7-3-25 HR1 The Shelley Wynter Show

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Shelly Winter Show live, local, topical, and relevant. So I asked two questions of the night. taking your calls i got a lot to talk about i want to talk about how do you keep your dog safe and calm during fourth of july fireworks but i also want to i need some help okay i'm working class all right i don't have the fat pockets that many have around here

It's just the truth. I'm not ashamed to say that I'm being completely transparent, but I need a place to get fireworks like the best prices and I'm not talking about Walmart okay i'm talking about the big where you light the fuse and you back up and 100 things 25 30 things go up in the air all right that's what i'm talking about the big box stuff

What is the best place to go? I need your help. 448720750, 1-800-WSB-TALK. Coming up at 836, let me tell you, I just had, how long was that break? Five minutes? About five minutes, right? About five minutes. Coming up at 8.36, Michael Guile. And Kevin Leahy. Kevin Leahy is the executive director of the Atlanta Pops. He's also the percussionist. And Michael Guile is the conductor of the Atlanta Pops. The Atlanta Pops is performing behind Nas Saturday night.

I just had a four-minute conversation with Mr. Guile, the conductor. You do not want to miss this conversation. It's not going to be what you think it is. We're really going to be talking music. and how hip-hop is starting to play with these orchestras

Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, the Pops, Boston Pops, in L.A., California, it's really blowing up. And I really want to have a music conversation with them so you don't want to miss this. This might be some of the best radio you've ever heard. It's off the beaten path, I know. But that's what we do here on the Shelley Winter Show. We're not your cookie-cutter talk radio. This station is not your cookie-cutter talk radio, certainly.

But we try and bring you different thoughts, different ideas, and different things to listen to. And I'm looking forward to that conversation coming up at 8.36. So you don't want to miss that. Whether you're a fan of hip-hop or not, it doesn't matter. You're all a fan of music. I know that because you listen to this show. And you know we're all fans of music here. So here's the thing. I'm going to go to your calls in just a second. Fourth of July, it's a lot of fireworks. Dogs cry. They want...

They don't bark. Some of them bark, but many of them whine when the fireworks go off. And some people complain. Oh, you're rooting. My dog is so scared. Well, you know. Put them in the basement or something. It's July 4th. It's not like you're blowing fireworks on July 20th for no reason, right? But Canine Companions encourages its volunteer puppy raisers to expose furry friends to a variety of experience, science, and science. So these are the things. Play hide and seek in the house.

To do this, leave your dog in a sit or down and then hide somewhere in a house. Call to them and be ready to praise and reward them when they find you. This is how you get that. What they're saying is you get the dog mentally stimulated. That way they ignore the sounds outside. Give their meal or part of their meal as a frozen Kong or other toy to occupy and stimulate them as they concentrate on getting their food.

All right. So they say take a portion of the dog's meal, soak it in warm water for about 20 to 30 minutes until it is increased in size. Then stuff the soaked kibble into the center of a Kong or similar toy and freeze it.

They recommend doing this a day or two in advance so it's already frozen when you need to use it. So what happens is the dog will play with the toy, but they also know the food is there. So again, they're concentrating on something else besides the sound, the stimuli coming from outside. The loud boom! Boom. And some training sessions during the day. Get them to move and jump and touch and recall. Things like that. Get them to get active with you.

So that way they won't be intimidated by the sound. So that's what they're telling people to do who have dogs who you know your dog is going to be scared. They said use a kennel. Give them treats. and reward them for calm behavior. Play music or TV in the background to help drown out the noise. That's a good one.

Turn your TV or turn your music up in the house loudly. Now, I don't know. That may overstimulate the dog, I'm thinking, but it may work. They're the experts. I'm not. But I'm thinking if I'm scared of the fireworks and you got this loud music playing in the house. Excuse me. I'm going to be really scared. So that's one thing they said. They said move the kennel to the quietest room in the house.

So if you're in a subdivision and they're blowing off firecrackers, maybe move the kennel to downstairs in the basement if you have one. Or move them to the corner of the house and maybe cover it with a blanket or something to kill the noise. And you should remain calm and confident. It's just fireworks, Fido. It's just fireworks, Fido. Calm down. Don't you be a Karen in the house. I can't believe they're blowing off the firecrackers because that's only going to stimulate the dog more.

And each time a firework goes off give them a piece of kibble. The more you can associate the loud noise with something fun and tasty, the better. Those are tips on how to keep your dog calm during the fireworks. I don't own a dog, but I know many people who do, and I know the dogs can get scared. Let's go to the phone. So I asked the question.

If you're a Republican in Congress, would you have voted on a big, beautiful bill? 448720750, 1-800-WSB-TALK. I also ask, I need help. Can you give me a suggestion for a fireworks store anywhere in Metro Atlanta that you know has the best pricing on the big fireworks? Now, I know I can go to Walmart. I'm not looking for that. I'm looking for the big stuff. I got to impress.

a neighborhood let's go to kelly and conyers you can't be here in walmart you have to go 20 west to alabama line you see it on the on the thing it's called a granddaddy Last time I bought it was $80, but that thing went for 15 minutes, and it was awesome. All right, 15 minutes, $80, and the granddaddy, that's the name of the place?

Yeah, no, I can't think what the name of the place is, but the thing that I bought, it was like this big tube thing, and it was called Granddaddy or Granddad, but it went for like 15 minutes. But you better check it before you leave because they sell does it. Okay, granddad. All right, granddaddy. But it's two hours from Atlanta. You could go, and you're right. As soon as you cross the Alabama line, you see it up on the hill.

All right. Thank you, my sister. Thank you very much. Thank you. Let's go to Ralph in Stockbridge. Go ahead, Ralph. Fireworks, where can I go? Hey, there's a place down here next to Kroger in Stockbridge. They got a big box. Fireworks, like $290. They got them on sale tonight for like $75, and you buy one, get another free, and it's a big box. Are you down there right now, Ralph?

Oh, man. You see, Ralph, I need to meet you. I needed you to buy me some, get me some, and I'd meet you off the side of the highway. Do you know where in Stockbridge? Yes. Right next to the progress store on Highway 138 in Stockbridge. Oh, Stockbridge. What exit is that? It's exit 224. 224. My man. That's down 75, correct?

Yes. Yes, down 75. All right, my man. Thank you, Ralph. Have a great holiday. Thank you. Yes, sir. Let's go to Keith in Georgia. Keith got a comment on fireworks. Go ahead, Keith. Yeah, man, it's worth the drive. Go down to Shelton Fireworks just across the border in 85 South, probably like 76, I think. But I went there.

Got all my fireworks. I went to check out. And they're like, oh, you got another $320 for free. And I was like, you got to be kidding me. So definitely, definitely worth the drive. And I got about $1,500 worth of fireworks that are going to go. Shelton, Georgia? No, it's Shelton Fireworks. Oh. Just outside the Alabama line, I-85 South.

It is well worth the drive. Oh, you go south on I-85, but you don't go to the Florida thing. You cut over like you're going to Alabama. Is that how that works? Yep, straight down. Like you're heading to Opelika or Montgomery. Okay. How long a drive is it from downtown Atlanta? I'd probably say about an hour and 15 minutes. That's not too bad. That's not too bad. All right. And it's called Shelton Fireworks. Yep.

Big, giant building off the right-hand side. All right. Thank you, my friend. Have a wonderful holiday. Be safe, please. You too. That's what I'm talking about, man. That's what I'm talking about. I got to tell you, ladies and gentlemen, this is the best. listening audience in entirety of talk radio i ask people

For the best deal, where should I go to get the best deals on fireworks? I got three different people calling in and telling me specifically where to go with cost and everything. Show me that they're good deals.

I love this audience. I absolutely love this audience. Now let's go back to if you're a Republican in Congress, would you have voted on a big, beautiful bill? Sandy in Roswell. Go ahead, Sandy. Hey, Shelly. You know a hell of a lot more about politics than I ever will. I know quite a bit about taking a large organization and trying to reverse the course. You cannot stop and change directions. You have to slow it down first. So I trust.

our president enough and I have to tell you I'm one of those independents I'm stuck in the middle but I trust our current president enough to know that this man is a deal maker and he has a longer plan than we probably can see I agree I don't disagree. My problem is, so let's go ahead, Sandy. Finish your thought. I apologize. Go ahead. That's okay. I was just going to say, if I was a Republican, I would have voted on it. Right. Fair enough.

Because I think he knows what he's doing. I know he knows what he's doing. That's not my problem See my problem and and and let me be clear to everyone listening My problem is not necessarily with the president and I said this earlier. My problem is with the

Republican congressmen, particularly here in Georgia, who ran for office saying they were going to cut spending and reduce the deficit. And I understand what you're saying. This is a... behemoth this is a this is three titanics with one captain and you can't turn it on a dime you can't stop it on a dime you know even if you cut the engines it's still going to drift for 150 miles before it comes to a complete stop right so we know that in your

absolutely right but at least i want to talk to i i want to know why the people who said hey if you elect me to be part of this ship's you know administration i'm going to stop the ship the ship is you as soon as i get there as soon as i get elected i'm going to stop the ship right but when they got elected they all took their hands off the foot feet off the pedals

Whatever the gas is the throttle and no one stopped it And that's my problem because you actually lied to me and that's what I have a problem with but I And you're absolutely right the president does he knows he I trust him It's not about the president. It's about the people that ran for office. I feel like they lied to me. That's my problem. I get it. And so I stay in the position of I hope.

But they didn't lie. I just hope they have more information than I do. Absolutely. Great call. And if they don't, then I'm not voting for them next time. My sister. Have a wonderful holiday weekend. We'll be right back, ladies and gentlemen, taking your calls. I have a story I want to talk about, about crime.

What happened today in D.C. and Chicago is disgusting. Meanwhile, the Democrats are talking about cuts. And this is happening right under their noses. We'll be right back. Shelly Winter Show.

So, hands down the hottest song of the summer, ladies and gentlemen. Boots on the ground. Wherever you go, they're playing it. Go to a party, it's played. Go to a club, it's played. Go to a concert. At halftime or intermission, it's going to be played. It is played everywhere. Hands down the song of the summer. And women carry fans with them.

Cowboy chic is in. Cowboy boots. Which I don't understand. It's 90 degrees outside and these women have on these cowboy boots. I know their feet's kicking. But still, it's a thing. But this song is hot. And you go someplace... I went to Stockbridge Amphitheater for Arrested Development and Philippia and Grits and Jelly. Grits and Jelly. Yeah.

Yeah, grits and jelly butter. Yeah, grits and jelly butter. And so it was three groups. Arrested Development, Philippia, and them. And I'm thinking to myself, whoa, I'm not going to hear that daggone song today. And of course, Philippia played it. Philippia sung it. She killed it. Absolutely killed it. But no one, everyone had their fans. I'm thinking to myself, how did you know to bring your fans? You know why? Because they knew at some point the DJ was going to play it.

So it's the hottest songs hit that again for people that are not recognizing this song. Go ahead This is the hottest song in the summer right now everywhere. It's everywhere Now here's where the fans you snap the fans In that break part, you snap the fans. And they sell these fans. These fans are like $15, $20. Women carry them in their purses. It's a big deal. Such a big deal. This is the funniest story I've ever heard that I'm taking your calls before our guests come in.

Carnival Cruise Line put their new rules out. You know, Carnival is the one where you see fights all the time in videos. And it's really funny because no one goes on Carnival, except for people that have never been on a cruise before. That's why there's so many fights. It's like when Spirit first launched. You see fights on spirits because the people that were getting on spirit during COVID were people that had never been on a plane before. It was the same thing with Carnival.

Marijuana, including cannabis and its derivatives and other illegal substances, are unlawful and strictly prohibited on board. Smoking of any kind in undesignated areas such as state rooms balcony is strictly prohibited. So they cut out the marijuana. They used to let it slide. I went on a cruise years ago. My friend got married. It's like 35, 40 years ago. My friend got married on a cruise ship. I went on a cruise ship. It was all in our suitcases. No one cared. But here's the big thing.

passengers can still enjoy those battery-powered fans on board. You know, those are the fans that blow because it's hot. You see women with them all the time, particularly nothing. I won't say that. I was going to say it. particularly bigger women see but But as for those non-battery-operated fans, leave those at home. Carnival cites safety reasons for the specific ban for handheld fans made popular by Boots on the Grand, where them fans at. Line Dance by 803 Fresh, where dancers...

loudly clack fans on certain parts of the song. The cruise line says the clacking could cause accidental injuries. So a fan is banned from Carnival Cruise Line. And there are a number of people who are saying this is targeted at us. No, it's targeted at the fans. I just wanted to tell you that because I think it's the funniest story ever. Let's take a couple calls. Richard Morrow. Richard, would you have voted on this bill if you were a Republican member of the House? No, I wouldn't have.

I'm speaking from experience to think something slid under the radar with a lot of folks, that Medicaid requirement for work. See, what happens is if you can't work, you can't get insurance. Right. So I'm talking from experience. Right. I'm bipolar. And I tried to get I've been diagnosed since 16. I tried to get help from the government in my early 20s. Gotcha. I was denied. And it's a long process for one.

It's not your doctor determining that you can't work. It's the government's doctor. Gotcha. And it took me each time nine months to get to them. So making people work. that maybe don't belong in the work sector, people that don't have a physical disability. That's something that's going to affect hundreds of thousands of people. And then you've got to think, do we really want people?

in the workplace that aren't stable enough to stay. Exactly. Great call, Richard. Great call. Great observation. Chris in Villa Rica, Fire Workplace. Great call, Richard. God bless you. Thank you. Go ahead, Chris. I think the lady mentioned it earlier, this I-20 West block exit 205 is the very first exit after you cross the Alabama line off of I-20. There's two different fire workstations, stands.

Our buildings, they've been there for years. Fireworks City and State Line Fireworks. One's on one side of Interstate, one's on the other side of Interstate. That's where I usually go. And the prices are much better? The more you buy. You get a bunch of free stuff. Okay, my man. Thank you very much, Chris. When you say the more you buy, can I go in? Is it worth me driving if I've got a $300 budget?

Growers are going to be expensive no matter where you go. I know, but with my $300 budget, is it worth it to drive that far? I don't know. On $300, you might be just better off to go to... Right, my man. Great call, Chris. Thank you. Kevin Decatur, really quickly, I've got to go to break.

for the bill because it's better than what we've currently got. Just work on something after you pass the bill. The guy was right about the fireworks. If you got $300, you'll probably have an entire trunk load of fireworks if you go first thing in the morning.

And you also forgot the part about horrible cruising. Kevin, where should I go first thing in the morning? Straight from where you live in Mabelton, because I grew up in Mabelton. You're 48 minutes from the Alabama line. Go to exit 205. Go to both of those fireworks places.

With $300, you can probably fill up the trunk of your car. You also forgot something else about Carnival Cruises. They no longer play rap music after 10 o'clock, and you can't bring a personal Bluetooth on the boat. Have a blessed day. Happy July the 4th. I said I would be quick.

Yes, sir, you were quick, my man. Coming up next, when we come back from break, Michael Guile, conductor of the Atlanta Pops, also Kevin Leahy, executive director of the Atlanta Pops, will join me in studio. They have a concert coming up Saturday, July 5th. They're backing Nas. He is in my top five all time. And we're going to talk hip-hop and orchestra music.

It's a big thing. We're going to talk some music going into the July 4th weekend. Still keep giving your calls on your fireworks. I need firework tips. Guy said $300 I can drive. So that's what I'm going to do early in the morning. I'm going to do that. I'm going to I-20 West. Ladies and gentlemen, we will be right back. Shelly went to show.

Coming up next in two minutes, Michael Guile, conductor of the Atlanta Pops, and Kevin Leahy, the percussionist, also the executive director of Atlanta Pops. They join me to talk about hip-hop. and the growing partnerships between hip-hop artists and orchestras. And we're also talking about the upcoming concert they have with Nas on Saturday night at Chastain. We'll be right back. Shelly Winter Show. Ladies and gentlemen, you're in for a conversation that you...

Just really going to be a fascinating conversation. Kevin Leahy is the executive director of the Atlanta Pops. He's also the percussionist. And Michael Guile, who is a conductor of the Atlanta Pops. They're here because they have an upcoming show. performing with Nas, who is on my top five, Mike. He's in my top five lyricists of all time. I say lyricists, I don't say rappers or anything. For me, I count my top five rappers as lyricists. Like, that's how I...

List them that's in no particular order, but he's in my top five always has been but he's performing on Saturday with the Atlanta pop so guys welcome

Thank you. Thank you for having us. First of all, no order. You guys, I'm just throwing out the question whoever wants to answer. But the first question I have to ask. I've been seeing over the last, I would say, four or five years, a lot of hip-hop stars around the country performing with orchestras. Why is that happening? Where is it coming from?

I don't know the answer, but I just have to say I love it because I've always heard it. For me, studying classical percussion, studying jazz, and hearing... These artists utilize samples from these classic recordings, whether it's Donald Verde or Ahmad Jamal or whoever it may have been, and doing inventive stuff. I always heard those musicians underneath, whether it's the drummers or the...

the sounds of these recordings, and then, of course, these lyricists adding that hip-hop element on top of it. So it always made sense to me. It always made sense to me. The same time I was, again, studying that music in high school and college at... at music school. It was also the same time I was listening to these hip-hop artists. Right. And I...

Honestly, can't believe it's taken this long. Really? So talk to me about that. Why not? Talk to me. Why do you think that is? Well, for me, it seems like, wow, this is hot. Yeah. No, I mean, and it is hot. And I think it is the next.

Level you know you have hip-hop artists like you're just starting out where they start out and then they get to clubs and tours and and It's like what's next what's next and there's always an aspect of trying to out to someone else or trying to do something bigger and better

um and i think i don't know if it's we're talking earlier about the 50th anniversary maybe it reaches a certain level and it's like hey what if we try this and maybe you have the resources or maybe you're getting buy-in from some legit um orchestrators or conductors or people like yeah this is i love this artist or that artist what if we tried this and it's somewhat experimental at first but um it's all music man i mean it's it's and it it's so cool to see it bring

Those worlds together that you're right to an older generation may sound very separate. But, you know, another generations around the quarter to show you, no, it can be done. As conductor, Michael, what do you see?

coming with this growth of what's going on? When I'm on the podium, and I can tell you, we did a show at Gucci Mane, and I can tell you... Wait, say that again? Gucci Mane. He walks out on stage the first time.

And he walks up to me on the podium, and I saw a smile from him that I don't know if you can replicate that smile. He saw his music in a way that he never really envisioned when he first wrote that. And I think it just grows and it grows. And I think it's something that they don't even know.

They're not playing the instruments on the regular, but the smile on their face is going to translate to the audience. And I just think it's something that we don't know how this all came to be, but we're just trying to foster it and grow it in the best way that we know how to do it.

Do you think when you see the audiences, because you guys have done this with other artists, which I didn't know until I spoke to you a couple minutes ago, tell some of the artists the Atlanta Pops have played with. Yeah, actually the first... The time we did it was 10 years ago. We were able to talk Arrested Development into doing two songs with us. Just saw them at Stockbridge. Yeah, yeah. Amazing people. And I reached out to...

Frida, and I said, hey, I got an idea. She said, let's try it. And so they just did two songs at a gala event. And I was like, this is just the energy that erupted when we did that. I was like, we're onto something. But yeah, it took a while. Fortunately, we got the offer to work with TI in 2023, and it was a ton of work to get it pulled together, but it was, again, just incredibly fulfilling, rewarding.

Many people are hearing their favorite artists for the first time with the symphonic range of instruments in a symphonic hall and I think it just overwhelms people.

Because it's not like listening at Mercedes Benz where you can't hear any of the lyrics. Yeah, exactly. Right, right. Here, everything is crystal clear. Yeah, and it's still loud. They bring in some hip-hop productions, so there's some low-end in there, but you hear... uh woodwinds and strings and luckily with the atlanta pops we got such a great um

How many people in Atlanta pops? Well, it's different. Every show is a little different. So this show Saturday, how many people? We're going to have over 50. I think it's closer to 55. Yeah, well, and that's a big piece of this. These arrangements were done by Derek Hodge. Recently here, they headlined the Atlanta Jazz Festival.

Okay. A phenomenal bassist, arranger, producer, just musical mind of the next generation. And he and Tim Davies had done these arrangements for the National Symphony Orchestra in D.C. 10 years ago. They've done revisions, but man, it is thick. with musical knowledge. I mean, they know how to write for not just woodwinds, but bass clarinets. And apply it to hip-hop. And apply it to hip-hop. And you can see these cool repeated phrases.

You can see, I mean, there's a recording out there of it, and it's actually been one of my favorites because it does marry those two worlds of hip-hop with that full, rich spectrum of sound that only an orchestra can deliver. Would you say that this is... For my generation, and I'm a little older than you guys, but for my generation as a hip-hop fan, a guy who grew up on it, but also grew up listening to jazz and reggae and classic rock and everything else, that I'm going to...

You know, people like me are going to hear something that we have never heard before. Conductor? I think there's things that when you go to a symphony concert, you hear certain instruments that stick out to you. And I think your ears, you know, we listen with our eyes a lot, you know, not just with our ears. And I think for those people, it gives you that depth.

I mean, it's something different that you might not be accustomed to. That might be, you know, a little bit at times. I know when we met with T.I. the first time at his studio, we played him some of our tracks of this is what... 24s is going to be like with the orchestra. And he kept stopping us at this one spot. He said, I love this. I love this. What is that?

I said, that's a French horn. He goes, I want more. And I think it expands, you know, because he's not a symphonic person. It expands his love and knowledge of it as well. So what you hear... I think it's going to be different than when you just go to Symphony Hall, wherever it may be. It just expands what you're going to be currently listening to. The other big piece of that is and what's really fulfilling for us is seeing the audience and even seeing our orchestra members.

playing and experiencing music with deep meaning to them. It's one thing to see a symphony orchestra, and I'm a fan of Beethoven and Mozart and the classics like anyone else, but to hear music that... Reminds of your childhood reminds of your friends or reminds you

that it got you through a tough time, and it's popular music, meaning it's not in the classical canon where you have to study it or get an advanced degree at some music school to truly appreciate it. This is music that is... is um again has that meaning

um and then we're just amplifying it on this big stage with the big sound so i have my memories i've got the french horn and then i have one of my top five lyricists of all time or whoever it is and all of that mixed in into one night yep When we come back, you talked earlier off air about...

The Atlanta Pops history with WSB. Yes. Let's start off with that when we come back and let's talk some more music. I'm in the studio with Kevin Leahy, the executive director of the Atlanta Pops. He's also the percussionist and Michael Guile, conductor of the Atlanta Pops. They have a big... show Saturday. They're backing Nas, my top five. One of the greatest lyricists of all time. Oh, I've got to ask you the playlist. Are you allowed to talk about that? Can I? No. I have it. You have it.

Can you tell some songs? You got to see. All right. Some songs. We'll be right back. Yes. Tickets are available. Tickets are available. Yeah. Chastain Park. Go to Ticketmaster. All I can even say, you can get a deal, two tickets. For $80 total, if you use the unlock code RHYME, R-H-Y-M-E, bring a friend, get a discounted ticket, and come on up. We'll be right back. See, I definitely want to hear this from a symphony.

Conduct. We're in the studio with Michael Gile, conductor of the Atlanta Pops, and Kevin Leahy, executive director of the Atlanta Pops. They have a show coming up. But I won't stop now. There it is. You can hate me now. Yeah. Nas is going to be with the Atlanta Pops on Saturday at Chastain. And I want to have this musical conversation with Kevin and Michael. Before we went to break, I teased that.

You talked off air about the history of WSB radio and the Atlanta Pops. Can you tell that really quickly? Yeah. This summer, 80 years since the first Atlanta Pop concert, it was Albert Coleman. He was music director. here at WSB, had a radio show late at night, played violin. I think someone read poetry, and who knows what they were doing then, but he held the first Atlanta pop concert at Emory, 1945, July 1945.

It was broadcast on the air at WSB, and he led the orchestra for over 50 years. It's a fascinating history. Unfortunately, there's not too much documented about it, but there's some... For me, it was just so inspirational to see these photos that this orchestra used to play at the Fox Theater in the 40s and 50s, Chastain Park, with the current stars at the time, and then evolved into the 60s and 70s, collaborating with Isaac Hayes and James Brown.

Ray Charles, and then in the 80s and 90s with Chet Atkins. So it's always evolving. And I always tell people that's the beauty and the challenge of a pops orchestra is that we can't just play the same music year after year. Popular styles are evolving and changing, and we've been fortunate, especially in Atlanta. with the hip-hop artists here and the hip-hop fans here that it comes together and we're able to make it work so and and for me personally sitting here hearing that history yeah

From 1945 to 2025 that I'm sitting here on WSB interviewing you guys about a Nas concert. And it started in 1945 with a... Show with who? Well, Albert Coleman was the conductor. I'm not sure who the musicians are. There's these grainy black and white photos I've seen of it, but with the old WSB microphone. And, you know, it's amazing to see that I don't know much about all the years. The Atlanta Pops Orchestra hasn't.

been like the big institution that the Atlantic Symphony Orchestra is. But they're both the same age. Well, yeah, yeah. We started around the same time, and we've carved a path. I'm very fortunate that it gave me a place to play drums and percussion with a group. We primarily travel to the southeast, but we've done tours up to the Midwest, down to Florida. And I think there's something that people from the outside see about Atlanta.

We have there's something in the water here and musically creatively. It's it's it's signed it Mr. Conductor I've got to ask you this when you're conducting with a hip-hop artist because you do it with pop The Atlanta Pops is because it's popular music at the time that you just explained. For you, what's the difference between conducting the Pops Orchestra with a hip-hop artist versus, say, a popular singer or, you know...

You know what I mean? A pop music star. I have to control my emotions. I'm born and raised in Atlanta and I love it. And I'm just trying to keep steady with the track, with the orchestra, with their energy. I'm really just trying to stay professional and stay with them because it's. The energy, it's...

Like now, I can't put it into words. I'm literally just trying to keep – my first responsibility is to see the orchestra. That's it, to give them what they need, to keep the tempo, give them cues, let them know when the tracks – when we're about to finish. But also –

I need to party on stage. You know, I want the people, my back's always turned. I want them to see that, you know, I'm having the most fun besides, you know, TI or Rick, whoever it may be. But I mean, there's just a million things that were, you know. What have the artists said to you after the shows? What has been their response? It's like a T.I. The first, we did two nights. And the first night, I think he was just kind of overwhelmed by the situation, having all those people.

night after the show and we'd gone to an after party and Mayor Dickens was there former Mayor Bottoms was there and we're doing this whole hangout thing and he just you know you know whispered some stuff you know but it was really just like thank you It was just something that he was really thankful for the opportunity and us respecting his music and respecting him and his team at Grand Hustle. I mean, it was a family for us. And that's important to the hip-hop culture is the respect.

you know giving giving them their time to do you think it's important that both of you guys from what i can hear from you are both also hip-hop fans oh yeah yeah beyond this you're hip-hop fans do you think that's important oh absolutely i i love uh you know being in that percussion section, looking up and seeing Michael mouthing all the words. His mic's not on, but, I mean, he knows it. And that genuine, authentic appreciation and love...

carries through, and I think especially in preparing for these shows, it can get stressful. We're trying to figure out what to cut, what's going to happen here and there, and it's one thing to...

To get along when or to make things work when everything's you know, you got tons of time or tons of money But when it's crunch time and people are stressed, but we're still trusting each other to get each other to this mountaintop, I mean, that's one of the more fulfilling things because you get that bond on stage.

with what would seem like two different worlds of music, hip-hop and classical, but it's just genuine love when it all comes down. Was there ever a controversy when Pops... One more minute, if we can. Just one more.

No? Okay. Last question. You say there's generally different musics. Pops and classical or orchestra music and hip-hop. But wasn't it always that way with pops and popular music? No matter what the popular music was at the time, Isaac Hayes, James Brown? Yeah. Well, I think that's likely it. I think many artists are genuine music fans, and they see an orchestra, and they're inspired by it. But it's like, what's the path they get into doing that? And I mean, I wish I knew.

some of those backstories like what were those early talks like but I think again you get to bigger status you can predict ticket sales, like there's a way to make it financially work and you put the effort in. Really quickly, website for people to get tickets and we got to let you go. AtlantaPops.org for the Atlanta Pops Orchestra, but check ASO.org for more information about the show with Nas.

Happy July 4th, everyone. Be safe and know this in your hearts. God loves you. Have a safe holiday weekend. Peace. This break is brought to you by Adobe Creative Cloud. With over 20 apps, there's always new ways to explore your creativity. Design it. Illustrate it. Animate it. Bring any idea to life with the ultimate creative toolkit. Creative Cloud.