

MUSIC TALK
Eighties Music has endured beyond its resurgence - history defines it as one of the most outrageous and diverse decades of music and culture worldwide. Hope you tossed the spandex but not your vinyl, CD's and cassettes. Many artists remain active with new albums, touring, reissuing deluxe editions of their catalog and personalized social media activity. Welcome to my site to reminisce and share all our musical memories.
YOUTUBE CHANNEL
Subscribe to my YouTube Channel, KJ's Music Talk for a wide-ranging collection of interviews with legendary musicians and newcomers to the scene. There's something for everyone, search for your favorites, check back often for new features. Click below on the artist's name for the video, or click the channel's icon here. Enjoy!
FEATURED INTERVIEW










Five clips total, watch 'em all!

Interviews with these artists and more on the KJ's Music Talk YouTube Channel now!
RANDOM NOTES
IN THE NEWS:
UPCOMING NEW RELEASES:
U2 returns with Songs Of Surrender on March 17, "re-imagining" hit tracks from their career...Depeche Mode Memento Mori March 24, their first studio album since Andy Fletcher's untimely passing; also on this date Lana Del Rey Did You Know There's A Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd....Boygenius The Record is set to be released March 31...Metallica release 72 Seasons on April 14, their first full-length studio album since 2016...Natalie Merchant's ninth solo album, Keep Your Courage, her first since 2014, also on this day...Everything But The Girl's first in 23 years, Fuse is released April 21...The National First Two Pages Of Frankenstein arrives April 28 with guest contributors Taylor Swift, Phoebe Bridgers, and Sufjan Stevens.
NEW/CURRENT ALBUMS OUT NOW:
Van Morrison Moving On Skiffle...Gorillaz Cracker Island...Paramore This Is Why...Sam Smith Gloria...Shania Twain Queen Of Me, her first in six years...Taylor Swift Midnights...Lil Yachty Let's Start Here...Hanson Red Green Blue...Iggy Pop Every Loser...Black Crowes 1972...Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers Live At The Fillmore 1997...Mary J. Blige Good Morning Gorgeous...A-ha True North...Billy Joel Live At Yankee Stadium...Bruce Springsteen Only The Strong Survive...Beyonce Renaissance...Harry Styles Harry's House...
ON TOUR:
Check your local listings of course:
Ride/Charlatans UK...Bruce Springsteen And The E Street Band...Cheap Trick...Taylor Swift...Arctic Monkeys with Fontaines D.C....Lizzo...Belle And Sebastian...Beyonce...SZA...Metallica...Glorilla...Blink-182...Drake...Depeche Mode...Paramore...Dead And Company...Angel Olsen...Anita Baker...
FAVE MUSIC LINKS
A few music related links to enjoy:
with Dr. Music and Alan Parsons





CUSTOM MUSIC EXPERIENCE SESSIONS
What do you REALLY want to "talk" about?
Here's your chance to create customized music courses based on your specific interests. Intrigued? Check out the details on the documents provided. Click the graphic to learn more or print these at your convenience. Let's Work Together!
ABOUT ME
1984 is the year my love for music became an obsession and a way of life. It was also the year I started to attend live concerts and continued to do so with great regularity.
With my musical skills honed from playing an instrument in the school band from fifth grade on, I was also enjoying the performance and theory of music, which I owe to my junior and high school music teacher, who always encouraged and inspired me to become a serious musician. The combination of my new love for recorded and live music and interest in the school music program led to me to pursue a bachelor’s degree in music education.
Returning home from college at the end of each school year, I found employment related to my love for music. Applying with hopes for a summer job as an usher at an outdoor concert venue, I was instead hired as a security guard for the stage and backstage areas. Absolutely a dream job for three summers, just the right amount of time, as most major artists would come through to support a new album every few years. I always had direct interactions with all the artists, in addition to being a “fly on the wall” with the same musicians I followed for years listening to pop radio and my stereo.
Upon graduating college, I began my search for my first teaching job. Unfortunately, in an extremely competitive field, I didn’t get the keys to my first classroom later that year. Realizing I wouldn’t be teaching in the fall, I submerged myself into the retail side of the music industry, first as a salesclerk, a secret shopper, and eventually manager for a major national record store chain. After a brief stint outside the music industry, I was hired by one of the five major music distributors. I worked in several capacities over the course of 13 years, gaining a wealth of experience in advertising, marketing, promotion, and sales. Once again, I found myself rubbing shoulders with the artists I grew up listening to, with much closer collaboration than at the concert venue.
As the industry shifted from physical product to digital and streaming, it was time to recreate myself, adapting to a new business model. I took a leap of faith with work as a freelance educator, splitting my time between teaching General Music courses and Choir at three private schools. I also applied for a position as a Music Director for a musical in my community, which led me to directing 50 shows in the world of musical theater. Through my interaction with adults and adolescents enrolled in these programs, I built a studio of private vocal and instrumental students that continues to grow.
Today, I work for an entertainment organization that owns multiple concert venues, clubs, and restaurants. As with my past positions, I’ve had more opportunities to learn about more facets of the industry – relating to venue retail operations, booking, and developing performance opportunities for musicians in the community.
The common thread throughout these experiences is the stories – so many to share with you! Hope you check back often for updates about the artists you love to listen to and learn about. Looking forward to having you on this musical journey with me, where we can share our love for All Things Music!



