I genuinely hoped I would never have to write this story. Meeting Dolly Parton and spending extended time talking with her will always remain one of my fondest memories. While having dinner together and talking afterwards, she kept me laughing with her many stories. Dolly made people comfortable with her “down home” personality. She didn’t mind telling you about her flaws.

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.