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:

#463 - Kenny Ascher - A Celebration of Paul Williams Sep 21, 2020

Show notes

463 - Kenny Ascher - A Celebration of Paul Williams

Kenny Ascher is a special guest in our series A Celebration of Paul Williams on The Paul Leslie Hour.

Singer, songwriter, actor and recovery advocate Paul Williams is a much loved popular culture figure. Among his many talents, he's known for many successful songs. He's released studio and live recordings over the last 50 years, but many of his songs have had great success in the hands of other singers.

Paul is widely known for his lyrics and has written many songs with composer Kenny Ascher. In fact one of his most successful and renowned songs is "Rainbow Connection," which he wrote with Ascher and was first heard in The Muppet Movie.

Kenny Ascher is our guest on this episode of The Paul Leslie Hour. Although a couple of topics are discussed, we talk a lot about his friendship and creative relationship with Paul Williams. Ascher's fondness for Paul Williams is evident.

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.

#462 - Jeff Pike - A Celebration of Paul Williams Sep 18, 2020

Show notes

462 - Jeff Pike - A Celebration of Paul Williams

The acclaimed 1979 film The Muppet Movie begins with the world's most beloved green frog, Kermit earnestly singing a beautiful ballad as he strummed his little banjo. The words Kermit sang were written by Paul Williams, one of the greatest songwriters ever. The sublime melody was composed by Paul's friend Kenny Ascher. That song, "The Rainbow Connection," has inspired the lovers and dreamers for decades.

The Paul Leslie Hour presents A Celebration of Paul Williams, a series of interviews expressing appreciation and stories about the great Paul Williams. In this episode we are joined by singer-songwriter, performer and entertainer Jeff Pike. Jeff has performed internationally and is a prolific performing and recording artist.

Jeff Pike's studio interpretation of "Rainbow Connection" is debuting September 19, 2020. Jeff sang, performed all instrumentation, arranged and produced this single and mastering was completed at Abbey Road Studios in London. In the interview Jeff and Paul discuss their mutual love for Paul Williams and the how and why of Jeff's version of the classic ballad. It's a heartfelt conversation between two friends who were brought together through music. You're invited to tune in!

#461 - P. J. O'Rourke Sep 16, 2020

Show notes

461 - P. J. O'Rourke

P. J. O'Rourke is a special guest on The Paul Leslie Hour.

We are pleased to welcome one of America's great commentators, authors and satirists. P. J. O'Rourke has written 20 books on a variety of subjects, some hitting #1 on the New York Times Bestseller list. His newest book is entitled "A Far Cry from the Middle: Dispatches from a Divided Land."

It's a pleasure to welcome the most quoted living man in the Penguin Dictionary of Modern Humorous Quotations. P. J. O'Rourke was called an "itinerant journalist, jester and raconteur" by Jimmy Buffett. We couldn't be happier to be in the presence of P. J. O'Rourke!

#460 - Marc Scibilia Sep 14, 2020

Show notes

460 - Marc Scibilia

Marc Scibilia is a guest on The Paul Leslie Hour, with a musical performance.

Marc Scibilia is an unstoppable force and when you hear his music you'll understand why he's had more than 125 million collective streams. His music has been heard in television, movies and even a Super Bowl ad.

It's an honor to have Marc Scibilia on The Paul Leslie Hour and he even performs a great song of his, exclusively for this show.

#459 - Doyle Grisham Sep 11, 2020

Show notes

459 - Doyle Grisham

Doyle Grisham is a special guest on The Paul Leslie Hour!

This is an interview with pedal steel guitarist, studio musician,performer and member of Jimmy Buffett's Coral Reefer Band, Doyle Grisham. Doyle’s pedal steel guitar playing was once referred to as “tasty” by Rolling Stone magazine, and I have to agree. Some of the artists he has recorded with include Lynn Anderson, England Dan & John Ford Coley, Bill Anderson, Peter Yarrow of Peter, Paul and Mary, Kenny Rogers and the First Edition, Dickey Lee, Jim Glaser, George Jones, Reba McIntire, Dan Seals, Randy Travis, Mel Tillis, Tiny Tim, and many others including countless albums from Jimmy Buffett.

In fact, Doyle played on all of those great classic Buffett songs from the 1970s that featured pedal steel guitar–Come Monday, Why Don’t We Get Drunk…, He Went to Paris, the list goes on and on. In fact, with the exception of one Buffett album–EVERY Buffett album which features pedal steel guitar owes credit to Doyle Grisham. We get the complete story about how Doyle Grisham started on the pedal steel guitar and more.

I look forward to talking with Doyle again someday!

#458 - Charles Fox Sep 09, 2020

Show notes

458 - Charles Fox

Charles Fox is featured on The Paul Leslie Hour.

The legendary composer Charles Fox is an inductee of the Songwriters Hall of Fame. He wrote the music for such songs as “I”ve Got a Name” recorded by Jim Croce, “Killing Me Softly” recorded by Roberta Flack, “Ready to Take a Chance Again” by Barry Manilow and many more. He’s written with some of the greatest lyricists, from Norman Gimbel to Paul Williams.

This interview, recorded for the radio, was conducted shortly after the publication of his autobiography "Killing Me Softly: My Life in Music." It was an honor to speak with one of the greatest composers in American music!

#457 - Jason Burge - It's Still Billy Joel to Me - Vol. 3 Sep 07, 2020

Show notes

It's the ongoing series "It's Still Billy Joel to Me," within The Paul Leslie Hour where we co-review all of the studio albums (in chronological order) of singer-songwriter Billy Joel. This is Vol. 3 - "Streetlife Serenade."

Co-reviewers Paul Leslie and Jason Burge discuss the third and not as well known Billy Joel record "Streetlife Serenade." The album was produced by Michael Stewart. Recorded and released in 1974, this was the follow-up to the acclaimed "Piano Man," album. It contains 10 tracks, with 8 songs (including Joel's celebrated song "The Entertainer) and 2 instrumental pieces.

It's another compelling discussion between two dedicated Billy Joel aficionados. It's right here on The Paul Leslie Hour.

#456 - Jimmy Fortune Sep 04, 2020

Show notes

456 - Jimmy Fortune

Jimmy Fortune raises the bar when it comes to American music today. As a singer, songwriter, guitarist and recording artist, his 21 years with the Statler Brothers have secured him with the title of legendary.

One day after eating a great meal at Cracker Barrel, I came across this CD: Jimmy Fortune Sings the Classics, featuring his covers of some of the greatest songs in history. The album features "Make the World Go Away," "Take Me Home, Country Roads," "Danny's Song," "Unchained Melody," "Flowers on the Wall," "Take It to the Limit," "Annie's Song," "Yesterday" and "Bridge Over Troubled Waters," and I haven't even listed them on.

I asked myself in that moment, "I wonder if we could get Jimmy Fortune on the show?" Fate is kind, my friends. Where's The Paul Leslie Hour? It's right here.

#455 - Anna Wilson Sep 02, 2020

Show notes

455 - Anna Wilson

This is an interview with Anna Wilson which was originally broadcast on FM radio in Charleston, South Carolina. Anna Wilson exists at the intersections of country, jazz and late 70s California rock. She's a singer, songwriter and artist through and through.

I was first exposed to her singing through the Grand Ole Opry and was very impressed with her singing and also range of styles. There is a link between the Great American Songbook and Country music and Anna Wilson understands this.

It was a great interview with a great singer and it's right here on The Paul Leslie Hour.

#454 - Sylvia Aug 31, 2020

Show notes

454 - Sylvia

This episode of The Paul Leslie Hour features an interview with Sylvia that was originally recorded for the radio and is now being made available to all of you here on the podcast.

Singer-songwriter and recording artist Sylvia talks about her life as an artist in the world of country and Americana music and her other calling as a life coach. Sylvia is a very open person and I learned a lot from her.

It's an interesting look at one of the most celebrated women in country music. It's right here on The Paul Leslie Hour.