FRIENDS AND LEGENDS WITH SKIP MARTIN cover art

FRIENDS AND LEGENDS WITH SKIP MARTIN

FRIENDS AND LEGENDS WITH SKIP MARTIN

By: Skip Martin
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Skip Martin, a Grammy Award winner, has dedicated his life to the rooms where music history unfolds. As former lead vocalist for Kool & the Gang and the Dazz Band, he has shared stages with the greatest artists of his generation — and built friendships that have lasted decades. Friends and Legends is the platform where these friendships are brought to life. This is not a standard interview show. Skip does not sit across from his guests — he sits beside them. These are real talks with people who were there, built something, and have stories to tell. From platinum records to personal breakthroughs. From the road to the recording studio, the journey was transformative. From the highs to the moments that tested everything. New episodes drop regularly. "Music is the sound of a soul singing." Don't play no games. Economics Music
Episodes
  • Episode 008 — Still Taking Breath Away with Terri Nunn of Berlin

    Episode 008 — Still Taking Breath Away with Terri Nunn of Berlin
    Jun 9 2026
    A backstage moment with Terri Nunn — iconic lead vocalist of Berlin, the voice behind Take My Breath Away — on new music, a new album, a new tour, and why she and Berlin are better than ever. Host: Skip Martin Summary: Terri Nunn has one of the most recognisable voices in music history. Take My Breath Away became a global phenomenon and it still stops a room decades later — as Skip Martin found out when they sang it together backstage. In this clip, Terri shares the news that Berlin is back with a brand new album called Transcendence, a fresh record deal, and a US headline tour running from August 2nd through September 24th alongside OMD and the B-52s. She and Skip have been performing together for years, and the chemistry between them is exactly what it sounds like — two people who love music and love each other's company. Main Topics: Berlin's new album Transcendence and how it came together over two years of writing The new record deal — and what it means to be back in the studio and on the road The US headline tour from August 2nd to September 24th with OMD and the B-52s Skip and Terri performing Take My Breath Away live backstage — together, unscripted What it feels like to still be doing it at this level and loving every minute Intriguing Quotes: "We ain't done yet. We're still doing everything." "You're better than ever." "If you want to get laid, buy this album." — Terri Nunn on Skip's music Key Moments: [00:18] Skip and Terri launch straight into Take My Breath Away — live, unannounced, just the two of them. No setup. No backing track mentioned. Just the song. [04:45] Terri reveals Berlin has been writing together for two years, landed a new record deal, and the album Transcendence is dropping August 2nd. [05:15] The full tour lineup lands — Berlin headlining across the US with OMD and the B-52s from August through late September. Two legends on one bill. Notable Resources: Berlin — album: Transcendence, available on streaming platforms Tour: Berlin headlining with OMD and the B-52s, August 2 — September 24 Connect with Terri Nunn and Berlin: Search Berlin Band and Terri Nunn on social platforms and streaming services Connect with Skip Martin: Website: https://www.skipmartinmusic.com/ Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/skipmartinmusic Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skipmartinmusic/ Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/skipmartinmusic YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/skipmartinmusic Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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    7 mins
  • Episode 007 — Music Saved My Life with Arturo Sandoval

    Episode 007 — Music Saved My Life with Arturo Sandoval
    Jun 2 2026
    A conversation with Arturo Sandoval — Cuban-born trumpet legend, Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient, Kennedy Center honoree — on Dizzy Gillespie changing everything, what it means to teach with love, and why music is the only language the whole world speaks. Host: Skip Martin Summary: Arturo Sandoval was born in a small village in Cuba in 1949. He heard a Charlie Parker recording as a young man and his life was never the same. Dizzy Gillespie became his mentor and the man who walked with him to the American embassy to secure political asylum. He has since collaborated with Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Alicia Keys, and countless others, taught at Florida International University for 20 years, received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and is preparing for a Kennedy Center Honor. In this phone conversation with his friend Skip Martin, Arturo talks about what music means, why he teaches, and what he owes to the art that saved his life. Main Topics: Growing up in Cuba and hearing Charlie Parker for the first time — the moment that changed everything Dizzy Gillespie as mentor, champion, and the man who helped Arturo get political asylum in the United States His definition of music — the only truly international language Twenty years teaching at Florida International University — and why he still gives private lessons at home The pedal tones session with Skip and the jam in Perth, Australia — two moments that made Skip cry in public Collaborating with Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Alicia Keys, and playing on Skip's Just Believe in Love The Presidential Medal of Freedom and the upcoming Kennedy Center Honor — alongside Bonnie Raitt, the Grateful Dead, Francis Ford Coppola, and the Apollo Theater Skip's origin story — seven years old, Nat King Cole on the radio, and the promise he made to his grandmother Why Arturo says music saved his life Intriguing Quotes: "Music is probably the only international language that everybody can understand. Everywhere in the world." "When I see the student that really got a passion and love for music, I really try my best to help." "It's a blessing from God. I'm so grateful because I got those opportunities." "Music saved my life. I owe everything to the music." "I'm going to play music so that when I die, people will feel like I'm still in the car with them." — Skip Martin "My definition of music is the sound of a soul singing." — Skip Martin Key Moments: [02:00] A teacher plays Arturo a compilation of Charlie Parker recordings from the 1940s. He cannot believe what he is hearing. That moment has never left him. [03:00] Dizzy Gillespie becomes Arturo's mentor — and when the time comes to seek political asylum in the United States, Dizzy is the one standing beside him at the American embassy. [05:30] Skip tells Arturo about the two times he made him cry in public — the pedal tones lesson that changed how Skip plays trumpet, and the night in Perth, Australia when Arturo handed him a custom practice tool and said, this is for you. [08:30] Arturo shares the news — a Kennedy Center Honor is coming. He will be honoured alongside Bonnie Raitt, the Grateful Dead, Francis Ford Coppola, and the Apollo Theater. [15:00] Skip tells Arturo why he plays music. Seven years old. His grandparents' car. Nat King Cole on the radio after he had just passed. The promise he made to his grandmother in that moment. Notable Resources: Just Believe in Love — Skip Martin featuring Arturo Sandoval on trumpet Connect with Arturo Sandoval: Website: arturosandoval.com Search Arturo Sandoval on social platforms and streaming services Connect with Skip Martin: Website: https://www.skipmartinmusic.com/ Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/skipmartinmusic Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skipmartinmusic/ Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/skipmartinmusic YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/skipmartinmusic Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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    20 mins
  • Episode 006 — Carry On with John Elefante of Kansas

    Episode 006 — Carry On with John Elefante of Kansas
    May 26 2026
    A conversation with John Elefante — former lead vocalist of Kansas, Long Island kid raised on everything from Led Zeppelin to Earth Wind and Fire — on owning your music, freeing yourself from record labels, and what happens when your fans become your record company. Host: Skip Martin Summary: John Elefante sang Carry On Wayward Son. He fronted one of the most iconic rock bands in history. And when it came time to make his new album, he didn't call a label. He called his fans. In this backstage conversation with Skip Martin at Sea Island, Georgia, John talks about growing up on Long Island surrounded by every genre imaginable, what it really means to be independent as an artist, and how crowdfunding through Kickstarter raised close to $70,000 and gave him something he had never had before — he owns the record. Main Topics: Growing up on Long Island with records playing around the clock — Led Zeppelin, Earth Wind and Fire, the Jacksons, everything in between His new album On My Way to the Sun and how it came to be Why he didn't want to do crowdfunding at first — and what changed his mind How Kickstarter works for an artist at his level — autographed CDs, memorabilia, gold records for major donors Raising close to $70,000 from fans who felt like they were part of making the record What it means to own your music after decades of getting 25 cents an album on an $18 record The Greatest Hits Live show — John performing Kansas material on the road Intriguing Quotes: "For the first time in my life I'm not a slave to a record company." "It was made by my fans fanning it." "Back in the day we used to have to be a slave to Polygram, Warner Brothers, Sony, Motown, whoever it is, for a pittance of a dollar. We were selling albums for $18 and getting 25 cents an album." "Everybody feels like they're part of the making of the record." Key Moments: [03:30] John explains how crowdfunding through Kickstarter worked for On My Way to the Sun — the rewards tiers, the community buy-in, and why he almost didn't do it at all. [04:45] He breaks down the old label math. Eighteen dollar albums. Twenty-five cents per record to the artist. The industry that built careers on those terms is the same one he just walked away from. [05:00] The moment that defines it all — John says for the first time in his life he owns his record. He doesn't owe it to anyone. It belongs to him and the fans who made it happen. Notable Resources: Album: On My Way to the Sun — available on streaming platforms Kickstarter — kickstarter.com for artists looking to fund independently Connect with John Elefante: Search John Elefante on social platforms and streaming services Connect with Skip Martin: Website: https://www.skipmartinmusic.com/ Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/skipmartinmusic Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skipmartinmusic/ Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/skipmartinmusic YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/skipmartinmusic Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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    7 mins
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