Dick Waterman (1935-2024) was a legendary promotor, manager, photographer and writer who’s importance in the world of blues music can’t be overstated. In the 1960s, he was a driving force in reviving the careers of blues masters including Mississippi John Hurt, Bukka White, Mississippi Fred McDowell, Skip James, Lightnin’ Hopkins and Son House (as …

Returning guest Mark Narmore is a songwriter, singer and musician best known for writing the number one country hit "That's What I Love About Sunday" for Craig Morgan and other hits like Shenandoah's "The Moon Over Georgia" and Blackhawk's "Like There Ain't No Yesterday" as well as cuts by Alabama, Brandy Clark, Reba McEntire and Josh Turner. Narmo…

George Jackson (March 12, 1945 - April 14, 2013) was a legendary songwriter who wrote many classic songs including “Old Time Rock and Roll” (Bob Seger), “Down Home Blues” (Z.Z. Hill), “One Bad Apple” (The Osmonds), “The Only Way Is Up” (Otis Clay) and “Get Involved” (George Soulé). Born in Mississippi, Jackson is known for his association with the …

Ron Eoff is a bass player who was born in Oregon and raised in Springdale, Arkansas. He was a member of the Cate Brothers who worked extensively with Levon Helm before joining forces with The Band when they reunited in the early 1980s. Since moving to Nashville in the late 1980s, Eoff has recorded or played live with Jo-El Sonnier, Tracy Nelson, De…

Gary Baker is a songwriter, musician and producer from Muscle Shoals, Alabama. Born in Niagara Falls, New York, he moved to Muscle Shoals to play with the LeBlanc Carr Band. In the 1980s he was a member of The Shooters with Walt Aldridge, Chalmers Davis, Barry Billings and Mike Dillon before launching the duo Baker & Myers with Frank J. Myers. Bake…

Cindy Richardson Walker and Marie Tomlinson Lewey are background vocalists from Muscle Shoals, Alabama. Collectively known as the Shoals Sisters, they can be heard on numerous recordings coming out of Muscle Shoals and Nashville. Collectively and separately they have sung on recordings by artists like Clarence Carter, Kris Kristofferson, Percy Sled…

Lenny LeBlanc is a Dove Award winning songwriter, singer and musician from Muscle Shoals, Alabama. He was born in Massachusetts and raised in Florida before following his friend Pete Carr to Muscle Shoals. Carr, by that time was the lead guitar player of the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section after a stint in the pre Allman Brothers band Hour Glass. LeBl…

Earl Peanutt Montgomery is a legendary songwriter and musician from Muscle Shoals, Alabama. He hails from a musical family that include brother Carl and sister Melba Montgomery. Peanutt was part of the group of musicians that established the Muscle Shoals recording scene in the early 1960s, playing on records by Arthur Alexander. He later became Ge…

Tom Bones Malone is one of the world’s most recognizable horn players and one of a precious few who can play a wide array of both brass and woodwind instruments. He appeared in the Blues Brothers movie as a member of the Blues Brothers Band and was seen on TV as a member of the house bands for Saturday Night Live Band and Late Night with David Lett…

Mac Gayden is an influential guitarist, songwriter and producer from Nashville, Tennessee. He was a member of the Nashville session players collectives Area Code 615 and Barefoot Jerry. His playing can be heard on records by Bob Dylan (Blonde On Blonde), Kris Kristofferson, Linda Ronstadt, Tracy Nelson, John Hiatt and J.J. Cale. That’s him playing …

Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee Spooner Oldham cut his teeth playing sessions and writing songs in Muscle Shoals before relocating to Memphis where he worked at American Sound Studio and continued his writing partnership with Dan Penn. Later he moved to Los Angeles where he worked with Bob Dylan, Linda Ronstadt and Neil Young. Oldham’s playing ca…

Doug MacLeod is an internationally acclaimed acoustic blues artist who was mentored by and cut his teeth with George Harmonica Smith, Pee Wee Crayton, Big Mama Thornton and Lowell Fulson. MacLeod is known for his first rate original songs steeped in the tradition of the blues and is considered a master of his craft. In his long career he has won se…

Tommy Talton is a guitarist, singer and songwriter who was a member of We The People before forming Cowboy that released four albums on Capricorn Records. He then launched a solo career that yielded a handful critically acclaimed albums including his latest one, Somewhere South Of Eden. He also recorded and performed with The Allman Brothers Band, …

Tommy Talton is a guitarist, singer and songwriter who was a member of We The People before forming Cowboy that released four albums on Capricorn Records. He then launched a solo career that yielded a handful critically acclaimed albums including his latest one, Somewhere South Of Eden. He also recorded and performed with The Allman Brothers Band, …

Will McFarlane is a guitarist from Muscle Shoals. He played guitar in Bonnie Raitt’s band in the second half of the seventies before joining the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section as lead guitar player in 1980. His playing can be heard on recordings by Bobby “Blue” Bland, Little Milton, Johnnie Taylor, Etta James, Candi Staton and Joss Stone. He also rel…

Doug Cox is a Canadian dobro player, music producer, educator and the artistic director and executive producer of the Vancouver Island MusicFest. He’s also hosted radio and TV shows and is heavily involved in the folk music scene. Doug is always encouraging interesting musical collaborations such as his Slide To Freedom albums that brought together…

Kelvin Holly is a guitar player from Muscle Shoals. He is a member of the The Decoys, The Amazing Rhythm Aces and Fathers & Sons and was also a member of Little Richard’s band and Pegi Young & The Survivors. He recorded with Gregg Allman, Bobby Blue Bland, Candi Staton, Paul Thorn, Bettye LaVette, Bonnie Bramlett and Jimmy Hall. The Crazy Chester R…

Russell Mefford is a singer and songwriter from Muscle Shoals. Russell is the leader of the Fiddleworms, one of Alabama’s greatest rock bands. He also plays with Johnny Rotten Cash and Yellowhammer and has collaborated with Muscle Shoals legends Donna Jean Godchaux, Donnie Fritts and Scott Boyer. Besides making music, he’s also a third generation j…

Michael Dinallo is a musician and producer that entered the national blues scene as a member of the Radio Kings. He went on and produced albums like Eddie Floyd’s Eddie Loves You So and Feel Like Going Home: The Songs Of Charlie Rich. He also records and tours with his wife Juliet Simmons Dinallo and regularly performs his Crooked Road Songs show i…

Paul Ossola is a bass player based in Nashville, Tennessee. He was a member of the Saturday Night Live Band and has recorded or performed with Levon Helm, Buddy Guy, G.E. Smith, Peter Wolf, Odetta, Hubert Sumlin, Bo Diddley, Buster Poindexter, Adam Sandler and many others. He played on Levon Helm’s Grammy winning album Ramble At The Ryman. The Craz…

Steve Herrman is a trumpet player based in Nashville, Tennessee. He has been a member of the Muscle Shoals Horns and has recorded or performed with Paul McCartney, Lyle Lovett, Buddy Guy, Delbert McClinton, Waylon Jennings, Kenny Chesney and many others. The Crazy Chester Radio Hour is created and hosted by record producer Andreas Werner. This epis…

Doug Moffet is saxophone player based in Nashville, Tennessee. He has been a member of the Muscle Shoals Horns and as recorded or performed with Paul McCartney, Willie Nelson, Larry Carlton, Vince Gill, Tony Bennett, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Randy Newman, Sheryl Crow and many others. The Crazy Chester Radio Hour is created and hosted by record producer Andr…

Edd Hurt is a freelance music writer based in Nashville, Tennessee. His articles have been published in No Depression, American Songwriter Magazine, the Village Voice, the Nashville Scene and many other publications. He also contributed heavily to the Mike Bloomfield biography The Rise and Fall of an American Guitar Hero. The Crazy Chester Radio Ho…

Steve Trash is an award winning entertainer, magician, environmentalist and musician. He recorded two albums of songs with eco-centric lyrics featuring contributions from some of Muscle Shoals’ finest musicians. He is also the creator of Steve Trash Science, a kids science show on public television. The Crazy Chester Radio Hour is created and hoste…

Will McFarlane is a guitarist from Muscle Shoals. He played guitar in Bonnie Raitt’s band in the second half of the seventies before joining the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section as lead guitar player in 1980. His playing can be heard on recordings by Bobby “Blue” Bland, Little Milton, Johnnie Taylor, Etta James, Candi Staton and Joss Stone. He also rel…

Charles Rose is the trombonist, arranger and leader of the Muscle Shoals Horns. He has recorded with everybody from James Brown to Bob Dylan and B.B. King to Paul McCartney. He is a member of Lyle Lovett’s Large Band and has toured with Elton John and John Denver. The Muscle Shoals Horns also released three albums as artists. The Crazy Chester Radi…

Brooks Forsyth is a singer, guitarist and songwriter from Boone, North Carolina. His music is steeped in the traditions of folk, bluegrass, country blues and jazz yet he adds an original twist to his delivery. Forsyth’s new album So Much Beyond Us was produced by Buzz Cason and is out now out on ArenA Recordings. The Crazy Chester Radio Hour is cre…

Billy Swan is a legendary artist, musician, songwriter and producer. He had a worldwide hit with “I Can Help” in 1974. The song was later also recorded by Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis and many others. He’s also produced Tony Joe White’s “Polk Salad Annie” and has played in Kris Kristofferson’s band for many years. Buzz Cason is an equally revered…

Mitch Mann is one of the great guitar players from Muscle Shoals. He is known around town for his high energy playing on the electric as well as his proficiency on the acoustic guitar. Mitch’s acoustic solo album Blackwater Creek came out on Crazy Chester Records in 2015 and featured guest appearances by Donna Jean Godchaux (Grateful Dead), Jimmy H…

Donna Jean Godchaux sang background vocals on recordings by Elvis, Percy Sledge, Neil Diamond, Boz Scaggs, Cher and many others before becoming a member of the Grateful Dead. She stayed with the band throughout the 70’s before embarking on a solo career. She’s a member of both the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and the Alabama Music Hall of Fame. Her hus…

Daniel Market is a folk singer and songwriter based in Muscle Shoals. Daniel’s highly original songs are full of evocative lyrics, vivid images and captivating stories. Originally from Indiana, he’s also lived in Nashville and Colorado before relocating to Muscle Shoals a few years ago. He’s released five albums including his latest, Almost Alive F…

David Hood is one of the most recorded bass players of all time. He was the bass player of FAME recording studio’s rhythm section in Muscle Shoals and later a founding member of the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section which started the Muscle Shoals Sound recording studio. He has recorded with Wilson Pickett, Aretha Franklin, Bob Seger, Cher, The Staple S…

Gary Walker is a Nashville music institution. As a songwriter (including hits for Jim Reeves, Carl Smith and Kitty Wells), recording artist (on MGM Records), recording studio owner (Fidelity Recordings), music publisher and pioneering song plugger (Lowery Music), artist manager (Sandy Posey), record producer (Sonny James, Lynn Anderson, and Arthur …

Jessie Scott is the program director of WMOT Roots Radio, one of the leading Americana radio stations, where she also hosts a daily evening program. Jessie’s long and illustrious career in radio led her to become one of the leading ladies in the Americana movement. A true music fan at heart, she’s also created the Music Fog video platform and has b…

Mark T. Jordan is a keyboard player and songwriter who has performed or recorded with Van Morrison (“Tupelo Honey”), Dave Mason, Bonnie Raitt, Jackson Browne, Olivia Newton-John, Taj Mahal, Lyle Lovett, Lee Roy Parnell and many others. Mark’s songs have been recorded by Bonnie Raitt, Randy Crawford, Dave Mason, Link Wray, The Carpenters and Taj Mah…

Buzz Cason is a singer, songwriter and publisher. His best known songs include "Everlasting Love" and "Soldier Of Love" and have been recorded by the Beatles, U2, Pearl Jam, Jimmy Buffett, Martina McBride, Arthur Alexander and many others. This is Cason’s return visit to the Crazy Chester Radio Hour and we talk about some of his classics as well as…

Bruce Channel is a singer and songwriter who’s number one hit “Hey! Baby” is one of the classic rock & roll songs of all time. Joined by Delbert McClinton who played the signature harp licks on “Hey! Baby”, Bruce toured the UK with the Beatles in the early sixties. He later moved to Nashville and found success as a songwriter including writing numb…

Jimmy Hall is a singer, musician and songwriter, known around the world for his soulful vocals and dynamic stage presence. Jimmy had a string of hits as the frontman of Wet Willie including their classic “Keep On Smilin’” and also released four albums under his own name. He also had a short lived band with Dickey Betts, Chuck Leavell and Butch Truc…

Lames LeBlanc is a singer, songwriter and musician who’s songs have been recorded by Travis Tritt (“Modern Day Bonnie And Clyde”), Gary Allan, Jason Aldean, Thompson Square, Jo Dee Messina, Martina McBride, Tim McGraw and Faith Hill. His latest album as an artist is called Nature Of The Beast. Jimmy Nutt is a recording engineer, producer, musician …

Rob Galbraith is a Nashville based music maverick. He discovered R&B legend Clifford Curry in Knoxville back in the sixties and has been Ronnie Milsap’s producer for over 30 years. Galbraith is also a songwriter, publisher and occasional artist who has released a handful of funky albums including the underground classic Nashville Dirt. This episode…

Gary Talley is the guitarist of the Box Tops, the legendary band known for classics like “The Letter”, “Cry Like A Baby”, “Choo Choo Train” and “Soul Deep”. Gary has also recorded or performed live with Willie Nelson, Dobie Gray, Tammy Wynette, Waylon Jennings, Billy Preston and Sam Moore of Sam & Dave. His songs have been recorded by Keith Whitley…

Lynn Williams is the drummer of The Wallflowers and The Muscle Shoals Allstars and has toured or recorded with Delbert McClinton, John Hiatt, Lee Roy Parnell, Billy Joe Shaver, Bonnie Bramlett, Steve Wariner, Phil Keaggy, Russ Taff, Marcia Ball and many others. Dick50, his band with fellow Delbert McClinton band alumni Kevin McKendree, Steve Mackey…

Jess Rotter is an artist and illustrator who designed a string of record covers for the Light In The Attic label including the superb Country Funk compilations. She’s also illustrated and published a book called I’m Bored and designed shirts and clothing, often with a music theme. Teddy Morgan is a producer, engineer, songwriter and musician. Morga…

Josh Hoyer is an artist, musician and songwriter from Lincoln, Nebraska. His band Josh Hoyer & Soul Colossal are one of the most exciting live bands out there with a sound combining soul, funk and rhythm & blues. They’ve released five albums and have performed all over the US as well as Europe. This episode was recorded at Buzz Cason’s Creative Wor…

Billy Swan is a legendary artist, musician, songwriter and producer who’s musical fingerprints are all over the musical map including some of the most influential records ever made. His record of “I Can Help” was a big hit for Swan in 1974 and was later recorded by Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis and many others. He’s also produced Tony Joe White’s …

Mark Narmore is a hit songwriter, artist and musician who had his songs recorded by Josh Turner, John Michael Montgomery, Shenandoah, Blackhawk, Craig Morgan, Alabama, Brandy Clark and many others. His song “That’s What I Love About Sunday” was the most performed song on country radio in 2005. In 2009, the Alabama Music Hall of Fame awarded Mark wi…

Dickey Lee is a member of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame with many number one songs to his credit. His signature song “She Thinks I Still Care” has been recorded hundreds of times including classic recordings by George Jones, Elvis Presley, Anne Murray and Leon Russell. As an artist, Dickey had a string of rock & roll hits in the 50’s inclu…

Michael “Supe” Granda is a member and co-founder of the Ozark Mountain Daredevils, one of the quintessential Americana bands of the past 50 years in addition to releasing a string of eclectic albums on his own. He’s also been performing a children’s show under the name Silly Grandpa and is active as Santa Claus during Christmas time. Supe has also …

Jill Sternheimer is the Director of Public Programming at the Lincoln Center in New York City where she’s been programming two of the major summer festivals: Midsummer Night Swing and Lincoln Center Out of Doors. Alison Fensterstock is a New Orleans based freelance music writer and radio personality at WWOZ 90.7 FM. This episode was recorded at Buz…

Michael Gray is a curator at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum and has been responsible for many of its worldclass exhibits including exhibits on Ray Charles, Nashville’s vast Rhythm & Blues history and its most recent one, Dylan, Cash and the Nashville Cats. Michael has a deep love and understanding for all kinds of music and their cultura…