AO Music is a pan-cultural music experience produced, composed and performed by Richard Gannaway, Jay Olivier and Miriam Stockley.  Their newest album is …And Love Rages On! It has already received huge critical acclaim and Grammy consideration. The three creative members of AO Music have worked with a diverse group of artists such as Sheryl Crow, Celine Dion and Chaka Kahn. They have also composed music for the 2008 Olympics and have recorded two other CD's under the AO Music moniker.

Recently while Richard and Jay were working in the recording studio I had a the great pleasure of speaking with one of the creative voices in AO Music, the innovative, talented and music legend, Miriam Stockley.  Miriam has had a long career in music beginning when she was 11 years old and performing with her sister in South Africa.  Later her talents took her to the U.K. where she worked with Praise, Karl Jenkins and Katrina Leskanich of Katrina and the Waves. Her film credits include the Elfen music in Lord of the Rings and music for 1999's Great Expectations. She now makes her home in Orlando, Florida and joined AO Music in 2006. Miriam's own "vocalese" overdubs fortifies AO Music's children's choral ensembles and her voice is the catalyst for AO Music's style.

Listen To Kathy's Interview with Miriam Stockley:

Music by AO Music on KC Cafe Radio:

It was indeed a magical evening featuring the acoustic sounds of Sarah and her full band, including Mike Dorrien, Merel Bregante, Carl LoSchiavo, and Jane Gillman.  Attendees were treated to music from Sarah's latest album, Bring It On, as well as from some of her previous albums.

Here, we present selections from the evening performance, in two parts.  Part one starts with a conversation between Sarah and KC Cafe Radio Music Director Kathy Forste, followed by the first half of the evening performance.  Part two concludes the performance in a "story" format.

We hope you enjoy the music!

Listen to, or download their performances in their entirety here:

Jefferson Fox was born in Southeast Missouri to Elbert and Jane Fox.  The two divorced and Jefferson began his childhood as the step-son of Michael Allen, an Army pilot.  At age 6 Jefferson began playing guitar.  Other instruments followed and his passion for songwriting was born.  Jefferson traveled the world with his family on military duties until 1991 when he graduated high school in Georgia.  He then returned to Southeast Missouri and worked as a carpenter while playing music in several rock/alternative bands that he fronted and wrote material for.  Jefferson married drummer Sharon Clark in 1994 and had two daughters.  After his last band, 'All That Matters' broke up in 2003 Jefferson began performing solo and writing more.  He and his family moved to Wyoming for two years during the completion of 'Wait For Words' in 2007 and stayed through the release of 'Animule' in 2008.  They then returned to Southeast Missouri where Jefferson bases his operation today.

Music By Jefferson Fox On KC Cafe Radio:

Mick Byrd hails from Vienna, Missouri, a small community near the Lake of the Ozarks.  He still teaches and coaches in Vienna, and many of his songs reflect his life experiences there.

Mick calls his music “Americana Roots” because he says, “That gives me the freedom to do what I enjoy and what I hope listeners also enjoy.”  Serious music fans are sure to enjoy the depth and imagery these "story" songs offer.  From thoughtful social issues to fun filled songs that make you laugh; folk, rock, country or Mick’s own “Ozark blues” are all part of Mick's music repertory that keep you listening.

Mick has won a national songwriting award from Billboard Magazine for his song “Afternoon At The Wall.”  His guest performance on National Public Radio's “River City Folk” has been repeated several times. Mick's music has also appeared on NPR's “Car Talk” and he has performed twice on “Writer’s Block” hosted by Karen Reynolds on WDVX in Knoxville, TN, a program devoted to independent artists. Mick has played on the road in 14 states as well as in Ireland.  He is a member of the Missouri Arts Council Performing Artists, Mid-America Arts Alliance Touring Roster, Nashville Songwriters Association International and the Americana Music Association.

Music By Mick Byrd On KC Cafe Radio:

Nestled inside the rolling hills of West-Central Missouri, about an hour's drive southeast of Kansas City along Highway 50, sits Montserrat Vineyards.  The property was originally an 80-acre farm founded by the Gallaher family in the early 1800s, who also founded the small community of Montserrat nearby.

Over the years, the property was divided and sold, and supported a variety of crops, including a small acerage of grapes in the early 1980s.  Grapes eventually became the sole product of the farmland, and in 1998, Montserrat Vineyards became a licensed, bonded Missouri Winery.

Montserrat Vineyards offers a variety of original wines featuring Chambourcin, Sevyal, Catawba, and Concord grapes.  A covered pavilion offers a view overlooking the vineyards, along with wine and "basket-style" food selections.  Live music is featured most weekends.  The vineyards are also a popular venue for private weddings and other social functions, most of which are booked well in advance.

Our thanks to the performers who braved the summertime heat to bring us the evening's entertainment: Chris Stout; Jim Abel; Larry Garrett; Elaine McMilian; Rich O'Brien and John Gray; Glen and Shawn Mock; Kaye and Michael Johnston; Harry Hewlett; and Duane Woner.

Thanks also to Jim Wilson who recorded all of these fine performances and made it possible for us to share them with you here.

Enjoy the music!

KC Cafe Radio Performing Artist Paul Vens is an artist and composer in the purest sense of the word.  He is a painter, a singer, songwriter and guitarist.

At the tender age of 10, Paul constructed his very first guitar from wood.  From that time forward, playing guitar was a passion.  His career began in the early 1980s, when he played covers of rock and roll legends such as the Rolling Stones and Creedence Clearwater.  That led him on to a recording contract with Oreade/Warner.  Fourteen albums later, Paul released Words In Time on his own label, a huge departure from his early music influences.

Today Paul finds his biggest inspiration from nature and the beauty and joy it brings.  Having his own music label he now creates music that is meaningful to him on a personal level, and in return he has found a large international following that stretches from Europe to North America.

I recently had the pleasure of visiting with Paul, in our first-ever international Performing Artist interview.  We spend some time talking about his new album, about nature, and how the two work concurrently throughout the music he writes and plays.  We also talk about his work as a painter, and how the visuals from the images he creates are often reflected in the sounds of his music.  It's a wonderfully fascinating conversation that I invite you to listen in on here.

We're especially grateful to Tom Altoom and Robyn Graves-Altoom, along with the entire staff at the Fig Tree Cafe and Bakery in Lee's Summit, Missouri.  The staff went out of their way to make us feel welcome.  And Robyn fixed up and decorated one of the most beautiful and tasty velvet chocolate cakes, topped with cream cheese frosting, that we've ever had the pleasure of devouring!

We would also like to express our appreciation to Rick Lally, Shay Ryburn, Duane Woner, Larry Garrett, Elaine McMilian, Jim Thomas and Harry Hewlett, all of whom provided us with some of the finest music Kansas City has to offer.

In case you missed the show, we offer an archived version of the video here.  Soon, we will also offer audio podcast versions of the performances, as well as pictures we took at the party.  Stay tuned!

Rick Lally and Shay Ryburn

Duane Woner

Larry Garrett

Elaine McMilian

Jim Thomas

Harry Hewlett

Listen To And Download Audio Of The Performances Here:

By: John Dutton, Operations Director

When Carmen Allgood began her career in radio in the mid-80s, she had no idea that someday she would be hosting one of the most significant nationally-syndicated radio programs on independent music.  It didn't take her long, while working the "graveyard shift" at a classic rock station, to see there was something missing in the heavily-researched "national artist" playlists that dominated (and continue to dominate) the content on mainstream radio.  She decided to do something about it.

Today, she is host to a pair of nationally-syndicated radio shows that focus on independent musicians.  Her shows are heard on over 200 radio stations each week, and she has featured more than 15,000 independent musicians on her shows.  One of those shows, Indie Music Wave, airs Saturday afternoons at 1 p.m., and Sunday mornings at 6 a.m. (Eastern).

Carmen is also a self-proclaimed Loveologist, She writes regularly on the subject of love and happiness through published articles and blogs.  She recently published her first in a series of books called Beyond Diapers: The Beginner's Guide To Inner Peace.  The first edition of her series is subtitled: "How Not To Wallow In Your Own Poop."

Recently, Carmen and I had a fascinating conversation via Skype about her shows, the music industry, the subjects of love and happiness and how all of this intertwines in her life.  Carmen also offers some valuable advice to musicians on being successful in today's competitive music world.

Listen To The Interview Here:

By: Kathy Forste, Music Director

KC Cafe Radio Performing Artist and Singer/Songwriter Mick Byrd recently released his seventh album, "Around."  Unlike his previous albums that focus on more of an Americana Blues style, Byrd lets his hair down, so-to-speak, and gives these tunes a little more of a rock-and-roll edge to them.

"I'm really proud of this album," Byrd said in an interview with me recently.  "I've been wanting to do an album like this for awhile.  The folks I've been lucky enough to herd up and get to the studio with me are all outstanding musicians, and this particular body of songs lend themselves to that."

Mick Byrd hails from Vienna, Missouri, a small town located along the northern edge of the Missouri Ozarks.  His thoughtful songwriting and warm vocals are an excellent representation of the this region.  He calls his music "Americana Roots," because he says “That gives me the freedom to do what I enjoy and what I hope the listeners will enjoy.”

With his latest Album, Byrd hopes that listeners can appreciate the common thread that weaves his past recordings throughout this latest one.  "There's a little more meat in it this time." he said.

Recently on his way through Kansas City, Byrd took some time to visit my home for an interview, and to record a few exclusive tracks for KC Cafe Radio.  he talks about his new album, how his music has been influenced by his life experiences, and the message he hopes his music conveys.

Listen To The Interview Here:

Music By Mick Byrd On KC Cafe Radio:

"We are excited to have such fine talent to present for this first-ever event of its kind for KC Cafe Radio," said Kathy Forste, Music Director and host for the event.  "While the idea of a house concert is not necessarily new, this may be the first time where the venue comes to the attendee rather than vice-versa."

Fran Snyder describes his music as "acoustic pop-rock with a groove,"  His latest album "Live…And Then Some" boasts of his love of music and humor.  He has played colleges, clubs, and mainstages all over the U.S., touring extensively as a solo act, as well as part of the "acoustic hip-hop duo" Six Strings and Vinyl.  On the mainstage, he has opened for many of his heroes, including Shawn Mullins, Shawn Colvin, Don Henley, Peter Stuart, Dan Fogelberg, Cowboy Junkies, and Boz Scaggs.  He has produced and released five discs on his independent Better Records label.

Watch Fran's Performance Recorded Live:

Music By Fran Snyder on KC Cafe Radio:

Watch Gordon Hobbs's Performance Recorded Live:

Listen To The Performances Here:

Music By Gordon Hobbs on KC Cafe Radio:

A joint project of:

KC Cafe Radio Performing Artist Runaway Dorothy is finding a lot of fans from all around the country.

Some famous.

Adam Duritz of Counting Crows fame calls them "killer."  I just call them awesome!

Growing up in the South, Runaway Dorothy absorbed the sounds of country music and the folk songs of their parents, and time would expand their musical palate to include some of the great European/UK bands. The result is a unique combination of American songwriting set to a backdrop of European textures.

Under the lead of singer/songwriter David Parnell, Runaway Dorothy's unique sound has been described as a love child of Coldplay, Jakob Dylan and Ryan Adams.  Recently I talked with Parnell about why a nice boy from South Carolina is now making his home in New York City;  why he recorded "The Arc" in Springfield, MO, New York City and South Carolina;  and David gave me insight on the stories behind the songs on their debut album, "The Arc".

And the best news, we learn, is David's announcement of a new album due out later this year.

Listen to the interview here:

Music by Runaway Dorothy on KC Cafe Radio: