TOP TALENT with Richie Phillips

Elton John Tribute Artist Doug Delescavage

In this episode I pay tribute to a TOP TALENTed Tribute Artist -Pennsylvania native Doug Delescavage - of the PHILADELPHIA FREEDOM TRIBUTE BAND .  I happened to catch their act here in July 2023 at the Mohawk Harbor, part of the River Casino complex in Schenectady NY.  Don't miss them if they come your way in the future!  Wow! 
Here we discuss his impressive training, he talks about his day  job --, I try (and fail miserably) to stump him with  Elton Trivia questions, and  you even get a free mini piano lesson here for all you folks just starting out .  
His website if you'd like to hear clips and see his stage setup is www.philadelphiafreedomtribute.com.

Photographer John Bulmer- Colorizing Troy, NY

A little sidestep from my normal musical topics--I wanted to explore talent in another medium- PHOTOGRAPHY.  I happened to see this man's work on Facebook where he expertly colorizes old photographs from downtown Troy way back when. A must see! 
John Bulmer is my guest.  We talk tips, tricks, artificial intelligence, the death of the digital camera (or maybe not) and other topics .   
Check out JohnBulmerPhotography on Facebook to see his incredible work.  
At the end of this, I am debuting a song where I dip my toe into the world of A.I. myself.  I had Chat CPT write the lyrics to a song explaining" how much I love playing my piano".
I put music to it and produced it with harmonies etc just for "you know whats and giggles".  It's toward the end of the episode.  
Hey--speaking of that--looking for a piano?  Digital? Acoustic? Hybrid?.  I know just the place..... HILTON PIANO CENTER, COLONIE CENTER ALBANY.    Check out his website at www.hiltonpianocenter.com  or Bob@hiltonpianocenter.com .

Thirsty Burlington Cher Tribute Artist

We continue with my series of Top Talented Tribute Artists.  This time Scott Townshend, aka THIRSTY BURLINGTON as Cher!!!  We discuss not only the process of transforming into this icon onstage, but also the trials and tribulations of growing up, gender identity, and we also should mention that Thirsty has a movie---aptly entitled THIRSTY - available on Tubi TV, Hulu and other services.  I happened to see it myself and it is powerful to say the least.    
Thirsty is appearing at the Charles Woods Theatre in Glens Falls on 4/15/23.   I hear there are a handful of tix left!!! Call the box office or go to Kevin Richards.com for this and all his upcoming shows - including Randy Travis on 8/26...I will be one of the opening acts!! 
Here is a clip if you would like to see a"Cher"  performance 
 
https://youtu.be/guEC4fDPLXE
                                    SHAMELESS SELF PROMOTION 
Planning a wedding, private party, retirement party, anniversary party, corporate event?  Live and recorded music is available from yours truly.  
SPECIAL OFFER!  BOOK A 3 OR 4 HOUR PARTY BETWEEN NOW AND SEPTEMBER FIRST 2023--and I will  write and perform a song parody about that special someone at your event.  You also get a recorded copy of the song.  (THE PARTY CAN BE ANYTIME, BUT YOU HAVE TO BOOK IT BETWEN NOW AND SEPTEMBER)
 
For testimonials and other information -  www.hirerichie.com - all my contact info is on there.  
Enjoy the podcast!!  
 

JENNA SUE BILL MCGRATH DOLLY AND JOHNNY CASH TRIBUTE SHOW

Another in my series of Tribute Acts episodes.  This time we feature two TOP TALENTS.. Jenna Sue and Bill McGrath, two Albany area musicians taking on the persona of the great Dolly Parton and Johnny Cash for their final performance of their TRIBUTE SHOW  SAT. APRIL 8 at the LITTLE VEGAS WEDDING CHAPEL AND THEATRE in ROTTERDAM NY.   Call 518-419-1334 for reservations.  
FYI.. I’ve also done Billy Joel and Joni Mitchell Tribute Act interviews.  Links below..
https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-phk69-11e9e80
https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-sp4mm-11e435e
 
HIRE ME TO PLAY KEYBOARDS OR DJ YOUR NEXT WEDDING, RETIREMENT, ANNIVERSARY, CORPORATE EVENT ,OR BIRTHDAY PARTY , MENTION THIS PODCAST, AND I WILL WRITE A PERSONALIZED “PICK ME UP PARODY” EITHER PRE RECORDED OR PERFORMED LIVE.  ($199.00 value!)  www.hirerichie.com/contact to get more info
 
 

Guilty!--I Wrote a Song with CHAT GPT

"Why did you climb that mountain? Because it was there". You've heard the saying.  Well, this was a real stretch on my part.  To try to put music to someone else's lyrics.  Especially if it's a computer's!  This was very bizarre, but I would love you to listen.  Plus a discussion (with myself) over the pros and cons of this new transformational technology.
 Try ChatGPT for yourself.    Right now it's free..              chat.openai.com
                          NEW SPONSOR! 
 Want me to write you a personalized song?   
  It's called the PICK-ME-UP PARODY
  Great for retirement parties, employee recognition nites, anniversaries, birthdays and more.  
 
      INFO AT 
 www.hirerichie.com
 
  
  

STEVE AZAR -COUNTRY ARTIST AND PHILANTHROPIST

 This was a special thrill and honor to have this gentleman on here.  You know him from the number one country hits "I Don't Have To Be Me Til Monday", and "Sunshine" plus many others.  Time to catch up with this TOP TALENT to find out what he's doing down in Mississippi - you may be surprised to learn that he now is the author of the Mississippi state song- plus lots of other cool goings-on.  
His newest album is MISSISSIPPI REUNION, but there are many others to choose from.  He hosts a huge podcast called "IN A MISSISSIPPI MINUTE" which is also repeated on talk radio shows throughout his state (in fact, he asked ME to be a guest on his!  
But I digress.  Hope you enjoy this one... I certainly did.
www.steveazar.com for more on this TOP TALENT 
My website btw is www.hirerichie.com.  
Thanks for listening, and thanks for the questions that were submitted! 

ROCK VOICES WITH NATE ALTIMARI

Is it possible that there is a choir group that you can join with no experience and no need to even audition? Yes! It’s called ROCK VOICES! Plus you get to sing awesome music… Nate Altimari is my TOP TALENTED guest-Director of the Capital Region chapter.
  This is such a great community service. I think you’ll enjoy the conversation..
If you’d like more information about the group.. Nate@rockvoices.com
 
BTW.. At the end of this podcast I also include a little ditty that was written  20 years ago… It’s called Dog Shampoo…TRUE STORY! And I did this live on the air as part of my crazy job on WGNA ALBANY as part of the SEAN AND RICHIE show. Just a little bit of nostalgia….
My website btw is http://www.hirerichie.com. There’s old show photos, shots with some of the artists I had the pleasure of meeting and services I can provide for your next event …plus testimonials……   See ya next time…

Mark Pierre -Randy Travis Show Performer

Mark Pierre has always had at least one foot firmly planted in the country music genre for all the years I've known him (we used to be neighbors!) . Successful Investment adviser by day/ country singer and songwriter by nite!  He has played for countless audiences in our area here in Upstate NY.   
Mark has been chosen by show producer Kevin Richards, along with talented singer Jenna Sue and yours truly to perform at the "UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL RANDY TRAVIS SHOW" here at the Charles Woods Theatre in Glens Falls on 9/11/22. We are performing Randy's hits right in front of the man himself, as he is unable to for medical reasons.   You are probably listening to this after the fact, but I wanted to have a talk with him as I have already done with Jenna and Kevin. (those episodes are right below this one) .  
We talk Randy, music in general, and a very interesting story how he actually pounded the pavement himself in Nashville and got VERY CLOSE to having one of his songs released.!

JENNA SUE - TOP VOCAL TALENT

Jenna Sue is one of the artists, along with Mark Pierre and yours truly performing at a show we are doing honoring the great Randy Travis here in Glens Falls New York on 9/11. This was recorded right after a practice for our version of “I Told You So”… 
 

KEVIN RICHARDS AND RANDY TRAVIS SHOW IN GLENS FALLS NY

My talk with Capital Region country radio legend KEVIN RICHARDS and his new venture …an UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL concert with RANDY TRAVIS and other famous 80’s and 90’s country artists to be named.  I also have an exciting role in this show… playing and  his hits right in front of him!   Gulp….