Michael is the founder and owner of Boom! Percussion Entertainment, a Mesa, AZ–based ensemble recognized for its innovative, high-energy performances. His lifelong connection to drumming began at Coronado High School, where he joined the marching band, later advancing through multiple seasons in Drum Corps. With a career rooted in music education, Michael spent years mentoring students before devoting himself fully to leading Boom! Today, he continues to share his expertise and passion for percussion with audiences worldwide, creating unforgettable musical experiences.

Looking across all these decades, what patterns emerge? What do these artists have in common beyond never charting again?
Famous One-Hit Wonders: Songs That Ruled the Charts Once and Never Again" shines a spotlight on those unforgettable tracks that, for a fleeting moment, captured the world’s attention and defined an era. These songs often became cultural anthems, blasting through radios, dance floors, and car stereos, embedding themselves in our memories with infectious hooks and unforgettable lyrics. Yet, just as quickly as they rose to fame, their creators faded from the spotlight, unable to replicate the magic of that singular success. These one-hit wonders serve as reminders of the unpredictable nature of fame—where a single track can immortalize an artist, even if their career never again reaches such heights.

Movie 101 Review, now in its fourth season, features The Counteract of Our Lives, a thought-provoking exploration that challenges how cinema reflects and reshapes the human condition. As your host, I guide listeners through the film’s layered themes, diving into its portrayal of resilience, conflict, and transformation. Each discussion uncovers how the narrative speaks not only to individual struggles but also to the collective experiences that define us. This season promises deep insights, compelling dialogue, and a renewed appreciation for the way movies mirror the counteracts of our own lives.

Roberta Flack didn't just sing ballads; she unlocked their deepest emotional chambers, wielding her voice not as an instrument of power, but as a conduit of profound intimacy and narrative depth. With an unparalleled ability to fuse the refined world of classical music with the raw soul of gospel and jazz, Flack transformed popular music by making quietness captivating and vulnerability sound like strength. In timeless masterpieces like "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" and "Killing Me Softly with His Song," she perfected the art of musical storytelling, drawing listeners into a private, hypnotic world where every phrase was imbued with intelligence, grace, and aching sincerity. More than a hitmaker, Flack was an aural historian of the heart, proving that the gentlest voice could leave the loudest and most enduring echo.

Today’s episode is all about hip-hop, a genre that started humbly on the streets of the Bronx. Born in the 1970s, hip-hop has grown into a global phenomenon. Its story is one of creativity, resilience, and cultural power.

Hip-hop’s roots lie in block parties organized by DJs in New York City. Using turntables, DJs like Kool Herc extended breakbeats to keep people dancing longer. This innovation gave rise to a new sound that would transform music. From these gatherings, a movement was born.

Four key elements define hip-hop: DJing, MCing, breakdancing, and graffiti art. Together, they formed not just a musical style but a full cultural expression. Each element gave young people in the Bronx a voice and outlet for creativity. Hip-hop was, from the start, more than just beats and rhymes.

MCs, or rappers, began by hyping the crowd during DJ sets. What started as short chants and rhymes grew into lyrical storytelling. These verses reflected the struggles and joys of urban life. The rapper’s voice soon became hip-hop’s defining instrument.

Graffiti art was another bold form of expression tied to hip-hop. Young artists used spray paint to claim their identity across subway cars and city walls. For many, it was a way of being seen in a world that ignored them. Graffiti became hip-hop’s visual heartbeat.

The genius of Lalo Schifrin lies not merely in his ability to compose a catchy tune, but in his unparalleled gift for sonic alchemy, transforming a simple musical idea into an indelible cultural nerve agent. Nowhere is this more evident than in his iconic theme for *Mission: Impossible*, a masterpiece of tension and release that is as intellectually sophisticated as it is viscerally thrilling. With its explosive opening blast of a 5/4 time signature—a jarring, off-kilter heartbeat—punctuated by the primal drive of a Latin-tinged bassline and a melody so stealthy it seems to move in shadows, Schifrin didn't just write music; he engineered a perfect audio capsule of espionage. He bottled the very essence of suspense, danger, and cool, creating a six-note motif that, decades later, still instantly triggers the universal impulse to accept a daring mission. Schifrin’s work is a brilliant fusion of big-band jazz, classical complexity, and raw, rhythmic power, cementing his legacy as the composer who forever defined the sound of action, intrigue, and the impossible made audible.

Elton John’s influence on music is immeasurable. His songs have defined eras, comforted millions, and inspired countless artists. With his unique blend of rock, pop, and classical piano, he created a sound entirely his own. From heartfelt ballads to high-energy anthems, Elton has shown versatility and genius. In this episode, we explore how he rose to global stardom.

Beyond the stage, Elton John has become a symbol of authenticity and courage. He lived through personal struggles, including battles with addiction, identity, and fame, yet emerged stronger and more determined. His openness about his life made him a voice for the LGBTQ+ community. Through his honesty, he showed that vulnerability is strength. Elton John’s story is one of reinvention, resilience, and brilliance.

Few musicians can claim to have influenced both popular music and culture as deeply as Elton. His collaborations with lyricist Bernie Taupin created some of the most iconic songs ever written. Together, they crafted classics that continue to resonate decades after their release. Their partnership is one of the greatest in music history. It remains a shining example of creative harmony.

Today, we will travel through Elton’s childhood, his early rise, his struggles, his legendary songs, and his cultural impact. We will also touch on his philanthropic work, which has saved countless lives. Elton John’s story is not only about music—it’s about humanity. This is Music 101, and our subject is the Rocket Man himself. Let’s begin at the very start.

From the hallowed halls of Gregorian chant, where melody was a divine prayer intended to elevate the soul toward the heavens, to the silent, humming servers of the digital age, where music is generated by amoral algorithms parsing data sets, the journey of sound is a profound mirror of our shifting worldview. Music once began as a sacred offering—a human attempt to translate faith, emotion, and transcendence into vibration, rooted in the belief that harmony reflected the order of a creator. Today, that deeply spiritual endeavor meets its disquieting counterpart: artificial intelligence that composes without conscience, curates without craving, and creates without a soul. This is not merely a change in how music is made; it is a philosophical upheaval. We are witnessing the transition of art from a testament of human experience—fraught with morality, pain, joy, and search for meaning—into a product of pure function, where the sacred is stripped away, and what remains is efficiency without essence, a soundtrack without a story. The question is no longer just what music we will listen to, but whether a song born of code can ever truly echo the human spirit