Band Central with Rob Fried

Band Central Radio 042825 Podcast with Marcos Torres, Jr (percussionist), Christine Paine (ED of Team Woofgang), Paola Murphy (Band Central) and host Rob Fried

Hi, I’m Rob Fried, and welcome to the Band Central Radio podcast for April 2025.  This was recorded live at the WPKN studio in Bridgeport on April 28th.   This show is our finale to 10 years of live broadcasting on WPKN 89.5FM.  Today you are going to meet percussionist and music producer Marcos Torres, Jr, local nonprofit leader Christine Paine from Team Woofgang and Band Central’s very own Paola Murphy, our Director of Operations. Here’s the run of show… in the first segment we talk about the end of the Band Central Radio era with all our reflections, emotions and thankfulness. Next we listen to my recent release, Abigale Is My Friend. Then I provide an update on Band Central and interview Marcos about his background, what lights him up about performing, and his current projects.  We conclude the interview with Marcos and me performing Jingo unplugged, live on air. Then I interview Christine to understand a bit about her upbringing, the meaningful work she is doing with Team Woofgang and where her passion for helping people come from, and then conclude with reflective interview with Paola. Thank you for listening.

Band Central Radio 032425 Podcast with Fuzz (singer, guitarist), Susan Schnitzer (Pres/CEO of CIRI), Dan Sheehan (Connor Sheehan Fund) and host Rob Fried

Hi, I’m Rob Fried, and welcome to the Band Central Radio podcast for March 2025.  This was recorded live at the WPKN studio in Bridgeport on March 24th.   Today you are going to meet guitarist and vocalist Fuzz, and local nonprofit leaders Susan Schnitzer from CIRI and Dan Sheehan from Connor Sheehan Fund Here’s the run of show… in the first segment we talk about how one’s mission can often become more than what you do, but rather a deep part of who you are. Next we listen to Fuzz’s latest song, Love Came. Then I provide an update on Band Central and interview Fuzz about his background, what lights him up about performing, his current projects.  We conclude the interview with Fuzz and me performing Sweet Dreams unplugged, live on air. Then I interview Susan Schnitzer to understand a bit about her origin story and where her passion for helping refugees and immigrants come from, and then conclude with a fascinating interview with Dan Sheehan about the Connor Sheehan Fund, in memory of his son, whose mission is provide support for programs that help teens, their families, and schools to identify mental health issues and substance use disorders among young people. Thank you for listening.

Band Central Radio 022325 Podcast with Jay Rowe (keyboardists), Amanda Meeson (Exec Dir Sterling Community Center) and host Rob Fried

Hi, I’m Rob Fried, and welcome to the Band Central Radio podcast for February 2025.  This was recorded live at the WPKN studio in Bridgeport on February 24th.   Today you are going to meet smooth jazz keyboardists Jay Rowe and nonprofit leader Amanda Meeson, exec director of Sterling Community Center. Here’s the run of show… in the first segment we talk about the music and art that has most affected who we are as people … I’m calling this your “musical pastiche” Next we listen to Jay Rowe’s latest song, That’s What I Know. Then I provide an update on Band Central and interview Jay about his background, what lights him up about performing, his current projects and his nonprofit that helps the Milford School System, Smooth Jazz For Scholars. Then I interview Amanda Meeson to understand a bit about her origin story and where her passions lie. Thank you for listening.

Band Central Radio 012725 Podcast with Rod Porter (Bridgeport Police Chief), Marc Donald (Exec Dir Catalyst) and host Rob Fried

Hi, I’m Rob Fried, and welcome to the Band Central Radio podcast for January 2025.  This was recorded live at the WPKN studio in Bridgeport on January 27th.   Today you are going to meet Bridgeport Police Chief Rod Porter and nonprofit leader Marc Donald, Exec Director of Catalyst. Here’s the run of show… in the first segment we talk about different approaches to making the world a better place, including Band Central’s approach, along with comments from Marc and Rod along with input from some of our musicians and nonprofits.   Next I provide an update on Band Central  for 2024 and what’s planned for 2025. Then I interview Rod Porter about his approach to law enforcement in the city of Bridgeport and what he has learned from his decades of experience. Then I interview Marc Donald to understand a bit about his origin story and where his passions lie. Thank you for listening.

Band Central Radio Podcast 122324 with Host Rob Fried

Welcome to the Band Central Radio podcast for December 2024. Here’s the run of show… in the first segment I list and describe the 18 nonprofits that we gave grants to and produced live music events for during the year.   Next we hear two tracks …. Abigale Is My Friend by Rob Fried, and Whoa Wait A Minute by Anthony Gadaleta. Then I provide an update on Band Central  for 2024 and what’s planned for 2025. Then we listen to Stephanie Harrison’s recording of There’s A Light from Moonrise Cartel and Carole Sylvan’s recording of Saving Up For Your Love. After that I provide a summary of the topics we covered in 2024 on BC Radio, and we follow that up by listening to tracks by two more Band Central artists … Tommy Week’s track Bridge and Fuzz Sangiovani’s rendition of Sweet Dreams. I wish you peace and love for the holiday season and the new year.  Thank you for listening.