Children of Song

Latest Episodes:

Lee Brice: Pleasing to the Heart Dec 11, 2017

Show notes

An emotional Lee Brice stops by to talk about growing up inside a family of song. Surrounded by a musical mother who grew up singing gospel with her sisters, and a daddy who sang bass, Lee says all they did as a family growing up was, "sing, sing, sing." Subscribe and download on your favorite podcast platform: Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Tune In, Stitcher. Lee pays tribute to family and his country roots on his latest self-titled album with a song he says maybe his best yet. In this episode we'll hear a live version of that song called "Songs in the Kitchen." We'll also hear his top songs including his current hit "Boy" and "More than a Memory," which includes a fun story about his childhood idol Garth Brooks who debuted the country ballad at number 1. Robert K. Oermann hosts this singer/songwriter edition as part of our Nashville Sessions, with the producer, Brad Newman by his side. This emotional episode is filled with great music and an open Lee Brice who weaves several heartwarming tales. Like us on Facebook. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram. We want to know what you think. Pitch us an artist, or simply spread the word and find out more about the series. #childrenofsong

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Sara Evans: Born to Fly Dec 01, 2017

Show notes

In this episode, we sit down with country music star, Sara Evans. Born to fly, Sara began singing and headlining the Evans Family Band when she was just 5 years old. As you'll hear, Sara was driven and determined to make it at all costs, even if that meant starting from the bottom. Subscribe and download on your favorite podcast platform: Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Tune In, Stitcher. When she first got to Nashville, Sara made her mark as a demo singer. She used this opportunity to meet some of Nashville's best songwriters while honing her craft and waiting for her big break. That break would come as the result of meeting the Country Music Hall of Fame songwriter Harlan Howard, who thought she sounded like the legendary Loretta Lynn. In this episode, Sara tells candid stories while singing some of her top hits. With her sister Lesley Lyons by her side, she belts out beautiful acoustic versions of her songs, filled with breathtaking harmonies. The series producer Brad Newman hosts this entertaining episode, which is an insightful look at how a girl with a beautiful voice made all her dreams come true. Like us on Facebook. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram. We want to know what you think. Pitch us an artist, or simply spread the word and find out more about the series. #childrenofsong

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John Pizzarelli: A Class Act Nov 27, 2017

Show notes

In this episode we sat down with one of the classiest cats in show business. Like his father before him, John Pizzarelli has become one the best guitarists and entertainers of his generation. Known for expanding the Great American Songbook, John's added spectacular arrangements of pop artists like Tom Waits, Neil Young and Sir Paul McCartney to name a few. Subscribe and download on your favorite podcast platform: Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Tune In, Stitcher. John tells some colorful stories throughout. He's worked with everyone in the music business, including Frank Sinatra and shares some memorable stories of opening for the Great One on his last international tour. The series producer Brad Newman takes on the hosting duties for this entertaining episode, which is filled with funny stories and foot-tapping songs. Like us on Facebook. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram. We want to know what you think. Pitch us an artist, or simply spread the word and find out more about the series. #childrenofsong

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David Cassidy with Matthew and Gunnar Nelson: A Teen Idol Says Goodbye Nov 22, 2017

Show notes

In one of his last interviews, David Cassidy talks candidly about his childhood, his quick rise to fame on The Partridge Family and the 49-year career he spent making music and entertaining audiences around the world. Subscribe and download on your favorite podcast platform: Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Tune In, Stitcher. In this episode, David describes the life of a teen idol, one that involves being stuffed in the trunk of a Toyota to escape a crowd at Madison Square Garden, only to be left alone in a dressing room in Queens for three hours. As Gunnar Nelson says, "now that's Rock & Roll." Cassidy is as revealing as he his reflective in talking about sneaking by 30,000 fans disguised in a wig and women's clothes before a record crowd at the Steel Pier in Atlantic City. Through his stories, you can also see an artist who is coming to terms with retirement and saying goodbye to his fans. Joined by Matthew and Gunnar Nelson, this episode looks at the eerie similarities between their late father Ricky Nelson and David Cassidy. We discover both had grandmothers who taught piano, both had strong influential fathers and both men grew up in New Jersey. In this episode the Nelson twins are incredibly generous and giving to a man they call a friend, but who's also clearly a mentor and father figure. The series producer Brad Newman hosts this special episode, which is one of our very best. Like us on Facebook. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram. We want to know what you think. Pitch us an artist, or simply spread the word and find out more about the series. #childrenofsong

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Andrea McArdle: The Original Little Orphan Annie Nov 17, 2017

Show notes

In this episode, the Broadway star Andrea McArdle stops by to talk about the little red-headed orphan she made famous 40 years ago. With her big distinct voice, Andrea brought an edge and a softness to the title character that's been emulated by every girl who's played Annie in the award-winning musical ever since. Subscribe and download on your favorite podcast platform: Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Tune In, Stitcher. Andrea provides some rare insight in how she landed the role. We'll find out she was actually the first actress to audition for the part, but strangely enough she was not the producers first pick. We'll learn how she got the part, how she dealt with being part of a cultural phenomenon and how she and the cast would wind down at the famous nightclub Studio 54 after big performances. As part of our Broadway series, the former NY Times theatre critic Charles Isherwood hosts this wonderful ride down memory lane. The series producer Brad Newman adds color and insight. Like us on Facebook. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram. We want to know what you think. Pitch us an artist, or simply spread the word and find out more about the series. #childrenofsong

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Gary Allan and Cody Johnson: Doing Their Own Thing Nov 10, 2017

Show notes

Gary Allan and Cody Johnson might not have been raised by famous parents, but they each got their start playing in honkytonks with their fathers at an early age. They also share a fierce independence streak, writing and producing most of their own music. In this episode, we've matched an established country music star with a bonafide up-and-comer. Subscribe and download on your favorite podcast platform: Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Tune In, Stitcher. Gary and Cody share wonderful tales of breaking into the business, trying to get established, getting crushed and starting all over again. The two sing excerpts of their biggest hits almost outdoing one another at every turn. Robert K. Oermann hosts this singer/songwriter edition as part of our Nashville Sessions, with the producer, Brad Newman by his side. This is a fun-filled episode with great music; one that shouldn't be missed! Like us on Facebook. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram. We want to know what you think. Pitch us an artist, or simply spread the word and find out more about the series. #childrenofsong

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Peppina: Making Make-Believe Believable Nov 03, 2017

Show notes

In this episode, we meet Peppina, a Finnish singer/songwriter turned pop star who was afraid to share her music with her own community, so instead she went online and played her songs for the rest of the world. Subscribe and download on your favorite podcast platform: Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Tune In, Stitcher. At 15, the young artist would sit in her bedroom where she would write and post songs on HitRecord, an online production company founded by the actor and director Joseph Gordon-Levitt. There she would attract the attention of artists around the globe, quickly becoming the most downloaded musician working on the site. The producer, Brad Newman hosts this episode that follows a girl from a small island in Helsinki to the biggest stages in America. As one of her songs suggests, Peppina "makes make-believe believable." Like us on Facebook. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram. We want to know what you think. Pitch us an artist, or simply spread the word and find out more about the series. #childrenofsong

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Jim Dale: The Consummate Clown Oct 27, 2017

Show notes

The Tony-award winner Jim Dale is one of the most physically gifted comics of his generation, yet most people only know him as the voice behind the wonderful Harry Potter audio books. In the popular J.K. Rowling series, he plays 147 distinct characters which is a Guinness Book world record. In this episode, we learn how Jim came up with the voices behind those quirky characters, some of whom he met on the street, and others he borrowed from his eccentric family. Subscribe and download on your favorite podcast platform: Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Tune In, Stitcher. Jim shares stories from his early days doing physical comedy in the English music halls across the U.K. He also talks about getting signed by the famous Beatles producer, George Martin and his short but productive stint as a pop star. We also hear about his rise in the theatre, first working with Laurence Olivier's company and then crossing the pond where he won a Tony for his turn as the title character in the musical, "Barnum." The former NY Times theatre critic Charles Isherwood hosts this entertaining episode, which is part of our Broadway series. The series producer Brad Newman adds insight. Like us on Facebook. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram. We want to know what you think. Pitch us an artist, or simply spread the word and find out more about the series. #childrenofsong

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Holly Williams: Second Chances Oct 20, 2017

Show notes

The granddaughter of the legendary country music singer Hank Williams and daughter to the southern rocker Hank Jr., Holly talks about discovering her country roots and venturing into the music world with her own unique voice. Subscribe and download on your favorite podcast platform: Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Tune In, Stitcher. In this episode, Holly shares a moving story about how a car accident almost killed her and her sister, Hilary. As they waited for help on the side of the road, her sister got a glimpse of heaven with her grandfather Hank telling her, "it wasn't her time." Inspired by this emotional event, she wrote "Without Jesus Here with Me" and shares a moving version of this powerful ballad. A master storyteller, Holly talks about where she gets her inspiration and says some of her best songs were written while driving a car or stopping by a gas station. We find out she wrote the chorus to a big song on her latest album while filling up her tank. Holly sings a soulful version of her granddaddy's "I Saw the Light," as well as excerpts from "Waiting on June," "Drinkin'" and "The Highway." Robert K. Oermann hosts this moving episode from our Nashville Sessions with the series producer, Brad Newman by his side. Like us on Facebook. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram. We want to know what you think. Pitch us an artist, or simply spread the word and find out more about the series. #childrenofsong

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Carly Pearce & Clayton Anderson: No Plan B Oct 13, 2017

Show notes

For Country Music singer/songwriters Carly Pearce and Clayton Anderson, there's never been a "Plan B." For these up-and-coming artists, it's always been music or bust. Subscribe and download on your favorite podcast platform: Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Tune In, Stitcher. In this episode, Carly and Clayton talk about breaking into music at an early age. We learn how they battled through personal doubts and overcame ego and other obstacles in an unforgiving business. Great stories in this episode include an underage Carly trying out for Dollywood, an exuberant Clayton opening up for Kenny Chesney and a broken-down van that made it to the venue on time with the help of five random cousins in rural West Virginia. As Clayton puts it, "when you're out on the road, everything is not as glamorous as it seems." Both artists sing some of their best, with Carly telling the story behind her big hit "Every Little Thing" before sharing a beautiful rendition of the soulful ballad. Robert K. Oermann hosts this entertaining episode as part of our Nashville Sessions with the series producer, Brad Newman by his side. Like us on Facebook. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram. We want to know what you think. Pitch us an artist, or simply spread the word and find out more about the series. #childrenofsong

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