Frankie & Johnny Music Hour

Please join the Unstoppable Frankie Picasso and guest co-host Wendy Allyn on Monday, March 8th at 8:00 pm est for the Frankie & Johnny Music Hour.

Tonight we are pleased to welcome one of Canada's Premier Blues Bands, two time Juno award winners, 'FATHEAD' to the stage and we want you to get in on the ACTION too, when we get up close and personal with band front man, Al Lerman.  You can do this by either joining us in the CHAT ROOM at www.blogtalkradio.com/frankie–johnny or by calling in to the show at 1 (646) 378-0358 

I DOUBLE DARE you to sit through a performance of this band without moving. These boys know how to 'get down' and so they should. They have been doing what they do since 1992, and with practice comes perfection!

 They've been called a "Blues Tour de Force", a powerful descriptor and an apt one because FATHEAD literally explodes on stage

It's been a long but steady climb since FATHEAD's debut gig in 1992, and the band has been tearing it up on the North American festival circuit ever since – winning over new fans every time they play – making FATHEAD one of the Canada's top roots acts.

Signed to the world renowned ELECTRO-FI RECORDS' imprint, the band has won two JUNO AWARDS (Canada's "GRAMMY") for "Blues Recording Of The Year".

That they  have been described as a Blues Tour De Force comes as no surprise. Georgia-raised lead singer JOHN MAYS has had a storied career that began in the Southern gospel tradition, crossing over into Doo-Wop, R&B and Blues, not to mention a stint with the Godfather Of Soul JAMES BROWN.

Hooking up with band leader AL LERMAN (harp and saxophone) in Toronto some years later, FATHEAD's core has remained constant since forming; offering ace musicianship, soul stirring harmonies and incendiary live performances.

The writing tandem of Lerman and bassist OMAR TUNNOCH has produced a large body of work that has enjoyed time on the US, European and Canadian music charts.

Guitar ace TEDDY LEONARD and iconic drummer BUCKY BERGER round out FATHEAD's sound, infusing elements of funk, soul, and R&B into their strong blues backbone. FATHEAD is truly an original band with a sound immediately recognizable as their own. They have a ball wherever they play and it shows!

The Music of FATHEAD

Tonight, at 8:00 pm est on March 1st, the Ides of March,  The Frankie and Johnny Music Hour, www.blogtalkradio.com/frankie–johnny and the Unstoppable Frankie Picasso and co host Wendy Ally, have all conspired with the fierce March wind to  blow in the sweet strains of Saskatchewan-born, Toronto-based singer, songwriter, session musician, concert performer and  recording artist  Suzie Vinnick.

Suzie is an award winning performer who Access Magazine dubbed, The Voice of Spun Gold and Honey and it’s a perfect description.  Suzie who plays plays bass, guitar, saxophone, piano, Dobro, lap steel and mandolin is one of the busiest session players and singers in the Canadian blues/roots music and jazz communities, having made appearances on more than a dozen recordings by other artists.

Suzie is a frequent headliner at festivals across the country and in the U.S., and in November shared the Massey Hall stage as musical director and featured artist in the Toronto Blues Society’s annual all-star Women’s Blues Revue.Suzie was nominated for a 2009 JUNO for her 3rd album, Happy Here, produced by Juno-Award winning singer/songwriter Stephen Fearing.

She was nominated for two 2009 Canadian Folk Music Awards (CFMA’s) and has also won 6 Canadian Maple Blues Awards – 4 for Female Vocalist of the Year in 2009, 2008, 2006 and 2003; Bassist of the Year in 2006 and she shared Songwriter of the Year with Rick Fines for their 2006 release, Nothing Halfway.

Suzie also won 1st place in the Blues Category of the 2009 Unisong International Songwriting Contest for her cowrite Sometimes I Think I Can Fly. She  has been featured nationally on CBC Radio on Stuart McLean’s Vinyl Café, and has performed across Canada and the US, and for Canadian Peacekeepers in Bosnia and the Persian Gulf. She performs powerfully as a solo act or with her tasteful side players, as a duo and band with Rick Fines, and is also a member of the groups the Marigolds (with Gwen Swick and Caitlin Hanford of Quartette) and Betty & the Bobs.  

Suzie’s  CD’s..

If you enjoy songwriting as an art form, you will want to tune into The Frankie and Johnny Music Hour on Monday, February 22nd, at 8:00 pm est, www.blogtalkradio.com/frankie–johnny because  Frankie and Wendy will be going to Texas to  visit with two singer-songwriters, Joel Melton and Michael Fracasso. 
Both artists make Austin, TX their home and in this city where world-renowned music festivals abound and where a thriving community exist to  support those  musicians, these two songwriters stand out as true originals!  You’d be hard-pressed to meet two songwriters who are any more genuine or talented for crafting a story  that will take you on a  melodic and imaginative journey through a song. 

And these songwriting talents could stand alone, but they don’t stop there! 

JOEL MELTON – Having learned to play guitar from his father, Joel Melton began his career in music very early.   Playing parties, small gatherings and wherever music could potentially enhance life, you’d find Joel with his guitar entertaining the crowd.  Joel credits the Blue Door and owner/promoter Greg Johnson in Oklahoma City for nurturing his unique craft of songwriting.  It was here where Joel met and performed with other great Americana/Roots musicians like Jimmy Webb, Ray Wylie Hubbard, Kevin Welch and of course, Michael Fracasso.  As a result of these influences and a desire to focus on songwriting, he moved to Austin, TX in 2004.  Since then, Joel’s music has been selected for use by Bravo Network on one of their shows titled “Tale Lights” and also on the PBS station KCNT at a special Fort Hood dedication by returning Marines from Iraq.  Joel is a master at entertaining and story-telling; performing comes as natural to him as breathing and though he could be content with his own success, Joel enjoys listening and encouraging other songwriters. Whenever requested, he willingly and unselfishly gives of his time and creative talents, whether it’s through collaboration, sharing resources  or just simply through generous and always kindly guidance and mentoring.  Joel has filmed and screened two documentary films “The Journey” and a movie about Texas songwriters “There’s Something in the Water”.  One of his inspirations for this film grew out of befriending fellow songwriter, actor and composer Alton Watson.  It was from this friendship that Joel and Alton created and host the annual “There’s Something in the Water” songwriting festival held in Regency, Tx each spring.   This festival has been dubbed by folks as far as California and Michigan as, ‘The longest half-day festival around!’  and if you’re a fan of homegrown music in a non-pretentious, warm and comfortable atmosphere, then this festival is not to be missed!

MICHAEL FRACASSO – Born to Italian immigrants in the town of Mingo-Junction, Ohio, Michael’s father worked the steel mills and his parents grew vegetable gardens and made their own wine to compliment authentic, home-cooked Italian meals.  Along with listening to music on the AM radio shows, Michael would sometimes travel with his family to the Country Music Jamboree held in W. Virginia and it was here where Michael saw his first concert, country legend Kitty Wells.  As a young adult, Michael too would work the mills in the summer before going away for college in Ohio and Washington state and later, his travels brought him to Greenwich Village, NY where he learned the art of songwriting.  In 1990 Michael moved to Austin, Texas “with everything that would fit in the back of my Volkswagen Rabbit, which was mostly my guitars”.  Fracasso is a badass folkie with a sweet Italian tenor and has been compared to legendary singers Roy Orbison and Gene Pitney. Michael truly is a “songwriter’s songwriter” and is well respected and admired as such.  He was voted best new artist upon his arrival in Austin by Third Coast Music Magazine.  Michael Fracasso has recorded and toured with artists such as Charlie Sexton, Lucinda Williams and Patty Griffin and recently, Michael has songs on “Ribbons of Highway: Tribute to Woody Guthrie”. His seventh CD, Red Dog Blues(May 2007) was number one on the Americana Charts in Europe and throughout his songwriting career, he has toured extensively in the US and Europe.   In addition, Michael combines his love for singing/performing with that of cooking!  He is available for house concerts where he will cook up a wonderful gourmet Italian meal for you and your guests and after dinner, wow them with his amazing songs/performance!  Wherever Michael is performing, if you can get to one of his shows, you need to GET THERE!!.. and be ready to escape into pure musical magic by one of the true masters of his craft!

Join the Unstoppable Frankie Picasso and guest ‘co- host’  Wendy Allyn this Monday, February 15th at 8:00 pm eastern for The Frankie and Johnny Music Hour , www.blogtalkradio.com/frankie–johnny when our guest will be the soulsville man himself, Mr. Danny Brooks. 

From the time he was 7 years old, Canadian born Danny Middlebrook knew he was going to be a musician and not just any musician. He was going to be famous like his mother’s favorite singer  Hank Williams and  Dj’s with colourful names like Howlin “Wolf Man”  Jack  would be announcing his name. The only problem was HOW  could this 7 year old boy make that happen. Coming from a devout Christian home, Danny was made to read the Bible and  memorize scripture every day. He remembered a verse that said ” As a man thinketh, so he is”, and he knew it would come to pass. This would become an important principle in Danny’s life for years to come.

When Danny was in Grade 3, he saw 3 kids play Guitar at his school and this changed his life. To support his growing passion, his mother  bought him a $9.00 ukuele which Danny picked up so fast that by that Christmas, his parent exchanged that for had a new guitar and he was off to the races as they say. 

 Danny’s older brother Greg helped define his taste for blues, funk, gospel and soul music with records he drove to Buffalo to buy, r & b, soul music that couldn’t be bought  in Toronto back then. When Danny heard the sounds of Taj Mahal, Solomon Burke, Joe Tex, and Bobby Blue Bland, he knew he was going to play the blues, unfortunately he would have to pay his dues first, and that opportunity came soon enough.

At the tender age of 15, Danny’s father gave him a choice. Either give up his budding fascination with the devil’s music, or get out of the house.

Danny chose to  run off with the devil and it was a long time before he stopped running.  He soaked up all the inspiration he could by watching touring American blues legends like Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf and John Lee Hooker play a theater in his native Toronto, then hit the road to play — and live — his own blues.

Danny’s voice is a raspy gravelly growl and  the perfect instrument for  delivering the messages he writes within his songs. Once when he had the privilege and honor to perform with Brownie McGhee, Danny says that as Brownie was walking off stage he said , ’son fo’ a white boy, you sho’ nuff gotta suntan on the inside’.

Hard living and the music industry took its toll on his soul. Here was a good man with a heart of gold that was living some really BAD lifestyle  choices. Burned out on speed, coke, acid, marijauna, and hard booze, by the mid-’80s, Danny took stock of his life, and he knew he wasn’t going to last long in this world. With the love and support of a good woman, he checked into rehab, and reemerged a changed man.

These days, his music is still as rockin’ and soulful as ever, ( Danny has written well over 500 songs), he now uses his potent voice and songwriting chops in the service of contemporary gospel. His records, including It’s a Southern Thing, Soulsville: Souled Out ’n Sanctified, Rock This House and No Easy Way Out, are testament to the healing power of faith and rock ’n’ roll, as is his recently published book, Miracle for Breakfast .

No Easy Way Out, that was engineered and produced by legendary Capricorn producer Johnny Sandlin, and backed by the most renowned musicians in Muscle Shoals, David Hood on bass, Spooner Oldham and Kevin McKendrie on keyboards, Scott Boyer, James Pennebaker, and Kelvin Holly on a multitude of guitars, Bill Stewart and Roger Hawkins on drums, and Bonnie Bramlett.  

Dannys Albums include:

If you would like to learn more about Danny I highly recommend his autobiography  Miracles for Breakfast- How Faith Helped Me Heal My Addictions

Join the Unstoppable Frankie Picasso and my ‘guest’ co host Wendy Allyn, this Monday, February 8th for another Frankie and Johnny Radio show, at 8:00 pm est, www.blogtalkradio.com/frankie–johnny.. Johnny “I am at Toastmasters” Collin will be returning in a few months after he finishes his self improvement courses..:)

Tonight we have an incredible line up of artists to introduce to you so hang on to your hats because we will be travelling from Atlantic Canada to meet Chris Gill, over to the Oklahoma, home of the Cherokee Indians to meet Monica Taylor and then slip through the Texas Pan handle down into Austin, Texas to catch up with The Real Bill Lewis.

BUT FIRST.. meet Wendy Allyn.. Wendy is a singer/songwriter that I met  through the F & J show with Kevan Christine and co.  I can’t exactley remember how we came to correspond but correspond we did. I found Wendy to be fascile of mind and an extraordinarily talented writer. During the process we have developed a growing respect for one another and this is how she came to be the next co host of the show.

Wendy is California born, Oklahoma grown, and her songs combine the stable and sturdy traits of a prairie farmer with a breezy west coast attitude.

I already told you she is a great writer so it should comes as no surprise that Wendy’ is an amazing storyteller and her medium is songwriting. She runs the gamut of writing about the human experience, everything from  family ties thru social social issues, and like the great folks singers before her, Wendy is able to bring her characters to life. She draws these lyrical pictures through succint composite sketches of characters are as  memorable as her hummable melodies. She takes universal experiences, describes them with clarity and originality, and creates songs that rise above the common denominator of those experiences.

Wendy is currently in the process of recording her second album, to be released Spring 2010.  This album titled “Windmills & Daffodils” is a culmination of life experiences from and about Oklahoma, a place she calls home no matter where music and life takes her. 

In 2009, Wendy quit her fulltime job and began redirecting her energy and creative talent in order to focus fulltime on songwriting/performing, building community with other musicians and connecting to the spirit inside that “thinks with melodies and writes with conscience and truth”.  Her goal is simple: to be true to herself and to connect with like-minded individuals where together through music, we can hopefully make this world just a little sweeter.

Chris Gill

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A native of Corner Brook, Newfoundland, Chris Gill started performing and writing music at a young age. His music career started as a drummer, then lead singer, in bands that performed throughout Newfoundland. He nurtured a solo career with the release of numerous singles throughout the years, and his debut CD, Tell Me How which was released in 2003, received an ECMA nomination for Country Album of the Year. Chris has resided in Truro, Nova Scotia for nearly 20 years.

MONICA TAYLOR

 She’s the red dirt girl from Oklohoma, blue grass lady and Cherokee maiden.  She’s played with The bluegrass and folk band The Wayfarying Strangers that she played and sang with, played Jimmy Lafave’s Musicians Reunion Jam one night…The Red_Dirt Rangers, Tom Skinner,  Greg Jacobs, Randy Pease, The Medicine Show… and of course, Jimmy LaFave.  Cedar Hammock with Brett, Kurt Neilson, and Karen Knust  play and sing with Don Morris (guitar, bass, songwriter), Jared Tyler (guitar, dobro, mandolin,songwriter) and Nancy Kamm (fiddle)

and Today she plays solo. She also is part of the Cherokee Maidens,  Robin Macy, Monica Taylor and Jennifer Petterson. They make up this tight harmony trio in the McKinney Sisters style who sang with The Texas Playboys and The Andrew Sisters 

THE REAL BILL LEWIS

The Real Bill Lewis is a singer, songwriter, guitar player, pianist, playwright, novelist, and musician’s musician. You can find him jamming with the stellar hill country musicians who show up for his regular gig under the trees in Luckenbach, Texas, leading the danceable antics of the Stoneyridge Playboys (along with Will Owen Gage, Chris Adams, and Doug Davis), or touring the vicinity with his solo troubadour act.Whether he is crooning songs from his folk opera about addictions both legal and illegal or stunning the audience by accommodating most any request they can throw to the stage, his voice, phrasing, and musical originality is always unmistakably Bill Lewis. The Real Bill Lewis’ past and current gigs include The Blue Door (Oklahoma City), Alice’s Restaurant (opening for Arlo Guthrie), Hondo’s on Main (Fredericksburg), Silver Creek (Fredericksburg), Luckenbach, Poor David’s Pub (Dallas), Oma’s Secret Garten at Gruene, Billy Bob’s Texas, Lajitas Resort, and Riposa Wine Bar (Spring Branch) . Bill  has opened for or shared the bill with Billy Joe Shaver, Asleep at the Wheel, Arlo Guthrie, Hank Williams, Jr., Bruce Robison, Michael Martin Murphy, John Anderson, Jerry Lee Lewis, Ernest Tubb, Joe Ely, Leon Rausch, The Glaser Brothers, Faron Young, Sammi Smith, Tracy Nelson, and Grandpa Jones, to name a few

WELCOME BACK Music Lovers!!  Happy 2010 to you all.

I am so excited to be able to kick off the 2010 Season with a dear friend and extraordinary veteran musician, Mr. Michael Pickett as our first guest of the year.

On Monday, January 11th, at 8:00 pm, please join the Unstoppable Frankie Picasso and Johnny ” I have a Buddy Rich Band” Collin,  for the Frankie & Johnny Radio Show at www.blogtalkradio.com/frankie–johnny.

Toronto , Mississippi. Whenever I read this on Michael Pickett’s website, it always gives me a chuckle because B.Pulford who whoever he might be, was one accurate SOB. He goes on to describe Michael’s  music as a ‘ unique fusion of sensibilities, driven by his thumping delta guitar rhythms, muscular harmonica and gravel and chains voice which  is, at once, traditional and relevant”.  YES YES YES …Hell YES!!!.

Furthermore, Pulford states that, “Never content to merely be a musical archivist, Pickett effectively deconstructs and reconstructs those seminal blues, born on the delta, to serve his own singular purpose; writing songs that are authentic both in substance and performance.” I heartily concur!

Through 30 years of musical innovation, reinvention and growth, Michael has emerged as a preminent solo artist whose music drips with  authenticity. Michael has created a genre of music that goes beyond the blues, and I am not sure it requires a name except as humans we like to ‘profile’ and place people and things into compartments. Can you say AMAZING GRACE!

It’s funny the moments that alter ones life and for Michael Pickett it was a harmonica given to him by his grandmother and a television performance by Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee that hooked him on music for life. To say he was inspired would be an understatement. They have fueled these past 30 years with the kind of  love, passion and single minded focus that  took us to the moon and back.

Michael and his National Steel Duolian

Blessed with an uncanny musical sponge for a brain, I am convinced that Michael Pickett could play a toothpick and give it soul and groove.  

In the 70s, 80s, and 90s Michael established himself as a musically ground-breaking, electrifying singer/songwriter/harmonica player, leading seminal bands Whiskey Howl, Wooden Teeth, and the Michael Pickett Band. Musically profound, they pushed the envelope for Blues and funky Roots music.

Professionally he has been recognized by his peers with a

Canadian Music award for  Blues Album of the year with his Conversation with the Blues CD,

Maple Blues Award for Best Harmonica Player of the Year award and  Blues with a Feeling Award

 Jazz Report Award- Best Album of the year for Blues Money Cd.

Real Blues Awards, Several awards for Best Song, best singer

Michael also garnered another Maple Blues Award and took home the :

Acoustic of the year Award-04

Entertainer of the year

Electric Act of the year with The Michael Pickett Band in 01.

If you don’t know his face, you may recognize his voice from his 7 year run as the voice of Budweiser beer, his harp and voice ARE the  THE BUDMAN!!!   

Michael has played with and/or shared the stage with Big Mama Thornton . John Lee Hooker . James Cotton . Jeff Healey . Bo Diddley . Koko Taylor . Downchild Blues Band . John Hammond . Matt “Guitar” Murphy . Doug Kershaw . Willie ‘Big Eyes’ Smith . Snooky Pryor . Sunnyland Slim . Lazy Lester . Tom Rush . Josh White Jr . Rory Block . Matt Minglewood . T.Graham Brown . Kentucky Headhunters . Hubert Sumlin . Taj Mahal . Muddy Waters . Son Seals . Big Bill Morganfield . Robert Cray . Buddy Guy . Jon Cleary . Tea Party . Anthony Gomes . Gary Nicholson . The Players . Fortunate Sons, Colin Linden, Brian Stoltz, George Porter Jr., Rev. Billy C. Wirtz, The Nighthawks, and more.

House concert for peace, 2008

Tonight Michael will be joined by his wife and long time Manager/Publicist Louise  Pickett, to offer an intimate and upclose look at living life married to the Music Business.  

A musical veteran, Michael has never worked a day in his life  doing anything else.  

This is an incredible  opportunity for his fans, and  those who want to quit their day jobs to make music, to get up close and personal. Call in and speak to Michael and Louise by dialing 646) 378-0358 or join us in the chat room during the show. click on www.blogtalkradio.com/frankie–johnny to listen live or to download the archive version as an MP3 after the show.

In this girls humble opinion, Michael Pickett is a talent who should never be missed LIVE but if you can’t get to Mississippi, Toronto then going to www.michaelpickett.com is the next best thing.

Michael  will steal your breath away with raw lyrics and jaw dropping “how does he do that’ playing.

frankie and Johnny show logo

Join the Unstoppable Frankie Picasso and Johnny “I look like Brad Pitt” Collin on Monday, December 14th for the fantastic Season Finale of The Frankie and Johnny Music Show at 8:00pm est on www.blogtalkradio.com/frankie–johnny  .
We have an action packed Show for you tonight, so hang onto your seats because I promise you, that you WILL be blown away by exceptional playing and songwriting abilities of Roger Schmidt. Like  so many artists we meet, music and a deep abiding love of guitars has been Roger’s whole life. In fact, he lives, breathes and eats guitars for breakfast. Ok, well maybe that last part isn’t quite true, but if he could, he probably would.
Roger’s love affair with guitars began as toddler , but  began in earnest the day his father brought home an old beat up steel guitar he bought for $1.50. Let’s say it was a real fixer upper, but that didn’t bother Roger. He quickly claimed the instrument as his own. 10 years old and living in the foot hills of the Laurentian Mountains, far from any town or instruction, Roger had to  teach himself to play guitar, something he did using a Mel Bay ”learn to Play” Guitar book and listening to a couple of records they had at home, Chet Atkins and John Williams.
Roger’s perseverance and determination has served him well, because not only did Roger learn to play guitar, he learned to play it exceptionally well and became an amazing finger style guitarist who is in regular demand. In fact, out of all the artist that could have been chosen, Roger was asked to be the  Opening Act at the International Guitar Night, a  prestigious honour as THE INTERNATIONAL GUITAR NIGHT (IGN), is the world’s premier touring guitar festival. Each show brings together the most interesting and innovative acoustic guitarists, solos, duets and quartets that highlight the virtuosity and diversity within the world of acoustic guitar and Roger, opened up to a crowd of about 9,000 guitarists and fans of guitar music.

roger and bridgestone

 
The Entreprenurial Spirit hit Roger about 4 years ago and today, he has the monumental and joyous task of being the North American Distributor for Stonebridge Guitars, a line he first discovered while at a Guitar show in Germany. Today, Roger is diligently building the Stonebridge Community throughout Canada and the USA, with the same determination he learned to play guitar. Each of these incredible sounding guitars are handmade in Europe by luthier  Frantisek Furch and can be custom made to suit the owner. My own Stonebridge has an aged cedar top and the warmest sound you will ever hear in a smaller guitar, and talk about playability…wow!!!
Roger is having fun these days playing in a duo entitled String Gents along with mandolin/fiddle player Shane Guse, an amazing player who regularly tours with George Canyon, Jason Blaine and many other prominent country artists. This past summer, Roger and Shane played the main stage at the Canadian Guitar Festival.

Also TONIGHT.. The DEBUT of our own ROCK N ROLL  GURU…CAN YOU SAY GROOVY.. well  Joe Heuer can and he probably will. Joe  joins the cast of The Frankie & Johnny Music Hour, bringing his wit, wisdom and never failing enthusiasm f0r all things Rock N Roll to the airwaves.  Just looking at Joe’s big smile and tye dye shirt, brings a smile to my face. Joe is an author, speaker and creator of Rock n Roll Wisdom and his unique Rock n Roll Dictionary.Joe states “For the better part of five decades, I’ve been blessed with opportunities to do many fun things in my life and all of them have been inspired, in one form or another, by rock and roll.”

The Unstoppable Frankie Picasso and Johnny ‘I want a buddy rich tribute band” Collin welcome the  The Rock N Roll Guru to the Frankie and Johnny Music Show. ( you can find joe at www.rockandrollguru.coms ) isn’t that Hunky Dory????

Well,  I told you tonight would be action packed.. Also joining us for a quick visit, ( he will be back as a featured show in the new year) is singer/songwriter Chris Gill,  another  talented singer/songwriter from Nova Scotia whose Christmas CD ” This is Christmas” is hoping to raise lots of money for  the IWK kids centre, a local childrens Hospital. Chris is donating $2.00 from the sale of each CD,  directly to the hospital, from his heart to the kids.

CLICK HERE.. to go directly to the show page. Remember, 8:00 pm est, Monday, December 14th.

frankie and Johnny show logo

Be careful what you say and do, because Dave is gunning for you..sorry I couldn’t resist. Dave Gunning,  a Pictou County native from Nova Scotia, is famous for his many talents but the one that stands out most is that Dave has proven he can find a song just about anywhere–in childhood memories, local legends and the everyday lives of those around him–and turn it into something profound, honest and deeply moving. So, fair warning! You just might find yourself inside one of his songs.

Monday, Dec.7th at 8:00 pm est, the Unstoppable Frankie Picasso and Irrisitable Johnny Collin welcome Dave Gunning to the Frankie and Johnny Music Hour at www.blogtalkradio.com/frankie–johnny. If  you are one of Dave’s BIG Fans, tonight is an opportunity for you to get up close and personal with one of Canada’s premier singer/songwriters. Call into the show to speak to Dave at 646) 378-0358  or join us in the Chat room on the Frankie and Johnny Music Show, www.blogtalkradio.com/frankie–johnny 

Dave has a beautiful smoothe voice, like velvet and a humbleness that is as refreshing as it is endearing.

Since his debut in 1997 with Lost Tracks, Dave’s ability to tell a story in song has resulted in six Music Nova Scotia Awards and three East Coast Music Awards (2008 Folk Recording, Male Artist of the Year for House For Sale, 2005 Folk Recording, Two-Bit World), rousing welcomes from crowds at festivals and venues on both sides of the Atlantic and the admiration of Canada’s finest composers, a number of whom have become collaborators on We’re All Leaving.

His recent collaboration, House for Sale’s Hard Workin’ Hands with master Newfoundland’s song craftsman Ron Hynes, was named First Place Winner in the folk category in the 2008 Indie International Songwriting Contest and was honored as a Finalist in the USA Songwriting Competition and the John Lennon Song Contest. His song, Cowboy’s Dream co-written with Canadian country star George Canyon was also honored as a Finalist in the International Songwriting Competition.

frankie Picasso and dave Gunning

I had an opportunity to hook up with Dave at the London Music Club where he was on the last leg of his Ontario tour and leaving for Whitehorse the next day.

Come on out for a Down Home Christmas with Dave Gunning.. we will be playing his famous,popular original holiday favorite Daddy’s Beer, which has become a holiday hit with fans and country radio programmers.

Dave is one of those songwriters that manages to colloborate well and comes up with a surprisingly big number of great songs on each of his LPs.

Two Bit World, took me clear across the State of Nevada last April and it was just what I needed to brighten up the desert drive.