Radio Richard | Richard Niles Podcast

HB BARNUM Interview

Legendary Arranger/Producer H.B.Barnum has been successful in every decade since the 1950s. Although working for the FBI (!), he became a singer in doo-wop groups the Dootones and the Robins, also working as an A&R man. The multi-instrumentalist decided to concentrate on music when he had a hit with “Pink Shoelaces” (Dodie Stevens). He arranged for Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr. and Dean Martin, Motown – The Supremes, Jackson 5, Stevie Wonder, The Temptations, Smoky Robinson “Shop Around”. He arranged both Lou Rawls’ and Gladys Knight’s versions of “Help Me Make It Through The Night” – and Ann Margaret, Barry White, P Diddy and Phil Collins. He also arranged for Count Basie, Stan Kenton and Duke Ellington. He was Musical Director for Aretha Franklin for 40 years.

All this from a man who told me he “never wanted to be a musician”. 

Enjoy this rare 2006 interview in HB’s noisy office. This is killer stuff and you only get this with Radio Richard.
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#hbbarnum #richardniles #radiorichard #franksinatra #sammydavisjr #deanmartin #motown #thesupremes #jackson5 #steviewonder #thetemptations #smokyrobinson #lourawls #gladysknight #annmargaret #barrywhite #pdiddy #philcollins #podcast #interviews #music #musicresearch #musiceducation #artistdevelopment #composition #performance #podbean​ #educational​

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RAY RUSSELL Interview

Ray is well respected both as a top studio guitarist and a jazz player working with a host of stars from pop and rock (David Bowie, Phil Collins, Art Garfunkel, Lulu, George Martin, Heaven 17, Paul McCartney, Robert Plant, Phil Spector, Scott Walker, Andy Williams and Tina Turner), as well as jazz (Mo Foster, Anthony Jackson, Gary Moore, Simon Phillips, John Barry, Gil Evans, Michael Gibbs and RMS). He is also a composer well-known for his work on shows such as  A Touch of Frost, Bergerac, Plain Jane, A Bit of a Do, Rich Tea and Sympathy, The Inspector Alleyn Mysteries, Dangerfield and Grafters. He was the guitarist in the successful Rock Follies TV series.

Enjoy a trip through 50 years of music history with rockin’ Ray Russell!

This is killer stuff and you only get this with Radio Richard.
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#rayrussel​ #richardniles​ #radiorichard #musicinterviews​ #davidbowie #phil Collins #artgarfunkel  #lulu #georgemartin #heaven17 #paulmccartney #robertplant #philspector #scottwalker #andywilliams #tinaturner #jazzguitarist #jazz​ #composer #arranger​ #interviews​ #podcasts​ #music​ #podcasting​ #podbean​ #educational​

Radio Richard Theme ©Niles Smiles Music 2021 sung by Free Play Duo.

BLUE WEAVER Interview

Amen Corner. Fairweather. The Strawbs. Mott The Hoople. Pet Shop Boys. The Bee Gees. The Strawbs again! The very nice (and Welsh) keyboardist, composer, producer BLUE WEAVER talks about his amazing career with stories about Jimi Hendrix, Keith Emerson and Rick Wakeman told in passing. Bleu shows you the working process of the professional musician from the inside. This is the guy who helped the Bee Gees create their new sound on records like  “Jive Talking” , “You Should Be Dancing” and “Night Fever” And he explains how he produced the new STRAWBS album.

Don’t miss any more great interviews!
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Radio Richard Theme ©2021 Niles Smiles Music (BMI) sung by Free Play Duo.

AL Di MEOLA Interview and Performance

Award winning guitar virtuoso Al Di Meola visited my home studio for an interview that will be a special treat to guitarists and music lovers. He spoke about how he developed his music, his explorations in sound and his love of Latin music. He also played two beautiful pieces from his (then) new album Flesh on Flesh (2002) live on acoustic guitar. [There is also an amusing moment when we talk of the amazing new development – SATTELITE RADIO!]

This is a unique masterclass from a monster musician and all ‘round nice guy.

This is killer stuff and you only get this with Radio Richard.
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#aldimeola​ #richardniles​ #radiorichard #musicinterviews​ #jazzguitarist #jazz​ #arranger​ #interviews​ #podcasts​ #music​ #podcasting​ #podbean​ #educational​

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MICHAEL GIBBS Interview 1

Michael Gibbs is one of the most innovative composers in jazz working with Gary Burton, Joni Mitchell, Pat Metheny, John McLaughlin, Whitney Houston, George Martin, Elton John, Sting, Peter Gabriel and John Scofield. He was my composition teacher at the Berklee College of Music (1974-5) and I played in his band (which I named) The Only Chrome Waterfall Orchestra. He is interviewed and his music analyzed  in my book “The Invisible Artist”. I cannot say that his work is influential because his style so unique it is virtually impossible to copy. He is a wonderfully charming fellow, so enjoy our conversation at my studio in London (2010). The studio was in the garden, so the birds you hear were real, not samples.

 

This is killer stuff and you only get this with Radio Richard.
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#michaelgibbs​ #richardniles​ #radiorichard #musicinterviews​ #jazzcomposer #garyburton #jonimitchell #patmetheny #johnmclaughlin #whitneyhouston #georgemartin #eltonjohn #sting #petergabriel #johnscofield #jazz​ #arranger​ #interviews​ #podcasts​ #music​ #podcasting​ #podbean​ #educational​

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JOHN THIRKELL Interview

What a pleasure to introduce you to my friend and colleague for over 40 years, JOHN THIRKELL. Here comes TRUMPET WOW!!!

Why ‘wow’?

Pop: Bruno Mars, David Bowie, George Michael, Pet Shop Boys, Jamiroquoi, Swing Out Sister, Tina Turner, Clapton, Bon Jovi, Phill Collins… Jazz: Ray Charles, Buddy Rich, Phil Collins, “Through the 1980s and early 1990s he was on at least one album in the UK Charts continuously, without a break, for over 13 years. In 2009 he had two consecutive UK No.1 singles (Pixie Lott) was the first person to be inducted into the Musician's Union "Hall of Fame." In 2020 he scored his 25th No.1 (BTS)”

And at the end, we play a beautiful version of “Secret Love” (Fain Webster) ©Alfred Music Publishing

This is killer stuff and you only get this with Radio Richard.
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#johnthirkell​ #richardniles​ #radiorichard #musicinterviews​ #trumpeter #pop #brunomars #davidbowie #georgemichael #petshopboys #jamiroquai #swingoutsister #tinaturner #ericclapton #bonjovi #philcollins #rayrcharles #buddyrich #jazz​ #arranger​ #interviews​ #podcasts​ #music​ #podcasting​ #podbean​ #educational​

 

Radio Richard Theme ©2021 Niles Smiles Music sung by Free Play Duo.

JIMMIE HASKELL Interview - Part 2

I’ve never met anyone who I instantly liked as much as Jimmie Haskell. You can tell from the way we’re joking around in this 2002 interview that there was an instant rapport. In my book, “The Invisible Artist” I refer to his “gentle, understated sense of humor”. I ‘got’ him and he liked that I ‘got’ him. And respected him.

Haskell was successful as an arranger and producer from the late 1950’s starting out with Ricky Nelson to working with artists such as Sheryl Crow. His impressive credits include work with Steely Dan, Barbra Streisand, Blondie, Elvis Presley, Tina Turner, Simon & Garfunkel (a Grammy for “Bridge Over Troubled Water”), The Bee Gees, Chicago (another Grammy for “If You Leave Me Now”), Bobbie Gentry (yet another Grammy for “Ballad of Billie Jo”), Bobby Darin, Crosby Stills & Nash, The Doobie Brothers, Jose Feliciano, Laura Nyro, Gladys Knight, Barry Manilow and Michael Jackson. The stats: Grammy Awards (3), Emmy Awards (1 and 4 nominations), composer for 31 feature films, 32 TV movies and 445 TV episodes. Arranger and/or producer for more than 132 gold and platinum hits.

This 2nd Part continues talking about Bobbie Gentry and moves on to stories about Barry Manilow and Burt Bacharach. Haskell explains how his professional attitude and deep musicality enabled him to work on virtually any kind of music. As Arif Mardin told me, “If you’re looking for craft, you have to look to Jimmie Haskell.”

This is killer stuff and you only get this with Radio Richard.
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#jimmiehaskell​ #richardniles​ #radiorichard #musicinterviews​ #arranger​ #producer #rickynelson #sherylcrow #steelydan #barbrastreisand #blondie #elvis #elvispresley #tinaturner #simonandgarfunkel #thebeegees #chicago #bobbygentry #barrymanilow #burtbacharach #interviews​ #podcasts​ #music​ #podcasting​ #podbean​ #educational​

Radio Richard Theme ©Niles Smiles Music 2021 sung by Free Play Duo. End music ©Niles Smiles Music 2021

JIMMIE HASKELL Interview - Part 1

I’ve never met anyone who I instantly liked as much as Jimmie Haskell. You can tell from the way we’re joking around in this 2002 interview that there was an instant rapport. In my book, “The Invisible Artist” I refer to his “gentle, understated sense of humor”. I ‘got’ him and he liked that I ‘got’ him. And respected him.

Haskell was successful as an arranger and producer from the late 1950’s starting out with Ricky Nelson to working with artists such as Sheryl Crow. His impressive credits include work with Steely Dan, Barbra Streisand, Blondie, Elvis Presley, Tina Turner, Simon & Garfunkel (a Grammy for “Bridge Over Troubled Water”), The Bee Gees, Chicago (another Grammy for “If You Leave Me Now”), Bobbie Gentry (yet another Grammy for “Ballad of Billie Jo”), Bobby Darin, Crosby Stills & Nash, The Doobie Brothers, Jose Feliciano, Laura Nyro, Gladys Knight, Barry Manilow and Michael Jackson. The stats: Grammy Awards (3), Emmy Awards (1 and 4 nominations), composer for 31 feature films, 32 TV movies and 445 TV episodes. Arranger and/or producer for more than 132 gold and platinum hits.

The 2nd Part continues talking about Bobbie Gentry and moves on to stories about Barry Manilow and Burt Bacharach. Haskell explains how his professional attitude and deep musicality enabled him to work on virtually any kind of music. As Arif Mardin told me, “If you’re looking for craft, you have to look to Jimmie Haskell.”

This is killer stuff and you only get this with Radio Richard.
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#jimmiehaskell​ #richardniles​ #radiorichard #musicinterviews​ #arranger​ #producer #rickynelson #sherylcrow #steelydan #barbrastreisand #blondie #elvis #elvispresley #tinaturner #simonandgarfunkel #thebeegees #chicago #interviews​ #podcasts​ #music​ #podcasting​ #podbean​ #educational​

 

Radio Richard Theme ©Niles Smiles Music 2021 sung by Free Play Duo. End music ©Niles Smiles Music 2021

History of Pop Arranging – Part 3

RR listeners will have heard interviews with Jerry Wexler and Arif Mardin and David Van De Pitte. But here’s part 3 of my BBC  series on the contribution of arrangers, to Motown, Stax, Muscle Shoals and more, putting it all in context. With excerpts of some great music the publishers will try to cut out! Listen, enjoy, subscribe. Part 4 next week!

This is killer stuff and you only get this with Radio Richard.
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#richardniles​ #radiorichard #musicinterviews​ #pop #poparrangers​ #arranger​ #interviews​ #podcasts​ #music​ #podcasting​ #podbean​ #educational​

SNAKE DAVIS Interview

A masterclass with acclaimed artist, ‘Snake’ Davis. He’s been a featured sax soloist with Ray Charles, Tom Jones, George Michael, M People, Tina Turner, Paul McCartney, Swing Out Sister Clive Griffin and the Pet Shop Boys. I’ve worked with him on many projects since 1987 when he joined BANDZILLA. He has had a constant solo career with his many bands and his “Classic Sax Solos” project. Snake talks about how he developed his uniquely ‘slithering’ trademark saxophone sound in this warm interview between two old friends and colleagues. More info at https://snakedavis.com/

This is killer stuff and you only get this with Radio Richard.
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Radio Richard Theme ©Niles Smiles Music 2021 sung by Free Play Duo.