Jorma Kaukonen Live on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson 

Let your fingers do the running to the play button. Please! One of the greatest, funnest, most illuminating conversations I’ve had the privilege to share, Jorma Kaukonen, iconic legend, musical hero, rock god, (I mean, come on!) exceeded all expectations and then some. 

From early days in Pakistan with one pop 45 to Ricky Nelson, and Buddy Holly, 15-year-old returning expat Jorma, took up guitar and soon was in his first band, The Triumphs, with bandmate, Jack Casady, still his bandmate and best friend today, 65+ years later. Beyond amazing. And the fact that they were rehearsing moments before Jorma and I went Live blows my mind. A testament to their ongoing greatness. 

We talked about Antioch, and not exactly being encouraged to return. Janis, and The Typewriter Tape, San Francisco, Monterey, Hendrix, Jerry, Marty, Paul, Grace, and Jorma’s nickname that became Jefferson Airplane - his invite to Jack Casady. Psychedelia, Surrealistic Pillow, the making of––in my top 5, and it was made in less than two weeks! Woodstock - getting in and getting out and Grace Slick’s unforgettable - “Good Morning, People.” What was unforgettable for Jorma. Goosebumps for me. 

Hot Tuna, how and why it started and continues to flourish. Jorma and Jack! The recent end of Hot Tuna Electric - the why - simple - not totally undoable. The Book, Been So Long - chock full of golden nuggets like those shared here. Years of teaching and concerts culminating in The Fur Peace Ranch, now sold, but will be picking up in Jorma and Vanessa’s new locale. 

To keep up with the indefatigable Mr. Kaukonen  https://jormakaukonen.com

The cherry on top of this chat that seemed to fly by in an instant was Jorma indulging this rabid Airplane/Surrealistic Pillow fan, playing his Embryonic Journey, with a fab Jack sidebar (see the Live comments) and then a gorgeous, Take Your Time, for his daughter.

This is one for the books. I’ll cherish it always. Because Jorma’s so important to me it was important that I do right by him. So grateful it was so much fun. I’m gonna be smiling for a long time to come.

Jorma Kaukonen Live on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson 
Wednesday, 9/18/24, 5 pm PT, 8 pm ET
Streamed Live on my Facebook
Replay here:
https://bit.ly/3XowPt2

Jorma Kaukonen of Jefferson Airplane & Hot Tuna Live On Game Changers With Vicki Abelson

Foreigner guitarist Bruce Watson was having a better hair day, finished his crisp white shirt with a black jacket (I’d intended to do in kind with mine, but I was rushing and couldn’t get my cuffs through my sleeves), and surrounded himself with cool guitars and warm lights. Rockstar! I dig the cut of his jib. Almost as much as I appreciate how accessible, down-to-earth, humble, and lovely he is. Not a likely combination, but oh, so charming. And entertaining! What a great storyteller! 

Bruce took us through his extraordinary ancestry. The Watsons have been Valley Boys since the 1600s. Not! But they have been in America since then, in LA since the 1890s or so… likewise, his mother’s people, from Cork. Great story there - how and why they got here. 

We got the skinny on where the passion started - The Monkees - Hey Micky - and Creedance- the dream - to be a rockstar - his first band, Eragon, that no one, including me, could say correctly, covering The Eagles and Zeppelin - hysterical day jobs, great stories there, his first big gig touring with Toto’s Bobby Kimball, then Patty Smyth with Rod Stewart, then Rod hisself. Bruce, although not a “reader,” was getting lots of session work for film, TV, and commercials, one of which was producing a spot with B.B. King- what a poignant, moving story. Recording with a very young Christina Aguilera, her break out, What a Girl Wants, and just out of the box, Sara Bareilles’ Love Song, through Bennett Salvay meeting composer W.G.  Snuffy Walden, and giving them just what they needed for their Friday Night Lights, getting the call to fill in for an ill Mick Jones - a temp gig - Bruce was busy, enjoying session work, his home and his family, with no intention of touring - then getting extended… again and again… finally joining Mick and becoming a permanent member of Foreigner. The Rockstar young Bruce dreamt of being realized in full force and boy does he wear it well. A killer player, he’s got the hair, the moves, and the clothes, and I got him to tell us where he shops. I wanna hit the stores with him. It’s all about how he puts it together. 

Bruce Watson is all that… and a jumbo bag of Cheetos. Talent, looks, genuine sweetness, and fun. Rockers, please take note… you can reach the pinnacle, look amazing doing it, and still be a mensch. Be like Bruce!

Bruce Watson Live on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson 
Wednesday, 11/20/24, 5 PM PT, 8 PM ET
Streamed Live on my Facebook
Replay here:
https://bit.ly/48YTzp0

Bruce Watson Live On Game Changers With Vicki Abelson

Celebrity Maps to Success... people living their dream... the paths they took to get there

New tracks tagged #GuitarHero,