Tune in this Saturday, 1/10 @ 5:00pm (PST) on “THE LONDON GARCIA SHOW”! To listen, go to www.latalkradio.com ~ you can listen online, through an iPhone or Blackberry, or through a wi-fi radio.
***** Please read this entire blog all the way through to the end. It’s worth it. As usual, “I have so much to say”. *****
On the show is Michael Ubaldini and “Dr. Joe”.
MICHAEL UBALDINI
Rock n’ Roll rebel, poet, philosopher, hopeless romantic, storyteller, guitar slingin’ outlaw in black are only a few of the diverse descriptions of singer/songwriter Michael Ubaldini. The L.A. Times stated he is better than Bruce Springsteen at probing the national soul.
Michael started picking out tunes on guitar at the age of seven playing Hank Williams and Ray Charles songs his father taught him. Influenced early on by the likes of Otis Redding, Elvis, Creedence Clear Water Revival, The Rolling Stones, Chuck Berry, Johnny Cash, Gene Vincent, Muddy Waters, The Beatles and Bob Dylan, as well as other writers and poets.
A journalist once dubbed Michael “A Jack Kerouac in a black leather jacket”. He toured across the United States and inked a record deal with EMI in 1994. His debut CD ‘Mystery Train’ produced by Lee Rocker of the Stray Cats which featured Michael’s original material and guest guitarist Brian Setzer, who invited Michael to open several shows. Michael’s inspired passionate live shows have been attended by the likes of Joe Strummer of the Clash and the legendary John Fogerty. In 1999, Michael abandoned his electric guitar and released the indie classic ‘Acoustic Rumble’, a haunting disc that received rave reviews in the U.S. and was the LA Times pick for #1 Disc of the year (1999) as well as 10th best of the entire decade.
In May 2001, after releasing the artistic follow up ‘American Blood’, the ‘Rock N Roll Poet’ strapped on his electric guitar and toured the United States, Canada, Europe, and Japan. When arriving home he formed a new band and the result was 2002’s ‘Rock N Roll Saloon’. Critically acclaimed in the United States and Europe it was picked by the Orange County register as “One of the top records of the year!”
2005 would turn out to be a big year for Michael with the release of “Avenue of Ten Cent Hearts”, an impressive mix of 15 solid Ubaldini originals showcasing Michael’s wide range of musical styles. A favorite of fans and critics alike, it earned Michael five star reviews in the U.S. and Europe. He also won two Orange County Music Awards for Best Roots Rock and Best Live Male Performer. In 2007, Michael won the Los Angeles Southern California Music Award for Best Live Male Acoustic Performer. He then toured the American South and the United Kingdom which finished at The Cavern Club in Liverpool England, home of the Beatles.
Michael also contributed a “blistering” version of I’m a Believer for a Neil Diamond tribute record on Delirium records. He also starred in a supporting role as the rockers motorcycle gang leader, in the live rock opera musical version of the Who’s Quadrophenia. Michael has toured the world and shared the stage with…..Lucinda Williams, Brian Setzer, Leon Russell, Jerry Lee Lewis, Southside Johnny, John Hammond Jr., Peter Case, Billy Zoom, John Doe, The Stray Cats, John Waite, Al Stewart, Johnny Rivers, The Cramps, and Dave Alvin. In 2006, Michael recorded tracks for his Empty Bottles and Broken Guitar Strings at the legendary Sun Studios in Memphis, TN. He has headlined his own shows either with his band, or merely a lone solo with nothing more then his acoustic guitar, harmonica, masterful lyrics and his grainy honest singing voice. Michael’s live shows are must see. Filled with passion, integrity and raw power. His book “Lost American Nights: Lyrics & Poems” has been released and published by Moontide Press.
And, is there a doctor in the house?? Why, yes there is!
DR. JOSEPH LADAPO
I kept hearing about this amazing doctor and the work that he’s doing. He hasn’t been practicing long but he sure is making it count from the beginning! Dr. Ladapo received his M.D from Harvard Medical School and his Ph.D. in Health Policy from Harvard University, is a well-published author with articles in several medical journals and publications, and is currently a doctor in his internal medicine residency at the Beth Israel Hospital in Boston. A few months ago, he had a series of articles published on his ground-breaking cardiac CT research. Saturday, the good doctor will be sharing more about his work, his inspiration in medicine, and his take on the future of the medical world. Look forward to the outstanding conversation with Dr. Joseph Ladapo. I sure am!
*** LONDON PAYS TRIBUTE ***
I am paying tribute to 2 people this week: one from the business world and one from the entertainment world.
From the business world, I’m paying tribute to CARLY FIORINA, one of the most groundbreaking women in business. I started following Carly’s career around ‘97 or so. She started out “carrying a bag” (if you don’t already know, it just means that she was a salesperson having to hustle door to door) and went on to AT&T and Lucent Technologies, then took over HP. In 1998, Fortune magazine named her the “#1 Most Powerful Woman in Business”. She was responsible for the Compaq and HP merger which caused the biggest corporate battle in U.S. History. It was her against those HP boys. She won (ya!!!). She has sinced left HP (alot of stories out there about what really happened…I have my speculations of course). I just knew that she was known for making it happen HUGE, so much so that she always made the lists of most powerful women in business in Fortune, Forbes, etc.
I can’t say I know absolutely everything about Carly Fiorina but I can tell you that for a good while, she inspired me to keep going and going and going in business. She was a huge influence on me.
I am also paying a very special tribute to an AMAZING entertainer: GILDA RADNER
Interesting week this week. I chose Gilda Radner as one of the people to whom I would give tribute this week before a couple of things happened. First thing…I saw the interview that Barbara Walters did with Patrick Swayze. What a spirit…what a fighter. Whew! I just love this guy. Then I got a call from one of my very best friends, Brenda. Her mom, Karen, died of cancer on Monday. This was Brenda’s stepmom but she was Brenda’s mom 100%. Brenda’s biological mom also died of cancer about 24 years ago. Brenda’s stepmom, Karen, had cancer once before about 6 years ago. It came back about 4 1/2 months ago and moved very quick this time. And I honestly cannot say enough about the magnitude of human that Brenda is: generous, loyal, humble, extremely serving, loving, simple, steadfast…… I really don’t know how I got to be so lucky to have the number of friends that I have and how amazing they are as humans. If I told you how close I am to how many and where they are all over the world, I swear it would sound like I’m making it up. It’s just incredible to ME. I’m so grateful.
Ya know, I don’t know what the best thing is to say or do about cancer. The first thing that comes to mind is to say something TO cancer:
“Dear Cancer, you came to the planet a long time ago. You wanted to say something. We heard it. We’ve all heard it. Loud and clear. We know who you are. There is nothing else you need to say. We’ll never forget you. You made sure to leave your mark all over the planet and through multiples of generations. We respectfully ask that you please leave….and don’t come back. We promise to hold onto the lessons we learned from your affects: live life fully every moment, love each other, forgive…“
GILDA RADNER - truly one of the funniest women in the history of entertainment.
