Latest Choons Podcast Episodes
Bonus Episode: People Getting Loose - The Music of Saturday Night Fever
CHOONS - December 14, 2022 12:00 - 25 minutes ★★★★★ - 23 ratingsBack in December 1977, a young actor named John Travolta (by then only known for his role as Vinnie Barbarino on the TV comedy "Welcome Back Kotter) strutted across the streets of New York to the funky beat of an English trio that reinvented themselves from Soft Rock gentlemen to the purveyors o...
O'Bryan Becomes An R&B Heartthrob With "The Gigolo"
CHOONS - November 30, 2022 11:00 - 38 minutes ★★★★★ - 23 ratingsBefore he graced the covers of Right On! and Black Beat, O’Bryan was a church kid with a stunning tenor tone informed by years of listening to Stevie Wonder, Donny Hattaway, Phyllis Hyman, and the Delphonics, among others. His vocal abilities impressed a string of influential people that guided...
So Much Love: A Tribute To Joyce Sims & "Come Into My Life"
CHOONS - November 16, 2022 08:00 - 26 minutes ★★★★★ - 23 ratingsMultiple tributes flooded social media channels and websites when Joyce Sims made her peaceful transition on October 13th, 2022, all noting the tangible influence she had on music and people's lives. This Rochester, NY native found her way from perfecting her craft to soaring the international...
Leee John Celebrates Four Decades Of Imagination's "Just An Illusion"
CHOONS - November 02, 2022 07:00 - 41 minutes ★★★★★ - 23 ratingsAs the glamour of New Wave made its way through the UK music scene with acts like Visage, Duran Duran, and Spandau Ballet, a band made out of three black men was making the most, sashaying into TV studios with an extravagant image and hypnotic tunes to match. Vocalist Leee John, bassist Ashley...
How Snap's Penny Ford Reconciled With "The Power"
CHOONS - October 19, 2022 07:00 - 42 minutes ★★★★★ - 23 ratingsOn January 3rd, 1990, days after a unified East and West Berlin welcomed the new decade with a memorable New Years celebration a few feet away from Brandenburg Gate, German producers Luca Anzilotti and Michael Münzing unleashed "The Power," a song that blended soul, dance, and rap sounds. Thou...
Zimbabwe's Own Alton Edwards Wants To Spend Some Time With You
CHOONS - October 05, 2022 07:00 - 30 minutes ★★★★★ - 23 ratingsBack in 1980, Zimbabwe (formerly Southern Rhodesia) had finally gained independence from the British, marking the end of racial segregation after a protracted war of liberation that claimed many lives. A year later, a young Alton Edwards became a prodigal son when his debut single climbed the UK...
Bonus Episode: Inside The Factory - Different Fur Studios
CHOONS - September 21, 2022 07:00 - 33 minutes ★★★★★ - 23 ratingsDifferent Fur has been a landmark of the music scene in the Bay Area and at the cutting edge of studio technology since it was founded in 1968 by synth wiz Patrick Gleeson, who went on to play on albums by Herbie Hancock, and in soundtrack albums for the films "Apocalypse Now" and "The Plague Do...
Junior Shares A Universal Message In "Mama Used To Say"
CHOONS - September 07, 2022 07:00 - 39 minutes ★★★★★ - 23 ratingsBorn Norman Washington Giscombe on June 6, 1957, Junior had been making the rounds of the London music scene, just as the Britfunk movement was bridging the gap of a racially-divided England with its friendly and inviting sound, one inspired by American R&B, soul and funk. After dabbling in roc...
Swing Out Sister Talk "Blue Mood, Breakout and Beyond"
CHOONS - August 24, 2022 07:00 - 47 minutes ★★★★★ - 23 ratingsIn the mid-1980s, a new batch of artists emerged on the UK music scene, blending pop sensibilities, refined arrangements, and an understated sense of fashion. Among the likes of Sade, Prefab Sprout, and Simply Red, there was the unique style of Swing Out Sister, originally comprised of jazz-ting...
Carrie McDowell Says "Uh Uh, No No Casual Sex"
CHOONS - August 10, 2022 07:00 - 40 minutes ★★★★★ - 23 ratingsIn June of 1987, 24 year-old Carrie McDowell—the second white female artist signed to Motown Records—walked the stage of the legendary music show "Soul Train," and rocked the house with a performance of her first and only single, the controversial "Uh Uh No No Casual Sex." For McDowell, it was n...
The Timelesness Of Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band's "Cherchez La Femme"
CHOONS - July 27, 2022 07:00 - 38 minutes ★★★★★ - 23 ratingsIt was 1976, and Disco was hot. While Donna Summer, Barry White, Gloria Gaynor, and the Salsoul Orchestra churned out the genre's early standards, there were also your usual oddities in the shelves, from the overtly sexy to the downright novelty. Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band was neither,...
From Portland to the World: The Story Of Nu Shooz's "I Can't Wait"
CHOONS - July 13, 2022 07:00 - 45 minutes ★★★★★ - 23 ratingsPortland, Oregon is a place known for its access to the great outdoors, fine wineries and breweries, and a delightfully weird culture. It also cultivated a thriving music scene, supported by multiple clubs where you could see people playing any conceivable style, from classical and chamber music...
Princess & SAW Make Soul Magic With "Say I'm Your Number One" (Part 2)
CHOONS - June 29, 2022 07:00 - 33 minutes ★★★★★ - 23 ratingsPrincess' appearance at a London fashion show caught the eye of a member of the team working for songwriting and production trio Mike Stock, Matt Aitken and Pete Waterman, who were eager to continue their streak of success in the charts following the release of songs like Hazell Dean's "Whatever...
Princess & SAW Make Soul Magic With "Say I'm Your Number One" (Part 1)
CHOONS - June 15, 2022 07:00 - 22 minutes ★★★★★ - 23 ratingsAs Princess (born Desiree Heslop) gets ready for her return to the stage, treating longtime fans with a first-ever performance of her debut album for Supreme Records, she looks back on the making of that LP and a journey through her extraordinary career, one propelled by the support of her broth...
CHOONS' Greatest Hits (So Far)
CHOONS - December 15, 2021 12:00 - 31 minutes ★★★★★ - 23 ratingsIt's been six months since CHOONS was unleashed to the world, and nothing has prepared us for the overwhelming response we've gotten from listeners around the world who share our love for these songs, and most importantly, their place and meaning in our lives. This episode is dedicated to those...
Regina Richards Gets Playful On "Baby Love"
CHOONS - December 01, 2021 12:00 - 37 minutes ★★★★★ - 23 ratingsRegina Richards is a force to be reckoned with in the music biz. Inspired by the sounds of Motown, the Ronettes, and The Beatles, she began a prolific career as a composer at a tender age. Richards had enough songs in her portfolio that a band project (Regina Richards and Red Hot) was formed aro...
Alisha & Mark Berry Push Through With "All Night Passion"
CHOONS - November 17, 2021 12:00 - 31 minutes ★★★★★ - 23 ratingsBack in the early ‘80s, Brooklynite Alisha Ann Itkin was pretty much your average American teenager. Outgoing yet a bit timid onstage, she shined as a cheerleader, and scored roles in school plays and functions. Oh, and she was also an outstanding vocalist who began training at the age of 8 with...
The Friends Of Distinction Go "Grazing In The Grass"
CHOONS - November 03, 2021 11:00 - 36 minutes ★★★★★ - 23 ratingsOne of the most vocally cohesive groups of its time, The Friends of Distinction—Harry Elston, Barbara Love, Jessica Cleaves, and Floyd Butler—enjoyed considerable success and influence due to their blend of California harmonies and crossover arrangements, qualities that set them apart from their...
Four Decades On, Sharon Brown Still Specializes In Love
CHOONS - October 20, 2021 11:00 - 34 minutes ★★★★★ - 23 ratingsBorn into a musical family, Brown found her calling as a little kid watching Sammy Davis Jr. and all the Motown greats at the world-famous Apollo Theater, in New York. With strong will and determination, she went on to become a prolific songwriter for CBS Records, penning lyrics for Blood, Sweat...
Bonus Episode: Inside The Factory - Pajama Studios
CHOONS - October 06, 2021 12:00 - 33 minutes ★★★★★ - 23 ratingsPajama Studios opened its doors on April 1st 1993. A typical April Fools day, although these folks are no fools. It started with the vision of two-time Grammy nominated composer, arranger, producer and engineer James Gardiner, and his business partner, producer and director Paula Telander. Both...
Pretty Poison Looks Back On "Catch Me (I'm Falling)"
CHOONS - September 22, 2021 12:00 - 34 minutes ★★★★★ - 23 ratingsPretty Poison was no flash in the pan. Although “Catch Me” is their biggest commercial success to date, they have a whole history as part of Philly’s underground rock scene back in the early 80s. When singer Jade Starling joined the band at age 17, she shared songwriting duties with Whey Cooler...
Kym Sims Is Not "Too Blind To See It" Anymore
CHOONS - September 08, 2021 12:00 - 32 minutes ★★★★★ - 23 ratingsEver heard the saying "be careful what you wish for"? Better ask House music vocalist Kym Sims. Destined to sing from a young age, Kym developed her talent as the voice behind jingles for major US brands before she ran into Hurley, a neighborhood friend who was impressed by her vocal talent at ...
Howard Johnson Channels His Inner 007 In "So Fine"
CHOONS - August 25, 2021 12:00 - 35 minutes ★★★★★ - 23 ratingsExposed to a sea of different influences, from Andy Williams and Frank Sinatra, to The Jackson 5 and Earth Wind and Fire, Howard Johnson started his career with a series of bands that included Niteflyte, whose single “If You Want It” cracked the US top 40 in 1979. After Niteflyte split, his life...
The Legacy Of The Jones Girls' "Nights Over Egypt"
CHOONS - August 11, 2021 10:00 - 30 minutes ★★★★★ - 23 ratingsRaised in Detroit, Michigan and vocally trained by their mom, gospel singer Mary Frazier Jones, Shirley, Brenda, and Valorie Jones were a musical wonder from the very start. Their misty harmonies caught the ears of some of the greatest performers of all time—from Norman Connors to Aretha Frankli...
Bonus Episode: The Craft of Music With Trevor Lawrence
CHOONS - July 28, 2021 09:00 - 15 minutes ★★★★★ - 23 ratingsIn an ever-changing music industry, where songs are produced and consumed at an insatiable pace, the creative role of musicians and songwriters often remains overlooked. According to Trevor Lawrence, a legendary producer and saxophonist who's worked with the likes of Marvin Gaye, Etta James, a...
Gospel Meets Jazz, Funk and Electro In D-Train's "You're The One For Me"
CHOONS - July 14, 2021 07:00 - 31 minutes ★★★★★ - 23 ratingsAll aboard the D-Train! Joining us on this trip are vocalist James "D-Train" Williams and producer/songwriter Hubert Eaves III, who will look back on their groundbreaking 1981 debut single "You're The One For Me." When Williams and Eaves III met, it was a match made in club heaven: a singer roo...
A Band Divided: How Exposé Almost Got To The "Point Of No Return"
CHOONS - June 30, 2021 07:00 - 36 minutes ★★★★★ - 23 ratingsWalk the warm streets of Miami Beach with Lewis Martinee and Laurie Miller, as they discuss the making and legacy of "Point Of No Return," originally released by Exposé as a 12" single in 1985, and rereleased for the pop audience two years later. Though Martinee started work as a rock musician,...
Company B Plays With Tension And Release In "Fascinated"
CHOONS - June 16, 2021 04:00 - 28 minutes ★★★★★ - 23 ratingsProducer and musician Ismael "Ish" Ledesma, and Progressive House artist Noel Sanger talk about the making and legacy of "Fascinated," originally recorded by Latin Freestyle trio Company B in 1986. Born out of the ashes of "Disco Sucks" and a series of musical projects that included the bands F...
This Is CHOONS
CHOONS - June 16, 2021 04:00 - 2 minutes ★★★★★ - 23 ratingsHave you ever heard songs that spur memories in your mind or get you going real hard? If you have, here are some good news: 1) you’re probably not alone in this, 2) those songs that get you going are often known as ‘CHOONS’, and 3) there is a new podcast that explores why those tracks remain me...
The Real Me Comes Alive: The Story Of Sheryl Lee Ralph's "In The Evening"
CHOONS - June 16, 2021 04:00 - 34 minutes ★★★★★ - 23 ratingsIn 1984, Sheryl Lee Ralph went from playing a "Dreamgirl" on Broadway to singing about the hustle and grind of New York City, and a desire for liberation that resonated with many dance goers then and now. Ms. Ralph and legendary musician Trevor Lawrence talk in-depth about how the song took shap...
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