Music
**The Paul Leslie Hour**

For 22 years, The Paul Leslie Hour has been about one thing: helping people tell their stories. From legends of arts and entertainment to today’s cultural voices, Paul Leslie brings conversations you won’t hear anywhere else. New episodes every week.

Latest Episodes:

#943 - Liona Boyd Oct 16, 2023

Show notes

#943 - Liona Boyd

The Liona Boyd Interview is featured on The Paul Leslie Hour.

Are you here? I’m here, but you’re not. You’re a figment of my imagination. Or maybe I have that backwards? I’m only playing, welcome to The Paul Leslie Hour.

We have an interview from the archives with Liona Boyd, the “First Lady of the Guitar.” Miss Liona Boyd is a singer, songwriter, guitarist, performing and recording artist. Liona Boyd’s music a blend of folk, classical and world music. The latest single is entitled “Nocturne,” and was released on October 13th. It’s a tune that is worthy of your attention. Liona’s upcoming album “Once Upon a Time” will be released later this Fall.

The interview you’re about to hear is a peaceful, relaxing conversation Paul had with Liona Boyd that was originally broadcast over the radio in Charleston, South Carolina in 2017. We’re bringing it out to all of you. We’ve got many more interviews coming out this year, both new and from our extensive library. One of the best ways to stay up to date is to subscribe to Paul Leslie’s YouTube channel. It’s free to do so, all you have to do is hit the subscribe button and don’t forget to ring that bell.

And now, I think it’s time ladies and gentlemen, that we bring out the Liona Boyd interview. Let’s listen. Together.

The Paul Leslie Hour is a talk show dedicated to “Helping People Tell Their Stories.” Some of the most iconic people of all time drop in to chat. Frequent topics include Arts, Entertainment and Culture.

#942 - Mark Schiff Oct 13, 2023

Show notes

#942 - Mark Schiff

Mark Schiff is a special guest on The Paul Leslie Hour.

Are you here? You’re being here means you made a choice that these next moments will be with us, tuned in to The Paul Leslie Hour. Take it for granted? Not a chance. We thank you. Thank you for connecting.

It was a simple dream. Your host Paul Leslie wanted to talk to interesting people and share it with people like you. The first broadcast was October 13, 2003 on a station that’s still around today. The platforms have changed, but it’s pretty much been go-go-go ever since. And here we are, 20 years later.

We’ve got a terrific special guest today. Mark Schiff is a top comedian. On a recent trip to Boston, Paul had the opportunity to see him live. Paul remarked that Mark Schiff is one of the funniest comedians he’s ever seen. Now, Schiff has a book entitled Why Not?: Lessons on Comedy, Courage and Chutzpah. He also hosts a great podcast called “You Don’t Know Schiff.” Mark is a super interesting guy, you’ll see.

Real quick, you can help The Paul Leslie Hour and our ongoing mission of “Helping People Tell Their Stories,” just go right here. In addition or instead you can subscribe to Paul Leslie’s YouTube channel. Won’t you please?

We feel very good about this interview with Mark Schiff. If we’re lucky, you’ll feel the same. Now. Let’s listen. Together.

#941 - Corey Harris Oct 11, 2023

Show notes

#941 - Corey Harris

The Corey Harris Interview is featured on The Paul Leslie Hour.

Are you here? Look, we know you’re here. But we won’t tell anyone. We know it’s your secret. But one day we hope it’s not a secret and you tell everyone that you listen to The Paul Leslie Hour.

Today we have a short interview from the archives with roots, blues and world musician Corey Harris. This originally aired back in 2008, but now we’re bringing out there to all of you. Paul had this interview with Corey Harris in Athens, Georgia prior to one of Corey’s concerts.

Singer, songwriter, guitarist, bandleader and recording artist Corey Harris currently lives in Charlottesville, Virginia, but spends most of his time on the road singing and performing for the masses. He is a Bates College educated blues and reggae musician. Some of you may recall our interview with the late Henry Butler. Corey Harris recorded an album with legendary New Orleans, Louisiana pianist Henry Butler. That’s a great album to check out, but his solo album “Daily Bread” is a great one to listen to as well.

Real quick. We believe all of these interviews we put out tell the human story. There are many great interviews that still need to see the light of day, and you can help give yourself and others the gift of stories by contributing to the show. Just go right here, and we thank you.

So, let’s get this interview playing. Corey Harris is carrying on the tradition of African-influenced blues music. His musical soul comes from a world perspective and his songs make you think. So let’s listen. Together.

#940 - Gene Mitchell Returns Oct 09, 2023

Show notes

#940 - Gene Mitchell Returns

The Gene Mitchell Returns Interview with Unplugged Performance is featured on The Paul Leslie Hour.

Are you here? You’re the “you” we had in mind and the “here” is The Paul Leslie Hour, your source for interviews and content you can’t get anywhere else.

We have something from the archives, it’s an interview and unplugged acoustic/vocal performance with Gene Mitchell, recorded on location in Panama City Beach, Florida!

Gene Mitchell was the first guest to appear three times on Paul’s old radio show. He is a singer, songwriter, entertainer and recording artist.

On this episode, Gene Mitchell will be giving us a swing around the islands. Gene writes songs about tropical islands, tropical beaches, tropical drinks, sailing, island adventure and romance. Are you beginning to see a theme?

At time of this taping, Gene had released a total of ten albums featuring some of the best musicians around. He’s continued making even more albums and in our opinion they are all pure enjoyment. Check out genemitchell.com for more information about our special guest.

This show will feature the storytelling of Gene Mitchell, as you may expect. But, in addition to Paul’s conversation with Gene Mitchell, there’s an added bonus. Gene will be giving you an unplugged acoustic/vocal performance.

You can tune in to this show pretty much anywhere, but did you know you can listen on YouTube too? Some of you probably are right now! Please consider subscribing to Paul Leslie’s YouTube channel. It’s a great way to keep up with all of our content as Paul and many of you listeners roll into 20 years!

I’m ready to hear from Gene - Gene the dancing machine. Let’s listen. Together!

#939 - Beth McKee Oct 06, 2023

Show notes

#939 - Beth McKee

The Beth McKee Interview is featured on The Paul Leslie Hour.

Are you here? If you’re here, I hope you’ll join in our excitement. Now, The Paul Leslie Hour is a place where we bring you interviews with interesting and creative people. This interview with singer-songwriter and recording artist Beth McKee is one that your host Paul has a lot of fondness for. It originally broadcast on the radio in January of 2010. It’s not been heard since then.

So, to understand our guest Beth McKee you have to go back a bit. She toured with harmonica legend Greg “Fingers” Taylor in a band called “The Lady Fingers Revue,” and they were the opening act for Jimmy Buffett. Not long after that, Beth joined the all-female Bayou band “Evangeline,” which was signed to Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville Records imprint in the 1990s. What a great band they were!

A very interesting tidbit, Jimmy Buffett suggested that Beth McKee would be well suited to perform a Bobby Charles song during the Evangeline live shows. Maybe Jimmy was onto something. It was kind of fateful. Fast-forwarding to 2009, Beth McKee released “I’m that Way”featuring all songs written by the late great Bobby Charles.

Now, some of you may know the name Bobby Charles. A Cajun man, Bobby was born in Louisiana and wrote some of the all-time classics “See You Later, Alligator,” “Walking to New Orleans,” and “I Don’t Know Why, But I Do.” Beth McKee covered all of these songs and more. The Bobby Charles songbook was excellently interpreted by Beth McKee.

Before we start, you should know that you can give yourself and others the gift of stories. We have a lot of interviews that we want to make available to the masses. Just go right here, and we thank you.

And with that, I think this interview with Beth McKee best be seeing the light of day once more. We thank you for listening. Let us know what you think.

#938 - Rockin’ Dopsie Jr. Oct 04, 2023

Show notes

#938 - Rockin’ Dopsie Jr.

The Rockin’ Dopsie Jr. Interview is featured on The Paul Leslie Hour.

Are you here?

Woah! There you are, tuned in to The Paul Leslie Hour. We’ve got something good for you. This interview originally went out over the radio. I think it was around 2010.

Your host Paul Edward Leslie spoke with the legendary Rockin’ Dopsie, Jr. Now, Dopsie is pronounced Doop-see, and the band many of you know is Rockin’ Dopsie Jr. & the Zydeco Twisters. They’re fabulous live, and you’ll love their recordings. Junior’s father was a zydeco legend, Rockin’ Dopsie Sr. The family vowed to keep the music and his memory alive. They have kept that promise.

Rockin’ Dopsie Jr’s band has shared the stage with the best of the best: Tina Turner, the Neville Brothers, Bonnie Raitt, Jimmy Buffett and Dr. John. They’ve recorded with Bob Dylan and Cyndi Lauper. Oh, and you know the Paul Simon song “That Was Your Mother,” an undeniably Louisiana-influenced track? Yep, they appeared on that too.

Rockin’ Dopsie Jr. also famously appeared on the renowned compilation CD put out by Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville Records entitled “Margaritaville Cafe: Late Night Gumbo.” Dopsie contributed two tracks: “Please Don’t Leave Me” and “I’m Coming Home.”

You know, we love bringing all of these interviews to you all, but did you know you can keep up with all of our content and help us by subscribing to Paul Leslie’s YouTube channel? We need to get about 700 more subscriptions to meet our goal. It’s going to be tough, but maybe you’ll hit the subscribe button and also ring the bell.

There’s no party like a Rockin’ Dopsie party, so on that note all we have to do now is enjoy.

#937 - William Buffett Oct 02, 2023

Show notes

#937 - William Buffett

The William Buffett Interview is featured on The Paul Leslie Hour.

Are you here, sir or madame? It’s The Paul Leslie Hour and I want to know…are you here gentle listener?

I’ll tell you right now, this interview with internationally renowned painter William Buffett was recorded on tape in Nashville, Tennessee. More precisely, the short interview was captured on cassette tape. That tape was then broadcast on the radio. And now, you kind folks are able to listen on a variety of platforms…all for free.

Our special guest William Buffett is an artist whose paintings of New Orleans Jazz musicians and tropical and coastal landscapes have been reproduced and made popular around the world. So, you should know William Buffett was born in Lincoln, Nebraska in 1935 and graduated from the Art Center College of Design in Southern California. The shores of the Pacific Ocean with picturesque palm trees and glimpses of the sea have always dominated his artwork. He became interested in New Orleans Jazz in his youth and New Orleans jazz players went on to become a lasting subject in his paintings.

It is our pleasure to feature an interview with William Buffett--an artistic genius with something to say. Looking at his paintings you can almost feel the breezes of the ocean or hear the sounds of the jazz bands down in New Orleans. Stay tuned for William Buffett's fascinating story.

Before we begin, just know that getting interviews like this out there and into the world is an ongoing and seemingly endless effort. You can help give yourself and others the gift of stories. Simply go here.

And with all of this stated, gentlemen and gentle ladies, I say let’s listen together to our interview with the great artist William Buffett.

#936 - Bob Vernon Sep 29, 2023

Show notes

#936 - Bob Vernon

The Bob Vernon Interview is featured on The Paul Leslie Hour.

Are you here? If you’re here listening to The Paul Leslie Hour, let me just state for the record that although our show is light-hearted, we don’t take YOU being here lightly at all.

We have an interview from the archives. This was your host Paul Edward Leslie’s very first interview with Bob Vernon.

Bob Vernon was a legend in the world of Louisianan music. In Louisiana, Bob was what they call a “hall of famer.” He was born in 1947 in Louisiana in and passed away in 2020. It’s believed Bob passed away in California.

Bob Vernon began his journey into music with the drums. He produced and engineered the recordings of artists like Elvis Presley, Fats Domino, Jerry Lee Lewis, James Brown, Hank Williams Jr., Sam and Dave, Ray Charles, Paul Shaffer and the Neville Brothers. Vernon helped found the Louisiana Music Association and also served as manager of the legendary Fats Domino from 1983- 1990.

A brilliant speaker with the gift of storytelling, Bob Vernon joined Paul for an interview. It was the beginning of a friendship that continued until his passing. If you enjoy this interview, you can also find the Mardi Gras-themed interview Bob did on this show.

We ask that you consider subscribing to Paul Leslie’s YouTube channel. And if you get a moment hit the “like” button and leave a comment down below. We have lots more content coming your way. And we thank you.

Let’s hear the tape. Bob Vernon, you are missed sir.

#935 - Five O'Clock Somewhere - Don Rollins & Jim "Moose" Brown Sep 27, 2023

Show notes

#935 - Five O'Clock Somewhere - Don Rollins & Jim "Moose" Brown Interview

Are you here? …. Just where are you? Whether you’re in New York or Los Angeles, well, really anywhere in the world—five o’clock is synonymous with calling it a day and enjoying a cold beverage. Maybe your cold drink is the famous Hurricane cocktail made famous by Pat O’Brien’s bar in New Orleans. We heard our friend Dave Hooser was hanging around in the French Quarter, but he didn’t necessarily wait till five o’clock. He knew it was…five o’clock (pause) somewhere.

Most of you know the song “It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere” that was recorded and made famous by Alan Jackson and the late Jimmy Buffett. It became a very important song for Jimmy Buffett. “It’s Five O'Clock Somewhere” remains Jimmy Buffett’s only #1 hit. He performed it close to 600 times over the last 20 years. In fact, Jimmy sang it as a duet with Mac McAnally at his very last performance on July 2nd, 2023.

Your host Paul Leslie had the honor and pleasure of interviewing Don Rollins and Jim “Moose” Brown, the two songwriters who wrote the hit “It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere.” The interview took place in a recording studio in Nashville, Tennessee—years and years ago. We’ll play it shortly.

“It’s Five O Clock Somewhere” written by Rollins & Brown catapulted Jimmy Buffett even more into the public spotlight and gave him lots of airplay on country radio. It spent 8 non-consecutive weeks at #1 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart in the Summer of 2003. The song also won the CMA Award for Vocal Event of the Year as well as the Grammy for Best Country Song of 2003. It was also #17 on the US Hot 100 making it the most successful pop hit for both Alan Jackson and Jimmy Buffett. Billboard named “It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere” as the Most Played Country Song in 2003.

Right quick: The Paul Leslie Hour has been archiving and distributing interviews for more than 19 years. It’s made possible in part by listeners and viewers like you. Give yourself and others the gift of stories, just go right here.

I think it’s time we played this interview with Don Rollins and Jim “Moose” Brown, two very talented songwriters, right here on The Paul Leslie Hour.

#934 - Aaron Neville Sep 25, 2023

Show notes

#934 - Aaron Neville

Aaron Neville is a special guest on The Paul Leslie Hour!

Are you here? Where y’at? Welcome to The Paul Leslie Hour.

We’ve got a real treat for you. We’re honored to welcome legendary singer and songwriter Aaron Neville to the show. Whether solo or on one of his timeless duets, or with the Neville Brothers, there’s no doubt Aaron Neville’s music has affected your heart.

His book TELL IT LIKE IT IS: My Story is out now from Hachette Books. Along with discussion about the book, Paul asks about receiving compliments from Bob Dylan, his friendship with the late Jimmy Buffett and his duet wish list. It's a heart-warming, homespun talk.

We’ve got Aaron Neville comin’ right up, but please subscribe to Paul Leslie’s YouTube channel and don’t forget to ring the bell. If you’re feeling extra kind, like and leave a comment. We thank you and love ya.

And now, it’s time for Aaron Neville. Let’s go.