What a smile! What a sweetheart! Oh yeah, Walfredo Reyes Jr. is also a spectacular drummer/percussionist. Seeing Wally in action last month killing it with Chicago, and then meeting him afterward clinched that he’s the trifecta. This time with him on Game Changers makes clear all three, even if he didn’t lift a stick or slap a cajón.

Wally brought his A+ game, treating us to stories about his musical royal family. From his maternal grandfather, his brilliant and accomplished father, Walfredo Reyes Sr., who played with Josephine Baker, Louie Bellson, Bobby Darin, Dionne Warwick, and Debbie Reynolds to name a few, and passed on the percussion/drummer whiz gene to his talented son, who also played with Debbie Reynolds, as well as Ricki Lee Jones, Richard Marx, Sergio Mendes, Smokey Robinson, Boz Scaggs… but we got the stories about his time with Santana, Traffic, then Steve Winwood, Lindsay Buckingham and how he got to Chicago, with a little help from his brother, Daniel, of the Zach Brown Band.

We talked Wally’s serendipitous twist with Chicago, this band he adores and has been a part of for 13 years - the woman he loves and met thanks to them, how the pandemic thwarted their wedding but not their marriage, their idyllic life off the beaten trail, Wally’s passion for all music, his influences, heroes, side projects, his amazing kids, and perhaps a few dreams he’s yet to live. I have no doubt he’ll manifest them. 

Wally’s career has run the gamut of every conceivable genre of music and he’s seemingly mastered them all. As he has the gift of grace, kindness, warmth, passion, enthusiasm, and genuine charm. 

My heartfelt apologies for being under the weather and careless setting up the Live––last week’s title still haunting the space, and after 4 hours of trying discovering there’s not a damn thing I can do about it. I owe Wally big time for this, and for that drum/percussion solo, he shares with Ray Yslas in the Chicago show. Wow. Just wow! 

Chicago tours 8 months of the year, please do yourself a favor and don’t miss them, and check out all the other cool stuff in Wally’s World. 

For all things Walfredo: walfredoreyesjr.com

I had such a great time with Wally! Come for the fun, stay for the inspiration. 

Walfredo Reyes Jr. Live on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson
Wed, March 29, 5 pm PT, 8 pm ET
Streamed Live on The Facebook
Replay here: 
https://bit.ly/3nuQdXk

Walfredo Reyes Jr. Live On Game Changers With Vicki Abelson

The Cowsills Live on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson

What’s better than sitting down with your old friend and childhood hero, Bob Cowsill? Being surprised when Paul and Susan Cowsill join him. Us. What fun!  The Cowsills  (Hair, The Rain, The Park, and Other Things, We Can Fly), currently out on The Happy Together Tour, are the real-life Partridge Family, upon whom the show was based. A fan since the 60s, they adorned my walls and turntable. I love them.

Bob Cowsill holds the distinction of having the most viewed video on my YouTube channel, over 203K views and counting, daily, years after its release. Bob's Women Who Write appearance, middling for the late, great Ed Asner, with incredible opener, James Morrison, of 24, was a KILLER! It was an instant classic, timeless, not to be missed!  It'll make you happy, happy, happy, as no doubt this 4th sitdown with the always ridiculously entertaining, funny man and the second with the lot of 'em will. 

We talked about their watching The Beatles on Ed Sullivan, and the impact they had on Bob and Bill, their first two failed record deals, some oddly named group, Simon & Garfunkel, who bested them. The third deal was the charm with The Rain, The Park & Other Things written for them. How Mom, Paul & Susan each joined the brothers. How Hair came to them, thank you, Carl Reiner...how pleasing their fans, whether on The Happy Together Tour, which they've opened for 11 years, or on The Flower Power cruise, which they do annually, is their primary purpose. They always play their hits and love doing so.

We talked about their new releases, Rhythm of the World, Global, and the upcoming The Cocaine Drain, and their long-awaited a cappella album. If you're lucky enough to catch one of their bi-monthly Cowsills gigs, you might get to hear Is Your Love Alive, or other previously unreleased gems. But you can bet you'll hear their classics and some great covers. They are now and have always been crowd pleasers, and that includes sitting down with them. They're open, fun, clearly love each other, and have infectious enthusiasm for what they do and life in general.

As always, whether at one of their shows or chatting, I had a ball. I trust you will, too.

The Cowsills Live on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson
Wednesday, 8/20/25, **2 PM PT, 5 PM ET**
Streamed Live on my FB & YouTube
http://bit.ly/3JpW8rB
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hcTbAcaLw1Q

The Cowsills LIVE on Game Changers with Vicki Abelson

Liberty DeVitto Live on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson

Sitting down with iconic Billy Joel drummer, Liberty DeVitto, after a too-long three-year hiatus was fantastical! Friends since the 80s, I never get enough of Lib’s stories and his spectacular storytelling. 

Hot off the heels of being a major player in the current HBO/MAX Billy Joel doc, And So It Goes, Lib caught us up and filled in the blanks. Over the course of five interviews spanning the last decade, pieces of the story have been uncovered; today, Liberty put them all together. How did Billy’s once fierce loyalty wane, replaced with a detached coldness? The reasons stated in the doc, only part of the story. We got the deets, including turning down George Martin in favor of his band, refusing a ride to McCartney’s 911 recording session when there wasn’t room for Lib in the car, and to an ill-shared secret spilled by Lib’s then wife to Billy’s then wife, Christie. Liberty’s sobriety sobering, and a joy killer to Billy. How the end came down without a word to their longtime bandmates, Russell Javors and Doug Stegmeyer, perhaps responsible for the latter’s demise. And how, sometime later, the same fate awaited Liberty. The truth about his lawsuit and why he fought. Elizabeth Weber, Billy’s first wife and manager’s support, and why she finally chose to speak up and set the record straight. Lib talked about his and Billy’s 15-year silence following their 30-year collaboration, their reconciliation, and their ongoing renewed friendship, as Billy faces serious health issues. 

We got the scoop on his meeting Beatles, Ringo and Paul, playing with them - full circle from their inspiring his life’s path. Karen Carpenter, Carly Simon, The Beach Boys, Phoebe Snow, Ronnie Spector, just a few he’s shared a studio and or a stage with. 

How, with Billy’s blessing, the original Billy Joel Band, Liberty, Richie Cannata (gratefully recovered from a life-threatening aortic dissection), and Russell Javors, carry on as The Lords of 52nd Street, and how his Slim Kings are amassing a huge following, dropping a new record, and readying to tour. He’s got a gorgeous wife, a happy marriage, four thriving daughters, and two grandchildren; he’s sober. Life is good! Mine’s better with Liberty in it. Adore the man! 

Liberty Devitto Live on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson
Wednesday, 8/27/25, 5 PM PT/ 8 PM ET
Streamed Live on my FB & YouTube
http://bit.ly/4mV01nn
https://www.youtube.com/live/9q2bOQD6ZuM

Liberty Devitto Live on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson

Bette Sussman Live on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson

Keyboardist, composer, musical director, Emmy winner, Bette Sussman, is a dear friend, a Scorpio almost twin sista, crazy talented, grows her food, cooks delectably, rocks hard, leans left, which is right, cares about humans and other living things… what more could you want in a person? 

What fun to talk about life, the day to day, how it’s changed, how we’ve changed, the passions that remain, new hobbies, new music… a gig next Tues, 9/16 doing the music of Burt Bacharat with loads of other brilliant musicians, and a just dropped yesterday doc about the vocalists and music behind Chaka Khan, you can catch Crafting The Sound on YouTube.

We dished the genius of Cissy Houston, Bette was her MD for five or so years, with a young backup singer named Whitney, who came into her own and took Bette with her in her heyday, for 11 plus years, before the fall, and segued with an intro from Marc Shaiman to 11 plus years with another Bette. Midler. Close with all of her musical collaborators, but especially this one, until a nasty fight in Vegas. Our Bette tells it, as well as the redemption and sweet closeness they again share, as recently as last week. Great story there. We hear about Cyndi, friends, but not so easy, and a really rough and awful end with Patti LuPone.   We talked about sessions, industrials, touring, and mutual friends Will Lee, Steve Ferrone, and Keb Mo. Bette’s played with loads more. I have little doubt we could have talked for another 1:45 and not gotten to all of them. 

Reminiscent of pre-pandemic days, I was so relaxed and cozy, it felt like we were sitting in Bette’s kitchen together. I could almost taste her perfect homegrown heirloom tomato and smell the sauce she cooked from its harvest. Next visit at Bette’s place, and we feast! Can’t wait!

Bette Sussman Live on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson
Wednesday, 9/10/25, 5 PM PT/ 8 PM ET
Streamed Live on my FB & YouTube
http://bit.ly/3VIud93
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TpXhSh3Ula8

Bette Sussman Live on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson

The Blues Magoos Peppy Castro Live on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson

There’s fun, and then there’s spending two hours with The Blues Magoos Peppy Castro! He’s lived a rockers’ life to covet and then some! The Who, Hendrix, Dylan, Jefferson Airplane, JOHN LENNON for Gd’s sake!  Stories, stories, stories, one better than the next. He drove a Beatle in a Beetle! Who can say that? 

Skipping school and playing the Night Owl in the village when he was 14. 14! When Jimi used to stop in and jam, when Bob would roam the streets with his guitar, when Richie Havens would just wander in… doing the Jack Benny Show with Henny Youngman and Morey Amsterdam firing schtick in the green room, doing The Smother’s Brother’s Comedy Hour with Tommy trying to join the band, touring with The Who and Herman’s Hermits and The Who were the middle act! 

An insane story about Micheal Botlon, about getting the role in the original production of Hair on Broadway, doing jingle after jingle - with one I’m still singing… we talked Phoebe Snow, Laura Branigan, Buzzy Linhardt, Jay & The Americans, The Turtles with beloved Howard Kaylan and Mark Volman, Tommy James, Lou Cristie, Joan Jett, on and on, and on! FAB! FAB! FAB! 

Forty years in the making - we could’ve screamed across the street at each other in the 80s. I did visit his penthouse once, but thought it was elsewhere. There may or may not have been a lotta pot involved. The antidote to today’s latest crazy… this thing right here. Just hit play. It’s the joy button. Promise! 

The Blues Magoos Peppy Castro Live on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson
Wednesday, 9/17/25, 5 PM PT/ 8 PM ET
Streamed Live on my FB & YouTube
Replay:
http://bit.ly/46d9CA0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MI5Mbp2uy8U&t=2169s

The Blues Magoos Peppy Castro Live on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson

Nestor Carbonell Live on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson

Nestor Carbonell has it all. A beautiful wife, great kids, a wildly successful career spanning three plus decades, which is hotter than ever, with two hit shows streaming (The Morning Show on Apple TV, and Pulse on Netflix), a brand new film in theatres (Motherland), a sparkling Emmy award (for Shōgun), his first feature about to be cast, an episode of Law & Order to direct, and a beard being grown for a greenlit new movie he’s soon to shoot. That’s just part of the story. What he also has in abundance is humility, accessibility, warmth, kindness, sweetness, and he’s hotter than ever to gaze upon, too. Those insanely dark-rimmed eyes, which he swears are natural, sans “paint” (my new favorite word for make-up), thank you, Nestor, are awfully fun to feast upon, too. He’s the whole enchilada, and I say that with all due respect, and the Harvard grad is due a lot!

We’ve been having a Nestor Carbonell film festival over here for the past week, and barely scratched the surface. Last night alone, we watched Motherland, also available to rent at home, The Dark Knight, which I hadn’t seen since it dropped, what a star-studded extravaganza that is, with a brilliant Heath Ledger in his final film, and, the latest episode of The Morning Show, where Nestor’s Yanko continues to evolve before our eyes, as does the show. Tonight we’ll get back to our Lost binge; we haven’t even gotten to Nestor’s run yet. I’m exhausted just watching the guy. How the hell does he manage it all? 

This conversation spoke to Nestor’s easy, self-effacing generosity of spirit. We touched on his parents, his background, early education, that crazy college, finding acting, how he broke in and through, the work, some tricks of his trade, meeting his bride of two decades, Shannon Kenny, her talents, can’t wait to read her All Is Not Lost (on order!), managing career and kids, the sacrifices, getting through the pandemic, how it’s changed him, the work, and the world, and, at each turn, he asked about me––quite a guy. 

As versatile and compelling as he is on screen, is as focused and charming as he is in life. Nestor’s an anomaly. The total package. If something’s missing, I missed it. How fun to keep watching and looking.  

Nestor Carbonell Live on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson
Wednesday, 10/1/25, 5 PM PT/ 8 PM ET
Streamed Live on my FB & YouTube
http://bit.ly/48cr1dw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NIWkX8ksNhk

Nestor Carbonell Live on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson

Billy Joel, John Fogerty, Bassist David Santos Kills Live on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson

I was so looking forward to catching up with bassist David Santos after almost 40 years. Insane in itself! The sit-down stunningly exceeded my expectations. What crazy fun!  David regaled us with story after story… starting with gigging for me on Bleecker Street, doing weddings, The Ringo AllStar Band, sans Ringo, with Billy Preston, Lou Gramm, Mark Farner, Felix Cavaliere, Liberty DeVito, Mark Rivera, Randy Bachman, and a backup singer named Wendy Moten who would change and share his life. They’re a rare rock n’ roll romance success story, today, 30+ years later.

David took us through his 3ish years with Billy Joel, how he got the gig, and how he lost it, 13 years with John Fogerty, how he got it and then lost it, Melissa Etheridge, 7 years, how it got it and lost it, Fleetwood Mac, 1 day, how he got it, lost it, 5 yrs with Crosby, Stills, & Nash, getting it, losing it - does there seem to be a pattern here... yup, hysterically summed up each time. Sure, it’s funny now, in retrospect, as David has great perspective, self-awareness, good humor, and humility. He’s amassed wisdom to add to his formidable talent, perseverance, and ambition. And he always lands bass up! Unlike me, who literally did an unintended mic drop. 

As was pointed out, this meaty conversation had comedy, drama, romance, intrigue, horror, heart, and life lessons galore. I could have talked to David all night and still have wanted more. 

And more, I’ll get. We have a face-to-face reunion in the reals with Wendy and Snuffy in Nashville coming up. Can you imagine the music those three could make? Don’t know if that’s on the menu, but do know we’ll be seeing Wendy at the Grand Ole Opry, and sharing great local eats! What a way to ring in my next year!

David Santos Live on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson
Wednesday, 10/8/25, 5 PM PT/ 8 PM ET
Streamed Live on my FB & YouTube
Links in the Comments
Replay here:
http://bit.ly/46TQ3M4 and here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DGNYDGbnpE4&t=3s

Bassist David Santos Live on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson

Brian Wilson Band's Rob Bonfiglio Live on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson

Tim Pierce cracked the YouTube code and is such a masterful teacher, after 15 years, I finally get it! So what if he’s a world renowned session guitarist who’s played on the Goo Goo Dolls’ Iris, which has over 5 billion streams, on Michael Jackson’s Black or White and his work was left intact, did 5 albums with Joe Cocker, Bon Jovi’s first hit single, toured with Rick Springfield for four years when he was the biggest rockstar on the planet… so what! The man has made the internet his oyster and managed to make it work for him to unheard of success. He lives every day his way, helping scores of musicians be better guitarists, and is educating me on how to finally thrive on YouTube! 

We talked Tim’s miraculous 42 marriage, years of sobriety, how he got started, the choices he made along the way bringing him to this day… his daily routine, his incredible focus, determination, intelliegence, and talent that’s brought him success beyond dreams without leaving his home, except when he chooses, all while being of service to others hungry for his tutelage, including my own Snuffy, a longtime hero of Tim’s. 

I’m so fired up to implement what he taught me about videos. I might borrow one of Snuff’s acoustics and tune into Tim’s beginner's classes, and try my long-taloned fingers on the strings for the first time in a gazillion years. Tim’s such a patient and gifted teacher I might strum out a tune or two. You could too. I’ll meet you here https://www.youtube.com/user/timpierceguitar

Tim Pierce on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson
Wednesday, 11/12/25, 5 PM PT/ 8 PM ET
Streaming Live on my FB & YouTube
FB Replay https://bit.ly/43VK20E
YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YoRm5iYnReo&t=1194s

How Tim Pierce Cracked the YouTube Code!

Jeff Bridges, her boyfriend, Jeff Beck, a fan boy, Roger Daltrey, the boy next door, and OJ & Nicole, her party guests. She can prove it. She’s got Polaroids of all of them, and so many more. They’re all in her new book, Tight Heads, available here at  allnight-menu.com just in time for the holidays. 

It was great to sit down and catch up with my pal, Candy Clark. We used to run around BC (before COVID)  and shared a bunch of Hollywood adventures, and bumped into each other at a concert or two. It’s been way too long and more Zoom than not since the whole pandemic thing. Candy never stopped making the scene; I’ve barely dipped a toe. Time to change that. And with whom better than this exuberant, energetic, indefatigable beauty? 

We talked Candy’s life change from Texas receptionist to New York model with $10 and a business card in her pocket. How she parlayed that to hooking up with American film royalty, an Academy Award nomination, co-starring with a rockstar, and partying with everybody, everywhere, all at once. 

Love this amazing woman who refuses to age or grow up. Thank God! Great stories, and she’s so damn easy on the eyes. 

Candy Clark on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson- SWEET! 
Wednesday, 11/19/25, 5 PM PT/ 8 PM ET
Streamed Live on my FB, YouTube & LinkedIn

Candy DISH!

The Voice Finalist Wendy Moten - After the Fall, Tells All!

From Pastor’s daughter to finalist on The Voice, with the fall seen ‘round the world… Wendy Moten’s story is one of courage, talent, stamina, resilience, faith, perseverance, good humor, grace, more talent, and loads of love. For her, and from her. 

Blessed to call Wendy and David Santos, her fiancé of over three decades (that’s a story!), dear friends, we went soup to nuts––the shy little girl who didn’t listen to music, prefers TV, wanted to be a lawyer, didn’t want to be a singer, still doesn’t listen to music, still loves TV, still isn’t into singing except when he’s onstage, believes in fate, has repeatedly dared to walk through terrifying doors, lept when opportunities knocked, always trusts that everything is going to be alright, even when she’s standing on national TV with a broken arm, a fractured wrist, and three weeks of competition ahead of her before she can get fixed… what a woman! What a star! 

We talked about her first huge tour with Michael Bolton, her record deal, and the three albums that didn’t quite take her where she deserved to be… years dueting on world stages with Julio Iglesias, years touring with Tim McGraw and Faith Hill, Martina McBride, Vince Gill, the pandemic, COVID, deciding to secretly submit for The Voice and the trip that was… the whole trip! Emerging out front, Wendy Moten, star of the Grand Ole Opry, featured weekly with The Time Jumpers, the newest inductee in the Memphis Music Hall of Fame… success at every turn… with just one ingredient of the secret sauce still eluding her. I have NO doubt it’s soon to come. Very soon. You can just feel it. 

I love this woman! I love to listen to her, watch her, talk with her, and know her sweet heart and warm soul. As amazing as her life has been, as Tony said, the best is yet to come!  
Wendy Moten, Finalist on The Voice, Tells All! 
On Game Changers With Vicki Abelson
Wednesday, 12/3/25, 5 PM PT/ 8 PM ET
Streamed Live on my FB, YouTube & LinkedIn
https://bit.ly/4iybhnY
https://youtube.com/live/1Sttttjzaok

The Voice Finalist Wendy Moten - After the Fall, Tells All!

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

Walfredo Reyes Jr. Live On Game Changers With Vicki Abelson

Game Changers with Vicki Abelson

Related tracks