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9/15/25
ProgStock 2025 - October 9-12, 2025 International Progressive Rock Festival The Williams Center, Rutherford, NJ
8/28/25
“The Big Win” – Ready to Read Yacht Rock
"Getting kids into reading and yacht rock is a noble quest!"
-Adam Bernard, Adam’s World Blog
The song, “The Big Win” is a gift for Yacht Rock lovers and their children. Appearing on both the digital release, “Leenie’s Library” and a new album, “Arise Together-Songs to Inspire,” now streaming on all major platforms,“The Big Win” might lay claim as the first Yacht Rock song written and recorded for children.
Featuring
a smooth melody, soft rock vibes, breezy lyrics, and the lucid tenor voice of
Ricky Persaud Jr., the empowering song’s history dates back to the 1980s. Composer
Gail Bluestone and her lyricist sister Eileen Bluestone-Sherman were hot off an
Emmy-win of “The Odd Potato” for Chicago TV, and wrote "The Big Win"
as the opening production number for a children's musical about robots and A.I.
Hence the song’s opening outer space
vibe of zoning into the music!
Gail, who loves timeless R&B and Motown classics including her favorites Ray Charles and Stevie Wonder, as well as the Temptations, the Four Tops, Sly and The Family Stone, plus soulful women artists notably Laura Nyro, Carole King, and the 5th Dimension, used their sensibilities to compose the song’s melody.
Then came the future—the second decade of the 21st Century when both A.I. became a reality and the Bluestone Sisters began work on “Leenie’s Library” with the mission of inspiring the Next Generation of New Readers. They wrote and chose songs from their catalogue with catchy tunes and literacy-building content. Eileen and Gail knew that singer/arranger/multi-instrumentalist Ricky Persaud Jr. was the man for the job. His rhythmic tribute “Selena” to the slain Latina pop star was played on regional and indie radio, and a favorite among Eileen, Gail, and their friends. Gail said, “Ricky is a gifted musician with a great thirst for learning, a great ear for listening, and great creativity with sound. He is a perfect collaborator and a true perfectionist.” Ricky is “The Big Win’s” sole instrumentalist, playing all the instruments and singing the song! Instrumentation on the piece includes keyboards, bass guitar, drums, glockenspiel/percussion. Ricky’s influences are like other musicians in the Yacht Rock community, including Prince, Jimi Hendrix, The Beatles, Nirvana, Bob Marley and—of course-- Selena Quintanilla 2.
“Leenie’s Library” is designed to promote literacy through repetition, rhyme, and engaging visuals. The recordings and videos are available for free on YouTube, making it accessible to families and educators everywhere.
“Arise Together-Songs to Inspire” benefits Pickleberry Pie, an organization that provides live entertainment in children’s hospital wards around the nation, comforting ailing children and their parents at the most difficult of times.
A.I., the initial inspiration of “The Big Win” before the technology came to be, states these immortal words about the song, “If this is the beginning of a new genre—Yacht Rock for Kids—it might be ‘The Big Win’ is a simple part of musical history!”
Brian Tarquin Receives Two Josie Nominations Guitarist/Label Head Continues to Produce and Support Good Causes
Brian Tarquin has received his 7th and 8th nominations from the Josie Music Awards in Nashville. This year The Josies nominated him as Guitarist of the Year and his record label BHP Music-Guitar Trax as Label of the Year. "The Josie Music Awards are the real deal! There are no entry fees, no buying awards if you win, no BS like so many so-called award shows. It is purely based on the merit of the artist's talent. No buying vanity awards!" Brian previously won Best Music Video for “Speed of Sound,” his A.I. collaboration with Joe Satriani and Best Instrumental Album of the Year for "Beyond the Warrior's Eyes."
The Josie Music Awards in Nashville will be held at the Grand Ole Opry on November 2. Created by Josie Passantino-Boone and her mother Tinamarie Passantino, the Josies honor independent artists from many genres around the globe. This event since its inception in 2015 is known for its grand, glamorous red-carpet, memorable award presentations, spectacular live performances, legendary recognitions, special presentations, and the positive, supportive atmosphere.
Multi-Emmy award winning Brian Tarquin is an established top rate composer/guitarist/ producer. Over the past 30 years he has enjoyed Top 10 radio hits in several formats as Smooth Jazz, Roots Music Awards, NACC Loud Rock, Metal Contraband, Jam Band & CMJ’s RPM charts. His music has been heard by tens of millions on a plethora of television and film scores such as: “CSI,” “Ellen,” “Extra,” “TMZ,” “60 Minutes,” “Sex and the City,” “20/20,” “SNL,” “Godzilla,” “Seinfeld,” “Cheers,” “Charmed,” “Good Morning America,” “The Watcher” (Keanu Reeves), “Desert Heat” (Van Damme), “The Sender” (R. Lee Ermey), and “National Lampoon’s Repli-Kate” (Ali Landry)….
Since 2009,
Brian’s produced a range of fusion and rock compilations for his record label, BHP
Music-Guitar Trax to help charities. Recent causes have included support for Catholic
Charities of Central Florida and Hope for the Warriors.
Voices on the Hudson Premieres Sept. 7 in Nyack w/ Jeremy Aaron & Kirsten Maxwell
Nyack, NY, August, 2025:
Voices in the Heights, in collaboration with ArtsRock and The Angel Nyack, is
proud to announce the launch of its satellite concert series, Voices on the
Hudson, premiering Sunday, September 7, 2025, at 4:00 p.m., at The Angel Nyack
(18 South Broadway, Nyack, NY).
This series is designed to
offer intimate, high-quality musical experiences featuring distinctive voices
singing original songs. Their premiere concert will feature Nyack native Jeremy
Aaron and the generational talent Kirsten Maxwell in an evening that promises
warmth, nuance, and artistry.
Featured Artists:
Jeremy Aaron, a
homegrown talent from Nyack, crafts intimate
songs that portray modern society, the nature of love, and the
challenges we all face. His poetic style incorporates jazz, soul, pop, and
folk. His guitar stylings are rich and complex, and he occasionally adds fiddle
music to the mix. Founder of The Greenwich Village Showcase, he has performed
at venues and festivals both as a solo artist and with bands Spuyten Duyvil and
Gangstagrass. As award-winning singer-songwriter Christine Lavin
remarked: “If you have Tim Buckley and Dave Van
Ronk on your shelf, make a little extra room for Jeremy Aaron.”
Kirsten
Maxwell’s powerful vocals and well-crafted songs have
propelled her into being one of the most dynamic singer-song-writers on the
acoustic music scene today. She has toured with
Judy Collins and opened for the likes of Melissa Etheridge, Tanya Tucker, and
The Bacon Brothers. Judy Collins describes Maxwell as “an amazing writer and
powerful, evocative singer whose performances are a sheer joy.” In 2020, she was one of five artists selected to
receive a grant from the Joe’s Pub Working Group—an artist development program
of The Public Theater in NYC.
Series Vision and Future
Lineup:
Voices on the Hudson continues
this fall, bringing more extraordinary artists to the historic ambiance of The
Angel Nyack:
Sunday, October 19, 2025,
at 4:00 p.m.
Spencer LaJoye and Lula
Pilar perform. LaJoye, known for queer indie folk, combines crystalline vocals,
loop pedals, and heartfelt storytelling, earning accolades like the 2021
Kerrville Songwriting Competition and 2024 Songwriter Serenade. Lula Pilar, a
Nyack-raised singer-songwriter, invites audiences into her intimate world of
indie pop and jazz–infused acoustic music, blending nature metaphors and
winding melodies—featured on Yale’s “Tiny Dorms” series.
Sunday, November 16, 2025,
at 4:00 p.m.
Eureka Shoes, a powerhouse
trio of Charlie Burnham, Jean Rohe, and Skye Soto Steele—backed by bassist
Rashaan Carter—will deliver lush three-part harmonies, twin fiddles, and a
fusion of jazz, folk, and pop, with emotionally rich lyrics.
“America” (from West Side Story) The New Single from the Grammy®️ Winning Guitar Trio, The String Revolution featuring 5x Grammy®️Nominated Sax player Lakecia Benjamin
An adventurous, genre-blending reimagining of the West Side Story classic. This powerful arrangement features Lakecia Benjamin on saxophone, Luis Conte on percussion, and Byron House on upright bass, with The String Revolution’s signature guitar arrangement artistry.
Recorded at Cash Cabin and Produced by
John Carter Cash and Steve Schnur, engineered by Trey Call and Rafa Sardina,
and mastered by Emerson Mancini, this track celebrates the diversity and
dynamism of America through bold musical storytelling.
"America" taps into a diversity of music
resources that evoke the mid-century melting pot with a modern flourish. Hoping
this fresh take will win new fans."
-Paul Cavalconte, Radio Host- WFUV, WBGO, WQXR-New York
“This is GREAT!”
- Tom Morello, Guitarist, Rage Against the Machine
“Loved it!!! Great musicianship by all involved and a totally refreshing take
on a classic song. Brings a smile to my face. Well done!!!”
-Emilio Castillo - Bandleader for Tower of Power
The
String Revolution won for “Best Arrangement Instrumental Acapella” for their
collaboration with Tommy Emmanuel of Johnny Cash’s “Folsom Prison Blues.” The String Revolution was originally formed in 2015 by
Randy Rhoads student Janet Robin who was influenced by her time in Lindsey
Buckingham’s first solo band and it’s 5-member “guitar army.” Named in the “Top
50 Acoustic Guitarist bonus list” by Guitar Player Magazine, 2017, Janet has
played live in bands with Meredith Brooks, Air Supply, as a member of Precious
Metal…. The String Revolution also features award winning and Master of the
Arts, Austrian guitarist Markus Illko, and Cuban multi-instrumentalist and
guitarist Rober Luis.
Photo 1: Rober Luis & Lakecia Benjamin
Photo 2: Janet Robin and Markus Illko and engineer Rafa Sardina
Photo 3: Janet upfront, L to R Rafe, Lakecia, and Rober
8/26/25
Jon Provost & Laurie Jacobson on the Anne Leighton Inclusion Interview Show
8/10/25
Ian Anderson & Anne Leighton Talk About Cats & Music
My interview on Cats and Music with Ian Anderson goes live at 8 am ET/1 pm UK/5 am PT on Sunday, August 10. Stories from this interview will be included in a speech I'll deliver this Thanksgiving for an online Cats and Music Symposium presented by Leuphana University of Lüneburg in Germany. The topic focuses on my timeless classic artists--Jethro Tull, Grand Funk Railroad, and Renaissance's Annie Haslam--helping cats. including rescue groups and taking in strays.
I plan to make these interviews a regular thing beyond just my artists, and will do interviews with many more music people that have helped cats and learned from them!
7/29/25
Lisa Torem on the Anne Leighton Inclusion Interview Show
7/22/25
Christmas in July
Santa's Got a Brand New Bag Tom Ciurczak male vocals, similar timbre as Bruce Springsteen, rock band with horns. This song is about Santa getting a new bag. The first few notes sound like James Brown's "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag," but the song swings into theatrical rock. It mentions the children all over the world, way up in the sky.''
Christmastime in Hollywood Tom Ciurczak upbeat rock with sleighbells, male vocals, looking for the soul of Christmas, thinking of "It's a Wonderful Life." trying to imagine life with snow in Hollywood, "None of this is real in tinsel town." "I just want my Christmas to be with you" jingle bells interludes.
A Million Matzoh Balls Dean Friedman acoustic guitar with male singer and children, humorous folk-show tune, tall story about his mama making a million matzoh balls, and everywhere they were at his home! "There were so many matzoh balls I didn't know what to do!"
A Million Matzoh Balls | Dean Friedman
Ave Maria (Instrumental) Stephen Melillo instrumental, slow, strings of classical piece, “Ave Maria.”
Glogg Emily Hurd Clever lyrics like “Let’s go shovel the sidewalk in a relative sense.” There is an underpinning lyric “Because there’s wine” throughout the song. bells and electric guitar.
I Ruined Christmas Refestramus Contemporary art-rock band, female fronted-vocals like Miley Cyrus, bells, "I ruined Christmas this year...It's like I told you before, it won't happen again, my dear." This is a list of things she's done to reindeer, family members, and the eggnog!
Never Take Love For Granted Dan Berggren Shopping in the malls for Christmas. “You’ll never take love for granted if you always give love in return.” Male bass/baritone and acoustic guitar. Folk styled.
7/15/25
Charu Suri on The Anne Leighton Inclusion Interview Show
7/11/25
Sharon Katz & The Peace Train - September 2025 East Coast Shows
and get ready for a New Song Book!
Put on your Dancing
Shoes, bring your singing voice & join Sharon Katz & the Peace Train Coast
to Coast celebratory concerts and release of The Peace Train Songs &
Stories Book!
Thursday Sept. 18th - New York
City
Joe's at The Public Theater (Joe's Pub)
425 Lafayette St.,
NY, NY 10003
https://publictheater.org/performances-jp/2025/s/sharon-katz-the-peace-train/
and
Saturday Sept. 20th – Philadelphia
The Folk Factory at the Unitarian Church of Mount Airy
6900 Stenton Ave., in Philadelphia
https://app.arts-people.com/index.php?ticketing=folk
Special Guests: Anna Crusis Feminist Choir
also
Saturday &
Sunday Sept. 28th -29th
South African Food, Wine
& Music Festival at Grayhaven Winery, 4675 W. Grey Fox Cir, Gum Spring, VA
https://southafricanwinefestival.com/
For more information and tickets: SharonKatz.com
The Peace Train band features Sharon on guitar and vocals, Wendy Quick (vocals); Richard Hill Jr. (bass), Suzzette Ortiz (keyboards); Eric Roberts (Drums); Jan Jeffries (Percussion) and David Church (sax & flute).
World renowned for leading South Africa’s first 500-voice multiracial and multicultural performing
group to help promote Nelson Mandela’s election in
Post-Apartheid South Africa, Sharon Katz is a guitarist,
singer and composer from Gqeberha (formerly Port Elizabeth/ Nelson Mandela Bay)
in South Africa. A multiple award-winning film, When Voices Meet was
made about Katz’s social activism.
In recent years, she has
facilitated musical projects with children living on the USA Mexico border, who
survived torture and trafficking rings in San Diego and Tijuana. Sharon has
conceived and directed productions with orchestras, and choirs in South
Africa, the United States, Cuba and Mexico and has many albums to her credit
including the most recent “We Can Be The Change” and “For You.”
This year she’ll be
publishing a multi-media songbook, “Songs and Stories of Sharon Katz &
The Peace Train” featuring ten of the Sharon’s songs along with choral
parts, guitar chords, and archival photographs of The Peace Train project. The
book also features QR codes and links to videos and recordings of the songs.
Look for the book’s physical and digital release on all platforms on September
18th.
Songs from the new Songbook
will be performed at the upcoming concerts, as well as songs from other albums
that have been on the Grammy ballot. She will
include favorite covers from South African
superstars, most notably Miriam Makeba.
Sharon has worked with
Ms. Makeba, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Pete Seeger, and is
featured on the “Carnival!” album with Sting, Madonna and Elton John. In
2019 she received the Phil Ochs Award in recognition of her music and activism.
In addition to the
September concerts on the East Coast, this October, the San Diego based
Classics4Kids will present 7 concerts featuring Sharon Katz performing with the
Classics4Kids Philharmonic Orchestra. Several of the songs in “Songs and
Stories of Sharon Katz & The Peace Train” will be on the program that will
reach thousands of San Diego school students.
7/10/25
Michael Veitch - The Lucky Ones
7/9/25
Robin Batteau's “Banned In Sparta”
Collaborative
Album with Classical Greek Poets and Modern Folk Singers
On July 11, Robin Batteau is releasing “Banned in
Sparta,” a new collaborative album of songs based on poems by Classical Greek
poets, and recorded by friends Tom Paxton, Eric Andersen, Carolyn Hester, Livingston
and Kate Taylor, Matt Nakoa, Robin Lane, 2-time Tony winning actor James
Naughton and his gifted children Keira and Greg. Robin was inspired by an
Ancient Greek History class he took when he returned to Harvard during the
Pandemic to finish a degree he started in the 1960s. Robin earned the World
Record of taking a 50-year break (between 1970 to 2021) to return to Harvard and
finish his degree in 2022.
“Banned In Sparta” focuses almost
entirely on poets from Ancient Greece between 700 and 400 BC. One
poet, Gaius Valerius Catullus (84 – 54 BC), as smitten with the ghost
of Sappho as Robin or Alcaeus, is from Rome during Julius Caesar’s reign, for
whom Eric Andersen performs “Cross (of Gold),” an ode
to interlaced and conflicted feelings, “Odi et Amo"— I hate
and I love.
The title “Banned in Sparta” finds its
name from Archilochus, the Bob Dylan of the 7th century
B.C., a warrior-poet so irreverent he was “Banned in Sparta.” James
Naughton sings the song “Archilochus Re-Deemed (I Am a Servant of the Lord
God of War).” Kate Taylor performs “Telesilla’s On the Wall,” from the
female poet Telesilla, who led her fellow women warriors to
victory against those same renowned Spartans.
“The Greek Lyric poets
performed live, and were the stars of their day,” says Robin. “They
were singer/songwriters, they played the lyre (hence "Lyric") and
danced around the stage like Tom Paxton and Taylor Swift.”
Robin, who studied Ancient Greece
and Integrative Biology at Harvard, found that most of what was left
of the poems were fragments and myth, “So I mosaic-ed songs to reflect their
expressions and intentions— who they were, and are to me.”
A range of female poets contributed to the lyrical
history of Greece including Corrina, whose “In Her Loving Arms” is sung by
Carolyn Hester, and Praxilla’s “The Most Beautiful Thing in the World,” a
hymn to Adonis, sung by Keira Naughton. Sappho’s
writing inspires “Terra Cotta Heart,” sung by Robin Lane.
Livingston Taylor sings “My Sappho, Sweetly Smiling” from the smitten
neighbor and rival Alcaeus.
The fun and frolicking “Shake your Hair (You
Thracian Filly),” sung by Tom Paxton. Pianist and folk singer Matt Nakoa offers
a Bruce Hornsby-like treatment for Simonides of Ceos’s “Theatre
of Memory (Man of Gold).”
Sharing Grammy, Emmy, Clio, and Gold Record
Awards and an Oscar nomination, Robin’s recorded over a
dozen albums with Pierce Arrow, David Buskin
(Buskin & Batteau), and many others. His jingles
feature in long-running, award-sweeping advertising
campaigns from "I'm Lovin' It" for McDonalds to “Can’t
Beat It” for Coca-Cola to "The Heartbeat of America" for
Chevrolet. He’s played his 1898 Scarampella violin with everyone
from Yo-Yo Ma to Benny Goodman to Bruce Springsteen and has had
his melodies sung by Whitney Houston, Aretha Franklin, Judy
Collins, Paul Newman, and more.
His songs
have supported charities and causes, including World Hunger
Year, Ocean Alliance, Bill Clinton's 1992 presidential campaign, and Paul
Newman's Hole in the Wall Gang Camp for kids. The Boston Globe defines his
music with David Buskin as "Acoustic Heaven."
“Banned
In Sparta” songs
“Stolen in Love” (Gorgias) Greg Naughton (vocals: lead, harmony, background, descants), Mark Dann (bass, synths), Robin Batteau— (acoustic guitar (custom 7-string Sigma), Greek Chorus oohs and aahs, fingerpop and heartbeat percussion).
“In Her Loving Arms” (Corinna) Carolyn Hester (lead vocals), Jennifer “Genevieve” Vitanzo (harmony vocals), Jerry Marotta (drums), Mark Dann (bass, electric 12-string guitar, synths) Robin Batteau (violin (1898 Scarampella, muted), Sigma guitar).
“Archilochus Re-Deemed (I Am a Servant of the Lord God of War)” (Archilochus) James Naughton (lead vocal), Jerry (drums), Neale Eckstein (acoustic guitar), Robin (harmony vocals, handclaps, drums, Sigma guitar, violins).
“Telesilla’s on the Wall” (Telesilla) Kate Taylor (lead vocal), Mark Dann (bass, synths), Jerry Marrotta (drums), Robin Batteau (violin, acoustic guitar (1948 Martin 0-17, nylon-strung), background vocals, descant).
“My Sappho, Sweetly Smiling” (Alcaeus) Livingston Taylor (lead vocal, acoustic guitar), Mark Dann (bass, synths), Jerry Marrotta (drums), Robin Batteau (violin, Martin guitar, synths, background vocals, descant).
“Terra Cotta Heart” (Sappho) Robin Lane (lead vocal), Mark Dann (bass, electric 12, synths), Jerry Marrotta (drums), Robin Batteau (Martin guitar, drums, percussion).
“Shake Your Hair (You Thracian Filly)” (Anacreon) Tom Paxton (lead vocal), Eric Schwartz (piano, organ), Mark Dann (bass, synths), Neale Eckstein (acoustic guitar, drums),Robin Batteau (Sigma, drums).
“Man of Gold (Theater of Memory)” (Simonides) Matt Nakoa (lead vocal, piano, synths, bass, drums, electric guitar).
“How Can You Love Me” (Stesichorus) Robin Batteau (lead vocal, harmony vocals, Martin, violins, synths, drums, percussion), Yani Batteau (harmony vocal, banjo), Neale Eckstein (drums, percussion).
“The Most Beautiful Thing in the World” (Praxilla) Keira Naughton (lead vocal), Robin Batteau (Martin Guitar).
“Cross” (Catullus) Eric Andersen (lead vocal), Abby Newton (cello-1897 Scarampella), Mark Dann (bass, synths), Robin Batteau (Martin guitar), violin, percussion (inspired by Marshal Rosenberg)
7/6/25
Anne Leighton Inclusion Interview Show on YouTube
Just joined the 100 subscribers on YouTube club. VIRTUAL HIGH-FIVE! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCshqROg9L1za-pdih2bmrMA #YouTube #WorkInProgress #InterviewShow #FriendsAndFamily #Fans #Inclusion
6/30/25
Peppy Castro on the Anne Leighton Inclusion Interview Show
