CHUCK LEAVELL REVERED KEYBOARDIST WITH (THE ALLMAN BROTHERS/ROLLING STONES/GEORGE HARRISON/DAVID GILMOUR) SPECIAL GUEST ON INTERVIEWING THE LEGENDS WITH RAY SHASHO

 

Niche Productions and PalMar Studios

partners with Gravitas Ventures

Releases

“CHUCK LEAVELL:THE TREE MAN”

 Documentary

Special Guest

 on Interviewing the Legends

CHUCK LEAVELL INTERVIEW

CLICK BELOW 

TO LISTEN IN ITS ENTIRETY

Allen Farst, founder of Niche Productions, is thrilled to announce the signing of a distribution deal with Gravitas Ventures, a Red Arrow Studios Company, to release his latest film, “Chuck Leavell: The Tree Man,” a sterling documentary on the rock ‘n’ roll pianist/keyboardist often described as the “Fifth Rolling Stone. The film was released to several Video-On-Demand (VOD) outlets on December, 2020.

Directed by Farst, “Chuck Leavell: The Tree Man” provides an epic, in-depth look into Leavell’s life both on and off the stage. Leavell has played and toured with the Rolling Stones since 1982, and his status as rock royalty may be equaled only by his stature within the world of environmental forestry, where he previously has been named the National Tree Farmer of the Year in the United States. It’s this fascinating combination of passions, coupled with more than 80 gripping interviews from legendary musicians with a combined 58 Grammy Awards, that already has produced quite the buzz for the film.

The documentary captivated crowds last year at both the Macon Film Festival and Sedona International Film Festival, the latter of which recognized the film as the 2020 People’s Choice Award. “This is a MUST-SEE film for anyone who loves great music and great documentaries,” said Patrick Schweiss, Artistic Director of the Sedona International Film Festival. “Director Allen Farst has managed to capture the life of one of the great keyboard legends, Chuck Leavell, who has worked with all the greatest musicians…The Tree Man’ was a rousing hit at our festival, with audience members cheering and raving about the film!”

The documentary is full of star power, including interviews with Billy Bob Thornton, Mick Jagger, President Jimmy Carter, Eric Clapton, Keith Richards, Bonnie Raitt, Dickey Betts, Paul Shaffer, Chris Robinson, Charlie Daniels, Miranda Lambert, Charlie Watts, Bruce Hornsby, Juliann Lennon, Mike Mills, John Bell, Pat Monahan, Ronnie Wood, Warren Haynes, John Mayer, David Gilmour and more. 

CHUCK LEAVELL: 

THE TREE MAN

on [Blu-ray]

Chuck Leavell: The Tree Man is the cinematic documentary that explores the world's fascination with the greatest piano and keyboardist over the last 40 years. Follow Chuck's story as he divides his talent between music, forests and family.

Starring: Mick Jagger , Keith Richards , Charlie Watts and Ronnie Woods

Directed by: Allen Farst

The documentary is full of star power, including interviews with Billy Bob Thornton, Mick Jagger, President Jimmy Carter, Eric Clapton, Keith Richards, Bonnie Raitt, Dickey Betts, Paul Shaffer, Chris Robinson, Charlie Daniels, Miranda Lambert, Charlie Watts, Bruce Hornsby, Juliann Lennon, Mike Mills, John Bell, Pat Monahan, Ronnie Wood, Warren Haynes, John Mayer, David Gilmour and more.

Available to purchase at amazon.com

With capabilities of reaching more than 100 million homes in North America and nearly 1 billion homes worldwide, Gravitas Ventures is making this must-see movie available on several VOD platforms, including iTunes, Amazon, GooglePlay, VUDU and Playstation.

 

For more information

about

CHUCK LEAVELL

Visit

https://www.chuckleavell.com/

Official Website

https://www.facebook.com/ChuckLeavell/

Facebook

https://twitter.com/ChuckLeavell

Twitter

https://www.https//twitter.com/ChuckLeavellinstagram.com/chuck_leavell/

Discography

Solo albums

(1996) A Homemade Christmas from Charlane Plantation

(1998) What's in That Bag?

(2001) Forever Blue: Solo Piano

(2005) Southscape

(2007) Live in Germany: Green Leaves and Blue Notes Tour

(2012) Back to The Woods: A Tribute to the Pioneers of Blues Piano

(2018) Chuck Gets Big (with the Frankfurt Radio Big Band)

Alex Taylor

(1972) Dinnertime

Sailcat

(1972) Sailcat Self-titled

Gregg Allman

(1973) Laid Back

The Allman Brothers Band

(1973) Brothers and Sisters

(1975) Win, Lose or Draw

(1976) Wipe the Windows, Check the Oil, Dollar Gas

(1989) Dreams

Dickey Betts

(1974) Highway Call

Sea Level

(1977) Sea Level

(1977) Cats on the Coast

(1978) On the Edge

(1979) Long Walk on a Short Pier

(1980) Ball Room

(1997) Best of Sea Level

Duke Jupiter

(1978) Sweet Cheeks (producer)

The Rolling Stones

(1983) Undercover

(1984) Rewind (1971–1984)

(1986) Dirty Work

(1989) Steel Wheels

(1991) Flashpoint

(1993) Jump Back: The Best of The Rolling Stones

(1994) Voodoo Lounge

(1995) Stripped

(1998) No Security

(2002) Forty Licks

(2004) Live Licks

(2005) A Bigger Bang

(2005) Rarities 1971–2003

(2008) Shine a Light

(2012) Light the Fuse (a digital download through Google Music)

(2012) GRRR!

(2013) Hyde Park Live

(2015) From the Vault – Live at the Tokyo Dome

(2015) Sticky Fingers Live

(2015) Live at Leeds

(2016) Totally Stripped

(2016) Havana Moon

(2016) Blue & Lonesome

(2017) 'Sticky Fingers – Live At The Fonda Theatre 2015

(2018) San Jose '99

(2018) Voodoo Lounge Uncut

(2019) Bridges to Bremen

(2019) HONK

(2019) Bridges to Buenos Aires

(2020) Steel Wheels Live

The Black Crowes

(1990) Shake Your Money Maker

Eric Clapton

(1992) Unplugged

(1991) 24 Nights

Gov't Mule

(1998) Live... With a Little Help from Our Friends

Train

(2001) Drops of Jupiter

John Mayer

(2012) Born and Raised

(2013) Paradise Valley

David Gilmour

(2017) Live at Pompeii

George Harrison

(1992) Live in Japan

MY NEW BOOK IS FINALLY OUT!

ENTITLED

THE ROCK STAR CHRONICLES

SERIES ONE

CHRONICLES, TRUTHS, CONFESSIONS AND WISDOM FROM THE MUSIC LEGENDS THAT SET US FREE

 

…Order yours today on 

(collectors edition) Hardcover 

or E-book

 at bookbaby.com and amazon.com

Featuring over 45 intimate conversations with some of

the greatest rock legends the world will ever know.

CHRIS SQUIRE... DR. JOHN... GREG LAKE... HENRY MCCULLOUGH... JACK BRUCE … JOE LALA…  JOHNNY WINTER... KEITH EMERSON... PAUL KANTNER...  RAY THOMAS... RONNIE MONTROSE... TONY JOE WHITE... DAVID CLAYTON-THOMAS… MIKE LOVE... TOMMY ROE... BARRY HAY... CHRIS THOMPSON... JESSE COLIN YOUNG... JOHN KAY... JULIAN LENNON... MARK LINDSAY... MICKY DOLENZ… PETER RIVERA ...TOMMY JAMES… TODD RUNDGREN... DAVE MASON... EDGAR WINTER... FRANK MARINO... GREGG ROLIE... IAN ANDERSON... JIM “DANDY” MANGRUM... JON ANDERSON... LOU GRAMM... MICK BOX... RANDY BACHMAN… ROBIN TROWER...  ROGER FISHER... STEVE HACKETT... ANNIE HASLAM… ‘MELANIE’ SAFKA... PETULA CLARK... SUZI QUATRO... COLIN BLUNSTONE… DAVE DAVIES... JIM McCARTY... PETE BEST

THE ROCK STAR CHRONICLES

BOOK TRAILER

 

BOOK REVIEW

-By Literary Titan (5) STARS

The Rock Star Chronicles, by Ray Shasho, is a splendid book written by a music enthusiast who has poured their heart and soul into it. It’s a story of a boy who loved rock music, and his obsessive passion of it earned himself the name Rock Raymond. He went to school but instead was schooled in all matters of music while his peers were buried chin-deep in coursework. He then became a radio DJ and has now compiled a book on all interviews he held with Rock gods who raided the airwaves back in the 70s and 80s. It’s a compilation of interviews with outstanding vocalists, legendary guitarists and crazy drummers in the rock music scene. Each interview gives a reader an in-depth view into their personal lives and the philosophies that guide their lives which all serve to humanize these great icons. For readers who are old enough to call themselves baby boomers this book will bring old memories back to life. Millennials, on the other hand, may think of this book as a literal work of the Carpool Karaoke show. 

The Rock Star Chronicles is a book I didn’t know I was waiting for. To come across a book that will talk me into trying something new. One brave enough to incite me to venture into new frontiers. This book made me a believer- I am now a bona fide Rock and Roll music fan. 

Ray Shasho masterfully gets the interviewees talking. He smartly coaxes answers from them with crafty questions designed to get a story rolling out of them. The artists talk about diverse issues ranging from music, politics, and their social engagements. Having been on the music seen all his life, Ray Shasho knows the buttons to press, how to get them comfortable about talking about their lives. 

The book’s cover is befitting of its subject matter with the leather look offering a royal background to the golden letter print. It speaks to how high a level rock music holds in the pecking order- arguably, modern music as we know it has originated from blues and rock music.  The second noteworthy thing is the use of high-definition pictures to reference the musician being interviewed in every sub-chapter. This ensures that the book is for both original rock and roll lovers and aspiring new ones. Together is makes for a refreshing and consistently enjoyable read.

I recommend this book to rock music enthusiasts, aspiring musicians wondering what it takes and all readers curious to learn new things by going back in time.

 https://literarytitan.com/2020/05/03/literary-titan-book-awards-may-2020/   Gold Award Winner

ROLLING STONES SINGER BERNARD FOWLER TALKS STONES AND NEW SOLO ALBUM ON INTERVIEWING THE LEGENDS W/RAY SHASHO-BBS RADIO

B E R N A R D 

F O W L E R

SINGER with T H E  R O L L I N G  S T O N E S

RELEASES NEW SOLO ALBUM 

ENTITLED 

'I N S I D E   O U T'

with SPECIAL GUESTS

“It’s Rolling Stones songs deconstructed,” says Bernard Fowler, explaining the title of his new album Inside Out.  “I just took these songs and turned them inside-out.”

Bernard Fowler has another gig too: he’s sung and played percussion with the Rolling Stones, on stage and in the studio, since 1988.  At soundcheck somewhere along their 2015 Zip Code tour, he started riffing on a Stones song as dramatically delivered spoken-word — and the band dug it.  “Mick said, ‘Bernard, I’ve heard Rolling Stones songs done a lot of ways but never like this,’” Fowler recalls.  “I said, ‘Well, you know what?  When the tour is over, I’m going to cut it.’  And he said, ‘You should.’  That’s all I had to hear.  That was the green light.”

    And that’s how it came to be that one of rock and pop’s most sought-after singers doesn’t sing a note on his new record.

    Lots of people have celebrated Keith Richards’ iconic riffs, Mick Jagger’s trademark howl-and-strut, and the Rolling Stones’ blazing live show, but there’s never been such a thoughtful, soul-baring and thoroughly original appreciation of the band’s lyrics.  In order to do that, Fowler pared away the chord changes and even the melodies and left only the words, then declaimed them like the world’s coolest preacher atop slammin’ grooves powered by a who’s who of crackerjack players.  It’s not quite singing, but only a peerless vocalist could pull it off so powerfully, his incantations seething with righteous anger, foreboding and desire.   

    That strong feeling of back-in-the-day New York is where the autobiography comes in.  Growing up in New York City’s predominantly black and Puerto Rican Queens Bridge Projects, Fowler listened to a lot of funk and R&B.  Maybe that’s why Inside Out is laced with references to touchstones like James Brown (“Dancing with Mr. D”), War and the Chambers Brothers (“Time Waits for No One”), Curtis Mayfield (“Sister Morphine”) and any number of ‘70s funkateers.  And it just so happens that the first record Fowler’s dad ever gave him was 12 x 5 — the second album by up-and-coming British R&B combo the Rolling Stones.  

   

        The full-band tracks feature top-shelf players: long-time Stones bassist Darryl Jones, former Miles Davis drummer/producer Vince Wilburn, Jr., guitarist George Evans and pop/R&B session heavyweight Michael Bearden on piano.  Drummer Clayton Cameron, renowned as “the Brush Master,” added extra texture.  Then Fowler called in guitarist Ray Parker, Jr.  “He came over, plugged in and started playing,” says Fowler, “and I was screaming.  Everybody was screaming.  He was killing it.  Killing it.”  Listen for Parker’s work on “Time Waits for No One” and “Sister Morphine.”

    Inside Out demonstrates what cover versions are supposed to be: reinterpretations that are not only a vehicle for personal expression, but also put the material in a new light.  “People hear their favorite songs all the time — but sometimes they don’t really hear them,” Fowler says.  “This is a way to hear them all over again and appreciate them in a whole new way.”  But the beauty of Inside Out is that it provides an opportunity to appreciate Bernard Fowler in a whole new way too.

 — Michael Azerrad

B E R N A R D
F O W L E R


INSIDE OUT




available at amazon.com

For more information about Bernard Fowler visit …

http://bernardfowler.com/  
 …official site

https://www.facebook.com/Bernard-Fowler-53914170900/?ref=hl
   …Facebook

https://www.rollingstones.com/ 
  … Rolling Stones official website

ROLLING STONES SINGER

BERNARD FOWLER

SPECIAL GUEST

on INTERVIEWING THE LEGENDS

with RAY SHASHO

BBS RADIO

CLICK BELOW TO LISTEN

ROLLING STONES ON TOUR 2019

JUL ‘19

03     – FedEx Field Washington, DC   

07     – Gillette Stadium Foxboro, MA 

14     – Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans, LA    

19     – TIAA Bank Field Jacksonville, FL     

23     – Lincoln Financial Field Philadelphia, PA 

27     – NRG Stadium Houston, TX       

AUG ‘19

01     – MetLife Stadium East Rutherford, NJ

05     – MetLife Stadium East Rutherford, NJ

10     – Broncos Stadium at Mile High Denver, CO        

14     – CenturyLink Field Seattle, WA 

18     – Levi’s® Stadium Santa Clara, CA     

22     – The Rose Bowl Pasadena, CA  

26     – State Farm Stadium Glendale, AZ     

31     – Hard Rock Stadium Miami, FL

Recordings with The Rolling Stones 
and their solo projects

(1985) She's the Boss (Mick Jagger)

(1989) Steel Wheels (Rolling Stones)

(1991) Flashpoint (Rolling Stones)

(1992) Tribute to Charlie Parker with Strings (Charlie Watts)

(1992) Slide on This (Ronnie Wood)

(1992) Main Offender (Keith Richards)

(1993) Warm and Tender (Charlie Watts)

(1993) Slide on Live: Plugged in and Standing (Ronnie Wood)

(1993) Jump Back (Rolling Stones)

(1994) Voodoo Lounge (Rolling Stones)

(1995) Stripped (Rolling Stones)

(1996) Long Ago and Far Away (Charlie Watts)

(1997) Bridges to Babylon (Rolling Stones)

(1998) No Security (Rolling Stones)

(2000) Live and Eclectic (Ronnie Wood)

(2002) Forty Licks (Rolling Stones)

(2004) Live Licks (Rolling Stones)

(2005) A Bigger Bang (Rolling Stones)

(2005) Rarities 1971–2003 (Rolling Stones)

(2008) Shine a Light (Rolling Stones)

(2010) I Feel Like Playing (Ronnie Wood)

Please subscribe to my You Tube channel interviewing the legends with Ray Shasho for the very latest interviews …

It’s REAL NEWS!

And don’t forget to purchase a copy of my book entitled Check the Gs -the true story of an eclectic American family and their Wacky family business ... available now at amazon.com.

You’ll live it!!!

Have a great week everybody!

DAVID HUFF: FINDING JESUS IN ROCK AND ROLL-DAVID AND THE GIANTS

D  A  V  I  D

H   U   F   F

SINGER-SONGWRITER-MUSICIAN-PRODUCER

FINDING JESUS IN ROCK AND ROLL

'DAVID AND THE GIANTS'

After a newfound relationship with Jesus Christ in the summer of 1977, David and the Giants sought to change the very foundation of the group from the secular rock scene to a different style of Christian music. Through 1997 the original band and other musicians produced 17 inspiring contemporary Christian Rock albums.

David & The Giants was formed in 1964 when David Huff dropped out of Jones Junior College to follow his dream. Around 1965 David’s brothers Rayborn and Clayborn joined the group. Larry Papania and Bill Barnette were the first 2 drummers for D & G. Jerry Parker was the drummer from 1966 until he was replaced by Keith Thibodeaux in 1969. During the 1960’s and early 1970’s, David & The Giants [featuring Keith Thibodeaux and David’s brothers Clayborn and Rayborn] toured heavily as a secular Rock ‘n’ Roll band, sharing the stage and in the studio with such formidable acts such as: Styx, Chuck Berry, Cheech and Chong, Black Oak Arkansas ,Rod Stewart ,The Rolling Stones, and Stevie Wonder.
Playing secular music at colleges, high schools and clubs was the way of life for D&G. They were signed with Capitol Records, MGM Records, United Artist Records and CBS Records.

The first three Christian albums had more ballads and a pop-rock sound and included “Glory Hallelujah” and “Roll On”, later covered by Wayne Watson.  The original version of “Noah”, now a classic song and fan favorite recorded in 1978.  Gerald Hagan played piano during these early years, leaving the band in 1980. Owen Hale played drums on the first three D&G recordings until Keith Thibodeaux rejoined the group in 1979.
Heaven or Hell (1981) would continue their more rock roots sound making David & The Giants truly pioneers in the early days of Contemporary Christian music. In 1982 after signing with the Columbia Records’ Christian label – Priority Records the first release, entitled simply David & The Giants was widely distributed.
The next album, Riders In The Sky (1983) produced staples like:Step by Step,King of the Jews, Look at the People.Then three more albums; Inhabitants of the Rock (1984), Under Control (1985) and Magnificat (1987) released on the Myrrh Label produced several radio hits like:
I Am Persuaded,His Love Lifted Me Up.Why.I Can Depend On You.
Giant Records, a self- label of David’s was created in 1988 with Strangers To The Night the first release.
The 1980’s was finished out with R-U Gonna Stand Up (1989) which produced the still popular radio hit “Here’s My Heart”. Thanks to a mislabeled CD that was supposed to be from Soul II Soul, WNCI Program Director Dave Robbins from Columbus Ohio liked the song enough to put it on the air. WNCI received such positive response that it was added into regular rotation.

Keith Thibodeaux left the band after the recording of R-U Gonna Stand Up in the summer of 1989.
1990 issued in a new decade along with Distant Journey with Lance Huff, David’s son, on the drums to replace Keith. In 1991 Distant Journey was nominated for a Dove Award for “Rock Album of the Year“.
Other releases, Long Time Coming (1992) and Giant Hits (1993) in the early 1990’s had three hits:Stumbling Block to a Stepping Stone,I’m Still Rocking,Always on My Mind.
Since 2007, the David & The Giants original band members have been getting back together frequently for reunion concerts and produced the live album Still Rockin’ in 2014.

DAVID 

AND 

THE GIANTS


40TH 
ANNIVERSARY
THE BEST IS YET TO COME


AVAILABLE AT 
AMAZON.COM





For more information about David Huff and David & The Giants visit … www.davidhuff.com  
and www.facebook.com/davidandthegiants

Purchase …  2017: Live in Pearl David and the Giants (Giant) (David Huff, Clayborn Huff, Rayborn Huff, Keith Thibodeaux)  

Also … Still Rockin' (Live)Sep 9, 2014 by David & The Giants … 

available at amazon.com.

D   A   V   I   D

H   U   F   F

DAVID AND THE GIANTS

SPECIAL GUEST ON

INTERVIEWING THE LEGENDS

with RAY SHASHO

BBS RADIO

CLICK BELOW TO LISTEN

And don’t forget to purchase a copy of my book entitled Check the Gs -the true story of an eclectic American family and their Wacky family business

 ... available now at amazon.com. You’ll live it!!!

Have a great week everybody!