Meet Jonny Rely! Jonny is founder of the rock band Black And Grey from Rhode Island (And Boston) multi-time cancer survivor, and long time friend of host, David Earl Waterman. Jonny surprised us by sending us Five songs from his band, Black And Grey. He gives us the story of how the band and band name came to be, his time in (and getting kicked out of) college, how exactly he met David, the troubles with living in England, and the secrets and the grit he mustered up to not only survive but kicks cancer's butt.
These are the songs that influenced these stories:
Black And Grey "The Legend Of The SubAtomic Man"
Black And Grey "Check Out Girl"
Black And Grey "Don't You Worry"
Black And Grey "I Will Be Your Light"
Black And Grey "This Is My War"
Want to learn more about Jonny Rely and his songs and music? Find him on Facebook and reach out!
Plus, feel free to reach out to the show at ytunesshuffle@gmail.com.
Jennifer Vally is a writer and producer at The Game Show Network, she's worked as a writer for The Disney Chanel, and Oxygen and touring comedian originally from San Diego, now living in Los Angeles.
These are the Fave 5 Songs she brought to the show and a few nuggets about each artist from this episode!
MOTT THE HOOPLE “All The Young Dudes (1972)
The band suffered through some terrible band names including The Doc Thomas Group, The Shakedown Sound, and Silence. Later, while Guy Stevens from Island Records (who liked the group, just not with their current lead singer) came up with the Mott The Hoople as their name from a Willard Manus Novel of the same name. It's about a guy who works in a circus freak show.
GENE AUTRY “You Are My Sunshine” (1941)
“The Singing Cowboy” used to own the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim until 1997. He is the only person to be awarded stars in all five categories on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for film, TV, music, radio and live performance.
TONY BENNETT “I Left My Heart In San Francisco” (1962)
Tony would sing to customers while waiting tables as a teenager.
TEARS FOR FEARS “Shout” (1984)
The group loved the psychologist Arthur Janov. This song was inspired by his primal therapy treatment which worked by having patients confront their fears by shouting or scream. In fact their band name came from Janov's book “Prisoners Of Pain”
B.o.B. W/BRUNO MARS “Nothin' On You”
Bruno Mars says he tried to capture the sound of The Flamingos' song “I Only Have Eyes For You.” He said “What girl doesn't want to hear that?!”
Follow Jennifer Vally on Instagram or Twitter to talk more music and stand up.
You can also reach out to the show at ytunesshuffle@gmail.com!
MILES CRAWFORD is a filmmaker and performer in Los Angeles. He had big success with films like “I Forgot My Phone,” and “Drum Off” which premiered at LACMA and even featured on The Huffington Post.
Miles has performed extensively with the Off-Broadway show STOMP and has played drums for Eminem, Ringo Starr, Red Hot Chili Pepers, & Art Garfunkel.
These are songs he brought to the show. Find out why in his episode, found here!
Sister Wynona Carr “The Ball Game” (1952)
Wynona Carr wrote most of her songs herself!
DARWIN DEEZ “DNA” (2010)
Dawin Merwan Smith is the frontman's full name. Darwin has been a guitarist (for Creaky Boards) and a rapper.
TALKING HEADS “Once In A Lifetime” (1980)
Lead singer David Byrne was born in Scotland, but lived iin the US since the age of eight. He only became an American officially because finally someone at a polling place cross-checked his ID and told him couldn't vote. So he went through the whole process to legally vote.
THE NEW BASEMENT TAPES “When I Get My Hands On You” (2014)
A SUPER group with Jim James (My Morning Jacket), Elvis Costello, Marcus Mumford (Mumford and Sons), Taylor Goldsmith (Dawes) and Rhiannon Giddens (Carolina Chocolate Drops)
This group was brought together to record dozens of songs based on song lyrics that Bob Dylan wrote back in 1967. The group was filmed for a Showtime Documentary called “Lost Songs: The Basement Tapes Continued”
NINA SIMONE “My Baby Just Cares For Me” (1958)
This song resurfaced in 1987 for a Chanel ad. She was pissed because the song was re-released and peaked at #5 on the UK charts and she saw NO royalty checks for her work.
If you loved this episode and want to learn more about Miles, you can follow his work through his website or on Instagram.
If you loved the show and would love to connect, please email Maggi & David at ytunesshuffle@gmail.com.
JONAH KOSLEN is most known for his work with the Michael Stanley Band (MSB). A composer, producer and performer, Koslen has written some of rock n'roll's best songs including "Waste A Little Time On Me,” “Strike Up The Band” and “Nothings Gonna Change My Mind.”
Koslen left MSB in 1977 to work with another successful band, Breathless, the following year. Breathless had the distinct pleasure to open for KISS.
He's even worked with some interested folks including Tiffany, Jimmy Crespo (Aerosmith) Gilby Clark (Guns N Roses) and appeared on tv with Wayne Newton. He also appeared at Farm Aid with Bonnie Bramlett in Bandaloo Doctors and then wrote and recorded several songs for an episode of TV show “Fame."
Here is the music that informs his life:
FOUR SEASONS “Sherry” (1962)
This song was originally called “Terry.” Eventually they settled on Sheri...the daughter of Producer Bob Crewe's best friend, DJ Jack Spector.
CHUCK BERRY “Maybellene” (1955)
Chuck Berry was very careful to sing the lyrics clearly to cross over and have a white audience appeal. He says this is not a rock song, “Maybellene was very much a country song, with country lyrics. Maybe a littler faster but basically it was country.”
THE WHO “Magic Bus”(1968)
In the early days, Roger Daltrey worked in a sheet metal factory and made the band's guitars himself.
SIMON & GARFUNKEL “Mrs. Robinson” (1968)
Art Garfunkel says they probably never would have recorded this song if it weren't for The Graduate. They were about to throw it out, but when director Mike Nichols heard it, he asked them to adapt it for the film.
THE ROLLING STONES “Street Fighting Man” (1968)
Radio stations in Chicago played this song tirelessly. Then the DNC came through Chicago and police met protestors in the streets and suddenly, radio stations (everywhere) wouldn't play this song anymore because they were worried it would bring on more violence.
Want to know why he picked these songs? Make sure to check out this episode of YTunes Shuffle whever you download podcasts!
QUINTON FLYNN is a voice actor extraordinaire! You've heard him as Raiden in “Metal Gear”, Reno in “Final Fantasy VII” also in the Crash Bandicoot video game series.
Here are the songs he brought to the show during his interview.
The Beatles “I Wanna Hold Your Hand”
Bob Dylan thought the line “I can't hide” was actually “I get high” like a marijuana reference. ACTUALLY, John, Paul, George and Ringo had never smoked pot. Dylan became forever a part of their history when he introduced them to it!
Ian Hunter “Cleveland Rocks”
There is some speculation that this was originally written as “England Rocks.” But Ian Hunter has interviewed many times about this song, saying that the coastal U.S. Didn't like the glam-rock scene (i.e. David Bowie and Roxy Music). Cleveland was the first place that his first band “Mott The Hoople” sold out a club and though Cleveland really was the coolest place!
American Noise-”Hollywood Boulevard”
This band signed a record deal with Planet Records (Elektra). The label couldn't promote this nationally and then Planet Records went out of business. They self-released one more song, “Statutory Sue.”
Todd Rundgren “Love Is The Answer”
Todd formed his band NAZZ in Philadelphia with drummer, Thom Mooney, and keyboard/vocals Robert Antoni. Their FIRST GIG was in July 1967 opening for THE FREAKING DOORS at the Town Hall in Philadelphia.
The Snozzberries “Pure Imagination”
This is our GUEST!
If you want to keep up with Quinton Flynn and chat him up about music (or video games) follow him on Twitter or Instagram.
MARTIN MORROW is a nationally touring comedian who has been on “Last Comic Standing” and “Inside Joke with Asif Ali." These are the songs he brought with him to YTunes Shuffle:
JOHN MAYER “I Don’t Trust Myself With Loving You
John played clarinet in school and only picked up a guitar because he saw Michael J. Fox do it in “Back To The Future.”
T.I. “Motivation”
TI wrote this song when he was in jail. He was serving time for “parole violation” when cops found a gun in his house. TI says he was wrongly implicated but used this dark moment and turned it into a positive.
PHIL COLLINS “Another Day In Paradise”
Phil doesn’t read music.
2PAC “Dear Mama”
Tupac was the first artist to have a #1 album in jail. When Me Against The World went #1 in 1996.
MICHAEL MCDONALD “Sweet Freedom”
We see McDonald all over tv and movies. Rick Moranis played him in a Second CIty TV sketch, 40 Year Old Virgin plays homage to the singer in an electronics store, Peter Griffin hires Michael in an episode of THe Family GUy, and in The Cleveland Show, McDonald is on of the neighbors.
