Rob McNelley, the acclaimed Nashville guitarist known for his collaborations with icons like Bob Seger, Dolly Parton, and Luke Combs, has just released his latest single, “ The Other Side. ” This slow-burning track, built on a growling bass line and featuring McNelley’s signature guitar prowess, is the newest addition to his series of Americana-flavored singles that have been rolling out throughout the year. “The Other Side” follows the release of McNelley’s two previous singles, “ Circus Is Lea...
Sep 03, 2024•25 min•Ep. 22
Bermuda Schwartz Reflects on Four Decades of Drumming with 'Weird Al' Yankovic and the Power of Online Presence" Bermuda Schwartz, the long-time drummer for "Weird Al" Yankovic, shares his fascinating journey with me from his early days in Chicago to his successful career in Los Angeles. Starting with drum lessons in Phoenix and transitioning from the accordion to drums, Schwartz's career took off after meeting Yankovic in 1980. Their partnership has spanned over four decades, marked by iconic r...
Jun 09, 2024•56 min•Season 7Ep. 12
Legendary blues-rock guitarist and vocalist Joe Bonamassa has undeniably left an indelible mark on the music industry. In his recent exclusive interview with the Music Matters podcast, Joe reflects on his journey, highlighting the importance of authenticity and innovation in his illustrious career. With 27 #1 Billboard Blues albums under his belt, his success is a testament to his unwavering dedication and passion for his craft. A Blend of Analog Nostalgia and Digital Consistency Joe notices Dar...
May 22, 2024•23 min•Season 7Ep. 11
In this engaging podcast episode, I had the pleasure of speaking with Mama B, also known as JacQ Becker, a talented children's music creator, writer, and producer. Mama B recently released her first solo album, "Imagineology," a delightful blend of pop, jazz, and hip hop designed to appeal to both children and parents. Mama B's Background in Music and Transition to Children's Music Mama B's love for music began at a young age, influenced by legends like Frank Sinatra and Aretha Franklin. She pur...
May 15, 2024•15 min•Season 7Ep. 10
As a seasoned music bass guitar player with almost 40 years of experience and the host of the Music Matters Podcast, I'm thrilled to introduce you to Rockie Lynne , a talented musician who has overcome adversity to find success in the music industry. In this podcast episode, we'll delve into Lynne's inspiring journey, his new Amazon documentary and latest album, as well as his charitable work supporting the families of fallen service members. Early Life and Music Career Lynne's passion for music...
May 08, 2024•29 min•Season 7Ep. 9
Riina Ammesmaki, ( between Jukka Heikkinen & Darrell Craig Harris ) the voice behind the viral Finnish duo Top 40 Lounge In the latest episode of "Music Matters Podcast," Check out Riina Ammesmäki's musical journey! From singing in choirs as a kid to rocking it out at the Rock School with Pop and Jazz in Helsinki, and then moving to study music at the University of Vaasa, she's done it all. She even conquered the stage on the Finnish edition of The Voice, sharing the hurdles she faced and th...
Apr 30, 2024•22 min•Season 7Ep. 8
The Rumble: A New Orleans Experience Like No Other In the latest episode of "Music Matters Podcast," I had the privilege of chatting with two key members of the seven member musical family called " The Rumble ", those two band members being, Chief Joseph Boudreaux Jr and Aurélien Barnes. The band already has a Grammy-nominated debut album: "Live At The Maple Leaf" (hear it on DistroKid etc). Oh yeah don't forget to chaeckout the bands new Double ( Limited Edition ) Vinyl version as well... The b...
Dec 29, 2023•17 min•Season 7Ep. 7
Rising Latina pop star Sasha Prendes speaks with Darrell Craig Harris on Music Matters Podcast - EP06-S07 Welcome, folks, to another electrifying episode of Music Matters Podcast. Today, we have a shining newcomer in the Latino-American realm hailing from Kansas, this Cuban vocalist has quickly become a prominent figure, captivating not just the Latino-American scene but the entire American music landscape. Listen in as Sasha Prendes , shares with me her journey thus far, and how she continues t...
Sep 04, 2023•18 min•Season 7Ep. 6
NYC guitarist and bandleader Gideon King of Gideon King and City Blog is my guest on this episode. Gideon on his iPhone in NYC, and myself in a hotel room in Helsinki, Finland while I'm on tour. We chat after trouble getting connected! Chatting about the new EP called "Splinter." Plus, Gideon gives his advice on how to approach being an independent artist in 2023. Gideon has worked for years in establishing a reputation as a rising force in the New York Jazz scene, King has worked with John Scof...
Aug 04, 2023•17 min•Season 7Ep. 5
Photo credit ~ Deb Frazin 2023 On this episode I chat with Mike Watt - what a great guy, a Punk Rock Bass player legend. Mike is a true cultural omnivore, exhibiting an insatiable appetite for diverse musical experiences. This profound openness and eagerness to explore new sounds is evident as he continues to engage in numerous projects, and captivating live performances. Mike's bio seems almost as thick as a bible, you can read the full bio/discog, on his website link below. here is a quick ove...
Jul 26, 2023•34 min•Season 7Ep. 4
My special guest and fellow bass-player is Robban Hagnäs, a man of many hats - The owner of the Finnish record label - Ramasound Records Scandinavia. Well known Finnish bass player from the Wentus Blues band, show promoter and booking agent, producer, and club owner - phew, busy man! We talk about a lot of things. Robban is a really nice guy, and in fact the band Charlotta Kerbs and the Strays which I am part of, and recently tour Finland with is also on the Ramasound Records label. Robban steps...
May 04, 2023•53 min•Season 7Ep. 3
Listen in on this fascinating guest hosted podcast with the two founders of Charlotta Kerbs and the Strays about their new single and upcoming album featuring the Muscle Shoals All Stars ~ new single on Feb 24 and the EP release is in mid-March 2023 both on Ramasound Records Scandinavia! Charlotta Kerbs & The Strays is a global music project founded by and with Charlotta Kerbs and Darrell Craig Harris. They recorded their new EP album at the legendary FAME Recording Studios in Muscle Shoals,...
Feb 22, 2023•49 min•Season 7Ep. 2
My special guest to kick-off off our new season 07 is Shevy Smith . Amongst her many talents, she is the founder of the new and already popular Ultimate Playlist App . Ultimate Playlist gives you the opportunity to win a minimum of $2k and a chance to win a $20k jackpot each day, simply for listening to, rating, and/or adding songs to your Apple Music playlist. I will add links so you can grab this outstanding app for yourself. The prizes are powered by the Arizona State Lottery , which, like ma...
Jan 24, 2023•39 min•Season 7Ep. 1
I love that technology can allow me to chat in real-time while Alex King, guitarist/vocals with the progressive bluegrass band ~ Alex is on the Sicard Hollow tour bus, and gives insight into the band and their rise to becoming very established while not in anyway taking things for granted... Sicard Hollows recent crop of new albums are extremely enjoyable and filled with great and thoughtful lyrics. Short Bio: Sicard Hollow is a four-piece progressive bluegrass band who formed with a mutual pass...
Oct 17, 2022•19 min•Season 6Ep. 3
Listen in on this fascinating chat, and the LIVE 3-Note improvisational piano composition playing that of my special guest William Goldstein kindly created for me. He has been a recording artist for Motown and CBS Masterworks. His own label, distributed worldwide by The Orchard has over 60 albums currently available generating over 3,000,000 streams monthly. He has scored over 50 Movie and Television projects, including Fame & The Miracle Worker. He has written on the arts for The New York T...
Sep 20, 2022•47 min•Season 6Ep. 2
My good friend in London, UK - Fiona Ross, and I had a chance to catch up as we end the summer 2022 break. We chat about Women In Jazz Media ~ founded by Fiona, now with a 22 member female team, and publishing their fourth Women In Jazz Media high-quality digital magazine, with subscribers across the globe. Fiona Ross is a real joy to know, very caring and I am totally amazed at her multi-talented skills. She tends to rave on about new and upcoming musicians - constantly encouraging and supporti...
Sep 01, 2022•33 min•Season 6Ep. 1
I recently chatted with Laura B Whitmore from the company Positive Grid Laura has a long history in the music manufacturing PR world, including working with Marshall, KORG, VOX, and several other well known companies! Laura is also founder of the very popular "She Rocks Awards" . Checkout more on Laura B. Whitmore with these links below: Websites mad-sun.com (Company Website) reverbnation.com/laurabwhitmore (Original music) guitarworld.com/guitar-girld (My articles on GuitarWorld.com) Music Matt...
May 24, 2022•20 min•Season 5Ep. 5
My special guest on this episode is Troy Bullock - Bringing back True Country Music. Tradition has a new name. What once perhaps seemed outdated, now has a new voice. Troy is challenging the status quo, bringing a host of Traditional Country Music influences with him. Listen to Troy's recent new debut release, 'PAYDIRT' Troy and I really covered some ground in this episode from Gold mining to some of the moset important elements of life and family, being very musch what inspires Troy to express ...
May 23, 2022•1 hr 15 min•Season 1Ep. 9
Listen in on my insight chat with Matt Simons , he has gone way viral with his music with 100’s of millions of downloads on several different platforms including Spotify. He is currently on tour with #2cellos #MattSimons Matt Simons emotional frankness has been a hallmark of his career. His sweet, plaintive, piano-rooted melodies allying themselves to lyrics that speak plainly, sometimes starkly, about important events in his life. I strongly suggest you checkout All things Matt Simons on one or...
Apr 28, 2022•18 min•Season 5Ep. 4
Angelo Garcia from the mega-popular boy band “ Menudo ” (1988 – 1990) shares about his first tour experience with the world famous group when he was 11 years old in Mexico! It's a very personal and honest discussion about his experiences with the group. Angelo has gone on to further his education as an adult student, all while still developing his music career, which continues to grow and grow, hitting viral status once again in Mexico and to a much wider audience. Please checkout the amazing mu...
Apr 22, 2022•25 min•Season 5Ep. 3
My special guest is Richard Shelton. A British film, TV and theatre actor and singer, who performed in ITV's Emmerdale. He portrayed Frank Sinatra in Rat Pack Confidential in London's West End, and performed in the movies House of Lies and in My Week with Marilyn. We chat about his new album coming out on April 20th ~ being an Englishman in LA, and a lot more. What a Great Guy. Listen in and be enthralled. To find out more about Richard Shelton, and I can highly recommend his new album , ( there...
Apr 19, 2022•24 min•Season 5Ep. 2
Artist/Musician Will Wood speaks about getting healthy, being bipolar, and being creative in today's society! Will has strong and focused opinions of the potential downside of social-media for young fertile minds, let alone adults, especially over the CV19 pandemic-period. He also offers his thoughts on what the definition of success should mean for any creative person. Check Will Wood out on his official YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/WillWoodOfficial and his Spotify channel: https:...
Apr 13, 2022•46 min•Season 5Ep. 1
Listen in on my awesome chat with legendary songwriter Alan Roy Scott, a lovely gentleman with a huge history and many great stories! We covered a lot of ground on this episode, we hope you find it both enjoyable and insightful. Some of the artists, films, tv shows, that Alan has written for! Celine Dion, Luther Vandross, Notorious B.I.G., Gloria Estefan, Cyndi Lauper, Patti LaBelle, Neville Bros. Roberta Flack, Cher, Jason Gould, El DeBarge, Tiffany, Patti Austin, The Spinners, Rick Springfield...
Mar 15, 2022•50 min•Season 4Ep. 17
We had such a lovely chat with artist, teacher, bandleader, Paola Vera coming to us from her home in France! Paola along with her artist career is also a highly respected music educator, who’s a professor of Jazz at the prestigious Conservatoire of Music in Bordeaux , France! Chatting about her inspirational life story - her arrival in France a decade ago, and the monumental achievements she's achieved in her musical, and music educational career, as a f/t working Mom, becoming a French citizen,...
Mar 08, 2022•33 min•Season 4Ep. 16
I had an awesome podcast video chat with longtime friend Gerry Linarducci financial planner for many well-known sports, entertainment, music, folks. We spoke about finances and creatives, cryptocurrencies and NFTs, financial planning for retirement, and more! Here are the links for Gerry Linarducci and his social media channels as well. https://www.gerrylinarducci.com/ https://www.facebook.com/gerry.linarducci https://www.instagram.com/glducci1985/ https://twitter.com/gerryducci https://www.link...
Feb 25, 2022•57 min•Season 4Ep. 15
From my super fun Music Matters with Darrell Craig Harris chat with amazing vocalist Eric Martin, lead singer for the globally popular band Mr Big on episode 11, season 4. MMP is sponsored by Switcher Studio and Kathy Ireland Worldwide. Support from Shure Music Tribes Unite You can find out more and connect with Eric Martin through his website and social media channels below: https://www.ericmartin.com/ https://www.facebook.com/groups/111034272263592 #mrbigband #MrBig #ericmartinband #podcast #l...
Feb 24, 2022•44 min•Season 4Ep. 11
Listen in on my super fun chat with the highly respected keyboardist, producer, writer, Jason Miles , a really nice man with a huge story. He shares snippets of his exciting and revealing 'New Book' titled: The Extraordinary Journey of Jason Miles ~ A Musical Biography A series of short stories that brings you into the inner-sanctum of what it was like to work with artists like Miles Davis, Luther Vandross, Chaka Khan, Marcus Miller, David Sanborn, Roberta Flack, AMO... You are right in the stud...
Feb 15, 2022•1 hr 8 min•Season 4Ep. 14
I had an awesome time chatting with Hondo S Carpenter Sr , Hondo is the Sports Illustrated publisher/writer assigned to the Las Vegas Raiders He’s a super nice man, a friend, and a highly-skilled journalist, radio and tv host. Very Inspiring... Please checkout Hondo S Carpenter Sr social media channels below: https://www.si.com/nfl/raiders/author/hondo-s-carpenter-sr https://twitter.com/HondoCarpenter https://www.facebook.com/hondo.sr https://www.si.com/college/michiganstate/ This episode of Mus...
Feb 13, 2022•49 min•Season 4Ep. 13
I had an awesome chat with Bennet Cerven, amazing violinist from the mega-viral band The Trouble Notes over 100 Million video views online, and huge music festival bookings! The Trouble Notes are an emotional, pan-cultural music of the group, forms personal memories into a colorful melting pot of different traditions, touching on deep and complex stories of the human condition and social experiences. Bennet Cerven is such a nice guy, who also has a financial background as well! We spoke about mu...
Feb 02, 2022•36 min•Season 4Ep. 12
Meresha, social media star, singer, composer, producer from Poland , who's garnered a huge social media following, a large number of streams on Spotify, following on Twitter and similar streaming outlets! We had a great Music Matters podcast chat from her temporary home in Florida! #Meresha #edm #popmusic #AlienPop Please checkout Meresha's website and her social media channels below: https://meresha.com https://www.instagram.com/Mereshas https://twitter.com/Mereshas https://twitter.com/mereshas...
Jan 11, 2022•15 min•Season 4Ep. 9
