TOP TALENT with Richie Phillips
Podcast focusing on TALENT (duh) either residing in or coming to Albany's Capital Region by CMA award winning morning radio host Rhymin' Richie Phillips
Listen on:
Episodes
Monday Feb 24, 2020
Monday Feb 24, 2020
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
Tuesday Feb 11, 2020
Tuesday Feb 11, 2020
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!
Monday Jan 20, 2020
Monday Jan 20, 2020
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!!
Friday Jan 17, 2020
Friday Jan 17, 2020
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!
Monday Dec 30, 2019
Monday Dec 30, 2019
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!
Monday Dec 23, 2019
Monday Dec 23, 2019
This was an honor and a privilege to be able to highlight student talent in Albany's Capital Region, specifically Mohonasen High School in Rotterdam. Dylan Smith and Laura Rickard are both talented musicians who have taken it upon themselves to write and record an original composition entitled "Seconds" (Disclaimer here- this is a demo of their final production- I forgot to mention this in the interview- it's a work in progress. Laura and Dylan are members of a band at the school who's members are going to add tracks to this, and I will post the final work when I get it)
Special thanks to their music teacher, Gail Sparlin, for her leadership and source of inspiration to these students.
There are so many schools who have "nixed" their music programs altogether. It's so great to see at least one school here that seems to put a unique emphasis on music education.
ROCK ON!!! Please feel free to spread this podcast around to let everyone hear the song!!!
Tuesday Dec 10, 2019
Tuesday Dec 10, 2019
It took awhile to make this happen, with many bumps along the way technically (apologies for the sketchy audio here -and you should have heard it BEFORE I fixed it!), but here it is- my EXCLUSIVE interview with the Capital Region's very own-- WEATHERMAN G!
It began as a hobby and he has fast become a local and regional phenomenon with thousands of facebook followers -eagerly waiting for his next round of colored charts and important prognostications! And he's incredibly accurate as we all know, though we know so little about him - UNTIL NOW!!
You'll be entertained and you'll learn about the finer points of weather forecasting. (He also has some pretty specific info about what mother nature has in store for us this year - you won't want to miss that!)
PLUS - I have written him a theme song, cuz I thought he needed it. That's included as well...
ENJOY!
Monday Nov 18, 2019
Monday Nov 18, 2019
It's Top Talent :Radio Legends -Series 1: Fun interview with old friend and former colleague from radio station WGNA in Albany NY, "Dick Stark After Dark". There are fun anecdotes from our time on the air, we discuss the changes in the radio biz, famous folks we ment, plus there's a clip of a song he cowrote with his brother David - recorded in Nashville-
PLUS special surprise guests, including some other legends-yes- my 17 year morning radio partner and great friend - SEAN MCMASTER from my years on the SEAN AND RICHIE SHOW. (Sean and wife Andrea are now on B95.5 in Albany). We also hear from our old boss, former program director and radio icon RONALD "BUZZ" BRINDLE, PLUS a distraught listener of Dick's who was callously insulted by him on the air years ago. He gets equal time on this podcast!
I also include at the end (36 minutes in) a novelty song that I wrote years ago to answer the question " Where's the better place to live- upstate or downstate New York? It's my "RHYMATORIAL" hopefully for your enjoyment!
(New service! I'll write a song for that special someone -delivered by email- I call this "RichieRhymes". Samples at the link below
My website https://hirerichie.com/richie-rhymes
Songs Dick has co-written with brother David :
https://wwwreverbnation.com/davidstark/songs
His bio link:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/richardstarkcharlotte
(New service! I'll write a song for that special someone -delivered by email- I call this "RichieRhymes". Samples at the link below
My website https://hirerichie.com/richie-rhymes
Tuesday Nov 05, 2019
Tuesday Nov 05, 2019
Interview with Cohoes, New York, Albany area and Capital Region resident: Season 17 finalist from American Idol, Madison Vandenburg.
Almost all questions in this episode come from Facebook fans. Thanks for your contributions!
I also play "This is Your Life" with her to see if she can identify "the mystery voice" from her past!
Order her new song "What I'm Looking For", her merch and catch up on her upcoming appearances at https://www.madisonvandenburg.com/
Looking for music and entertainment for your next event? Conferences, weddings, retirement parties, corporate functions ? I can write you a customized song about your group!
Info and testimonials at www.hirerichie.com/testimonials or www.rhyminrichie.com/testimonials
(both take you to the same place)
Do you know someone who is super dooper, over the top talented? I'd love to have them on! Shoot me an email https://rhyminrichie.com/contact
Find me on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/rhyminrichie
Twitter www.twitter.com/Rhyminrichie
Tuesday May 21, 2019
Tuesday May 21, 2019
Meet Emily who is part of a much needed new generation of police officers coming forward to serve their communities. We dive into her background and her very touching story of what motivated her to join the “Men and Women in Blue”
Interested in music for your next event. Check out my website at www.rhyminrichie.com
I've had tremendous luck in my career. 30 years in morning radio! I got to show my talents (sounds obnoxious to say that, but hey..I have some, and SO DOES EVERYONE in some way). Let me share YOURS! Doesn't HAVE to be musical. You could be famous, trying to be famous, or maybe was at one time. If you are from our area (NY's Capital Region) or coming here, that is what I am focusing on! Please subscribe and leave me a comment or suggestion!