The Top With Richie Phillips

This was a special thrill and honor to have this gentleman on here.  You know him from the number one country hits "I Don't Have To Be Me Til Monday", and "Sunshine" plus many others.  Time to catch up with this TOP TALENT to find out what he's doing down in Mississippi - you may be surprised to learn that he now is the author of the Mississippi state song- plus lots of other cool goings-on.   His newest album is MISSISSIPPI REUNION, but there are many others to choose from.  He hosts a huge podcast called "IN A MISSISSIPPI MINUTE" which is also repeated on talk radio shows throughout his state (in fact, he asked ME to be a guest on his!   But I digress.  Hope you enjoy this one... I certainly did. www.steveazar.com for more on this TOP TALENT  My website btw is www.hirerichie.com.   Thanks for listening, and thanks for the questions that were submitted!

Is it possible that there is a choir group that you can join with no experience and no need to even audition? Yes! It’s called ROCK VOICES! Plus you get to sing awesome music… Nate Altimari is my TOP TALENTED guest-Director of the Capital Region chapter.   This is such a great community service. I think you’ll enjoy the conversation.. If you’d like more information about the group.. Nate@rockvoices.com   BTW.. At the end of this podcast I also include a little ditty that was written  20 years ago… It’s called Dog Shampoo…TRUE STORY! And I did this live on the air as part of my crazy job on WGNA ALBANY as part of the SEAN AND RICHIE show. Just a little bit of nostalgia…. My website btw is http://www.hirerichie.com. There’s old show photos, shots with some of the artists I had the pleasure of meeting and services I can provide for your next event …plus testimonials……   See ya next time…

Mark Pierre has always had at least one foot firmly planted in the country music genre for all the years I've known him (we used to be neighbors!) . Successful Investment adviser by day/ country singer and songwriter by nite!  He has played for countless audiences in our area here in Upstate NY.    Mark has been chosen by show producer Kevin Richards, along with talented singer Jenna Sue and yours truly to perform at the "UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL RANDY TRAVIS SHOW" here at the Charles Woods Theatre in Glens Falls on 9/11/22. We are performing Randy's hits right in front of the man himself, as he is unable to for medical reasons.   You are probably listening to this after the fact, but I wanted to have a talk with him as I have already done with Jenna and Kevin. (those episodes are right below this one) .   We talk Randy, music in general, and a very interesting story how he actually pounded the pavement himself in Nashville and got VERY CLOSE to having one of his songs released.!

Jenna Sue is one of the artists, along with Mark Pierre and yours truly performing at a show we are doing honoring the great Randy Travis here in Glens Falls New York on 9/11. This was recorded right after a practice for our version of “I Told You So”…

My talk with Capital Region country radio legend KEVIN RICHARDS and his new venture …an UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL concert with RANDY TRAVIS and other famous 80’s and 90’s country artists to be named.  I also have an exciting role in this show… playing and  his hits right in front of him!   Gulp….

Not often do I get to interview an INTERVIEWER,EMMY AWARD-WINNING newscaster, journalist and author JOHN GRAY.   John is a veteran news anchor here in Albany NY on NEWS 10 ABC. When he's not covering the pressing events of the day, he's burning the midnite oil writing newspaper columns and books!  His Book CHASING CHRISTMAS in fact has been picked up to become a made for TV movie in fact.   All his books are available on Amazon.   And in his spare time (lol) he does charity work and works with his wife Courtney working with organizations to rescue (and sometimes adopt as their own) stray animals.  Both are my guests actually on the podcast.  (I also surprised him with a song rhyming his resume--) Please enjoy this episode!    https://www.news10.com/watch-live-news   https://www.amazon.com/s?k=john+gray+chasing&crid=2OJXU1MEXT7MD&sprefix=john+gray+chasing+%2Caps%2C91&ref=nb_sb_noss_2

Interesting discussion with another traveling tribute troubadour…His name is JOHN COZOLINO, and he fronts a BILLY JOEL tribute band called THE RIVER OF DREAMS TRIBUTE SHOW.  He is coming to our Capital Region area on April 1st, 2022.  You most certainly will be hearing this later…Big shoes to fill..or to pay tribute to.. to say the least. What is his background? How did he learn all of those incredible piano riffs?  And more importantly, does he have the same amount of motorcycles?   (Joke). Copyright restrictions prevent me from playing any clips, but you can get his schedule and hear them on YouTube or at https://www.riverofdreamstribute.com › ...SHOWS | River of Dreams Billy Joel Tribute

Talk about a PROJECT!  How would you like to be in charge of recreating the iconic sound of  superstar singer/songwriter Joni Mitchell?  Well , Singer, Songwriter KATIE PEARLMAN took on the challenge and the results are pretty darn impressive.  the JONI PROJECT is coming to Cohoes Music Hall here in the Albany area on April 2nd, and if you are getting to this after the fact, she will also be at Daryl’s House in Pawling, NY, the Great South Bay Festival in Patchogue NY and other gigs!   On facebook thejoniproject More info at Katiepearlman.com .  You can hear examples of THE JONI PROJECT  work here https://youtu.be/OAb09qAwubM and Katie’s own albums as well as her music from her duo THE BLESSED UNREST  are available on Apple Music, Spotify and other streaming services.   My website?  Glad you asked!  www.rhyminrichie.com. Parodies, testimonials and gig info for weddings and private parties…

This is my talk with L.I. husband and wife team Barbara and Ken Oranskywho pooled their TOP TALENTS and started their own INTERNET RADIO STATION-  called NY TALENT MEDIA.  Wow!  What a task to take on....   You have to give them credit!  They actually have 4 different genres that you can listen to!  We find out how they did all this, what their mission is, and how YOU as an independent struggling musician can FINALLY get your music heard in a format that really supports talent looking to get valuable exposure!   (I also threw in a little musical commentary at the end on a subject that I'm sure bugs you as much as Barbara, Ken and I --ANNOYING TELEMARKETER CALLS !    Their website is www.nytalentmedia.com to learn how you can submit your music . Mine is www.rhyminrichie.com     ENJOY, and please leave me a comment and subscribe!!  I appreciate it!!!

14 Year old pianist extraordinary PAUL BRAULT is my special guest on this episode. Not to be missed.Your definition of "great musician" may never be the same again...!

This was a particular thrill for me, having been interviewed on Bob Cudmore's hugely successful nite time radio show back in the early 80's on AM powerhouse, WGY radio in Schenectady, NY. (there's audio to prove it, as you will discover by listening.)  So I figured -what better way to bring full closure, and shake things up in my gastrointestinal tract at the same time than to nervously attempt to interview the master!   Bob is a legendary columnist, author and broadcaster-turned-podcaster.. His interesting show, the HISTORIANS can be found at www.bobcudmore.com or on SOUNDCLOUD.com.     If you are a radio groupie as I am and remember hearing him back then, you will enjoy this talk.  We discuss radio, some of his famous guests, his beginnings, college days and much more .      My website BTW is www.hirerichie.com   I'm on Facebook @richiephillips  Join my FB LIVE PIANO BARFLIES and it will let you know when the next live piano bar nite will take place.  I play your favs, and also include some home made parody

We continue the conversation and former cast members of the Sean and Richie morning show pop in to reminisce. The morning show (mullti-award winning, I might add) was on WGNA radio in Albany NY from 1999-2016.    Please refer to part one's show notes for more detail.

This episode is very very different in SO many ways.  For one, it's become a 2 parter, because once we got going there was no stopping. For the uninitiated, Sean was my partner for 17 years on radio station WGNA in Albany, NY, between 1999 and 2016.  We were the SEAN AND RICHIE SHOW, and  pretty much a #1 rated morning show for all that time -even winning a national CMA award!  Sean was in the "big chair", and I was cohost, sidekick, or however you want to categorize it.   But we had a big ensemble cast of characters along the way (back in radio's heyday when the business could afford such a thing), so my idea was to interview Sean and have these folks pop in as surprise guests.   If I listed all the things that went wrong here, your eyes would start to bleed from strain, so I will spare you.  But through the magic of editing, I think I got it under control.   Here is part 1 - ENJOY! (which you DEFINITELY will if you were a listener, and I hope my explanations throughout are enough for  if you were not... )

A quote from Apple Music best describes my next podcast guest "Playing modern country music with an undercurrent of rock and roll energy and a commitment to entertaining the crowd"   His talent and business savvy has really propelled him as a singer songwriter in Nashville.  He's written a number one hit for Randy Houser, co-written songs for Hootie and the Blowfish and others, and has several smash hits of his own - including the current hit. "Try Saying Goodbye",received an ASCAP Songwriting Award (no small accomplishment) and his song "Tonite Tonite" was the theme for NBC's Thurs Nite Football!     I had the privilege of meeting him back in the days during my co-hosting duties on the SEAN AND RICHIE SHOW on WGNA radio here in Albany NY .  He let me accompany him on piano live on the air, and it's one of my best memories.   I was very lucky to snag him for this podcast during the downtime he's experiencing along with the rest of us.      What keeps him busy?  What was it like playing in those bars in Nashvi

I absolutely LOVE having her on. Amazing talent--a super nice, humble and appreciative person.  We're lucky to have her here in the Capital Region of Upstate New York (although with her talent, she might not be here for too long! )   We talk music, the challenges of the business, and she debuts a new song that is DYNAMITE, and really personal - titled "18".  It's available on all the streaming platforms and she also has a lyric video on YouTube -- link here https://youtu.be/l7tpFn9WLWc We also surprised her with her number one fan....  I think you'll really enjoy this one...  Thanks to her manager Adrian for helping me set this all up..  My Facebook page is @richiephillips My email is Richie1077@gmail.com - if you would like to be on my mailing list to remind you of future podcasts, please shoot me yours!

“SHIRT MEETS MASK- IT’S A SHMASK!”.  That says it all.  A mask connected  to the shirt so your kids (or you)  don’t forget it or lose it!  BRILLIANT!    I happened to see the ad for this on Facebook and thought it was GENIUS. I contacted owner and mother of 3,  KARINE NISSIM , and we had a great chat about her inspiration (uh..3 kids...what do you  think?..DUH!)  They are also available for adults to order.     If this isn't "Shark Tank"material, I don't know what is, although she seems to be selling them like hot cakes on her own, especially in the NYC area- ever since she was on the Today Show with it.   I wanted to help in some small way here, because I just though it was so ingenious.   What a great holiday gift!  Please take a listen and share it..  BTW,  she was kind enough to offer 20% off by using the coupon code Richie20.  To see all the items, go to www.shmask.com    .

This was the audio from my first video podcast with a great, talented group of guys from the ELECTRIC CITY CHOROUS in Schenectady, NY.   Of course this was recorded during the ongoing pandemic, so there is no way to get them to harmonize in sync during a Zoom call, which was disconcerting, but we had a great conversation nonetheless.    How do you keep a chorous going when they're all disconnected like this?  We also get into the history of the group, their techniques, and at the end they tell you how you can get involved if by chance you would like to join.   Their website is http://www.electriccitychorous.net and they are @electriccitychorous on Facebook  My website, btw is http://www.hirerichie.com   I am @richiephillips on Facebook  This podcast is done on my own time and on my own dime.  If you would like to sponsor it, I would definitely welcome any help.  Please feel free to email me at Richie1077@gmail.com for details.

“With patience, persistence, passion, prayer and POSITIVITY, you can  achieve ANYTHING” (including hiking 46 area mountains!). Yep, she did that too!That’s Paula Fidalgo’s mantra!   So If you’re in a “funk” lately-be it from the result of the pandemic or anything else in your life right now..take a listen to this episode.  It runs a little long, but I kept it all in so you can hear her enthusiasm toward life.  Hopefully it will rub off.  You too might end up climbing 46 high peaks.  For more info, plus to view her own interviews, Pauls is  on Facebook and YouTube  @positivitywithpaula.     My contact info: richie1077@gmail.com www.hirerichie.com To hear latest song parodies...      @richiephillips on Facebook and YouTube

A fun 45 minute chat with old friend and TOP TALENT- musician, songwriter, and arranger EDDIE KILLGALLON.  We talk music, songwriting, how he made the move from the Albany area to Nashville way back when,  how “timing and preparation” helped, how George Strait propelled a song he co-wrote to the number one spot on the Country charts, his role with EDDIE MONTGOMERY OF MONTGOMERY GENTRY in light of the terrible tragedy claiming the life of Troy Gentry, and tons more.     He also gave me the EXCLUSIVE on a brand new song that I’m going to play a portion of.  Not to be missed.  Very very timely with a vitally  important message ..

In this one, we gather up several very talented educators to discuss changes to the teaching profession and survival strategies in the era of Covid-19.  We have two teachers from Albany's Capital Region - Jamie Pink and Tracy Trainor, a local guidance counselor, Lexie Phillips, and educator from Brooklyn, NY, and my niece, Jessica Lorenz.  There is also a little warning for all teachers put to music at the top of the episode  from yours truly...  Some of the discussions:   Recess- Will that go away?  How about the lunchroom?  Assembly programs?  Teaching styles - how will it change when you are instructing kids on Zoom vs face to face?  This and much more..   Also , if you go to my Facebook page @richiephillips - I have some clips of songs written by Jamie and Tracy's students in Jefferson Elementary and Menands School,   The third clip is from Lexie Phillips' school -Carroll Hill in Troy during my "Reading, Writing and Rhyming" songwriting program - something I did for over 20 years during my "stint" as a mo