Southern Rock Trilogy Pt. 2: Don Barnes (.38 Special)
04/23/2026 | 57 mins.
This week, we continue our Southern Rock trilogy with Don Barnes of .38 Special. As the co-founder, lead singer, and chief songwriter behind .38 Special, Don helped define a sound that brought Southern rock squarely into the mainstream—melding muscle, melody, and undeniable hooks. With a string of hits like “Hold On Loosely,” “Caught Up in You,” and “Rockin’ Into the Night,” the band carved out a lane that was both radio-ready and deeply rooted in the traditions of the genre. In this episode, Don takes us inside the 50th anniversary of .38 Special—from their Jacksonville beginnings and relentless touring years to their breakout success and lasting legacy, which includes their latest album, Milestone. We talk about the band’s songwriting approach, the importance of structure and craft in building hits, and how they stood shoulder-to-shoulder with peers like Lynyrd Skynyrd while pushing the sound in an even more melodic, accessible direction. We also get into longevity—what it takes to sustain a career over decades, how these songs continue to connect across generations, and why that balance of grit and precision still resonates today. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Southern Rock Trilogy Pt. 1: Henry Paul (The Outlaws/Blackhawk)
04/16/2026 | 1h 22 mins.
Few artists embody the spirit, resilience, and evolution of Southern rock quite like Henry Paul. A founding member of Outlaws and later the driving force behind Blackhawk, Henry’s career bridges two distinct eras of American music—each rooted in storytelling, musicianship, and a deep sense of place. From the triple-guitar attack of the "Florida Guitar Army" that helped define the Outlaws’ sound in the 1970s to the multi-platinum, chart-topping Country success of Blackhawk in the ’90s, his journey is a masterclass in reinvention without compromise. In this wide-ranging conversation, Henry reflects on the rise of Southern rock, the realities of life on the road, his relationships with Ronnie Van Zant and Charlie Daniels, and the creative instincts that carried him across decades and genres. He also shares hard-earned insights into band dynamics, longevity, and what it really takes to sustain a career in music over the long haul. This episode also kicks off our Southern Rock Trilogy—a three-part series exploring the artists, sounds, and stories that shaped one of rock’s most enduring movements. Be sure to check back next week and the week after as we continue the journey. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Don Was
04/09/2026 | 1h 19 mins.
Few producers in the history of modern music have shaped records—and artists—the way Don Was has. From his early days as a hitmaking artist with Was (Not Was) to becoming one of the most trusted producers in the business, Don’s fingerprints are on an extraordinary range of iconic recordings. But beyond the credits, what defines him is his philosophy: serve the song, honor the artist, and know when not to interfere. In this wide-ranging conversation, Don takes us inside his journey—from Detroit roots to working with legends like the Rolling Stones, Bonnie Raitt, and Bob Dylan—to his current roles as president of Blue Note Records and bandleader of the Pan-Detroit Ensemble. We also explore his deep musical partnership with Bob Weir in Wolf Bros, a collaboration that brought his career full circle as both producer and player. This is a masterclass in taste, restraint, and what it really means to be a producer. Please note: this interview was recorded prior to the passing of Bob Weir.
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John Oates (Hall & Oates)
04/02/2026 | 1h 1 mins.
John Oates is one half of the most successful duo in music history — Hall & Oates — and one of the architects of the sound of American pop radio in the late 20th century. In this episode of Rock & Roll High School, John takes us inside the making of a catalog that includes era-defining hits like “She’s Gone,” “Sara Smile,” “Rich Girl,” and “Maneater,” and breaks down the unique musical chemistry he shared with Daryl Hall that helped shape a generation of songwriting and production. But this conversation goes deeper than the hits. John traces his roots from Philadelphia’s R&B and folk scenes to the global stages of the 1980s, offering a firsthand look at how groove, songwriting craft, and production instincts came together to create one of the most enduring songbooks in pop music history. He also opens up about his evolution as a solo artist, his passion for American roots music, and how he continues to write, record, and perform with purpose today. It's a conversation about partnership, identity, reinvention — and what it really takes to build music that lasts. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Al Jardine (The Beach Boys)
03/26/2026 | 40 mins.
Imagine you’re a second-string high school running back. You strike up a conversation with the backup quarterback, bonding over a shared love of vocal harmony. You decide to start a group together. That group becomes The Beach Boys — a band that will reshape the sound of modern music. And that quarterback? Brian Wilson — one of the most visionary musical minds of the 20th century. The running back is our guest this week - Beach Boys founding member Al Jardine From the group’s earliest days through their evolution into one of the most influential acts in recording history, Al was there — helping build the harmonies, the image, and the sound that defined an era. In this conversation, Al reflects on the origins of The Beach Boys, the creative brilliance of Brian Wilson, the making of timeless records, and what it means to still carry that music forward today. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Season 5 Out Now!Rock & Roll High School is an interview series that tells the story of contemporary music one artist at a time - in their own words.Hosted by Pete Ganbarg--------------------------------------About Pete:Pete Ganbarg has been doing major label A&R for over 35 years. He's a 2X Grammy award winning record producer as well as a member of the board of directors of the Songwriters Hall of Fame. Pete has held senior A&R positions at Atlantic, Arista, Epic and SBK/EMI and is currently the president of Pure Tone Music.As a music publisher, Pete operates Songs With A Pure Tone and Margetts Road Music, joint ventures currently in partnership with Warner Chappell Music. Songs published by Pure Tone include 2024's Grammy winning Record of the Year, "Flowers" by Miley Cyrus, the global #1 "Ordinary" by Alex Warren, as well as hits by Benson Boone, Justin Bieber, Maroon 5, Katy Perry, OneRepublic, Charli XCX, Lewis Capaldi, Ed Sheeran, Andy Grammer, Lizzo, Beyoncé, and more.Pete is the recipient of two Grammy Awards for his role as producer on the Original Broadway Cast Recording of Dear Evan Hansen and the Original Broadway Cast Recording of Jagged Little Pill. At Atlantic, among the artists and projects that Pete has overseen are twenty one pilots, Halestorm, Jason Mraz, Christina Perri, Melanie Martinez, Skillet, GAYLE, Brett Eldredge, Matchbox Twenty & Rob Thomas, Theory Of A Deadman, and Icona Pop; as well as the Original Broadway Cast Recordings of Hamilton, Mean Girls, Jagged Little Pill, Dear Evan Hansen, and the multi-platinum Billboard No. 1 soundtrack album The Greatest Showman.Pete began his A&R career in 1989 at SBK Records. In 1997, he joined Clive Davis at Arista Records, where, as Senior Director of A&R, he conceived and A&R’d Santana’s 30x platinum worldwide, nine-time GRAMMY-winning album, Supernatural. Additionally, Pete was named International Music Person Of The Year in 2023 by the music industry organization MUSEXPO.
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