The very first rock star I ever met was Freddy Cannon. It was by accident. He was doing an in-store promotion in a record shop. I was not aware that he was going to be there when I waked into the store looking to buy something else. That was the last time I spoke with him until just a few months ago when we were both guests on the Father Jim Drucker show. Freddy had a Philadelphia connection. He was the biggest selling artist on the Philly based record company Swan Records until “She Loves You” by The Beatles was…

Not many people become famous become famous in the music business without being a performer. Clive Davis was one of those rare few. Clive Davis didn’t start out to be in the record business. He went to NYU and then got a law degree from Harvard. Oddly, it was the law degree that ended up being his ticket to the music industry. That career lasted from 1960 until his death in 2026.

Dave Mason had a certain style. His music fits nicely on any radio station because it had a certain flow to it. It wasn’t too hard. It wasn’t too slow or pop sounding. His song “Let it go, Let it Flow” is not only one of his songs, but perfectly describes his music. If you listen to the podcast that Dave and I did, you will note that his conversations were also fit his music style. Despite all his accomplishments, he never made much of what he did. And he did many things.

It resembles what could be called an all-music Hall of Fame. Here’s the list. The Black CrowsJeff Buckley*Mariah CareyPhil Collins*Melissa Etheridge*Lauryn Hill*Billy IdolINXS*Iron MaidenJoy Division/New OrderNew Edition*OasisPink*SadeShakira*Luther Vandross*Wu-Tang Clan* * Artists being nominated for the first time. It appears that the Hall of Fame is looking to broaden their base even more every year, but they are steering further away from what constitutes rock. Maybe they should just change the name and be done with any pretense. After looking at the list above listen to my interview with the president and CEO of the R & R Hall of Fame,…