Charu Suri  - Grammy Nominated Indian Pianist And Composer. Combines Ragas And Jazz. Her Albums Are #1 In India. John Patitucci, Steve Gadd, Jim Kimo West, Berta Moreno!

Celebrating Our 800th Episode!

I’ve got some big news - Follow your dream has just released its 800th episode! That’s right, 800 episodes in just under 5 1/2 years. And on top of that, we’re about to hit 5 million total downloads. How about that! What started out as a pandemic-era podcast with no audience and no guests has now morphed into a global arts platform featuring guests from over 40 countries and including musicians, actors, authors, directors, photographers, poets, and other creatives. I’m pleased to say that the podcast has been ranked in the top 1% in the world for quite some time. In the last year I’ve added four new pillars of content to Follow Your Dream in addition to interviews: they are Special Collections, Reflections, Legends, and most recently, Essays. These 5 pillars have taken Follow Your Dream well beyond the scope of any other show out there. In fact, I just read an industry statistic which said that of the 4.7 million podcasts in existence, only 4%, or about 180,000, have published at least 10 episodes and publish weekly. This gives you an idea of the staying power and magnitude of Follow Your Dream in comparison to all the others. As usual, I want to thank you for listening to the show. I appreciate your loyalty and all the testimonials from so many of my artist guests.  Keep on rockin! And we’ll see you in the next 800 episodes.

Tasha Warren And Dave Eggar - 2x Grammy Nominated Clarinetist, With 7x Grammy Nominated Cellist. Their 1st Album Was Grammy Nominated. Their New One Is "Motherload"!

My guests today are Tasha Warren and Dave Eggar. Tasha is a 2x Grammy nominated clarinetist and bass clarinetist, and an international performer who has premiered over 100 works worldwide. She’s a member of the American Modern Ensemble, Lansing Symphony and Jackson Symphony Orchestra. Dave Eggar is an amazing cellist who is making his third appearance on this podcast, putting him at the top of my frequent flyer list. What’s even more impressive is that each appearance has been in a different context - first in his own right as a world class cellist, then as the cellist and QB of the fabulous string quartet that recorded my recent release, “Ma Petite Fleur String Quartet”, and now with Tasha. Oh, and I should mention that he’s got 7 Grammy nominations, he’s played with Paul Simon among dozens of top artists, and he was the guy who was responsible for the iconic cello work on Coldplay’s massive hit, “Viva La Vida”. Okay I think you get the picture. My featured song is “The Buzz”, my latest single. Spotify link [https://open.spotify.com/album/2jI3qIuiYNSQDzff5eLpSR?si=wF5Ip0KFQfqKMU9bdS0d6g]. —------------------------------------ The Follow Your Dream Podcast: Top 1% of all podcasts with Listeners in 200 countries! Click here [http://www.followyourdreampodcast.com/start-here] for Start Here Click here [https://www.followyourdreampodcast.com/] for All Episodes  Click here [https://www.followyourdreampodcast.com/guests] for Guest List  Click here [https://www.followyourdreampodcast.com/testimonials] for Guest Testimonials Click here [http://www.followyourdreampodcast.com/pillars] for Pillars Click here [http://www.projectgrandslam.com/] for Robert’s Project Grand Slam Click here [https://www.followyourdreampodcast.com/subscribe] to Subscribe  Click https://mailchi.mp/followyourdreampodcasthere [https://www.followyourdreampodcast.com/preview-emails] to receive our Email Updates Click here [https://www.ratethispodcast.com/followyourdream] to Rate and Review the podcast —---------------------------------------- CONNECT WITH TASHA: www.tashawarrenclarinet.com [http://www.tashawarrenclarinet.com/] CONNECT WITH DAVE: www.domomusicgroup.com [http://www.domomusicgroup.com/] —------------------------------------ ROBERT’S NEWEST RELEASE: “THE BUZZ” - Ft. Darius de Haas (vocals) and Dave Eggar (Celo). Short, Sweet and Totally Different CLICK HERE [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uw4C2DPAiXA&list=RDuw4C2DPAiXA&start_radio=1] FOR OFFICIAL VIDEO CLICK HERE [https://projectgrandslam.hearnow.com/the-buzz] FOR ALL LINKS —-------------------------------------- Audio production: Jimmy Ravenscroft Kymera Films [https://www.kymera-films.com/] Connect with the Follow Your Dream Podcast: Website [http://www.followyourdreampodcast.com/] - www.followyourdreampodcast.com Follow Robert’s band, Project Grand Slam, and his music: Website [http://www.projectgrandslam.com/] - www.projectgrandslam.com

N'Kenge - Spectacular Crossover Singer In Pop, Opera, Jazz. Tony, Emmy, Grammy Nominated. Broadway Star In "Sondheim On Sondheim", "Motown: The Musical", And "Caroline, Or Change". New Dorothy Dandridge Musical!

N’Kenge is a spectacular powerhouse crossover singer in pop, opera and jazz. Just Wait till you hear what this lady has accomplished.  She is a Tony, Emmy, and Grammy nominated performer with a 5 octave vocal range. She’s headlined with major orchestras including the Cleveland Orchestra, and the Houston, Edmonton, and Jacksonville Symphonies, and she’s performed at major venues including Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, and Madison Square Garden. On Broadway she’s been in “Sondheim on Sondheim”, “Motown: The Musical”, and “Caroline, or Change”. In 2026, she leads the world premiere of “That’s Love! The Dorothy Dandridge Musical”. Her new album is called “Centerstage: Live From the Ella Fitzgerald Festival”. She has a new TV project called “Black Butterfly”. She has a nonprofit foundation. And she sings in 11 languages including Zulu. My featured song is “The Buzz”, my latest single. Spotify link [https://open.spotify.com/album/2jI3qIuiYNSQDzff5eLpSR?si=wF5Ip0KFQfqKMU9bdS0d6g]. —------------------------------------ The Follow Your Dream Podcast: Top 1% of all podcasts with Listeners in 200 countries! Click here [http://www.followyourdreampodcast.com/start-here] for Start Here Click here [https://www.followyourdreampodcast.com/] for All Episodes  Click here [https://www.followyourdreampodcast.com/guests] for Guest List  Click here [https://www.followyourdreampodcast.com/testimonials] for Guest Testimonials Click here [http://www.followyourdreampodcast.com/pillars] for Pillars Click here [http://www.projectgrandslam.com/] for Robert’s Project Grand Slam Click here [https://www.followyourdreampodcast.com/subscribe] to Subscribe  Click https://mailchi.mp/followyourdreampodcasthere [https://www.followyourdreampodcast.com/preview-emails] to receive our Email Updates Click here [https://www.ratethispodcast.com/followyourdream] to Rate and Review the podcast —---------------------------------------- CONNECT WITH N’KENGE: www.nkengemusic.com [http://www.nkengemusic.com/] —------------------------------------ ROBERT’S NEWEST RELEASE: “THE BUZZ” - Ft. Darius de Haas (vocals) and Dave Eggar (Celo). Short, Sweet and Totally Different CLICK HERE [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uw4C2DPAiXA&list=RDuw4C2DPAiXA&start_radio=1] FOR OFFICIAL VIDEO CLICK HERE [https://projectgrandslam.hearnow.com/the-buzz] FOR ALL LINKS —-------------------------------------- Audio production: Jimmy Ravenscroft Kymera Films [https://www.kymera-films.com/] Connect with the Follow Your Dream Podcast: Website [http://www.followyourdreampodcast.com/] - www.followyourdreampodcast.com Follow Robert’s band, Project Grand Slam, and his music: Website [http://www.projectgrandslam.com/] - www.projectgrandslam.com

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Today’s a pretty special day for me. It’s my 75th birthday.  Yes you heard me correctly.  It feels like just the other day I was watching The Beatles on Ed Sullivan. And then I ran out afterwards and taught myself guitar and bass. Then it feels like it was only a few days ago that I was playing jazz fusion in Boston. And then recording my first album when I was in my 40s but still working a day job. And then turning 60 and deciding that I could not let my youthful music dream go to waste. So I reformed my band Project Grand Slam and started writing and recording my music - now 15 albums and many singles. And then, like just yesterday, the pandemic hit and I didn’t know what to do with myself. So I started Follow Your Dream. And here we are 5+ years and over 775 episodes later. Follow Your Dream has been an extraordinary second act for me and a great gift. When I started the podcast in March 2021, I had no audience and no guests. I never imagined that it would evolve into what it has become today. I’ve had wonderful conversations with so many creative artists from all around the world. Over 40 countries. Musicians. Actors. Authors. Photographers. Directors. Poets. It has been an honor and a privilege to meet them, learn from them, and share their stories with you. And as I’ve written recently, perhaps the most remarkable transformation is that Follow Your Dream has evolved from a mere podcast into a true global arts platform. What began as a creative outlet during the pandemic has become something much larger. And I created it out of love. Not as a way to make money, but as a way to give back to the creative community that has inspired and sustained me throughout my life. As I’ve said before, Follow Your Dream is totally independent. No partners. No corporate overseers. No advertisers. No one telling me who to interview or what to say. Just me, following my instincts and my curiosity. One of the most gratifying aspects of this journey has been hearing from my guests themselves. A few years ago, I began asking my guests for brief testimonials about their experience on the show. To date, more than 200 have responded with the most generous and heartfelt comments. Their words mean more to me than they could possibly know. And then there is the audience. Listeners from around the world continue to find the show, support it, and return week after week. I’ve learned that creativity, curiosity, and human connection have a remarkable ability to transcend borders. So —happy birthday to me. I feel incredibly fortunate. Fortunate to still be creating. Fortunate to still be learning. Fortunate to still be meeting extraordinary artists. And fortunate to have all of you along for the journey. As I like to say, thank you for listening to this podcast. And keep on rockin! Robert

LEGENDS: IRVING BERLIN - America's Greatest Songwriter. "God Bless America", "White Christmas", "Easter Parade", "There's No Business Like Show Business" And Many More!

Welcome to another Legends episode of Follow Your Dream, the award winning podcast and global arts platform. Legends features profiles of iconic artists and influential figures who helped shape our culture. This Legends episode spotlights Irving Berlin who was - simply put - one of the greatest songwriters of all time.  Irving Berlin was born in Russia with the name Israel Beilin. He moved to America at age 5 with his family to escape the pogroms against the Jews. He taught himself the piano and he composed only in the key of F#, meaning the black keys. His songs captured the identity and feel of his adopted country. He was known for writing music and lyrics that were uncomplicated, simple and direct, with his stated aim being to "reach the heart of the average American". He received Academy, Tony and Grammy awards, and the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Over his 60 year career he wrote 1,500 songs, with “Alexander’s Ragtime Band” in 1911 being his first hit. His catalog included the scores to 20 original Broadway shows and 15 original Hollywood films. His songs were nominated eight times for Academy Awards.  Let’s listen now to excerpts from several of his greatest hits sung by the stars of his era.  “God Bless America”, sung by Kate Smith;  “Blue Skies”, sung by Frank Sinatra “Easter Parade, sung by Judy Garland “Cheek To Cheek” sung by Ella Fitzgerald “There’s No Business Like Show Business” sung by Ethel Merman, and of course  “White Christmas” sung by Bing Crosby. None other than George Gershwin called Irving Berlin “the greatest songwriter that has ever lived", and Jerome Kern, no slouch himself, said that "Irving Berlin has no place in American music—he is American music."