Huey: Sad news. Sam Moore has passed away. He was a great talent, an amazing singer, and 1/2 of Sam and Dave, who brought us “Soul Man,” “Hold On I’m Coming,” “Thank You,” and dozens of others. We had the pleasure of working with him on our PBS concert “4 Chords and Several Years Ago” in Chicago. He was wonderful, and it remains one of my/our favorite memories. He could, as they say, “sing the phone book.” His music will live on.
Huey: Sad news. Local musician Austin de Lone passed away yesterday. He was beloved. A great talent, a great person, and true friend to everyone in the music scene. He played with everyone from Elvis Costello to Jerry Garcia, and was the unofficial “governor” of the Mill Valley music scene. He will be sorely missed.
This week, it’s Huey Lewis! S.E. grew up listening to Huey Lewis and the News and now she gets the chance to ask him all the things — from Huey’s early days busking with his harmonica in Morocco to the surprising impact 80s punk had on him starting his own band. Huey also shares some fun stories about his segue into the movies — with songs in Back to the Future and American Psycho — and then acting. SE also asks how his diagnosis with Meniere’s Disease – a chronic inner ear disorder – has affected his life, his relationship with music, and his mental health. And in the lightning round, SE finds out that she and Huey share a funny and familiar connection. LISTEN HERE
The power of love is headed straight for the Big Easy! Don’t miss your chance to meet music legend, Huey Lewis when he makes his first-ever convention appearance to join the cast of Back To The Future at FAN EXPO New Orleans! Get tickets now!
Huey: When we signed with Chrysalis Records in 1979, Bill Schnee produced our first record. It flopped, despite what I continue to think were some good songs. For our second effort, we auditioned a handful of “hot, up-and-coming” producers, including a guy who was anything but hot or up-and-coming, Jim Gaines. Jim came up in the Stax system, engineered with Steve Cropper and others, and had a southern way about him which was welcome and turned out to be important for our creativity. He lived in Oregon and repaired windshields (a new epoxy system!). I convinced him to quit the windshields and make records with us. He at once demystified the recording process and legitimized our endeavors. After all, he’d engineered Steve Miller’s albums Fly Like An Eagle and Book of Dreams. He encouraged us to experiment and find our way. We fell in love with Jim, and revere him to this day. He was genuine. He was an integral part of our Sports record and so much more. He and our band made wonderful art together. I’m saddened today, but I want the world to know that Jim Gaines was a great talent, a great friend, and he made the world a better place.
Johnny: Over the years I had the pleasure and honor of working with my friend, Engineer/Producer extraordinaire Jim Gaines. From Van, Tower of Power, Stevie Ray Vaughn and countless others, I always felt like I was in the presence of Rock & Roll Studio Royalty working with Gaines, and I eked the stories out of him! Jim had the single most important talent in the recording studio… keep the session positive and make sure it’s fun, as evidenced in this shot from HLN’s ‘Soulsville’ session, Memphis, 2010.I already miss you old pal…
Huey: A giant, and keeper of the American Popular Music flame. I only worked with him on “We Are The World,” but it was wonderful. Much like a great player’s coach, he was a musician’s producer… masterful. His work will of course live on.
Edwin McCain: I’m such a huge fan of Huey Lewis & The News. No one gets how beautiful the songwriting is, how intricate the chord changes are, and how difficult it is to write songs like they did. And have them connect with a pop audience, but then also have the respect of musicians who understand how intricate it is. It’s a master class in space and great chord changes. I stand in awe of what they accomplished.
Their songbook… I would do bad things to be able to sing the songbook of Huey Lewis & The News. Their songbook is outstanding. And what a singer.
I would say I’ve patterned my life after their ethic. (My band and I) always wanted to be journeymen, the band that people respected as musicians. I always look to Huey Lewis & The News like that’s the band. Their influences and their arrangements. Come on, man.
If I have a regret, I’m just sad I never got to tour with them.
We were sitting there listening to “Stuck With You.” Larry Chaney (guitarist) and I were going through it, listening to the changes. The arrangements are so intricate and sneaky… complicated. It just goes right by you. It’s seamless.
We were marveling over the arrangements. We were talking about how we should rearrange some of our songs like that. We should try to work some stuff in that is more challenging, that is sneakier and trickier. That was the hope anyway. But that would also require us to rehearse. [laughs]
HONORING HUEY LEWIS (LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT) & PETER BRADLEY JR. (AMBASSADOR OF ROCK) on OCTOBER 28TH AT SONY HALL IN NYC more info
Presented by The Path Fund and The Schoch Foundation: We’re thrilled to announce that the legendary Huey Lewis is this year’s Lifetime Achievement Award recipient at Rockers on Broadway: Back In Time! 🎶 From his iconic hits with Huey Lewis and the News to his incredible influence on the music industry, Huey continues to inspire generations of rockers. Join us in celebrating his extraordinary career on October 28th! Tickets
…on covering “Workin’ for a Livin'”…
