Stories by David Fleming

David Fleming speaks with Robert Sage, Director of Music with the Claremont Symphony Orchestra. We’ll hear for the most part, about their upcoming concert featuring Franz Schubert’s Fierrabras Overture AND his 8th symphony - The Unfinished Symphony. Also, Beethoven’s Violin Concerto in D Major, with guest soloist Lyndon Johnston Taylor. A quick mention of some other upcoming performances as well.

David Fleming continues his exploration of the Titans of Soft Rock, Yachtley Crew, in conversation with guitarist and original member Tommy Bouy, known in some circles as Thomas Gardner. On a previous KVC-Arts we heard about the EP, Seas the Day, which was a collection of 5 covers, though with the Yachtley Crew stamp ON them, along with one original - Sex On the Beach. On this edition the conversation continues talking about the recent full length album, Seas the Night. Again, mostly covers, with one original written by none other than Diane Warren. She’s a fan of the band.


They're currently touring the new album with stops in our region.

If you don’t know the term Yacht Rock, quite simply, it’s for the most part all your favorites from the 70s and 80s. Songs you probably know all the words, whether you mean to or not. One of the groups out there touring full-time in the world of Yacht Rock is Yächtley Crëw. All dressed identically as ship captains, you MAY think it’s gonna be parody. And while SOME comedic elements WILL work their way in, the music, and musicianship, is QUITE serious. With a full length album just out, "Seas the Night," David Fleming speaks guitarist and original member, Thomas Gardner Jr.

David Fleming speaks with Al Pitrelli once again about the 2025 tour for Trans-Siberian Orchestra - The Ghosts of Christmas Eve. This is also the 25th anniversary Beethoven's Last Night, so a bit here as well. We'll also touch briefly on Savatage, the group from which TSO sprang. They (finally) started touring again!

David Fleming speaks with Benjamin S. Stewart about "Crossroads," a collaboration with Benjiphonik. We'll hear about how the song came together, how Ben Stewart was able to have tow of his personas collaborating with each other, and a bit about the video for Crossroads - which was released at the end of the initial broadcast of this episode.

Mark Volman, Howard Kaylan, and Jim Pons (of The Turtles) were with Frank Zappa'a Mothers of Invention for only around two years, though the amount of recordings released would make you think it was MUCH longer. Their time with Zappa ended MUCH earlier than intended as well.

I was fortunate to speak with Volman several years ago as he was getting ready to perform in the "Happy Together Tour" in this region. We spoke about working with students and becoming a professor (after taking 32 years between starting and finishing his bachelor's), his time with Zappa, and touching briefly on Flo and Eddie, which came about because they weren't allowed to use their own names. Yeah. They signed THAT kind of contract.

Revisiting my conversation with Mark Volman, who passed away September 5th at the age of 78.

David Fleming speaks with Kenneth Bank, formerly of The Five Sharks, an early to mid-sixties acapella group from the Bronx. Bank is also one of the founding members of The Dukes of Doo Wop, a Southern California group keeping doo wop - and acapella - alive in this region and beyond.

For KVC-Arts #600 I thought it fitting to feature Eva Mikhailovna once again. I first met Eva in late 2015 and had her on the show in early 2016. She's been on the show several times since highlighting various albums, videos and more. For show #600 she and I will be discussing some of the various types bands she's currently performing with (or as), a VERY new song/video which is part of an album to be released down the road, Kully Stiles, some other recordings and more... SUCH a wonderful and much appreciated conversation yet again. I couldn't ask for a more special #600.

David Fleming speaks with Henry Franklin about his long history in the world of jazz, as well as major crossover success with Hugh Masekela (“Grazing in the Grass” et al.), which took him to Woodstock as well as The Monterey Pop Festival. We'll hear about his first release, his latest, and a lot in between.

David Fleming speaks with Lee Mills, executive Director for Palm Springs Friends of the Philharmonic. We'll hear about the upcoming season, the history, scholarship opportunities and more.