Soul Strings

Kenny G On Craft, Discipline, And A Lifetime Of Sound

The first thing you notice isn’t the melody—it’s the feeling. Kenny G joins us to pull back the curtain on how a saxophone became a voice that people recognize in a heartbeat, and why he never writes to chase an audience. He learned in a world without tutorials or feeds, which forced a kind of musical solitude that sharpened tone, taste, and endurance. That isolation became an advantage, turning breath and brass into a signature sound that bridged smooth jazz, R&B, and pop. We get into the daily discipline that keeps his lines clean and his stamina high: early mornings, three-hour practice sessions, time in the gym, and a standard that doesn’t bend for convenience. He breaks down how he approaches collaborations, from soul to K-pop, with a craftsman’s patience—listening, refining, and delivering parts that serve the song without diluting his identity. The viral Valentine’s Day with Kim and Kanye becomes a case study in preparation meeting opportunity, and he shares how that spontaneity led straight to late-night television and a fresh wave of attention. For the gearheads and technique-curious, Kenny explains circular breathing and the Guinness World Record for the longest sustained sax note—what it takes, why the rules are strict, and how moisture on a reed can end a 45-minute hold. We also talk about choices and chances: early breaks with Barry White and Jeff Lorber, an investment in Starbucks, an airplane awaiting repairs, and the one career decision he’d redo with Clive Davis. Through it all, a simple philosophy anchors the journey: get so great the world can’t say no. If you love music, craft, and stories that reveal what it takes to stay excellent over decades, this one’s for you. Hit play, share it with a friend who needs the push to practice, and leave a review telling us the one habit you refuse to skip.

Andy Summers reveals how The Police created their iconic sound against the backdrop of punk London.

Guitar virtuoso Andy Summers takes us on a captivating journey through his remarkable musical life, from his early days performing alongside The Police to his current artistic evolution combining photography with live music performances. Summers reflects on the 1980s as a golden era for music, describing it as "the culmination of the sixties" when countless influential bands emerged from the UK scene. What makes his perspective particularly fascinating is the revelation of how his sophisticated musical background – classical training, jazz influences, and an ear for complex harmonies – had to be adapted when he entered London's punk rock world. This tension between musical sophistication and rock simplicity helped create The Police's distinctive sound. The conversation delves into the magic that happened when Summers met Sting, discovering they shared similar musical sensibilities despite their different backgrounds. "It was a miraculous meeting," Summers explains, revealing how their partnership unlocked possibilities in Sting's songwriting that might never have materialized otherwise. His approach to guitar solos, like the iconic one in "Driven to Tears," demonstrates his thoughtful composition style – deliberately using flattened fifths and ninths to create angular notes that matched the anguish in the lyrics rather than falling back on standard blues licks. Beyond music, Summers shares how European art house films by directors like Truffaut and Fellini profoundly influenced his photography, which has become his second artistic passion. His current performances beautifully merge these two art forms in intimate theater settings. Whether discussing his musical journey, photographic influences, or why his Telecaster remains his most prized possession, Summers offers a window into the mind of a true artist continuously evolving across multiple creative disciplines. Don't miss his upcoming show at the Wiley Theater on September 25th – a rare opportunity to experience this multimedia presentation that Summers calls "screamingly logical" but took him years to conceptualize.

A Yard Sale Beatles Album Set Dave Glover’s Life In Motion

A yard sale purchase gave a five-year-old Dave Glover a Beatles record, and he still talks about that needle drop like it rewired his whole nervous system. You may know Dave as the unfiltered voice behind The Dave Glover Show on KMOX and a staple of St. Louis radio, but we go past the persona and into the parts that shaped him: a complicated childhood, a lifelong creative drive, and the strange mix of shyness and performance that so many entertainers live with.  We get honest about mental health and the creative brain, including anxiety, ADHD, therapy, and what it means to accept that some struggles don’t “get cured,” they get managed. We also dig into belief and identity, from his early years in evangelical Christianity and touring with a Christian band to landing in a place of hopeful agnosticism, choosing curiosity over performative certainty. If you’ve ever felt pressure to fit a label for work, family, or an audience, this conversation will hit close to home.  Then the story takes a powerful turn into hospice volunteering and No One Dies Alone (NODA). After a NODA volunteer sat with Dave’s mother in her final hours, he trained to do the same, sitting vigil so people don’t die alone. We talk about what those rooms feel like, how presence changes you, and why gratitude gets louder when distractions go quiet. We also connect music and grief through the Beatles, including why Dear Prudence carries his brother’s memory, and we preview his Delmar Hall Beatles set packed with songs fans rarely hear live.  If you like conversations about storytelling, live music, St. Louis culture, mental health, hospice care, and meaning, subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave a review so more people can find Soul Strings.

From Glasgow To Sold-Out Arenas With One Night Of Queen

A Freddie Mercury tribute can’t survive on a costume and a few big notes. It takes nerve, stamina, and a real understanding of why Queen still matters and Gary Mullen has spent 26 years proving it on stages around the world. We talk with Gary about the unlikely chain of events that took him from being a lifelong Queen fan in Glasgow to winning Stars in Their Eyes with a record vote, then turning that moment into One Night Of Queen, a full-scale live rock concert experience. He breaks down the “alter ego” side of performing Freddie, how he avoids overthinking the voice, and what it means to honor a legend without turning the show into a museum piece. You’ll also hear the unglamorous parts that fans rarely see: vocal training for endurance, getting older on tour, the warmups and rituals that flip the switch before the lights go down, and the split-second panic when a lyric disappears mid-song. Along the way, Gary shares unforgettable fan stories, including a backstage encounter with Freddie Mercury’s Live Aid belt, plus why audience participation is the secret weapon that keeps Queen’s music timeless across generations. If you love Queen, live music, and the craft behind stage presence, listen all the way through, then subscribe, share the episode with a friend, and leave a review so more fans can find the show.

Rocky Mountain High, Reimagined

A teenage athlete in St. Louis puts on glasses and gets told he looks like the biggest star on TV. That small twist becomes a calling. We sit down with Rick Shuler to explore how resemblance opened a door to craft, faith, and a tribute that feels startlingly alive—without losing his own voice. From the first time he saw John Denver perform with his mom to the day the phone rang when Denver died, Rick shares the moments that stitched his story to a legacy millions still cherish. The heart of the conversation is intimacy: a last‑minute Aspen show, a living room performance for Hal Thau—John’s longtime manager—tears over a cherished guitar, and a friendship that lasted fourteen years. Rick explains why timbre isn’t imitation, how anatomy shapes tone, and why songwriting influences like James Taylor and Dan Fogelberg sit alongside a clear, joyful Christian faith. We talk C.S. Lewis and the three longings of the soul—home, love, and God—and why songs like Rocky Mountain High and Annie’s Song feel timeless, borderless, and endlessly singable. Younger listeners may not know Denver firsthand, but they follow the story through parents, memory, and the communal magic of a room that sings together. We also preview Rocky Mountain High Christmas at The Factory: conductor and arranger Bill Lennihan, the Starlight String Ensemble, beloved hits, and new originals from Rick’s album Colorado. Expect vivid stories, a warm orchestral glow, and a show built for families to experience together. Rick calls it a gathering more than a concert, a place where nostalgia meets new wonder and where faith and artistry share the same breath. If John were in the audience, Rick imagines a grin and a simple “Far out”—a nod to gratitude over mimicry. Join us, subscribe for more soulful artist stories, and leave a review to tell us the lyric that still brings you home.