Kael Mboya is a veteran keyboard player and recording artist who has performed and toured the U.S. and abroad as Music Director or keyboardist with many artists throughout his career including Grammy winner Malik Yusef and shared the stage with keyboardist extraordinaire George Duke. Kael offers his musical and production talents with many established and upcoming indie artists through Ascendant Music Inc., which includes the band ASCENDANT as well as the publishing arm Ascendant Sounds. ASCENDANT describes its sound as a state of mind; a state of being; an uplifting movement to rise above, and it certainly delivers! Ascendant currently has a powerful new EP out now. The website is ascendantmusic.com.

Ascendant City Winery - Chicago - June 11, 2025 | TicketSales.com

A story of Addiction, Healing and the Lasting Power of Friendship. Directed and Starring Ronnie Marmo.

The Chicago Tribune calls it “a moving gathering of the like-minded,” WTTW channel-11 hailed it as “a piercing and honest look at the origin story of a pair of broken men who became heroes of healing” and Variety called the show “a remarkable story… HILARIOUS, POIGNANT, INSPIRING, The Critically Acclaimed “Bill W. And Dr. Bob,” starring and directed by Ronnie Marmo and a great cast of Chicago standouts, returns to North Shore Center For The Performing Arts (9501 Skokie Blvd.) Following its Sold Out extended 2024 run. The inspirational true story of the two founders of Alcoholics Anonymous: New York stockbroker Bill Wilson and Dr. Bob Smith. “Bill W. and Dr. Bob,” is produced by Theatre 68, open May 30th and runs through June 8th. For Tickets, go to www.billwanddrbobonstage.com.

The performance schedule is as follows:

• Friday, May 30 – 7:30 p.m.

• Saturday, May 31 – 2 p.m. | 7:30 p.m.

• Sunday, June 1 – 2 p.m.

• Friday, June 6 – 7:30 p.m.

• Saturday, June 7 - 2 p.m. | 7:30 p.m.

• Sunday, June 8 – 2 p.m.

My late friend Barbara LaBarge and my father are my links to Johnny Cash. Barbara used to babysit Johnny and June's kids in the audience during concerts. Not sure who had the tougher job there. My father introduced me to the music as a boy.

Alright, before we get too deep in the weeds, Shawn Barker is damn near a ringer for the late great Johnny Cash. Shawn has become known as the preeminent Johnny Cash tribute artist with his one-of-a-kind Cash tribute show garnering raves from fans and critics worldwide. Shawn Barker will be performing his The man In Black: A Tribute to Johnny Cash show in St. Charles on March 16 at the Arcada Theatre. The website is themaninblack.com

Rob “WILD BOAR” Moore is a Blues guitarist, vocalist, bandleader, songwriter. His latest album, Chicago Dog, gets my vote for a quintessentially Chicago sound and might be the first but definitely the finest homage to the pride of Chicago street fair and fast-food-the Hot Dog. Picking from New Orleans Jazz, Blues, and great Harlem Jazz motifs, this Chicago Bluesman has been turning out great signature Blues for more than a half century. The website is robmoore-guitar.com

A link to my latest novel, The Assassination of Baby Hitler: A Love Story, avalable on Amazon.

Writers, check out my monthly discussions on the Art and business of writing at Chicago Writes.org Under the Resources tab.

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On this episode, an undiscovered look inside one of the 20th and 21st Centuries most enigmatic musical personalities. The U.K. band Sons of Cream will be performing in St. Charles at the Arcada Theatre on February 21. As the band name would indicate, two of the members, Malcom and Kofi, are sons of two of the original members of the legendary Cream – Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker. The third member of this highly talented trio is guitarist Rob Johnson, who is a grandnephew of Ginger. Hardly resting on heritage, as a drummer Kofi baker has built an impressive resume in his own right, playing with Manfred Mann’s Steve Waller, you toured with Jack Bruce in Budapest, UFO’s Vinnie Moore, Steve Marriot and Lost City. A short list…

Kofi supports Animal Rescue and is the author of a book on drumming techniques titled, The Forgotten foot, available on Amazon.

The website is: kofibaker.com

A would-be target for knife thrower, Mark Faje, actress, singer and aerial cabaret dancer whose partner is a 5-foot skeleton are just some one the many hats Dante Ingram wears. Mark and Dante were also featured on the Discovery Channel. Her band, the Side Show Villains have just released a new EP, perfect for the Halloween season, or as the soundtrack for the podcast, My favorite Murder. The EP, Claws for Breakfast, a collection of songs about criminality, revenge, addiction, and, is also a brilliant metaphor for modern relationships. The music, a mix of Retro Noir, 70s funk, Latin themes, Euro café, shades of Vaudeville, and even Western Movie motifs.

The website is sideshowvillains.com. sideshowvillains.bandcamp.com/album/claws-for-breakfast

Keep up with Dante on Instagram, @_dantesingram

Host: WC Turck

Steve Fossen is the bassist of the iconic Rock band Heart, which was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2013. Steve maintains that auspicious legacy through his continuing project, Heart by Heart, which features a great ensemble of musicians including original Heart drummer Mike DeRosier. Close your eyes and you’ll be transported back to 1977, the band’s, and arguably Rock’s heyday. Heart by Heart, is also the amazing vocalist Somar Macek, an insanely talented guitarist, keyboardist, and vocalist Lizzy Daymont and an outstanding guitarist Chad Quist.

Heart by Heart will be performing September 27 in Batavia at the Batavia Fine Arts Centre. website: https://www.heartbyheart.com And bataviafineartscentre.org

Joshua Siegal is the heart and soul behind Red Spot Rhythm Section. The new album is Twilight. The websites are redspotrhythmsection.com and joshuasiegal.org.

Find Red Spot Rhythm Section of Bandcamp and on Spotify.

Thank you! Bear with me while I just take care of a little business…

I’d like to thank Jushua Siegal and to all of you who listen. A link to Joshau and to Red Spot Rhythm Section are in the notes below

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