In this special episode of Rock & Roll High School, we sit down with the incomparable William Bell, a true icon of soul music and one of the original architects of the legendary Stax Records sound. From writing timeless classics like "You Don’t Miss Your Water" and"Born Under a Bad Sign", to mentoring generations of musicians and winning a Grammy decades into his career, William Bell’s journey is nothing short of extraordinary.

Join us as he shares stories from the golden era of Memphis soul, talks candidly about the birth of Southern R&B, reflects on working alongside legends like Otis Redding and Booker T. & the MG’s, and discusses how he continues to evolve as an artist today. It's a deep dive into the legacy, resilience, and creativity of one of soul music’s most enduring voices.

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For over 50 years, Danny "Kootch" Kortchmar has been rock music's secret weapon. As a guitarist and songwriter, he's collaborated with everyone from James Taylor, Carole King, and Jackson Browne to Jon Bon Jovi and Don Henley. Songs he's written include "All She Wants To Do Is Dance," "Somebody's Baby," "Dirty Laundry," and "Sunset Grill." His work as part of the sideman-supergroup The Immediate Family (with fellow superstar sidemen Leland Sklar, Russ Kunkel, Waddy Wachtel, and Steve Postell) can be seen in Denny Tedesco's documentary film of the same name.

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As the founder and frontman of The Lovin’ Spoonful, John Sebastian helped define the sound of the 1960s with classics like “Do You Believe in Magic,” “Daydream,” and “Summer in the City.”

As a solo artist, he delivered a surprise acoustic set at Woodstock, wrote the #1 hit “Welcome Back” for Welcome Back, Kotter, and continued to craft songs that resonated across decades.

A member of both the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame, John Sebastian stands among the greats—not just for his unforgettable songs, but for the heart and soul he brings to every note.

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Celebrating the 40th anniversary of her self-titled debut album (which was released on May 1st, 1985), Suzanne Vega's latest album is "Flying With Angels," her first collection of all-new songs in over a decade. Emerging from New York City's folk-music scene of the early 1980's, Suzanne has become known worldwide for her detailed songwriting, incredible live performances and for creating memorable characters in her songs like the victim of child abuse in "Luka," the narrator observing her surroundings in "Tom's Diner," and the resident of an apartment being scoffed at by a poster of Marlene Dietrich ("Marlene On The Wall"). Suzanne is back on the road in support of her new album, with dates in the US and internationally all through 2025.

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An all-new interview with iconic blues rocker George Thorogood. Known for his high energy boogie-blues sound, George is celebrating 50 years of making music in 2025. Putting his own unqiue spin on classic songs - like Move It On Over - Who Do You Love and One Bourbon One Scotch One Beer as well as crafting classic originals like I Drink Alone and Bad To The Bone, George’s music has introduced the sound of his heroes - Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley,, Howlin Wolf, John Lee Hooker and even Hank Williams - to an entire new generation of music fans. Backed by his band The Destroyers, “Lonesome” George continues to tour today, with dates in the US Canada and Australia and New Zealand all planned for 2025.

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If you made a venn diagram and one circle included only musicians skilled and talented enough to jam and record with some of the greatest players of all time: Jaco Pastorius, Herbie Hancock, Jeff Beck, Allen Holdsworth, Pat Metheny, Billy Cobham. And the other circle included only hit record producers who have produced at least 9 Billboard Hot 100 #1 singles, there would only be one name overlapping both circles and that’s our guest this week: Narada Michael Walden. As a drummer, Narada has played with all of the above and more. As a lead performer, he’s releaed 13 solo albums. And as a producer, he’s created all time smashes like “I Wanna Dance With Somebody Who Loves Me” and “How Will I Know” for Whitney Houston; “Vision Of Love” for Mariah Carey and “Freeway of Love” and “I Knew You Were Waiting For Me” for Aretha Franklin. An absolutely fascinating career and a fantastic episode of our Rock & Roll High School podcast.

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Roger McGuinn is best known as the frontman and leader of the influential 1960s folk-rock band, The Byrds, and for his signature Rickenbacker 12-string electric guitar playing. The Byrds achieved many firsts: they were the first rock band ever to be signed to Columbia Records; they were the first major label band to fuse folk and rock; and they were the first band to record what's now known as alt-country with their seminal 1968 album Sweetheart Of The Rodeo. The Byrds all-time classic hits include "Mr Tambourine Man," "Turn Turn Turn," "Eight Miles High," "So You Want To Be A Rock & Roll Star," and "My Back Pages;" and their music has influenced a generation of musicians from REM and Tom Petty to Husker Du and Wilco. Roger was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of The Byrds in 1991.

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Curt Smith is co-founder, co-lead vocalist and bassist of the legendary duo Tears For Fears. With over 30 million albums sold worldwide and performances to countless sold-out audiences, the band represent an inimitable intersection of pop palatability, clever and cognizant lyricism, guitar bombast, and new wave innovation. The duo’s hit making DNA - as heard on songs like "Everybody Wants To Rule The World," "Shout," "Head Over Heels," and "Mad World" - remains embedded within three generations of artists on both subtle and overt levels, casting a shadow of influence over rock, hip-hop, electronic dance music, indie, and beyond.

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