TOP TALENT WITH RICHIE

TOP TALENT WORLD COVID 19 SYMPOSIUM

Although a very serious topic, I will admit this was an amazing experience to be able to undertake- a Zoom conference with great friends from Spain, England,  a newcomer from Atlanta, Georgia (who was in Finland for a year studying) , and here in Albany, NY.
Kelly Jo Hearsey is a photographer and "Super Recognizer) for law enforcement.  Her husband Glenn installs and maintains cash register systems for restaurants and pubs. Both live in Buckinghamshire, England. Don Dworkin is a working musician from the Albany, NY area originally, and now living in  Madrid, Spain.  All 3 are longtime friends.
Dana Haberling's name was given to me by my niece, Kiti Phillips.  Dana is studying for her degree in epidemiology in Atlanta, but studied abroad for a year in Finland.
All of them give a  different "take" and amazing insights into the Covid pandemic from their experiences from where they reside,  and guarantee this will be a fascinating podcast to take a listen to.  
The podcast ends with a bit of levity -  a love song I wrote for Social Distancing.  
There's actually a "video wall" video to go with this featuring talent from the Albany, NY area, including local tv personalities and Albany's Mayor! 
Here is the link https://www.facebook.com/rhyminrichie/videos/10222743260194107/
My website BTW is www.hirerichie.com 
Coming soon - FACEBOOK LIVE PIANO BAR- every other Thursday- 7:30PM taking your requests!   @richiephillips
 

Road Warrior Roundtable 2 - Carmen Lookshire, Jeff Brisbin, Joe Kulewicz of Skeeter Creek

Another great discussion under less-than-happy circumstances.  
We talk to Carmen Lookshire, Jeff Brisbin, and Joe Kulewicz of Skeeter Creek about how these popular Albany Area, Capital Region musicians are dealing with being unable to pursue their live performances.
But we do talk in the positive as well and describe how they are coming up with clever alternatives in spite of the coronavirus. 
Here is how you can follow these TOP TALENTS online:
www.carmenlookshire.com 
on Facebook @CarmenTheSinger
www.jeffbrisbin.com 
Joe Kulewicz at www.skeetercreek.com 
on Facebook @Skeeter Creek
My website (looking for a custom song for that special someone?  Info is on there!, along with booking info, some parody songs, nostalgic old photos etc... 
www.hirerichie.com 
on Facebook @Richie Phillips or Rhyminrichiephillips 
Check out ALL the episodes on here ! (42 and counting).  
 
PS I also include a short calendar of upcoming Facebook Live events featuring other Albany Area musicians ( at the end of the podcast)
Please be safe, and if you love someone - KEEP YOUR DISTANCE (weird seeing those two thoughts together! ) 
 
 
 

Road Warrior Roundtable 1- Erin Harkes, Chris Dollard, Sonny and Perley

If you are fans of these TOP TALENTS-  Erin Harkes, Chris Dollard, Sonny Daye and Perley Rousseau- and there are PLENTY of them in Albany's Capital Region and beyond, I ask that you take 1/2 hour or so of your time and listen to this discussion.
 We all need entertainment and music in our lives, and these folks have been impacted bigly from this horrific pandemic.   They discuss their trials and tribulations here and possible things they are doing in the positive.  (And yes, you'll get some chuckles along the way) 
 This is Roundtable discussion 1- there will be more! 
  To follow them and support them:
  www.erinharkes.com  and click on the Patreon page to help her out 
ChrisDollard on Facebook 
ChrisDollardmusic.com 
Sonnyandperley.com
Sonnyandperley on Facebook

MARK FLEISCHER -BETTY BOOP, POPEYE, AND HISTORY OF ANIMATION

 
Mark Fleischer is the grandson of renowned animation pioneer Max Fleischer, and CEO of Fleischer Studios in California. .  Our connection here is that Max's sister was my brother Bill and my grandmother.  So this is a thrill in many ways to connect with him.  
Thanks again to Ginny Mahoney Max’s granddaughter) for connecting me with Mark in the first place.  It made for a fascinating look into the creations and inventions of Max and his brothers.
 
Go to www.fleischerstudios.com for extensive detailed history and archived cartoons!  
 
 
I dedicate this podcast to all my family members who are branches of this big tree...(I’ll never get to them all......apologies in advance..).  but they include..
 
Ethel (Max Fleischer’s sister) and Ben Phillips (grandparents)
Their 3 Kids and spouses:  Morton and Rosalind Phillips  (mom and dad), 
Larry and Phyllis Phillips (aunt and uncle)
Paula and Maurice Seide (aunt and uncle)
 
THEIR KIDS AND SPOUSES in order of the couples above...
 
Morton and Rosalind Phillips:
RICHIE AND DORRIE PHILLIPS
BILL AND KAREN PHILLIPS
 
Larry and Phyllis Phillips:
DIANE AND DR MARK STENCLIK
NANCY AND MERRICK GOTLIB
DR. PAUL PHILLIPS
 
Paula and Maurice Seide
STEVE AND SUSAN SEIDE
ARLENE AND GEORGE NELSON
 
AND TO THE MANY KIDS OF THOSE KIDS, THEIR SPOUSES AND THEIR KIDS......
 OMG -What did I get myself into!
 
Thanks to my brother Bill Phillips, our son Ben Phillips, niece Jessica Lorenz  and nephew Tyler Phillips, and cousin Steve Seide for contributing questions.  I know my nephew Matt Phillips would have but is in the weeds covering the stock market debacle..
Please enjoy the podcast and I would appreciate if could subscribe and even leave a comment.  It helps greatly!  
And one more thing - if you are planning a function and want entertainment (live keyboards with vocals or recorded music- DJ style.)...go to www.hirerichie.com
 

SANGAH NOONA- PIANIST EXTRAORDINAIRE

This lady is EXACTLY what this podcast was created for.. to expose people to Top Talent..and SANGAH NOONA is IT!  Originally from South Korea, and now living in the Washington D.C. area, Sangah shows us how she has mastered the’88’s on YouTube and Facebook each week as well as in hotels in D.C. , and has a massive fan base to show for it.  (and she can now add ine more to that!)
I stumbled upon her one night accidentally  by Googling “BEATLES PIANO”.  Her interpretations absolutely mesmerized me personally, and she plays EVERY genre imaginable.... Although I focus more on Albany NY area talent, I just HAD to make an exception.  Search her name on YouTube and sit back and you’ll see what I mean...And if you check it out on Sundays, you’ll see her LIVE taking requests! But before you do all that, please take a listen and share if you care!  ( I even wrote her a theme song because “NOONA” rhymes with where I live.. NISKAYUNA!). I couldn’t resist as I am now a HUGE fan, and you will be too!

CARMEN LOOKSHIRE - Top MULTI-TALENT

Write this name down, cuz you're going to see a lot of her in the very near future.  That's my prediction (and hope) for Carmen Lookshire - a very, very talented Capital Region singer/songwritert and actress as well!  
She was recently seen as Toby Ragg in “Sweeney Todd” with Two of Us Productions and as Nina Rosario in Schenectady Light Opera Company’s production of “In the Heights”. Carmen has also performed at various venues with guitarist Joe Carrick in New York, including
Club Helsinki - Hudson
Eden Café-Loudonville
Wellington’s-Albany
Cuckoo’s Nest - Albany
Athos Restaurant
Sperry’s -Saratoga
The Duplex-NYC
     We discuss the music biz in general, her new album "FOR LOVE", her experience recording in the studio,  and some really great advice to singers just starting out in the clubs (especially those in which the patrons don't seem to be paying attention -which is most of them!)  Her website is www.carmenlookshire.com. 
    Mine, by the way, if you are looking for some rollicking piano entertainment for your next event (and I can even write you a personalized song as I did for Carmen..), is 
                                             www.hirerichie.com
 

Talented Albany Newscasters - Benita Zahn

Multi-talented newscaster, actor, singer, and all around pro - the Capital Region's Benita Zahn- is my guest on this episode.  We explore her background, how she balances her work with personal life, and examine the multitude of prestigious awards she has garnered over the years (despite her reluctance to pat herself on the back...) We talk theatre, health, her husband and much more!  She also has a podcast called EVERYTHING THEATRE - available on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get yours!  It airs every other Tuesday (kinda like mine!) 
I also composed a little personalized theme song right at the top to salute her -which reminds me... I did it for her, and I can do one for YOU!
If you have a person you would like to pay tribute to, I can write a song for you that I will record and email for your approval.   You can then forward it to whomever!  Surprise them at work, at home, or play it at their birthday, retirement party, employee recognition nite or the like.  I'm calling them "RichieRhymes", and if you email me at Richie1077@gmail.com I can give you different options.   Go to https://hirerichie.com/richie-rhymes and you can see examples! 

Albany Area Legend Al Bruno

You don't necessarily have to live in the Capital Region to appreciate Al Bruno, but if you do, I'm sure you've either have heard him, seen him, or hired him -but always enjoyed him.  He is one of the musical "Road Warriors" who is out there singing his heart out in clubs and at private events in the Albany area AND BEYOND.  He is even in the process of recording a song in Nashville- produced and written by singer-songwriter and Montgomery Gentry band leader Eddie Kilgallon.  
Al mentions Eddie in this interview along with someone else who he feels was influential in his career, former Albany area DJ Ric Mitchell. Talented singer-songwriter Mirinda James also gets her own props from Al.
I hope you enjoy this interview.  Please subscribe to this podcast!  I would appreciate it greatly! 
My website for booking information BTW is www.hirerichie.com.  I am available for private parties, weddings and company events.  I'll even write you a personalized song!! 
 

“STOP THE BAIL BILL” RHYMATORIAL

This is a little bit of extra content.. a ditty I wrote about the ridiculous law enacted in New York that would prohibit courts in NY from requiring bail money.
I saw people getting riled up on Facebook and Twitter and thought I would try to put it to song !   It’s a rhyming editorial!Please feel free to share this and I invite you to subscribe to the podcast in general!  
 

My 2019 Year End Song

  This podcast is truly a labor of love. It has personal meeting to me because every year since 1988 I have written a year end wrap-up song – and always a parody of the same tune- “WHEN JOHNNY COMES MARCHING HOME”.  No one’s really asked me to do it – and I’m not sure anyone cares if I do or not to be honest – but it’s just something that I thought would almost end up being a musical diary of what’s happened in the world For the past 3 plus decades.   Hopefully my grandson Aaron listen to it someday and will discover what a disturbed Grandpa he had!  In the podcast you’ll hear the very first one that I did in In the podcast you’ll hear the very first one that I did in and my latest.  ENJOY!  Happy 2020!