Funkatopia Live sits down with Martin Kember from AZ-1 and Color Me Badd. Stories of being on the charts in the 90's, BET awards, the influence of Prince, the challenges of Color Me Badd, and so much more.

Interview: Martin Kember

Soul Sisters Patti Henley and Brenda Lee Eager join Funkatopia Live to discuss the work with MLK, Jesse Jackson and Operation Breadbasket. Then we dig deep into their musical journey performing with legends like Stevie Wonder, Roberta Flack, Marvin Gaye, James Brown, Prince, and many more.

Soul Sisters - Brenda and Patti (Audio)

Saxophonist Eric Leeds returns (post World Series) to discuss baseball,  more details of his work with Prince, JamBrown, and his favorite artists and inspirations. He is also joined by St. Paul Peterson to discuss new work with LP, a 2021 release, memories of The Family (aka FDeluxe) and so much more.

Interview: Eric Leeds Returns with St. Paul Peterson (audio only)

Funkatopia Live sits down with the legendary Alan Leeds who has managed everyone from Prince, James Brown, Maxwell, D'Angelo, Raphael Saadiq and many others. The man has some great stories!

Interview: Alan Leeds

Liv Warfield sits down to discuss her new album Live at Cafe Wha?, a European tour, lessons from Prince, looking back on The Unexpected, how she handles stress and depression, and so much more.

Interview: Liv Warfield

Guitarist Mychael Gabriel (Sheila E, George Clinton, Snoop Dogg, & more) releases his brand new solo album Genesis EXCLUSIVELY on Funkatopia Live 2 days before it's Aug. 26th release. It's a full on album release listening party track by track. Hear the stories and inspiration behind every song and the creation of this INCREDIBLE album.

Genesis

Mychael Gabriel Genesis Album Release Party

Interview with Liv Warfield to discuss everything from working with Prince to her brand new album Edge and we listen to an exclusive world premiere of her new song Maybe They'll Take Ya Picture. Plus we are also joined by her guitarist Ryan Waters who has also performed and even toured with many acts including CeeLo Green, India Arie, Sade, and Fishbone. You can't miss this show.

We interview bassist phenom Nik West who shares stories about working with everyone from Prince to John Mayer. Stories of her tour, her journey and much more.

Interview: Nik West

We dish about great funk events happening around the world and entertainment news covering Sinead O'Connor's Estate vs. Trump, P Diddy vs. Everyone, Rihanna's $6 million show, purple news, and so much more.

Funkatopia Live Free 4 All

We sit down with a beautiful vocalist and muse, Marva King. Her voice has supported renowned artists including Prince, Michael Jackson, Lionel Richie, Stevie Wonder, George Duke, Stanley Clarke, George Howard, Phil Collins, Chaka Khan, Prince, Whitney Houston, Yolanda Adams, Patti LaBelle, Gladys Knight, Michael McDonald, Gap Band, Anita Baker, Ronald Isley, Mavis Staples, Jesse Johnson, and tons more. She's got some stories!

Interview - Marva King

Your latest dose of purple news. Construction near Paisley Park, the demolition of Chanhassen Cinema, Prince's birthday weekend, bowling with Mayte, and more!

05-22-2024 - Free 4 All - Purple PLUS

We discuss more purple news including new Celebration details, and a visit from Mayte. PLUS we unbox Andrea Swensson's new book (which doesn't make for great audio, but we did it!).

05-28-2024 Free 4 All with Mayte

We welcome a TREASURE TROVE of purple professionals for the ultimate Purple Rain Round Table with Jerome Benton, Craig Rice, Gilbert Davison, Hucky Austin, Damon Dickson, and surprise guest Alan Leeds. It's a wealth of purple stories on Purple Rain including deleted rape scenes, insanity at the Purple Rain premiere, money splurging, and tons of laughs and memories.

Purple Rain Panel - Jerome Benton, Hucky Austin, Craig Rice, Gilbert Davison, Damon D & Alan Leeds

We celebrate 40 years of Purple Rain on the day it was officially released. We're joined by Andrea Swensson (Prince and Purple Rain: 40 Years) and Duane Tudahl (Prince and the Purple Rain Era Studio Sessions, 1983-1984) to discuss all things Purple Rain including talking about each track on Prince's masterpiece.

Interview: Andrea Swensson And Duane Tudahl

Mr. Christopher sits down with Mark Cardenas from the Ice Cream Castle era of Morris Day and The Time. Mark was brought in with  Paul Peterson, and Rocky Harris (who would be replaced by Jerry Hubbard) to take the place of Monte Moir, and also Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis who got trapped in an Atlanta snow storm and missed a show. The new members found themselves at the center of the Purple Rain movie and The Time's biggest album Ice Cream Castle and here's Mark's story of how it all went down.

Interview: Mark Cardenas (The Time, Jesse Johnson)

We sit down with 15 year old guitar phenom Taj Farrant to discuss his journey from his viral worldwide appearance on Australia's Got Talent performing rock melodies and Prince's Purple Rain to sharing the stage with Kingfish, Buddy Guy, Carlos Santana, Orianthe, Kiss, and so many more. Here's his travels so far and what we can expect in the future with an upcoming new album on the way.

Interview: Taj Farrant

We sit down with St. Paul Peterson and Jerry Hubbard to discuss the 40th anniversary of The Time's Ice Cream Castle and share TONS of stories. We discuss how they were brought in to replace Monte Moir, and Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis who had just been fired from The Time by Prince. We reflect on the insanity of it all as Paul Peterson, Jerry Hubbard and Mark Cardenas were thrust into the spotlight to share the stage with Morris Day, Jesse Johnson, Jerome Benton, and Jellybean to complete the lineup. We'll discuss the shooting of Purple Rain, the album cover for Ice Cream Castle, and so many new purple stories as we look back at 40 years passed.

Interview: Paul Peterson and Jerry Hubbard (40 Years Of Ice Cream Castle)

Special announcements and music news (purple and otherwise)

Free 4 All - July 16, 2024

We sit down with the legendary guitarist Jesse Johnsons to discuss his time with Prince, Morris Day and The Time, D'Angelo, and new music. Tons of stories and guitar riffs.

Interview: Jesse Johnson

We sit down with the Queen of Funk, Dawn Silva whose illustrious career has spanned from Sly and the Family Stone and through George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic, to the Brides of Funkenstein to the Gap Band to her own solo journey that still funks to this day. Tune in for unbelievable stories of funk.

Interview - Dawn Silva, The Queen of Funk

Mr. Christopher and Michael Bland sit down with the Time Band featuring Jellybean Johnson, Monte Moir, Tori Ruffin, and Ricky Freeze Smith to discuss their history with Morris Day and the Time, their Masterclass, and plenty of behind the scenes stories.

Interview: The Time Band

Mr. Christopher and NPG legend Michael Bland welcome Eric Rogers of the Paisley 5 & Dime, an online purple auction house and community that specializes in Prince memorabilia and artifacts. We'll show and discuss some of the most rare items from Prince's long and storied career. 

09-30-2025 Purple Artifact Show

Mr. Christopher and Michael Bland sit down with Parliament Funkadelic's keyboardist Danny Bedrosian to discuss his new book covering P-Funk's 1975 where they dropped Chocolate City, Let's Take it to the Stage, and Mothership Connection. Then we reflect on the passing of D'Angelo and look back at his legacy. Then we close it up celebrating the 44th anniversary of Prince's Controversy released in 1981 and talk about the album track by track.

Danny Bedrosian - Prince's Controversy - D'Angelo

Mr. Christopher and Michael Bland discuss what the Prince Estate is planning to release. We also discuss the user wish list and expectations around releases and what they want to see. A very lively discussion filled with hopeful, but realistic banter. 

10-21-2025 - Free 4 All: What Do U Want From the Estate?

Mr. Christopher and Michael Bland welcome celebrated Prince and the revolution keyboardist Lisa Coleman,. We discuss her early days, Joining Prince's band, writing issues, problems on the road, the amazing Wendy and Lisa albums, and so much more. It's a purple-licious show, but with the focus on the ladies.

Interview: Lisa Coleman (Interview Only)

On the 4th day of November, we need a purple high. Join Mr. Christopher and Michael Bland as we discuss the Save the Date announcement from the Prince Estate for the 2026 Prince Celebration and what we might be able to expect, the Diamonds and Love bootleg drop, public feedback from the Purple Rain Broadway play, amusement parks, and much more.

11-04-2025 Free 4 All - 4th Day of November

Join Mr. Christopher and Michael Bland as they discuss the Grammy nominees, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees, bands that are still not inducted, and other random topics.

11-11-2025 Free 4 All

Join Mr. Christopher and a BUNCH of surprise special guests dropping in for the ultimate birthday bash featuring guests like Eric Leeds, St. Paul Peterson, Mayte, Shelby J., and the list goes on and on. 

11-18-2025 - Mr. Christopher's Birthday Bash

Join Mr. Christopher and NPG legend Michael Bland as they reflect on the life of Jellybean Johnson who recently transitioned. Also, a brief discussion on the remastering of Around the World in a Day and expectations and early reactions.

11-25-2025 - Jellybean Johnson Celebration

Join Mr. Christopher as he unboxes the Deluxe edition of Around the World in a Day alongside NPG drumming legend Michael Bland. It's a first-hand reaction as Mr. Christopher avoided reading or viewing all online reviews and unboxings to have a complete surprise. We also discuss Record Store Day and the Because Sound Matters Purple Rain vinyl release.

12-02-2025 - Around the World in a Day Unboxing

Join Mr. Christopher and NPG/Soul Asylum drummer Michael Bland as they discuss the 50th anniversary of Parliament's Mothership Connection, the 11th anniversary of D'Angelo's Black Messiah, and also chat about their first vinyl memory and first album bought with their money. Plus tons of other topics including what it must be like to be famous and under total scrutiny, overtone singing, and the magic of nostrils.

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