available on Robert Neil’s YouTube Channel, [like ♫ subscribe ♫ share] Robert Neil is a journalist and...
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Part II of a conversation about Gordon Lightfoot with biographer Nicholas Jennings
Robert Neil Speaks with...
The topic, again, is Gordon Lightfoot as Robert Neil Speaks with music journalist and historian Nicholas Jennings about his book ‘Lightfoot,’ the authorized biography of the legendary Canadian singer/songwriter. This episode is part two of a three-part series and focuses on Lightfoot’s character, and how the Canadian legend’s principles have sometimes kept him from achieving a higher degree of fame, yet, at the same time, have endeared him to his legions of fans. The conversation includes stories involving Robbie Robertson and The Last Waltz, Bob Dylan, David Foster and Whitney Houston...
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A conversation about Gordon Lightfoot with noted author Nicholas Jennings
Robert Neil Speaks with...
The topic is Gordon Lightfoot as Robert Neil Speaks with music journalist and historian Nicholas Jennings about his book ‘Lightfoot,’ the authorized biography of the legendary Canadian singer/songwriter. In the first of this three-part interview, Jennings talks about Lightfoot’s early career and his incredibly strong connection to Canada, where he is revered. Lightfoot’s friendships with Bob Dylan and Ronnie Hawkins are also mentioned. A video presentation of this episode is available on Robert Neil’s YouTube Channel (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuArgJm-6kaTVnILSic5lbQ)....
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His Era – Jazz Musician Ron Aprea’s Love of, and Success with, Big Bands
Robert Neil Speaks with...
Big Bands were on their way out when jazz musician Ron Aprea was ready to make his mark on the music scene. However, that didn’t deter the young saxophone player from embarking on a career in that genre. Without a doubt the New York native had talent. His sax playing and instincts were top rate, and eventually his ability to arrange and write charts would grab the attention of his peers. So, with all that talent and a deep love for big band music, Aprea doggedly became a successful part of the final era of the great big bands. Fittingly, his new autobiography is entitled...
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Album Review, Interview and Profile: A Look at British Superstar Cliff Richard and His New Album ‘Rise Up’ with an Interview with Two of the Album’s Producers
Robert Neil Speaks with...
British superstar Cliff Richard has released his first album of new material in 14 years, and the man who launched his career in the late 1950s as England’s answer to Elvis Presley, still sounds fresh and energetic. The album features songs written by some of Richard’s long-time associates, including Terry Britten (“Devil Woman,” “What’s Love Got to Do with It”), Christopher Neville Eaton ("Lost in a Lonely World,” “Saviour’s Day”) and Chris Neil (“All I Need Is A Miracle”). Additionally, long-time friend Olivia Newton-John sings a duet with Richard, who,...
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An Alternate Christmas Playlist: A Look at Underplayed Songs and Their Histories
Robert Neil Speaks with...
One of the true joys of Christmas is music, which brings out the emotions of the season; however, many radio stations and streaming services only play a small selection of songs. As a result, many wonderful tunes go unheard. This episode of Documenting Popular Music takes a look at 10 songs that are either unknown or underplayed in the United States at this time of year. The selections include songs from well-known American artists such as Bob Dylan, Kenny Loggins, John Denver, Herb Alpert and Simon & Garfunkel as well as legendary performers from other countries – Gordon Lightfoot...
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Album Review and Interview: A Jazz/Superhero Mashup from One of the Music Industry’s Most In-Demand Musicians
Robert Neil Speaks with...
If you’ve ever thought your favorite superhero theme songs would sound great as original jazz tunes, then pianist extraordinaire Randy Waldman has the new album you’ll need to add to your collection. Waldman is one of the music industry’s most successful and popular session players, and he’s been featured on songs and album from numerous top-selling artists such as Barbra Streisand, Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, Madonna, Olivia Newton-John, Kenny Rogers, Barry Manilow and many, many others. Waldman has taken his love for jazz and combined it with his love for comic book...
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Album Review: Paul Simon’s ‘In the Blue Light’
Robert Neil Speaks with...
The songwriter who could easily be considered America’s unofficial poet laureate has a new album in which he revisits past composition with new recordings and new interpretations. Paul Simon has been writing the soundtrack to multiple generations’ lives since the 1960s, when he and childhood friend Art Garfunkel took folk-rock music to new heights of popularity. Simon’s subsequent solo career allowed him to continue growing as a writer, musician and performer who produced some of the most critically acclaimed albums and songs from the 1970s and 1980s. For his new album, entitled In the...
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Things You Didn’t Know about Debby Boone – An Interview and Music-History Lesson
Robert Neil Speaks with...
(This version of the episode is presented in its entirety and runs about 37 minutes; however, for listeners who prefer shorter episodes, the program is also available in Part I and Part II editions, which each run about 20 minutes. Please check the menu for all episodes of ‘Documenting Popular Music,’ or visit or iTunes.) In the 1970s, the most popular song of the decade was Debby Boone’s “You Light Up My Life,” which spend 10 weeks at the top of Billboard’s singles chart in 1977. While the overwhelming success of the song overshadows other aspects of Boone’s career, the...
info_outlineDocumenting Popular Music puts a spotlight on the thriving musical scene in Alabama and the city of Birmingham, where musician Scott McDavid was born and raised. McDavid’s journey is representative of numerous other musicians who work under some anonymity, but who have been vital to the creation, maintenance and spread of popular music in America.
McDavid’s career began in his hometown, where he played with a number of local bands, including KD Ryzer, a very popular regional group. He later joined former members of the group Hotel (“You’ll Love Again” 1978) as part of 1980s band Split the Dark (“Always a Chance” 1986).
In Part I of this feature, McDavid talks about some of the highlights of his Birmingham career, including winning the MTV Basement Tapes Contest with Split the Dark. He also discusses his work with jazz guitarist Eric Essix and his band.
In Part II of this feature, McDavid reveals why his respect and admiration for the legendary Chuck Berry didn’t match the difficult task of actually working for the rock and roll great. McDavid also discusses his award winning work in scoring documentaries and independent films. Additionally, he talks about the process of making his newest single, “The Lady in Black (Just Let Me Dance),” which features singer Stephanie Love. The show concludes with his recollections of Birmingham’s music scene.
You can learn more about McDavid at his website, www.ScottMcDavid.com and you can watch the music video for his new song at his YouTube page.