It is now mid-June, actually it is the day after father's day and we are just about 6 weeks away from Soulfest. For those who are not familiar with the event, Soulfest is a music festival that occurs every August in Gilford, New Hampshire at the Gunstock Mountain Resort. This year marks the festival's 25th anniversary and many artists who I totally enjoy will be performing there. Now Soulfest is a Christian festival and a great deal of the artists participating are of the type that the usual church goer would hear on such radio outlets as the K-Love system. Personally I have absolutely no interest in seeing those groups. I'm just not interested in what is commonly called praise and worship music, on the other hand though there is a fair amount of solo and band artists that really get my creative juices flowing. Let me give you a quick rundown of who it is that I am driving 6 hours to see. Honestly these are people that over the years I have come to regard as friends and colleagues and I truly respect the art that they are creating. Folks such as Courtney Reid, Rachel Taylor, Jim Trick, Dan Russell, Michael Pritzl of The Violet Burning & Jars Of Clay. Then there is Derri Daugherty & Steve Hindalong of The Choir, add to that Big Kettle Drum, Christopher Williams and P.W. Gopal, I'm sure that I have missed some but I don't have a full list in front of me right now. Besides the music the festival features a variety of speakers on a multitude of topics and then there is the scenery which is nothing short of breathtaking. One of the stages is called the Mountain Top Stage and is is just that. The stage is the front porch of the ski patrol shack, it is accessible by a 20 minute ski lift ride or an hour hike and serves as the festival's acoustic stage. For me the best stage is called the Mercy Street Stage, it is inside the ski chalet and is just a great room to hear excellent music. I had the privilege of acting as MC at this stage for a number of years. There are camping facilities available but at my age I tend to prefer a nice cool hotel room with a television at the end of the day to wind down with. This year the festival runs from August 3rd through the 5th with a special kickoff gig on August 2nd featuring Rachel Taylor, Dan Russell, The Violet Burning & Jars Of Clay. The web site for the event is www.thesoulfest.com. The web site gives a full rundown on who is playing when and on what stage. It also provides links to the individual artist and speakers web sites as well as recommendations at to where to stay.

It is now mid-April, Spring is in full sway, Easter has passed and the trees are beginning to bloom. It was in the Spring of 1968, 49 years ago that I did my very first radio show and now 49 years later I am still excited every time that I sit down behind the radio console and slip in the opening theme to "Rock N Soul Gospel". Each time I hear the opening notes of "Check It Out" by "After The Fire" I know that I have the opportunity to share some of the best rock n roll on the radio. This is an opportunity that I take very seriously and I am so very grateful that I still have the fire burning in my heart and soul to do just that. Lately I have been closing the show with an invitation to join me again the next time to hear the best rock n roll on the radio and I sincerely mean that. I am very careful about the choice of tunes that I give air time to. I don't want to pick songs that are disposable music or are the flavor of the week. I have said before that I want to paint a sonic tapestry that will touch someone's soul deep, deep down inside and will create in them a desire for beauty. Some of the new music that I have come across lately are absolutely amazing, albums by artists such as:"Celestial Fire", "Dave Perkins" and "The Power Triplets". As always the search continues for more and more great music to share with you guys, generically speaking of course. Be sure to tune in to 88.1fm & WCWP.org every Friday night at 9 and Sunday evening at 5. You'll be glad you did, I promise!!!

The month of February is drawing to a close and with it hopefully the coldest part of the winter season. Spring is on the horizon and with it the traditional renewing of life. Hopefully this coming March will snow free, I've had enough for a lifetime. Although my time of working for the US Post Office has come to an end, I am officially retired, my time with 88.1fm & WCWP.org is still going on as  strong as ever. Judging from the albums that I have acquired so far this year and the concerts that have come to the tri-state area so far it looks like 2017 is going to be a spectacular year for the world of the arts. With album releases from Rick Wakeman, Branches, Robert Randolph & the Family Band, Lowland Hum and others it seems that the winter lull is over and creativity is once more on the rise. I know for myself that I have a renewed vigor for playing great music on the radio and the hunt and search for new music to play on the radio show is in full swing once again. Upcoming concerts include appearances by Lowland Hum, Branches, The Choir, & The 77's. Once again as far as concerts are concerned the big boys play in places like Madison Square Garden or the soon to be reopened Nassau Coliseum, but for my money the real magic happens in the much smaller venues. The small clubs and bars as well as house concerts are the best places to see great live music. The Bitter End, The Mercury Lounge, The Rockwood Music Hall, All Angels Cafe are all perfect rooms for an evening of spectacular live music. The festival season is also just around the corner with events like SXSW and the Great South Bay Music Festival on the horizon. Be sure to join in the search for great art and never ever be content to settle for second best.

Every time that I look at a social media site these days all I see is people bemoaning 2016 as a horrible year. Now there were obviously a glut of celebrity/ media deaths last year but isn't that the same every year. When I look back as a radio disc jockey on the year 2016, I see a year filled with amazing new music, books and film. With new, at the time, releases from such diverse artists as Glass Hammer, The Last Bison, Mark Lettieri, Dave Beegle, Dusty Brown, Tom Conlon, Lights For Landing and many others the year was absolutely filled with amazing music. And to top it off I got to share it all on the radio. I found out earlier in the year that apparently I am the proud papa of the worlds oldest rock n roll radio show, that and $2.75 will get me on the subway in the city. I wouldn't have it any other way though, I have been doing radio since 1968 and I still get a rush every time I sit down in the studio to start a show. I am so looking forward to the upcoming year with all that it will artistically bring forth. Be sure to check out the film "Silence" when it goes into wide spread release on January 13th and though I don't have a tentative release date yet be on the lookout for new music from Bruce Cockburn. Also be sure to tune into "Rock N Soul Gospel" every Friday at 9pm & Sunday at 5pm, NY time, at 88.1fm & WCWP.org because as the kids these days are prone to say: "We will, we will rock you".

This weekend, October 14th & 16th marks the 35th anniversary of "Rock N Soul Gospel" on 88.1fm & WCWP.org. That's Friday night at 9pm and Sunday evening at 5pm. It amazes me that I have had the honor of doing this radio show for so long and I still get so pumped up every time I sit behind the console at the radio station. As I am writing this blog entry I am listening to the brand new release from the band Glass Hammer entitled "Valkyrie". We will be playing the album in its entirety on the Sunday show at about 6:30pm. It just might be the best album the band has ever done and since in my humble opinion they are one of the best bands out there that is no small feat. I have been going back and forth in my mind about how to approach this weekends shows, should I do a best of retrospective of the past 35 years or should I keep it fresh and current. I have decided to keep it current. Why should I live in the past when the future looks so bright. I know that I have said it before but it bears worth repeating. The music and artists that I play on "Rock N Soul Gospel" are creating some of the best rock n roll that I have ever heard and I have been listening to rock music for at least 60 years now and playing it on the radio for almost 49 years now. When I get to play music from artists like Glass Hammer, Kerosene Halo, Dave Bainbridge, Steve Lawson, Richie Furay, Jesse Lynch, The Last Bison, The Oh Hello's and so many others too numerous to mention, then I am one happy camper. There is just so much more to discover out there musically that it is an never ending quest to find the best tunes to play on the radio. Above all I thank GOD that I have the privilege of doing this show for these many years but also to the very talented Dan Cox for keeping me around and to Bill Mozer for giving me a shot at the station way back when. I couldn't ask for two better friends. Finally, at least for now, to you folks who read this blog and listen to the radio show, you guys are the best and obviously have extraordinary taste in music.

Well kids it's just about that time once again. In the United States Labor Day weekend is only a few days away and that is the unofficial end of the summer season here. It has been a great season for new music as well as live musical performances. Some of my favorite shows over the summer have been seeing Kerosene Halo and a week or so later David Mansfield with my old friend Phil Madeira at Dean & Tami's Fabulous Basement O' Sound. The radio show "Rock N Soul Gospel" will officially hit 35 years on the air at what is now officially called 88.1fm & WCWP.org. We are the public radio station located on the campus of LIU Post on the north shore of Long Island in New York. I have probably mentioned already that apparently we are the world's oldest rock n roll radio show on the air. That and $2.75 will get me on the subway in the city but the bragging rights are pretty cool anyway. I would love to be able to go for 40 years although this past week I have been thinking 50 years would be ever so much cooler. I am already playing music from the children of the artists who I featured when I first started the show. How much more awesome would it be to say I played their grandchildren too. Can I see myself doing this for another 15 years, you bet I can!!! With the quality of the music that is coming out these days it's almost a no brainer. In the almost 60 years that I have been listening to rock n roll and 48 years playing it on the radio, I can honestly say that I am more satisfied with the musical choices that I have now than ever before. and that includes the heyday of the famous British Invasion in the early '60's. Just this past weekend a friend from Illinois turned me on to a new band called Joseph, these three sisters are great. The musical hunt goes on and on for new tunes to turn you guys, generically speaking of course, on to. The thrill of the hunt never ends and I still never tire of it. be sure to check out the radio show every Friday from 9 till 11pm & Sunday from 5 till 9pm on 88.1& WCWP.org. Of course those are New York times.

I am sitting in Studio 2 at 88.1fm & WCWP.org and thinking about what song to play next on the radio show. For about the last few weeks during the day I have been listening to the albums on my MP3 player alphabetically by title. It is cool because I am never sure which album will come up next and I am hearing music that i haven't heard in a few years and it's all good. From Jeff Johnson to Steve Lawson to Dave Bainbridge to Rachel Taylor and on and on, the music just keeps getting  better and better. I listen to the radio quite a bit and I'm firmly convinced that the artists who make up the musical family of Rock N Soul Gospel are creating some of the best rock n roll ever heard. I will put my bands up against any group in the world and as the kids these days are prone to say, they'll kick ass and take names. I just found out earlier today the Richie Furay's daughter Jesse has an album coming out in a few weeks. I can honestly say that I have been waiting for this one for a few years now and am really anxious to get it on the air. Over the next few weeks I will get to see a number of concerts including Kerosene Halo, Mike Farris, Zach Williams & Yes. It is going to be a good summer for live music and to be honest I really need it. I find myself getting very frustrated over the lack of love for good art by those who call themselves Christians. I just don't get it. Enough griping though, the music that I listen to and get to share around the world through the radio show is just astonishing in its excellence and creativity. As my friend Bing Pan says I love my job!!! Be sure to check out "Rock N Soul Gospel" every Friday at 9pm & Sundays at 5pm, NY time of course.