Narada Michael Walden Live on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson 

Wow! I’ve seen hundreds of photos, loads of videos - I’ve never seen Narada  Michael Walden in an orange bowler. When was the last time I wore orange? InSync! From the first moment to the last, what a glorious, grateful, exuberant lovefest. Narada is as passionate, fun, inviting, and accessible as his music. 

We talked about his first paper drumkit at 5, how he watched, listened, and learned from his heroes. How the soul sounds of Detroit shaped him, how it’s all soul sounds. From his first band at 11 to the Mahavishnu Orchestra, which would change his life in all ways… adding prayer. mediation, service, and Narada to his name, gifted by his guru, Sri Chinmoy, thanks to John McLaughlin, and of course, the music, following in Billy Cobham’s big footsteps, touring with Jeff Beck, then recording Wired with him, writing “material” for the album, the full circle back to Beck a decade ago and the story behind their masterpiece version of Little Wing. Ah me! How playing transitioned to producing, inspired by Quincy Jones to service other artists, and the superstar women he championed to great heights - Aretha with their Grammy Song of The Year, Freeway of Love, Whitney with their 6 number one hits including their Grammy Winning Album of the Year, Mariah, with musical knowledge to match her musical chops. We talked our friend, Allee Willis, Keith Moon, Ringo, Jaco, Carlos, Sting, Trudy, Stevie, Marvin, Cissy, his last tour with Journey, and how his devotion to his wife and children brought him home. This very morning Narada was up at 6 readying his kids for school and then driving them there. This interview was held early so that he’d be home when they got home. Quite a man. Respect.

For a taste of what Narada himself is up to musically, check out his The More I Love My Life https://bfan.link/the-more-i-love-my-life with Sting, Carlos, and Stevie, I can’t stop listening!  It seems to so sum up this man of grace. 

And while you’re at it, watch this - and tear yourself away, if you can! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9UQbf_VoQI Perfection! Jeff, Narada, and Rhonda, do Jimi proud.

This is a man as comfortable with pop, soul, funk, rock, and blues as he is with fusion. Brilliant with them all. Loving and appreciating them all, and, as his audience, I’ll gratefully follow him to any of them. I loved every second in Narada’s most excellent company. Grateful girl!

Narada Michael Walden Live on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson 
Wednesday, 9/25/24, 1 pm PT, 4 pm ET
Streamed Live on my Facebook
Replay here:
https://bit.ly/3XYFsfJ

Narada Michael Walden Live On Game Changers With Vicki Abelson

My crush on William Katt began decades ago with the tumbling blonde spirals of Tommy Ross in Carrie, the close-cropped Sundance, to the shorter golden curls of Pippin… it wasn’t just the hair, of course… that face, the smile, his voice… the whole damn package. Like millions of other baby boomers, he had us swooning for years. How lovely to sit down with Bill, these almost 50 years later, to discover he’s still got that boyhood charm, mischievous sense of fun, with just a teeny touch of bad boy (note him playfully admonishing his wife when she sneaks into the “set.” And, the au courant platinum do, and facial hair he’s currently sporting still make him a handsome standout. That’s the trivial superficialities - but, what do you expect when you’re talking about a movie star heartthrob? Well, there is the laid-back, easy-going, real as-beans, straight-shooter, who was crazy fun to chat with and get his inside perspective on his parents, actors, Bill Williams  (Kit Carson) and Barbara Hale - loved to learn that she was also funny- Betty White funny, and inspired at least one woman to great professional heights, on Angie Dickenson, his first TV co-star, his passion for theatre, always, working with Bob Fosse, and Ben Vereen, Auditioning for George Lucas, to play Luke Skywalker with Kurt Russell as Hans Solo - doing a great job, instead being cast by Brian DePalma in his seminal work, Carrie, alongside his friend, and perhaps for a brief moment something more, Amy Irving, visited on the set by Steven Spielberg, perhaps where that all began, alongside beloved Nancy Allen (who is responsible for connecting me with Bill, making this conversation possible), John Travolta, Betty Buckley, Piper Laurie, Cissy Spacek-some great stories there, we talked about The Greatest American Hero, and the risk back then of going from film to TV, working with Robert Culp, and Connie Selleca,  House, and George Wendt, great Sci-Fi with The Man From Earth, why he no longer does theatre, does only good films for friends, like last years’ Pursuit with John Cusack and an upcoming film with Alfred Molina. We talked about music throughout his life, bands in high school, playing clubs later on, a pop hit, lots of musical theatre culminating with Pippin and Fosse, and a musical about and working with, Randy Newman, which his love for came out his pores when describing, to his current passion Jazz project.

William Katt is a Renaissance man. We already know he looks great in tights. 

What FUN!!!! 

Wiliam Katt Live on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson 
Wednesday, 10/2/24, 5 pm PT, 8 pm ET
Streamed Live on my Facebook
Replay here:
https://bit.ly/3Y9jGGa

Wiliam Katt Live On Game Changers With Vicki Abelson

Dee Wallace Live on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson 

Dee Wallace has been a literal life changer for me, let alone a game changer in the business of show and as a self-creation healer. We signed up for a session as soon as I got off the interweb tonight. I’ve been employing Dee’s techniques since first we met at Women Who Write in 2011. I got refresher courses every time she came back to the living room and the numerous times she’s guested on this show in its various incarnations. I realized today, looking back and listening to a couple of our past shows, that  I’ve manifested almost everything I was working on with her guidance. A couple of desires remain, so tomorrow I’ll resume in earnest the practice I’ve been somewhat lax with since I got happy. 

With close to 300 screen credits to her name, including The Howling, Cujo, 10, and most notably, her starring role in E.T. (I can’t NOT watch it when I see it’s on), Dee was more recently featured in the remake of Rob Zombie's Halloween, has made recurring appearances on 9 -1 -1, has  11 projects in post as I write, and another two dozen films and TV roles since last we met three years ago. Dee is indefatigable! Her countless television credits include starring roles in over twenty Movies of the Week and four hit television series, including Sons and Daughters, Grey's Anatomy, Cold Case, Without a Trace, Ghost Whisperer, a recurring role on My Name is Earl, and the Amazon young adult hit, Just Add Magic. We talked about pretty much none of them— other than a great story about E.T… Steven Speilberg, and Dee, using her tools and being in the moment. There’s also a great story about Cujo, Dee’s favorite role, and the film we’re gonna hunker down with tonight, armed with a little new knowledge. 

What we did focus on was how to manifest what we want. Dee helped a listener get clarity to move forward, once again helped direct me, offered hope on the impending election, and how each of us can strengthen the collective consciousness on a daily basis.  

The hour is ripe with gems of practical application. Dee shared how it’s worked and continues to, in her life… how the tools graced her with motherhood and now a beloved grandchild, and why she’s as busy as ever - not at all slowed by her age, or the state of the business. 

Dee conducts a live (call-in) internet radio show and offers monthly webinars on a variety of self-creation subjects. She invites us to join her with our questions.  She also conducts private sessions from her home by phone. For more info: https://iamdeewallace.com We’re in! 

I’ll be doing my Dee routine daily and shall report back with my progress. Suffice it to say my life is a world of better than it was when I met her. And, yeah, I’m saying she helped me manifest it. My gratitude abounds! 

Dee Wallace Live on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson 
Wednesday, 10/9/24, 5 pm PT, 8 pm ET
Streamed Live on my Facebook
Replay here:
https://bit.ly/3U707f1

Dee Wallace Live On Game Changers With Vicki Abelson

Dan Navarro Live on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson 

They say you can never go home- they didn’t have their old pal Dan Navarro on their show––took me right back to shared memories with Chloris Leachman in the living room, the Mets winning a 2015 playoff game at Dodger Stadium (unlike today), seeing Lori Lieberman at The Grammy Museum, Mike Finnegan at The Levitt Pavilion, NAMM hangs, my book launch, a 12 Step meeting, good food, a few of these here shows before and during the pandemic…  It’s always warm and comfy as if no time has passed. 

We touched on Dan’s early days, his creative parents, his famous cousin, Dave, a horrific family tragedy,  starting out on horns, finding his voice, literally, writing songs, being a singing waiter at The Great American Food & Beverage Company, with a host of others who found success, including  Eric Lowen, who would become his partner, and begin their relationship co-writing the iconic, We Belong, and selling it to Pat Benetar, before it came to have a life of its own, putting out 12 albums, touring for decades, also writing for the Bangles and others, before Lowen’s untimely death. Dan, through it all, also voiced TV shows, including The Family Guy and American Dad, still to this day, as well as over 100 commercials, sang in the films Happy Feet, two Ice Age pictures, Rio, The Lorax, to name just some. The secret to his success? Go for it. Persistence. The only answer is “Yes.” It’s worked pretty well for him. Dan told innumerable stories to exemplify his point. 

A man of service, Dan has served as SAG-AFTRA’s National Vice President of Recording Artists/Singers, and is still on the board, he is a Trustee of the AFM & SAG-AFTRA Intellectual Property Rights Distribution Fund, is a member of the Mechanical Licensing Collective’s Unclaimed Royalties Oversight Committee, and is on the board of the Artists rights alliance, and recently spoke before the House Judiciary Committee on AI, where, in solution, he has been quoted requesting, the 3 Cs: Consent, Credit, Compensation. 

Dan treated us to a passionate We Belong, and a gorgeous Rose In the WIndow, his collaboration with the late Preston Sturges from his latest album, Horizon Line. 

This time with Dan was heartwarming and soul-filling and will stay with me for a long time to come. Being in Dan’s good company is always inspiring, always fun, even if we are in the midst of our Mets/Dodgers rivalry. Go Mets! 

Dan Navarro Live on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson 
Wednesday, 10/16/24, 5 pm PT, 8 pm ET
Streamed Live on my Facebook
Replay here:
https://bit.ly/3Y3DiKq

Dan Navarro Live On Game Changers With Vicki Abelson

Post-election 2024 started out somber, weepy, and kind of hopeless for many of us. Thank goodness for my old pal, singer/songwriter/producer, Steve Postell. A long-time news junkie, he determined this day he was through. He pulled me and the rest of us out of the muck––back into the music, art, and the land of the living. 

We processed together a bit first and then shifted gears with Steve singing his My Parade, which perfectly spoke to his altered focus with an invitation for us to join him in acceptance, awareness, and gratitude of sorts. 
 He segued into great stories––his relationship with David Crosby and how Our House came to be, The Immediate Family, awaiting a possible Grammy nom this week for their amazing Denny Tedesco doc, how they came to be, and where they are now––when Steve first became aware of the section backing James Taylor, the moment that opened the door to the full circle back around with all of them––being compared to Jackson Browne to befriending and working with hiim––teen art class with Bob Dylan to coming thisclose to playing with him––producing and playing with so many of his heroes, and them playing with him––his current solo record deal, upcoming show, more Our House dates to come, Immediate Family dates as schedules permit… life is rich, life is good, even if we’re Walking Through These Blues––his spectacular song on his upcoming LP that he closed with. 

Steve and I go back to the heady days of the New York club scene in the 80s. I was booking the Rock 'N Roll Café on Bleeker Street, and Steve was fresh out of Pure Prairie League. I was RockStar struck. I booked him that day and have continued to for the past 35 + years wherever I went and whatever I did. When I had my book launch at The Federal in LA it was Steve’s Night Train Music Club I went to. As he always does, he put together a most kick-ass jam band. A rotation of the best players on the planet, some of whom comprise, with Steve, The Immediate Family. That’s another of Steve’s ongoing passion projects. 

I went into this evening a semi-paralyzed mess. I leave uplifted, reminded that friendships, music, work, fun, love, and service will see me through. Thanks, Steve! I trust you saved more than me this night. 

Steve Postell Live on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson 
Wednesday, 11/6/24, 5 pm PT, 8 pm ET
Streamed Live on my Facebook
Replay here:
https://bit.ly/4el9nU0

Steve Postell Live On Game Changers With Vicki Abelson

It turns out it’s not all about the bass when talking with my hero, iconic legend, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Inductee, Jack Casady, of Jefferson Airplane and Hot Tuna. We did a deep dive into Jack’s family history, which is documented back to 1600s America on one side. There’s Irish, there’s Jewish, smoked whitefish on Sunday mornings whilst being raised Protestant. There are stories aplenty of Jack’s father with whom he shared a passion for music and a complicated relationship. Jack found a banjo and a guitar in their attic, where his musical journey began. Jack shares the details, suffice it to say, his solid work ethic, intelligence, talent, and perhaps his penchant for alcohol took root here. Unlike his father, Jack got to live his passion, and got sober 34 years ago. Bravo, sir! He tells a most poignant tale with a prop of losing his father thisclose to a lovely milestone. One of many very moving moments shared today. 

Jack took us through his early musical influences and experiences, and a couple of non-musical ones like his paper route… he spoke of Danny Gatton, meeting Jorma,  how he went from guitar to bass, the invitation to join Jefferson Airplane, in my top 5 bands of all time, what that was for him creatively - those days, San Francisco, those people, Signe, Marty, Paul, then Grace, Skip, Spencer… and the lifestyle, going club to club, playing and supporting each other, The Dead, Big Brother, Jimi, and recording Voodoo Chile, and the impact Mitch Mitchell had on the music, Jimi, and on Jack. We talked The Filmore, West, and East, the special pull of New York, Woodstock, how that went down for Jack & Jorma, and the aftermath… Hot Tuna, how and why… he and Jorma and why it still works almost 60 years later… SVT, The Starship, KBC… teaching at  Fur Peace Ranch, and now virtually - you too can study with Jack! He played Somebody to Love on his signature Diana and almost made me cry, and, at my request, his iconic White Rabbit riff, in my top 5 songs of all time and the reason I picked up a bass 40 years ago. Speaking of Diana, Jack spoke of their life together and their fight to keep his wife alive after her cancer diagnosis. He was visibly overcome and still for a few moments when speaking of her passing over a decade ago. The bright side, he announced he’s betrothed to Debra Evans, who was part of Diana’s care team.  Lots of full-circle moments, Jack shares a birthday with my son, Harry. We’re all connected, aren’t we? 

This was a dream come true for this Airplane, Hot Tuna, loving, bass-playing wanna-be. One for the books. If someone had told me when I was a girl in Queens playing the grooves off Surrealistic Pillow that I would one day sit down with Jack (and Jorma), I would’ve wanted what they were having. I was probably already having it. And look at us now, all three, clean and sober. This old girl is grateful beyond words for this wondrous day with Jack. 

Jack Casady Live on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson 
Wednesday, 11/13/24, Noon PT, 3 pm ET
Streamed Live on my Facebook
Replay here:
https://bit.ly/4hOGeUs

Jack Casady 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

Bruce Vilanch Live on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson 

We were Live with 6x Emmy Winner, Bruce Vilanch, even though he only stakes genuine claim to 2 of them, he’s got 6. Well, he was awarded 6, he gave one to his mother, one to his manager, one to his business manager, and he’s got 2 in his possession. They all still count, Bruce. And they’re all deserved. This human has brought so much joy, and so much laughter to audiences around the globe for decades. 

Bruce has written for 24 Oscar broadcasts, was head writer for 14 of them, and collaborated with hosts such as Whoopi Goldberg, David Letterman, and Billy Crystal, we talked about all of those: fun with Whoopi, outsider Dave, magic with Billy, and the infamous Rob Lowe/ Snow White monologue, difficult Ellen, no surprise there, wildness with Jack Palance, apologies from James Franco, great stories, all! 

We talked the Hollywood Squares, which brought Bruce front and center - put him on camera, made him a celebrity, helped him land Hairspray and his star turn as Edna Turnblat on Broadway… how the show worked, great tales about Little Richard, Garth Brooks having the funny, Whoopi, again, John Davidson hosting and the adlib that brought the house down, or was it? 

Starting as a child actor, always funny, writing the funny for the Chicago Tribune, meeting Bette Midler, a relationship that has spanned 55 years and has been a game and life changer. Writing for Joan Rivers, Lily Tomlin, Robin Williams, Roseanne, Nathan Lane, and pretty much everyone else in Hollywood. 

The pandemic kept Bruce busy - his book, It Seemed Like a Bad Idea at the Time, drops March 4th and is available for pre-order now https://www.amazon.com/Seemed-Like-Bad-Idea-Time/dp/0914091921 he wrote the book for the Dolly Parton musical, Here You Come Again, which has enjoyed successful runs across the states and is currently readying a run in London’s West End. Bruce is featured in Studio One Forever, about America’s first iconic gay disco, streaming now on Prime. 

Bruce is everywhere and has done everything. Indefatigable and talented beyond compare, Bruce can get inside the head of just about anyone - be them and make them funny. Funnier. What a gift. He’s a treasure. I adore him and I’m damn grateful he never stops working. Do us all a continued favor, Bruce, stay busy!

Bruce Vilanch Live on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson 
Wednesday, 12/4/24, 5 PM PT, 8 PM ET
Streamed Live on my Facebook
Replay here:
https://bit.ly/3BdtJ4d

Bruce Vilanch Live On Game Changers With Vicki Abelson

Jimmy Vivino Live on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson 

It had been six long, 4 1/2 COVID years since last I sat down with my old friend, multi-instrumentalist, producer, composer, and long-time musical director for Conan O’Brien, Jimmy Vivino. It was like coming home. Almost the same age, we have many shared (unbeknownst to us at the time) memories of concerts at The Filmore East, Watkins Glen, the glory daze of the NY club scene, and a bounty of mutual friends. Talk about being in one’s comfort zone. 

Jimmy talked growing up in New Jersey, his carpenter trumpet-playing father, his talented brothers, Jerry and Floyd, and how they began and evolved - he talked Conan, Laura Nyro, Phoebe Snow, Donald Fagen, John Sebastian, Al Kooper,  Levon Helm, The Allman Brothers, Albert King, Tom Petty, Prince, Bruno Mars, Michael McDonald, Johnny Johnson, Hubert Sumlin,  Stevie Wonder, Muddy Waters, Pinetop Perkins, John Sebastian, The Dead, The Band, Harry Shearer, Paul Shaffer, whom he credits as his mentor, Leader of the Pack,  Broadway, Ronnie Spector, Felix Cavaliere, The Rascals, Frankie Valli, Slash, Sly Stone, The J. Geils Band, Elvis Costello, and the James Brown and Friends Set Fire To The Soul with Aretha, Robert Palmer, and Joe Cocker, that he orchestrated. Incredible stories all around, and this special is available on YouTube… wow - Snuff and I just watched it. Spectacular.

We talked about COVID and Jimmy joining Canned Heat, currently touring with them, and Bill Murray, as well as still doing shows with Will Lee and The Fab Faux. His first all-original album, Gonna Be 2 of Those Days, is due to drop in February, signed copies are available for pre-sale at jimmyvmusic.com He treated us to a track to close the show.

Life is busy, busy. busy… just the way Jimmy likes it. And so do we who follow and adore him. I so enjoyed every second of this. Jimmy needs to write a book and get all these stories down. He knows and has played with everyone. Such fun! 

Jimmy Vivino Live on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson 
Wednesday, 12/11/24, 5 PM PT, 8 PM ET
Streamed Live on my Facebook
Replay here:
https://bit.ly/49vuRwT

Jimmy Vivino Live On Game Changers With Vicki Abelson

Jim Beaver Live On Game Changers With Vicki Abelson

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Jimmy Vivino Live On Game Changers With Vicki Abelson

Game Changers with Vicki Abelson

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