Episode 014 - From Jimmy Page to Ozzy Osbourne - The Phil Soussan Story

Episode 014 - From Jimmy Page to Ozzy Osbourne - The Phil Soussan Story

Friends & Legends with Skip Martin Host: Skip Martin Summary: Bassist and songwriter Phil Soussan joins Skip Martin to trace a career that runs from twelve years of classical violin training in London to co-writing one of Ozzy Osbourne's biggest hits. Phil talks through breaking into the London scene via classified ads, the phone call that turned into the Ozzy Osbourne gig after a chance connection with Jimmy Page, and the story behind "Shot in the Dark." He and Skip swap road stories, including the origin of Ozzy's mirrored cape and a run-in with the Finnish police that ended in a Beatles singalong. Phil closes out on why he sees music, like his old restaurant, as a hospitality business, and what's next for Last in Line and his upcoming solo album. Main Topics: ● Early musical roots - falling in love with music before age two, and a nursery rhyme record player from a cousin ● Twelve years of classical violin training and how it shaped his ear for bass ● Choosing bass over piano and guitar, rooted in classical figured bass theory ● The hard conversation with his parents about leaving pre-med for music ● Breaking into the London music scene through Melody Maker classified ads ● The chance connection through Jimmy Page that led to auditioning for, and landing, the Ozzy Osbourne gig ● Co-writing "Shot in the Dark" and the Al Jarreau influence behind its chord progression ● The sheer scale of 80s rock touring, and the story behind Ozzy's mirrored cape ● A run-in with Finnish police that turned into an impromptu Beatles singalong in a stuck elevator ● Life on the road with Steve Lukather, Jimmy Page, John Waite, Billy Idol, Vince Neil and Johnny Hallyday ● Why Phil sees himself as being in the hospitality business, on stage and as a former restaurant owner ● What's next: the Last in Line reunion and his new solo album Intriguing Quotes: ● "I said, Nana, that's what I'm gonna do... I'm gonna make music so that when I die, people will feel like I'm still in the car with them." - Skip Martin (06:30) ● "His response was, anything but that." - Phil Soussan, on his dad's reaction to him choosing music over medicine (05:50) ● "If you find something you love doing, you'll never work a day in your life." - Phil Soussan, quoting his father (05:50) ● "I think I'm in the hospitality industry... we do something that takes people out of their day-to-day problems, their day-to-day issues, just for a short period of time." - Phil Soussan (18:04) ● "Without the fans we'd be nothing." - Phil Soussan (20:00) Key Moments: ● [00:00] Skip welcomes Phil Soussan to the show ● [01:15] The "Odd Couple" - playing with Steve Lukather and Edgar Winter in Finland ● [02:17] Phil's earliest musical memory, a gramophone gift from a cousin ● [03:25] Twelve years of classical violin and how it led him to bass ● [04:46] The moment Phil realized music could be a career ● [05:12] Telling his parents he was quitting pre-med for music ● [07:15] Breaking into the London scene through Melody Maker ads ● [08:16] Playing with Jimmy Page and the phone call that led to Ozzy Osbourne ● [09:56] Co-writing "Shot in the Dark" and its Al Jarreau-inspired chords ● [12:18] Just how massive 80s rock touring was ● [12:51] The story behind Ozzy's mirrored cape, inspired by Diana Ross ● [16:03] The Finland police and the Beatles singalong in a stuck elevator ● [18:04] Why Phil sees music and hospitality as the same gift ● [21:22] What's next for Last in Line and Phil's new solo album Notable Resources: ● Last in Line - Phil's band with Vinny Appice, Andrew Freeman and Vivian Campbell - touring resumes August 2026 ● New solo album "Cosmo Fighters" - signed to BraveWords Records, expected release this fall ● "Shot in the Dark" - Ozzy Osbourne, Billboard Top 100 hit co-written by Phil Connect with Phil Soussan: Website: https://philsoussan.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/philsoussan/ X: https://x.com/philso Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Episode 013 - Sixth-Generation Country - Golden Ring and Family First with Wayne & Alyssa Brewer

Friends & Legends with Skip Martin Host: Skip Martin Summary: Skip sits down with country duo Wayne & Alyssa Brewer, whom he met at the Kentucky Derby, for a fast-paced 20-minute chat about family, music and grit. Alyssa traces her roots back six generations to the original Carter Family and shares two Guinness World Records from her childhood on the road. The pair open up about splitting “the music business” from “the music,” the whirlwind around their debut single “Golden Ring” going viral and landing them a People Magazine feature, and who is more likely to change the setlist at the last second. Skip trades his own war stories — breaking through with The Dazz Band’s “Let It Whip” at Madison Square Garden and blanking on the lyrics to “Cherish the Love” in front of European royalty in Monte Carlo — before the three land on a shared lesson: anything worth being great at demands you push through the pain. The episode closes with Wayne & Alyssa introducing their baby daughter, Alayna, on camera. Main Topics: • How Skip met Wayne & Alyssa Brewer at the Kentucky Derby • Alyssa’s sixth-generation musical lineage, tracing back to the original Carter Family • Two Guinness World Records: youngest recording artist and youngest to perform at the Grand Ole Opry • Growing up on the road from age seven • The artists who shaped them growing up: Carrie Underwood, KISS, Queen, Boston, Deep Purple • Separating “the music business” from the passion of the music itself • The debut single “Golden Ring” going viral and landing a People Magazine feature • Who’s more spontaneous on stage: Wayne changing plans last-second vs. Alyssa running late • Freestyling and covering for each other when the lyrics slip • Skip’s own war stories: The Dazz Band’s “Let It Whip” at Madison Square Garden, forgetting the words to “Cherish the Love” in Monte Carlo • Why perseverance and hard work are the biggest lessons music has taught them • Meeting Wayne & Alyssa’s baby daughter, Alayna, on camera Intriguing Quotes: • “Anything that is to be great, there’s pain that’s involved in it … and on the other side of that is greatness.” — Skip Martin • “I’m in the Guinness Book of World Records twice — once for the youngest recording artist and once for being the youngest to perform on the Grand Ole Opry.” — Alyssa Brewer • “Hard work does pay off, and you also get to have fun while you’re doing it … especially with your spouse.” — Wayne & Alyssa Brewer • “My phrase is, don’t play no games.” — Skip Martin Key Moments: • [00:24] Wayne & Alyssa on meeting Skip at the Kentucky Derby • [02:02] Alyssa traces her family’s music lineage back to the original Carter Family • [04:00] Alyssa reveals she holds two Guinness World Records • [07:43] The story behind “Golden Ring” going viral and their People Magazine feature • [09:21] Skip shares his own Dazz Band “Let It Whip” story from Madison Square Garden • [13:43] Skip’s Monte Carlo story: forgetting the words to “Cherish the Love” in front of royalty • [17:35] Skip’s “anything great hurts” reflection on perseverance • [19:03] Wayne & Alyssa introduce their baby daughter, Alayna Notable Resources: • “Golden Ring” — Wayne & Alyssa Brewer’s cover of the George Jones/Tammy Wynette classic, lead single from their debut album Alyssa & Wayne Sing George & Tammy (SGM Records, distributed via Sony/The Orchard) • People Magazine and CMT feature coverage of Wayne & Alyssa Brewer (confirmed via awbrewer.com) Connect with Wayne & Alyssa Brewer: Website: https://awbrewer.com/ Instagram: https://instagram.com/alyssa_wayne_brewer_official Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/awbrewerofficial YouTube: https://youtube.com/@alyssawaynebrewer Connect with Skip Martin: Website: https://www.skipmartinmusic.com/ Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/skipmartinmusic Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skipmartinmusic/ Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/skipmar Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Episode 012 — Men At Large, Mental Health, and Music as Medicine with Dr. Dave Tolliver

A conversation with Dr. Dave Tolliver — founding member of Men At Large, Cleveland kid who grew up idolising the Dazz Band — on legacy, loss, the LeVert Experience, and why music is a soul vaccination. Host: Skip Martin Summary: Dr. Dave Tolliver grew up in Cleveland with his uncle Lynn Tolliver on the radio and Skip Martin on the stage — Skip was his inspiration to start singing before they ever met. In this conversation, Dave and Skip revisit a pandemic pop-up concert with Tony Terry, trace the history of Men At Large from Boys From The Hood through Michael Bivins renaming them to a 2022 album dropped 30 years after their debut, and talk about losing a bandmate and finding their way back. Dave opens up about his new rap single Too Much Pain and his mental health story. Skip closes on music as medicine and what gets left behind. Main Topics: Dave's Cleveland childhood — uncle Lynn Tolliver's 40-year radio career and growing up idolising Dazz Band and New Edition Seeing Skip perform live as a kid and Skip becoming the reason Dave started singing The pandemic pop-up concert with Skip, Tony Terry, and a member of Surface The story behind Skip and Dave's collaboration Someone Like You How Boys From The Hood became Men At Large — the Michael Bivins rename story The shift from novelty act to R&B lover-boy image and hits like Holiday and Let's Talk About It Losing bandmate Gemini Porter and reuniting with the original partner The LeVert Experience — Dave's current touring project with Joe Little and Marc Gordon Love Benefits — the 2022 album released 30 years after the group's debut Dave's rap single Too Much Pain and his personal mental health journey Skip on music as medicine, soul vaccination, and what legacy really means Intriguing Quotes: "A man at large is not only a man that's large in stature, but he's somebody that's large in the community. He has a lot of clout. He's a man at large." "That's a love prejudice. That's all that is." — Skip Martin "Music is a tool for change. It's a tool, it's a medicine. It's a soul vaccination, it's a healing." — Skip Martin "Once our lives are gone, we'll be forgotten in two generations. Nobody will even know who we were." — Skip Martin Key Moments: [00:47] Dave traces his Cleveland roots — uncle Lynn Tolliver, 40 years in radio, and a house full of music. [02:01] The pandemic pop-up concert. Skip, Dave, Tony Terry, and a member of Surface. What happened that night and why it mattered. [04:15] The story behind Someone Like You — how Skip and Dave came to make the record together. [08:26] Michael Bivins hears Boys From The Hood and tells them that name has to go. Men At Large is born. [12:42] Dave talks about losing bandmate Gemini Porter — and what it took to come back and reunite with his original partner. [13:09] Love Benefits drops in 2022. Thirty years after the debut. The group is still here. [18:03] Dave releases Too Much Pain — a rap single about his own mental health journey. He tells Skip why he had to make it. [18:39] Skip closes on music as medicine, legacy, and what gets left behind when we're gone. Notable Resources: Someone Like You — Skip Martin featuring Dave Tolliver, available on Spotify Too Much Pain — Dave Tolliver's rap single and video on mental health Love Benefits — Men At Large 2022 album, available on streaming platforms LeVert Experience — Dave's current touring project with Joe Little and Marc Gordon Connect with Dave Tolliver: Search Dave Men At Large or Dave Tolliver on all platforms Connect with Skip Martin: Website: https://www.skipmartinmusic.com/ Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/skipmartinmusic Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skipmartinmusic/ Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/skipmartinmusic YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/skipmartinmusic Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Episode 011 — Lessons Not Losses with Steph Payne

A conversation with Steph Payne — Emmy-winning singer, US Army intelligence analyst, fusion artist — on going from military intel to the main stage, why every loss is just a lesson in disguise, her father's advice that has never failed her, and the COVID project that won her an Emmy at the lowest moment. Host: Skip Martin Summary: Steph Payne grew up in Los Angeles, served as a US Army intelligence analyst during Operation Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom, and built her second home in Las Vegas over 13 years. She sings across R&B, jazz, rock, and gospel without picking a lane and calls herself a fusion artist. In this conversation with Skip Martin, Steph talks about the difference between losses and lessons, the simple advice from her father that gets her through every setback, what music means at the level of a universal frequency, and the People Get Ready project that won her an Emmy and lifted her spirits at the lowest point. Skip lays in two parables along the way — the goat in the well, and the tree that grows down before it grows up. Main Topics: Growing up in Los Angeles and making Las Vegas a second home over 13 years US Army intelligence analyst during Operation Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom Lessons not losses — the reframe that protects her drive Her father's advice: find something else and make it work Music as a universal frequency, an outlet, an escape, a memory keeper Steph's identity as a fusion artist who refuses to pick a lane The goat in the well — Skip's parable about shaking off every attack The tree that grows down before it grows up — the unseen cost of greatness The People Get Ready project — winning an Emmy during COVID The price the people closest to you pay for your success Intriguing Quotes: "I went from the military to the main stage." "I don't like to call them losses. I like to call them lessons." "Find something else and make it work." — Steph's father "Music helps us be emotionally intelligent when we're not being rational." "I shake it off and I end up like that goat on top of the heap." "Success will come when you make others a priority." — Skip Martin "Music is the sound of a soul singing." — Skip Martin Key Moments: [01:43] Steph drops the line that names the episode — "I went from the military to the main stage" — after explaining her service during Operation Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. [04:54] Steph reframes every setback. "I don't like to call them losses. I like to call them lessons." [05:38] Her father's advice — said once, stuck forever. Find something else and make it work. [06:17] Skip tells the goat in the well parable. A farmer tries to bury a goat. Every shovel of dirt the goat shakes off and stands on. Eventually it walks right out. [12:12] Skip's tree analogy. The roots grow down in the dark before the canopy reaches the sun. People only see the tree. They miss what it cost to get there. [14:38] Steph reflects on People Get Ready. COVID. Discouraged. Borderline downtrodden. Skip's invitation lifted her spirits at the time. The Emmy lifted her career down the road. [16:22] Skip closes — 168 tracks in a three-minute-eighteen song. Success comes when you make others a priority. The biggest lesson of his life. Notable Resources: People Get Ready — Legends Unite for Saint Jude (Skip Martin's Emmy-winning project) St. Jude Children's Research Hospital — beneficiary of the People Get Ready project Connect with Steph Payne: Search Steph Payne on social platforms and streaming services Connect with Skip Martin: Website: https://www.skipmartinmusic.com/ Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/skipmartinmusic Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skipmartinmusic/ Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/skipmartinmusic YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/skipmartinmusic Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Episode 010 — The God Force with Tom Schuman of Spyro Gyra

A conversation with Tom Schuman — Grammy-nominated keyboardist for Spyro Gyra for 49 years, now living in Barcelona — on the music that saved a stranger's life, what it means to let the God force flow through you, and why less became his closest friend. Host: Skip Martin Summary: Tom Schuman grew up in Buffalo — son of a jazz bassist, raised on Oscar Peterson and Sarah Vaughan — and spent 49 years as keyboardist for Spyro Gyra before leaving in February 2023 and moving to Barcelona with his wife. In this conversation with longtime collaborator Skip Martin, Tom talks about the moment he knew music was his purpose, the fan message that made everything worth it, being called a myth by a man in Algiers who thought Kool and the Gang might not really exist, and why collaboration with someone whose gifts complement your own is the only place real magic happens. Main Topics: Growing up in a jazz household in Buffalo — a bassist father, a singer mother, music by osmosis 49 years with Spyro Gyra — and the decision to leave and move to Barcelona The God force — the creative philosophy Tom and Skip built their partnership around Less is more — what Tom taught Skip, and what Skip gave back The People Get Ready project and why it still matters The song Innocent Soul and the stranger who decided not to end his life A fan in Algiers who thought Kool and the Gang were a myth When — the song Skip and Tom wrote in 10 minutes during COVID Tom's new solo album I Am Human on Nama Music Intriguing Quotes: "I prefer to think of it as the purest form of a universal language which can in great detail represent the heart, soul and intellect of a musician or composer." "Music is also a source of immortality. I feel like I'm going to be here a lot longer than my body because of this music." "He was crying because he thought you were a myth." — interpreter in Algiers "If I had done nothing else in my life, hearing about that made me feel like — okay, this is what I'm here to do." "We are all empowered when we collaborate with others that have gifts that you don't have." "My definition of music is the sound of a soul singing." — Skip Martin Key Moments: [05:30] Skip tells Tom that Tom taught him how to play less — and that less became his closest friend. Tom says Skip taught him his place. Two legends, humbled by each other. [12:00] Skip shares his definition of music — the sound of a soul singing. Tom has been trying to find his phone notes to read his own. When he finally does, he says it's pretty close. [21:45] Tom receives a message from a fan who says that Innocent Soul, a song Tom wrote for Spyro Gyra, stopped him from taking his own life. Tom says if he had done nothing else, that was enough. [23:00] Skip tells the Algiers story. A man on a runway who spoke no English, arms full of albums, crying. The interpreter asks why. He thought Kool and the Gang might not really exist. The music had reached him thousands of miles from where it was made. [19:20] Skip and Tom write the song When — lyrics, concept, everything — in 10 minutes over a phone call during COVID. That's what 49 years of combined instinct sounds like. Notable Resources: Tom Schuman new album: I Am Human — coming soon on Nama Music People Get Ready — search on YouTube and streaming platforms Let's Stay at Home — Skip Martin and Tom Schuman, available on streaming platforms Connect with Tom Schuman: Search Tom Schuman and Spyro Gyra on social platforms and streaming services Connect with Skip Martin: Website: https://www.skipmartinmusic.com/ Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/skipmartinmusic Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skipmartinmusic/ Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/skipmartinmusic YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/skipmartinmusic Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.