Ray Shasho's Blog

WHERE HAVE ALL THE ROCK STARS GONE?
Rock and Roll, the Blues, and Jazz are America's contribution to the arts, so why are we not fighting to preserve our own musical legacy and culture? Rooted from the early blues pioneers, the longevity of rock and roll is second to none. But strangely enough those legendary rock heroes that we were so accustomed to hearing every time we turned on our radios had mysteriously vanished from the mainstream. The music of the 1960's, 70's and even the 80's was an important juncture in all of our lives. So many of us timeline life's precious moments with the music we remember, when the music was so great, when the music mattered. The baby-boomer generation is financially imperative yet many of its entertainment standards have been renounced. One day, the plug was pulled on those legendary music artists. Hackers began stealing music across the internet. Online music stores popularized cheap digital singles and neglected to promote full-length albums. Radio stations changed formats to accommodate talk show radio jocks while rappers and electronic dance music menaced the airwaves. Notorious record companies began folding in droves. Record companies and radio stations that were once owned and operated by visionaries were now run by accountants and lawyers and the music world began promoting untalented wannabes. The economy plummeted, and radio stations became more concerned about how many consecutive commercials they could run instead of providing quality radio programming and entertainment value. Radio stations became corporate machines leaving no room for innovation. Throughout the 2000s, recording studios and live performances began using an audio processor called "Auto-Tune" to disguise off-key inaccuracies in vocal tracks. The device allowed virtually anyone without music skills to become a singer and new waves of mainstream radio stars were instantly fabricated. The business of music became stronger and more important than the art of music. For more than a decade, I've been on a rock and roll pilgrimage to help promote and save the greatest music the world has ever known. Before the internet and Napster, virtuoso musicians traditionally introduced their music by way of mainstream radio stations while anxious music enthusiasts hurried to their favorite record stores and purchased a copy of the artist's latest release. Talk radio wasn't popular because there was way too much great music to play over the airwaves. Advertisers didn't rule the airwaves, the music did. Rock legends toured the world to promote their latest albums and prices of concert tickets were extremely affordable. Proficient musicians, singers, and songwriters are what made the music so great.

I refused to simply write about the music and artists that influenced countless generations and millions upon millions of music fans worldwide, that would be way too easy, and its already been done a gazillion times over the years, instead, I brought the actual music legend to the reader. From January 2010 through the present day, I've conducted over 1000 candid interviews with some of the greatest music legends of our time. After reading each interview, it will seem as you're the one chatting with your favorite rock hero. Even though their music lives on … the artists are vanishing and will soon be gone forever! These recent and candid interviews include … life changing events, band feuds that have lasted for decades, love affairs with bandmates, drug induced stories, spirituality, metaphysical beliefs, Woodstock memories, Joplin and Hendrix tidbits, mafia owned record companies, untold stories about The Beatles, royalties issues, management and record company thieving and conniving, political views, conspiracy theories, humorous and tragic anecdotes, transitioning to Christianity and suicide.

…Order yours today on Hardcover or E-book
at bookbaby.com or amazon.com
Featuring over 45 intimate conversations with some of the greatest rock legends on the planet …

CHRIS SQUIRE... DR. JOHN... GREG LAKE... HENRY MCCULLOUGH... JACK BRUCE … JOE LALA… JOHNNY WINTER... KEITH EMERSON... PAUL KANTNER... RAY THOMAS... RONNIE MONTROSE... TONY JOE WHITE... DAVID CLAYTON-THOMAS… MIKE LOVE... TOMMY ROE... BARRY HAY... CHRIS THOMPSON... JESSE COLIN YOUNG... JOHN KAY... JULIAN LENNON... MARK LINDSAY... MICKY DOLENZ… PETER RIVERA ...TOMMY JAMES… TODD RUNDGREN... DAVE MASON... EDGAR WINTER... FRANK MARINO... GREGG ROLIE... IAN ANDERSON... JIM “DANDY” MANGRUM... JON ANDERSON... LOU GRAMM... MICK BOX... RANDY BACHMAN… ROBIN TROWER... ROGER FISHER... STEVE HACKETT... ANNIE HASLAM… ‘MELANIE’ SAFKA... PETULA CLARK... SUZI QUATRO... COLIN BLUNSTONE… DAVE DAVIES... JIM McCARTY... PETE BEST

Weekly Tuesday's at 7 pm Pacific
/10 pm Eastern
On the BBS Radio 1 Network
Interviewing the Legends is brought to you by
The Publicity Works Agency
We Shine Only When
We Make You Shine
Website ... http://www.publicityworksagency.com/
Email us at [email protected]
www.bbsradio.com
Interviewing the Legends is devoted to promoting authors and musicians worldwide. Ray spotlights exclusive interviews with both legendary and up and coming music artists & authors. Ray also features the movers and shakers of the music and publishing industries and suggests important methods for getting the most out of your public relations and marketing methods.

RECENT RADIO GUESTS ON
INTERVIEWING THE LEGENDS

Chris Thompson (Manfred Mann’s Earth Band)
Claudette King (The Bluz Queen, Daughter of B.B.King)
Patrick Moraz (Keyboardist from YES/The Moody Blues)
Kevin Godley (10 cc co-founder/drummer)
Billy Sherwood (YES, Circa)
John Payne (Asia)
Martin Barre (Jethro Tull)
Steve Hackett (Genesis)
Geoff Tate (Queensryche)
Tommy James (the Shondells)
Corky Laing (MOUNTAIN)
Vinnie Moore (Alice Cooper, UFO)
Beth Hart (World-Renowned Singer & Songwriter)
Magic Dick (J.Geils Band) & Shun Ng (International Music Sensation)
Gary Lucas (Captain Beffheart) & Jann Klose
Marky Ramone (Dust, Ramones)
Kenny Aaronson (Dust, Stories, Bob Dylan, Rick Derringer, Joan Jett, New York Dolls, Yardbirds)
Jon Anderson (YES, AndersonPonty Band)
Jamie Glaser (AndersonPonty Band)
Ewan Currie (The Sheepdogs)
Miles Copeland III (Legendary Music Mogul)
Ginger Gilmour (David Gilmour’s Ex Wife)
Albert Castiglia (Blues guitarist)
Fee Waybill (The Tubes)
Janet Robbins (Daughter of Marty Robbins)
Lucie Arnaz (Actress, singer, dancer, daughter of Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz)
Roger Earl (Foghat legendary Drummer)
Wally Palmar (Singer, songwriter, guitarist for The Romantics)
Dennis Locorriere (Lead singer for Dr Hook)
Wally Stocker (Lead guitarist for The Babys)
Tony Palmer (Legendary British filmmaker and director)
Doug Aldrich (Lead Guitarist for The Dead Daisies)
Jesse Colin Young (The Youngbloods)
Ed King (The Strawberry Alarm Clock/Lynyrd Skynyrd)
Rick Roberts (The Flying Burrito Brothers/Firefall)
Rich Little (Legendary Impressionist & comedian)
John Hall (Orleans)
Carl Palmer (Emerson Lake and Palmer, Asia)
Bobby Kimball (Toto)
Ken Hensley (Uriah Heep)
Henry Paul (The Outlaws)
Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis Jr. (The 5th Dimension)
Binky Womack (Nephew of R&B Legend Bobby Womack)
Alan White (YES)
John Sebastian (The Lovin’ Spoonful)
Jim Messina (Buffalo Springfield, Poco, Loggins & Messina)
Frank Marino (Mahogany Rush)
Billy Cobham (Miles Davis, Mahavishnu Orchestra, Spectrum album)
Suzi Quatro (Rock & Roll Heroine)
Bobby Caldwell (Legendary drummer-Allman Brothers-Johnny Winter-Derringer-Armageddon-Captain Beyond)
Ray Walker (Bass singer for ‘The Jordanaires’-Elvis Presley’s backup singers)
Peter Asher (Peter & Gordon/Legendary Producer/ Head of A&R dept. for The Beatles Apple Records
Todd Rundgren (NAZZ,Utopia)
Candice Night (Blackmore’s Night)
Roger Fisher/Mike Fisher (Heart)
Ian McDonald (King Crimson, Foreigner)
Malik Shakur (Cousin of Tupac Shakur)
Cindy Blackman Santana (Lenny Kravitz Group/wife of Carlos Santana)
Kim Simmonds (Savoy Brown)
Nona Hendryx (Labelle)
Derek Shulman (Gentle Giant)
Mason Williams (“Classical Gas” Comedy writer for The Smothers Brothers)
Steve Hunter (Lou Reed, Alice Cooper)
Steve Fossen/Mike Derosier (Original members of ‘HEART’)
Keith Thibodeaux (Actor who played Little Ricky “I Love Lucy” & original drummer of ‘David & The Giants’)
Chuck Negron (The voice of Three Dog Night)
Alannah Myles (“Black Velvet”)
Mark Stein (Vanilla Fudge)
Mick Box (Uriah Heep)
Kevin Martin (Candlebox)
Joe Deninzon (Stratospheerius)
Lee Kerslake (Uriah Heep/Ozzy Osbourne)
Melanie Safka (The voice of a generation)
Felix Cavaliere (The Rascals)
Michael Des Barres (Silverhead & Detective frontman/ 'Murdoc' villain on McGyver TV series
Ivan Browne (Lead singer with The Lemon Pipers "Green Tambourine")
Corey Glover (Frontman for Living Colour/Actor)
Tommy Bolin Tribute w/ Joe Vitale & Kenny Passarelli of Joe Walsh/Barnstorm
Mark Andes (Spirit/JoJo Gunne/Heart/Firefall)
Jock Bartley (Firefall)
Rupert Holmes (“Escape” The Pina Colada Song”)
Eddie “Devil Boy” Turner (Blues Guitarist)
Prairie Prince (The Tubes, Jefferson Starship, Todd Rundgren)
John McNally (The Searchers)
Greg X Volz (PETRA)
David Huff (David and The Giants)
Elias Soriano (Nonpoint)
Bobby Goldsboro (“Honey”)
Stephen Bishop (“On And On”)
John Lodge (The Moody Blues)
Bruce Soord (The Pineapple Thief)
Sonja Kristina (Curved Air)
Annie Haslam (Renaissance)
Richard Lloyd (Television)
Bob Kulick (KISS/Lou Reed/Meat Loaf/Diana Ross)
Neal Smith (ALICE COOPER)
Doane Perry (Jethro Tull)
Loretta Swit (Iconic TV actress on M*A*S*H)
Paul Nelson (Johnny Winter)
Robert Berry (Keith Emerson/Greg Kihn Band)
Leo Lyons (Ten Years After)
Pat Vegas (Redbone)
Rick Lambert (Empty Trail)
Dr. Neil Ratner MD (Edgar Winter, Pink Floyd, Michael Jackson)
John Mayall (The Bluesbreakers)
Tom Dreesen (Stand-up Comedian and Actor)
Graham Russell (Air Supply)
Dave Cousins (STRAWBS)
Carmine Appice (Vanilla Fudge/Rod Stewart)
Dennis Coffey (The Funk Brothers)
Dave Bickler (Survivor-voice of “Eye of the Tiger”)
Russell Bizzett (Jazz drummer-Jose Feliciano)
Andy Powell (Wishbone Ash)
Connie Francis (Legendary Pop singer)
William King (Motown Legends-The Commodores)
Bill Nelson (Be-Bop Deluxe)
Phil Lanzon (URIAH HEEP)
‘Jim Dandy’ Mangrum (Black Oak Arkansas)
Danny Goldberg (Nirvana’s Manager/Author)
Southside Johnny (Asbury Jukes leader)
Rosalie Cunningham (British prog rock diva & songwriter)
Jeff “Skunk” Baxter (Steely Dan/The Doobie Brothers)
Gary Pihl (Sammy Hagar/Alliance/Boston)
Mitch Ryder (The Detroit Wheels)
Bernard Fowler (The Rolling Stones)
Derek “Mo” Moore (Nektar)
John Ford Coley (England Dan & John Ford Coley)
Greg Kihn (The Greg Kihn Band)
Peter Beckett (The voice of Player)
Dionne Warwick (International superstar)
Robert “Kool” Bell (Kool & the Gang)
Tony Brock (The Babys)
Myles Goodwyn (April Wine)
Dennis Diken (The Smithereens)
Martha Davis (The Motels)
Frankie Banali (Quiet Riot)
David Marks (The Beach Boys)
Jack Russell (Great White)
Rex Pickett (Sideways trilogy author and screenwriter)
Don Felder (Eagles)
Dave Pegg (Jethro Tull/Fairport Convention)
Bruce Sudano (Brooklyn Dreams/Legendary Songwriter/Music partner w/wife Donna Summer
Stanley Livingston (“Chip” Douglas from My Three Sons)
Bob Catley (Magnum lead singer)
Kenny Kramer (The real Cosmo Kramer of Seinfeld)
Dennis MacKay (Legendary engineer & producer)
Steve “Lips” Kudlow (lead singer of ANVIL)
Tom Rush (Master storyteller)
David Clayton-Thomas (Legendary voice of Blood, Sweat & Tears)
Mike Finnigan (Legendary session player/Jimi Hendrix/Electric Ladyland
Reggie McBride (Legendary Bassist Rare Earth, Keb' Mo', Rod Stewart, Stevie Wonder, Elton John)
Johnnie Bolin Drummer (Black Oak Arkansas/Brother of Tommy Bolin)
Bobby Berge (Tommy Bolin/Buddy Miles)
Greg Errico (Original drummer w/Sly & The Family Stone)
Jimmy Haun (Guitarist -YES/Air Supply/CIRCA)
Jan Hammer (Mahavishnu Orchestra/ Jeff Beck/Jan Hammer Group/Miami Vice)
Andy Tillison (Keyboardist-singer-composer w/prog rock group The Tangent)

INTERVIEWING THE LEGENDS

Join all the celebrities that Ray has interviewed and promote your latest literary endeavors.
It's a 55 minute interview all about YOU!
Plus you'll receive an entire YOU TUBE posting of the episode featuring YOU as Ray's very special guest.

IT'S GREAT EXPOSURE! Only $250.00
INTERVIEWING THE LEGENDS is devoted to promoting authors and musicians worldwide. Ray spotlights exclusive interviews with both legendary and up and coming artists. Ray also features the movers and shakers of the music and publishing industries and suggests important methods for getting the most out of your public relations and marketing methods.

Call now to reserve your spot on the show!Contact Ray Shasho at 941-877-1552
Email us at [email protected]

Not only are radio and TV interviews the most engaging way for promoting your book, it’s also an excellent source to promote your web site, social media sites, and to let listeners know about current and future endeavors.
Radio and TV interviews are
the quickest and smartest way
to enhance credibility.


‘THE PUBLICITY WORKS AGENCY’
We Shine Only When We Make You Shine!

http://www.publicityworksagency.com/
Contact Ray Shasho at 941-877-1552
Email us at [email protected]

THE RAY SHASHO RADIO SHOW

Devoted to promoting authors and musicians worldwide. Ray spotlights exclusive interviews with both legendary and up and coming artists. Ray also features the movers and shakers of the music and publishing industries and suggests important methods for getting the most out of your public relations and marketing methods.

Call-in to interact when live with the program hosts and guests:
Toll Free 888-627-6008 FREE in the US/Canada or Direct
323-744-4831

OR CALL 716-748-0150 JUST TO LISTEN-IN.
ON the BBS RADIO NETWORK (RADIO 1)

SPONSORED BY THE PUBLICITY WORKS AGENCY

http://www.publicityworksagency.com
[email protected]

Life in the family business was never boring. From FBI interrogations to angry mobs, each new day at the Chin Lung Art Gallery brought with it new adventures. A story for everyone who is proud of their family and heritage, but not afraid to laugh at its many eccentricities. Enjoy the humor and misadventures that Mr. Shasho brings to life in his book Wacky Shenanigans on F Street.

About the author - At the age of six years old, Ray Shasho began learning, in a most unconventional way, about the 'art of selling' at his father's retail store in Washington D.C., Ray left the family business to attend a CBS owned broadcasting school in Ft Lauderdale, Florida. After graduating, Ray became a deejay, while known as 'Ray Richards' across the airwaves on several popular Top 40 Radio stations. Shasho became a freelance music journalist covering concerts and music events. To date, Ray has interviewed over 150 music legends and his articles are featured websites worldwide. Shasho's next book will discuss the state of the music industry and spotlight all the music legends he has interviewed over the past five years.

Ray has been happily married to his wife Sharon for 32 years; he has two children and is a new Grandpa.

Keywords: Comedy, Teen, History, Adolescent, Washington D.C., Family Heritage, Race, Non Fiction, Family Business, Retail, Jewish, Syrian. Cuban, Catholic

Purchase at amazon.com
Kindle $6.99
Paperback $14.95

'CHECK THE Gs' THE TRUE STORY OF AN ECLECTIC AMERICAN FAMILY AND THEIR WACKY FAMILY BUSINESS ... AVAILABLE TO PURCHASE AT amazon.com or barnesandnoble.com ...eBOOK FORMATS FOR DOWNLOAD AT ONLY .99 CENTS!

Visit amazon.com for a preview.

KINDLE or NOOK Edition of my latest book 'Check the Gs' is available for .99 Cents!

Download the Nook edition at Barnes & Noble for .99 CENTS Open this link or copy and paste to download http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/check...

Download the Kindle Edition at Amazon.com for .99 CENTS Open this link or copy and paste to download http://www.amazon.com/Check-Gs-Eclect...

Download the E-BOOK version at iuniverse.com for .99 CENTS Open this link or copy and paste to download http://bookstore.iuniverse.com/Produc...

Please help out a struggling author/writer.

.99 cents is very affordable ...even in this economy.

Thank you!

Ray Shasho
Author of Check the Gs -The True Story of an Eclectic American Family and Their Wacky Family Business.

Ray Shasho has quite a memory, especially when it comes to what songs played on the radio during important times throughout his youth. Combining his nostalgic recant of Billboard’s Top 100, like some infomercial for a Time-Life Oldies CD collector’s set, along with his detailed whimsical recollections while growing up, and you have the “soundtrack ” for a truly enjoyable story called Check the Gs: The True Story of an Eclectic American Family and Their Wacky Family Business.

Spiraling like a 33 rpm vinyl record around his father’s retail gift store in Washington DC, a block away from the White House, Ray began his career at the age of 6 (going on 16), when he put down the Windex and paper towels to sell a pair of shades to his first customer. “Ale-Say,” Pig Latin for “sale,” was said by the guy’s comical and secretive comments hollered around the store owned by his dad and his uncle ~ both identical twins. Between Cuban slang, Spanish, mathematical pricing algorithms, made up words, and yes, “Ig-Pay Atin-Lay,” the atmosphere in the store was as clouded with unrevealed slang to thwart customers’ understanding the pricing of merchandise as the perpetual second-hand smoke laid a fog from the owner’s cigars. What a tumultuous time in this country’s history. The babies were booming, the racial tensions post Kennedy’s and Martin Luther King’s assassinations threw the USA into a riot driven country. However the dollar had value. The store had radios, TVs, cameras, binoculars, rings and jewelry, souvenirs and “you name it” all stocked behind sparkling clean glass cabinets, with shelves higher than can be reached without a ladder and items displayed in the front window precisely as a masterpiece of jigsaw placement.

Ray, raised by a Cuban Catholic mother and a Syrian Jewish father was 100% street smart. What impressed me most was when Ray was older, so did his style of writing change into a more mature written voice. For example, his early years, the first third of Check the Gs, had observations as seen through a kid’s perspective. I actually felt a kid was narrating the story in first person! Yet as Ray matured, his storytelling had more to do with his meeting all sorts of people, falling in love, but still selling gadgets, and making a PR (profit).

Ray Shasho is a product of the second half of the 20th century, made in the USA from parts around the world, and within him is every trend in music, television, politics and culture contributing to his philosophical and comically analytical reflections collected in his fine book of memories. I found Check the Gs to be pure entertainment, fantastic fun and a catalyst to igniting so many memories of my own life, as I too am within a few years of Ray. So to all, I say if you have a bit of grey hair (or no hair), buy this book! It’s a great gift for your “over-the-hill” friends, or for their kids, if they are the history buffs of younger generations trying to figure out why we are the way we are.

~~Pacific Book Review

WOW GREAT DEAL FOR THE HOLIDAYS!!!!
AT AMAZON.COM

Check the Gs: The True Story of an Eclectic American Family and Their Wacky Family Business [Hardcover]
Ray Shasho (Author)
5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews) | Like (0)
List Price: $30.95
Price: $7.90 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Details
You Save: $23.05 (74%)

In Stock.
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com. Gift-wrap available.
Only 2 left in stock--order soon (more on the way).
Want it delivered Tuesday, December 6?
Order it in the next 37 hours and 41 minutes, and choose One-Day Shipping at checkout.
Details
Ordering for Christmas? To ensure delivery by December 24, choose FREE Super Saver Shipping at checkout. Read more about holiday shipping.

Check the Gs -The True Story of an Eclectic American Family and Their Wacky Family Business

Best deals to purchase the book...

Hardcover- Amazon.com $21.80
Kindle- Amazon.com $7.69
Paperback- Amazon.com $16.34

A Book and a Chat with Ray Shasho
by A Book and a Chat
in Books
Tue, Aug 23, 2011 06:30PM

Ray Shasho, the author of "Check the Gs" stops by for today's A Book and a Chat".

True Story of an Eclectic American Family and Their Wacky Family Business, released on March 17 by iUniverse, is Florida banker/radio personality Ray Shasho’s event-filled memoir of his many years working alongside his off-the-wall, multi-ethnic family in a DC electronics store catering to foreign diplomats, the national press, entertainment, sports and political celebrities. At age six, Shasho, son of a Syrian Jewish father and a Cuban Catholic mother, entered the crazy world of secret lingo and bullying sales tactics at his father’s Chin Lung Art Gallery on the corner of Thirteenth and F Street.

The book covers his interactions with notables such as baseball star Ted Williams, James Mason, Dick Gregory, Art Buchwald, Dinah Shore, Chuck Norris, Muhammad Ali, Lee Atwater and a famous actress who was asked to leave.

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/across-t...