So Important: The Interview Podcast!

Dr. Gayle Wald on SISTER ROSETTA THARPE!

Sister Rosetta Tharpe. A trailblazer; an exuberant and charismatic performer from the 1930s all the way to the 1970s; and a wicked electric guitar player. This amazing woman was raised in, and remained loyal to, her gospel roots throughout her entire life and career; yet she took the secular music world by storm in the 1950s - and had a major, and largely under appreciated, influence on the birth of rock and roll itself. This is her amazing story, as told by the author of the great Rosetta Tharpe biographer, Dr. Gayle Ward.
Dr. Wald's book, Shout, Sister, Shout: The Untold Story of Rock and Roll Trailblazer Sister Rosetta Tharpe, is the definitive accounting of the life, music and influence of this truly groundbreaking performer. It's available here on Amazon, and if you want to visit Gayle's informative and entertaining website, you can do so here. The book is a classic, and I can't recommend it enough!
Dr. Wald is a professor of English and the Chair of American Studies of American Studies at George Washington University in Washington, DC. I thoroughly enjoyed our conversation and I'm sure you will too. Thank you, Gayle, for your great generosity of time and insights!

David Montgomery on SPACE FORCE!

Hello friends! 
In December, 2019, David Montgomery, Staff Writer for the Washington Post Magazine, wrote an in-depth article on President Trump's proposal for a new branch of the military, to be called the Space Force. In preparing the article,, which can be accessed here, Montgomery evolved from a skeptic over the value of the Space Force to a supporter.
A topic of interest to me personally, I reached out to David to talk about Space Force - how it came about, what it's intended to do, and what the international community might do to promote stability and the peaceful exploration of space. And we talked about the abiding allure of space, and the great men and women dedicated to carrying out the Space Force mission. 
Very grateful to David for his time and thoroughly enjoyed our conversation. I hope you do too, and see you soon with a brand new episode of So Important: The Interview Podcast!

Mitchell Nathanson on JIM BOUTON: THE LIFE OF A BASEBALL ORIGINAL!

Hello friends! Who's up for a second episode in a row...about Baseball?? I talked with  Mitchell Nathanson, Professor of Law at Villanova University and the author of numerous books and articles on the subject of baseball, about his new book on the one and only Jim Bouton, whose 1970 book, Ball Four, was a rite of passage for fellas like me! It was a must-read as a kid, known for its honest and very revealing look at the life of a major league baseball player. But it turns out Bouton's significance goes well beyond that - and that's the topic of Mitchell's book.
Mitchell was granted access to Jim's extensive archival material that supported the writing of Ball Four and got to know Jim Bouton and his family personally. The result is a book that will prove to be unique and invaluable, in what it brings to the table about an extraordinary individual.  
You can learn more about Professor Nathanson and his many books and publications on his excellent website, and you can follow Mitchell on twitter at @MitchNathanson. His book can be ordered on Amazon here.  And a tip of the hat to Mitchell - thank you so much for chatting, and I am looking forward to reading Bouton: The Life of a Baseball Original!

Jeremy Newberger on HEADING HOME: THE TALE OF TEAM ISRAEL!

Hello friends, 
Well, we should be deep into the baseball season by now...but life had other ideas, and here we are approaching May with no start of the season in sight. Not to worry...I've been talking with some TOP NOTCH guests to help fill the void, beginning with one Jeremy Newberger, the CEO of Ironbound Films, who talked with me about his fantastic documentary, Heading Home: The Tale of Team Israel. If you haven't seen the documentary yet, you should! It is an uplifting tale of grit, and giving it everything you've got - even when the odds are conspiring against you. 
This is the story of the team that represented Israel in the 2017 World Baseball Classic, and who progressed through the tourney well beyond anyone's expectations - except their own. It is the story of how these players bonded through their Jewish heritage, and how they took the Classic by storm when everyone had dismissed them. It's a great story, as only Jeremy Newberger, who directed the film, can tell it - with passion and enthusiasm, and great love and respect for these very human players. 
Big news: The film will be released on DVD in early May - and you can preorder it right here! If you want to learn more about Ironbound Films, make sure you check out their website, and here's the official trailer for the film.
Enjoy the show, PLEASE go to Apple podcasts and give a good review and rating for the series, and I'll see you soon with a new episode! Go Bucs!
Monte

Benny Becker on HIS INVESTIGATIVE WORK IN APPALACHIA!

Hello friends and welcome to a new episode of So Important! My guest is Mr. Benny Becker, an investigative reporter focused on issues in the Appalachian region of the United States. Benny is compassionate, thorough, and incisive - as his many stories on the challenges faced by the towns and people of Appalachia bear out. This is the story of Benny's journey, and we also talk about some of Benny's most recent stories. 
It was a great pleasure to speak with Benny, and I urge everyone to read his stories, and spend a few minutes hearing what he has to say. Here's a link to his website, as well as a direct link to his most recent reporting on clean water issues in West Virginia. And here's a nice link to many of Benny's stories. 
I hope you enjoy this episode, and I am grateful to Benny for speaking with me about his fascinating, and important, work. 
See you soon with a new episode of So Important!

Steve Hackett on GENESIS, HIS SOLO WORK, AND HIS AMAZING TOUR!

Well my friends, I notice that I tend to describe every episode as "very special," but this one is for sure. I talked with legendary Guitarist Steve Hackett, who was the guitar player in Genesis from 1971 to 1977, when they were at the height of their progressive rock powers. There is nothing like the early, pre-pop music of Genesis, and along with Peter Gabriel, Phil Collins (who did ok for himself btw), Michael Rutherford, and Tony Banks, Steve was a big reason why that is the case. He has gone on to record over 25 solo albums and he continues to tour to this day. I saw him and his stellar band a couple nights ago and it was a truly transcendent experience. SEE HIM!
Special thanks to Steve for his time and while the audio quality wasn't quite as good as I would have liked, a number of audio engineers, including David Martin in the DC area and Trebor at the Audacity Windows Forum site, helped significantly to improve it - which I really, really appreciate. Ultimately there was only so much that could be done, but thanks to these guys it came out ok. And special thanks to my wife Nancy, who had to endure my obsessive work on this particular episode!
You will find a number of musical excerpts sprinkled throughout the show. With a musician as accomplished as Steve Hackett, one should look for any opportunity to let the music speak for itself. So, that's what I did. I created a special playlist for those who want to hear each of these songs in their entirety, as well as a few others curated for the show. Here's the link: 
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/56ilQhAtzQI6gDXgYeWKbh?si=-mY7gEQCQ9ePGzNfuyKa5Q
Check out Steve's website, and don't forget to check for tour dates. It's an amazing show and you owe it to yourself to see a true master of the craft in action. 
See you soon with a new episode, and THANK YOU STEVE HACKETT!

Dina Gold on ATTAINING RESTITUTION!

In 1937, the Nazi regime in Germany foreclosed upon a building in the heart of Berlin that was owned by Dina Gold's family. They received significantly less than market value in return. This is Dina's amazing and inspirational story of all that she did to see that justice for her family was served. 
This is a story of determination, commitment, and conviction, and never giving up when the cause is just. Dina's story is an inspiration for all of us, and here it is in her own words. 
Dina's book about her effort can be found here, on Amazon, or wherever great books are sold. Dina also maintains a website dedicated to her story, and a Facebook page that is informative and always interesting.
Thank you, Dina, for spending time with me, and sharing your amazing story!

Mike Edison on WHY CHARLIE WATTS MATTERS!

Hello friends! Today we're talking with Mike Edison on his new book, Sympathy For The Drummer: Why Charlie Watts Matters. Mike and I share a deep and abiding love for Mr. Watts, the drummer of the Rolling Stones. There are few like him in the rock and roll world, and as Mike and I agree, the world is a MUCH better place with him in it. As Keith Richards says, without Charlie Watts, there's no Rolling Stones. A point on which Mike and I heartily agree!
I love Charlie Watts, and I love this book. And I loved talking with Mike about our favorite drummer. As Mike notes, the Stones were smart enough to hire a jazz cat as their drummer - and the rest is history. I know you'll love hearing from Mike about why Charlie Watts matters!
Here's a link to the book on Amazon, and here's a link to Mike's website which has oodles of good stuff worth checking out. And for you play along at home types, here's a playlist I put together featuring some of Charlie's best songs. All the songs that Mike and I discuss - and many others - are on the playlist!
BONUS: Mike and I discuss the Stones' 2016 masterpiece, Blue and Lonesome, featuring covers of classic blues songs. Here's a playlist with all of those songs, as well as the original recordings. Enjoy every minute!
If you've got a second, please like us on I-Tunes and leave a nice review, and share the episode with your friends. All those things help and are appreciated. 
See you soon, and thank you, Mike!

Steve Pindar on ROBERTO'S KIDS!

All - had a wonderful conversation with Steve Pindar, the Founder of Roberto's Kids, a charitable organization dedicated to building social and community responsibility - through baseball! The organization is named, as you may have guessed, after the great Pittsburgh Pirate, Roberto Clemente. Roberto was a legendary ballplayer, and a great humanitarian as well. We talked about Roberto, how he inspired Steve's organization, and the great work that Roberto's Kids does, all around the world, to meet its mission. 
You may recall that last year at this time, we talked with Karen Struble Meyers about the Fred Rogers Foundation, and the relevancy of Fred's message to this day and age. So I thought that the time was right to find inspiration in another Pittsburgh icon, and that's what you'll hear about today. But something else also inspired the timing of this episode.
It was 47 years ago almost to this day when a small plane carrying Roberto, and loaded with supplies for the survivors of a devastating earthquake in Managua, Nicaragua, crashed and killed Roberto and the plane's crew. So the timing was right to remember Roberto, and all that he did to make the world a better place. 
Here's a link to Steve's organization, Roberto's Kids. It's worth checking out, and it's great to meet folks like Steve so dedicated to making the world a better place. 
Thanks, and see you soon. In the meantime, have a great New Years and enjoy the holiday season!
 

Monte Mallin on THE BIRTH OF THE BACKBEAT!

Hello friends, and welcome to a special thanksgiving-day episode! Little surprise here for ya - decided to talk about something interesting and important to me - the birth of rock and roll drumming!
Have some fun listening to how the backbeat - the basis of rock and roll drumming - came about. Lots of great music here...and get to know Earl Palmer (pictured), DJ Fontana, Clifton James, and many other greats who developed the feel and sound of early rock drumming. I had a lot of fun putting this episode together, and I hope you have a lot of fun listening!
And here's a playlist of full versions of all the songs played in the episode, plus a few others. Enjoy!
Don't forget to get to I-Tunes and leave a nice review, tell your friends about the show, and have a great thanksgiving! See you soon and enjoy!
 
Monte

Moshe Engelberg on THE AMARE WAVE - A NEW BUSINESS PARADIGM!

Welcome friends! We're back from a short hiatus and talking with Moshe Engelberg - our first repeat guest - about his recent book, The Amare Wave: Uplifting Business by Putting Love to Work! Moshe talks about an alternative business model to what we're used to - and has the numbers to back up his arguments! It's fair to say that I've known Moshe a very long time...and I always appreciate his positive, and affirmative approach to overcoming the challenges we all face, every day. This is the ethos he brings to his subject, and I am so happy to have the chance to share his thoughts with you!
Moshe led his strategic consulting firm Researchworks, Inc. for almost thirty years. He now leads workshops, speaks regularly at both large and more intimate gatherings, provides leadership consulting to businesses looking for new ways of moving forward, and of course he is diligently spreading the word about the Amare Wave.  He's an inspiring individual, and a true friend of the show!
You can pre-order Moshe's book at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and elsewhere, and you can contact Moshe at connect@theamarewave.com. He's very personable!
I hope you enjoy our conversation and thank you, Moshe!

Dr. Gerson Sher on U.S. - SOVIET SCIENTIFIC COOPERATION AND LESSONS FOR TODAY!

In the midst of the Cold War, when the United States and the Former Soviet Union had - literally - tens of thousands of nuclear weapons pointed at each other, there were nonetheless efforts to find areas of cooperation.  One such area was Scientific Cooperation, where many of the scientists, engineers, and other experts who helped build nuclear weapons found ways to cooperate, in order to perhaps defuse tensions, keep lines of communication open, and advance scientific discovery in the name of advancing common interests. 
Dr. Gerson Sher was in the midst of such efforts for many years, and has written a truly seminal - and fascinating - book about his experience. The book is entitled From Pugwash to Putin: A Critical History of U.S. - Soviet Scientific Cooperation, and it tells an amazing story from a man in the midst of such efforts. Gerson talks about what the work was trying to achieve, some of the great characters involved in these efforts, and lessons learned for pursuing such cooperation today - a vastly different international environment. 
Gerson's book is available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and everywhere else that quality books are sold. I highly recommend that you check it out! 
Other news department: As many of you know, our little podcast has been expanding its reach lately. In addition to most podcast carriers, Apple, and other sources, So Important! is now available on Stitcher, Google Play, and the great Spotify! So please do subscribe and spread the word, and if there's a platform where you'd like to see us, let me know! 
Special episode in the works for episode 25 - watch this space!
Thank you for being a loyal listener, and welcome to our new ones! We talk to a variety of folks here, and we keep it short! So tune in, tell your friends, all those good things! Spread the Word!
Thank you Gerson!

Christopher McKittrick on THE STONES IN NEW YORK!

Hello friends! Had a great conversation with Christopher McKittrick on his new book about the Rolling Stones and their career-long relationship with New York City! I thoroughly enjoyed the book and could have chatted with Christopher for hours - like me, he's a dyed-in-the-wool Rolling Stones fan. He also resides in and loves New York City, and had lots to say about the relationship between the city and the Stones. A fun talk and a GREAT read!
Christopher is a prolific writer - a good place to start is on Amazon, where you can check out his Author Central Site. His website is worth a look too - a great place to learn more about our guest. 
And hey, if you aren't familiar with the Rolling Stones and just gotta learn more...well, do a google search and if you're lucky, something might come up!
Thank you Christopher, and I hope everyone enjoys our conversation!
Monte

Dr. Ben Canha on HOW HUMOR CAN HELP TREAT THE OPIOID CRISIS

Greetings friends, 
I'd like you to meet Dr. Ben Canha, who has written a PhD dissertation on a critically important, and absolutely fascinating, topic: how humor can play a role in helping to treat the opioid crisis in America. Dr. Canha teaches nursing at the University of Maryland. He also spent many years working on addiction treatment issues at the National Institutes of Health. Dr. Canha has observed for years how humor can play a role in helping folks deal with addictive health issues; he is one of, if not the, first to apply this to the opioid crisis specifically. I greatly appreciate Ben spending time with me, and I have great admiration for the work he is doing. I think after hearing our conversation, you will too. 
Thank you again, Ben!
NOTE: You may have noticed that I rarely spend time at the beginning or end of the episode asking you to go to I-Tunes and give the show a good review. And new listeners may note that there is no such plea at the end of this broadcast. In short, I don't want to detract from the guest. But I do want to mention how important that is, and ask that if you enjoy the broadcast with Ben, you give the podcast a good review, share with a friend or two, and pass along to those that may be interested. It's easy to share, and it means a lot. Thank you!

Cesar Brioso on THE END OF PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL IN CUBA!

Well, it's Memorial Day Weekend, and that means baseball! Join me in talking with Cesar Brioso about his recent book, Last Seasons In Havana: The Castro Revolution and the End of Professional Baseball in Cuba."  Cesar is a digital producer for USA Today Sports, where he served as baseball editor from 2003 to 2004, and traces his lineage to Havana - a topic we briefly discuss at the end our conversation.
The book is an absolutely fascinating read, chronicling how the revolution brought an end to professional baseball in Cuba - but never dampened the passion of the Cuban people for the game they dearly love.
The book is filled with unforgettable characters and anecdotes, and we barely skimmed the surface in our talk - so that means, you gotta read the book! And you can purchase it on Amazon and just about everywhere. 
You can check out the facebook page for the book, and follow Cesar on Twitter at @cbrioso - a great way to keep up with Cesar's guest appearances. It's a great book, and please do check it out!
Thank you, Cesar!
And may I make a plea to listeners everywhere to follow the podcast, give it a good review in I-Tunes, all those good things. I usually don't push on all that in the podcast itself, but it's important and appreciated. Thanks!
 
 

Tom Mirenda on PRESERVING ORCHIDS!

Tom Mirenda knows orchids. He is the Chairman of the American Orchid Society's Preservation Committee and he has traveled the world investigating, and talking about, the many species of orchids that inhabit our planet. Currently living in Hawaii - a great launching point for investigating the world's orchids - Tom has been a mainstay of the Orchid community for many, many years. He worked for over 15 years as the Orchid Collection Specialist at the Smithsonian Institution, and until recently was the leading Orchid authority at the Hawaiian Tropical Botanical Garden on the "Big Island," a locale notably lush with all manner of orchids. Tom writes extensively for Orchids magazine and other orchid-focused publications, and he has co-authored a book on orchids, entitled The Book of Orchids.
As I said, the man knows his orchids! 
Tom and I talked extensively about the beauty and attraction of the orchid, and the important work Tom is undertaking to help preserve orchids in light of climate change and other factors. It was a pleasure speaking with Tom. I learned a lot, and I hope you do as well!
In addition to the links provided above, you can keep up with Tom on his Facebook page and his book is widely available, including on Amazon. I hope you enjoy my chat with Tom - I certainly did!
Thank you Tom, and thank you everyone for listening!

Sweet Lizzie Project on THEIR MUSIC - AND THEIR AMAZING HISTORY!

Hello and Welcome! My guests today are Lisset Diaz and Miguel Comas, two members of the terrific young band, the Sweet Lizzie Project. These guys have a story to tell!
Some time ago, PBS went to Cuba to learn more about the music scene there. That led to the migration of Lisset, Miguel, and the rest of the Sweet Lizzie Project band to the United States. Here's the amazing story of how it happened!
I saw the band at a small house party about two months ago and I was instantly hooked. The band resides in Nashville, and their music uniquely reflects influences from both residences. Yet it is unequivocally and uniquely their own and I can't recommend it enough. Diaz is a powerhouse of a singer; Miguel Comas produces their music, and adds his signature lead guitar to the mix; and together they lead this young band that you need to learn more about. 
And here's your opportunity!
The songs you'll hear are Something, from the debut album Heaven, and their recently released duet with Raul Malo and the Mavericks, entitled Flower's In The Seed. Diaz is a truly unique stylist as these songs attest; but make sure you check out the entirety of the Heaven album. It's been in my heavy rotation for some time now, and for good reason! And a new album, entitled Technicolor, is coming soon!
You can find all of it on their comprehensive website. They also have a Facebook page and they're on Instagram. And check out the first rate videos for both Flower's In the Seed and Turn Up The Radio - a true classic, as we discuss on the show. Both - and many others - can be found here.
Thank you Lisset and Miguel for joining me. And to all of you who like the show, please share it, rate it, and all those good things. In the meantime, enjoy getting to know the Sweet Lizzie Project!

Dennis and PJ Aubrey on PHOTOGRAPHING THE GREAT ROMANESQUE AND GOTHIC CHURCHES!

I had the great pleasure of speaking with Dennis and PJ Aubrey about their wonderfully unique life's work - visiting the great Romanesque and Gothic churches of Europe, and brilliantly photographing and writing about - and now also podcasting about - their efforts. What started out as a hobby has turned into a spiritual adventure for the Aubreys, who have visited over 900 churches to date. What a treat it was to chat with Dennis and PJ. 
You owe it to yourself to check out their great work. Their photography is regularly exhibited worldwide, and their website - and in particular, their blog - provide wondrous excursions to a different time, where these churches were the centerpiece of rural and urban communities alike. The photographs on their social media sites, along with the carefully crafted accompanying text, and worth checking out - though you may find yourself unable to stop enjoying all that the sites have to offer.
The Aubrey's blog, entitled Via Lucis: Photography of Religious Architecture (or, the way of light), is an essential site to check out. The Via Lucis website is a great overview of the Aubrey's work; and while you're at it, check out Light and Stone, the new podcast! All take you to a different world, in the capable and caring hands of Dennis and PJ. 
And oh yes, there is indeed a Facebook page!
I hope everyone enjoys the podcast, and thank you again Dennis and PJ!

Kat Murti on LIBERTARIAN FEMINISM!

Kat Murti is the founder and CIO of Feminists for Liberty, a nonprofit organization dedicated to spreading the ideals of libertarian feminism. The organization's motto is "anti-sexism and anti-statism, pro-markets and pro-choice." Kat and I talked about the organization, its objectives, and about libertarian feminism - the organization's underlying philosophy.
As listeners know, we don't talk politics on this podcast, but policy is fair game, and Kat's perspective on a number of issues is worth hearing. I appreciate that Kat spent some time with me, and I hope you enjoy our conversation. 
Kat is a media presence. Check out the Feminists for Liberty Website, as well as the organization's Facebook page to learn more about Kat and her work. And you can follow the organization on Twitter. 
Hope you enjoy the episode, and thank you again, Kat!

Rabbi Chuck Diamond on THE TREE OF LIFE ATTACK - AND WHERE WE GO FROM HERE

Rabbi Chuck Diamond is the former Rabbi at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh, where on October 27, 2018 a lone gunman massacred eleven congregants. His only rationale was that he "wanted to kill Jews." 
Rabbi Chuck joined me to share his story. He knew the slain personally, he is a native of he neighborhood where the slaughter took place, and he was a prominent spokesman in the aftermath of the massacre. He is a man of great wisdom with a unique perspective on the events in Pittsburgh, and I am very appreciative that he spent a few minutes with me. 
In 2017, Rabbi Chuck founded his own community, Khalila La La, dedicated to providing a unique Jewish experience in the Pittsburgh area. You can learn more about Khalila La La, and support Rabbi Chuck's inspirational work, here at the official website.
Rabbi Chuck also spoke at Temple Emanuel in Kensington Maryland recently, and an article in the Washington Jewish Week about Chuck's talk can be found here. 
Thank you Chuck, and thank you dear listener. 
Monte

Stacy Godfrey on THE GREATNESS OF THE BAND GENESIS!

Hello everyone, 
I had so much fun putting this episode together!  I chatted with Stacy Godfrey, a long-time fellow fan of the band Genesis, and a co-host of the terrific podcast, Tabletop Genesis. Listening to her podcast, it became obvious to me that she would be fun to chat with. Why? Well, we both came to Genesis in very different eras of the band's history (me in the progressive 1970s, Stacy in the more pop-focused 1980s). Yet both of us spent time discovering, and learning to appreciate, all of the band's music and I knew that would be fun to talk about. It  was!
And...we make some recommendations! I recommend some great Genesis songs from the 1980s that old stalwarts like me might appreciate. Stacy, in turn, highlights some of her favorites from the 1970s for those mostly familiar with the more pop-focused version of the band in the 1980s. And as a special Awesome So Important! Bonus, here's a link to a spotify playlist with almost all the songs we discussed:
Stacy and Monte's So Important Genesis Playlist!
And here's a link to the Tabletop Genesis Website as well as the Facebook Page - highly recommend you check it out!
 
Thank you again, Stacy!
Enjoy!
 
Thank you Stacy, and I hope everyone enjoys our conversation about one of the all time greatest bands in the history of music!

Karen Struble Myers on THE FRED ROGERS CENTER - AND FRED'S LEGACY!

Hello friends! A new year is upon us...and as the holiday season proceeds, it's hard not be a bit reflective. Is there more we can be doing to help bring folks together, to encourage tolerance and patience, and respect for each other's feelings? I think there is, and for this special episode, I went right to the source.
Karen Struble Myers is the Associate Director and Director of Development and Communications at the Fred Rogers Center For Early Learning and Children's Media, on the campus of St. Vincent's College in Latrobe, PA. Karen and I talked about how the Center is implementing Fred's vision through a number of programs dedicated to Fred's vision; we talked about Fred's legacy, and we talked quite a bit about the relevance of Fred's message today. it was an inspiring talk and I am so pleased to share Karen's great words and insights. Fred has an inspiring message and maybe we can all take a minute to reflect, and think about what Fred teaches us today.
There is a link to the Center below. It's a wonderful website and I encourage you to take a look.
I want to thank my loyal listeners and welcome new ones. I hope you are enjoying all the great guests and I promise you there are more to come. Please help spread the word about the Podcast. This would be a GREAT episode to share and of course, a kind word and rating on I-Tunes is always appreciated. Anyway, best to everyone, happy holidays, and have a great new year. See you soon! 
http://www.fredrogerscenter.org/
 

Monte A Melnick on THE LEGACY OF THE RAMONES!

I had the great pleasure of speaking with Monte A. Melnick, the former tour manager of the legendary rock band, The Ramones. For over 20 years the Ramones toured the world playing to adoring and loyal audiences; but it is only now, over 20 years after their retirement, that their contributions to music are fully appreciated.
Monte was there throughout the duration of their career and brings a unique perspective to what made this band tick  through think and thin, good times and bad. It was an honor to talk with Monte about the legacy of this legendary band. 
Monte has written a classic book about the band and his time with them, and I highly recommend it. The book, On The Road with The Ramones, is a great read and can be found here: 
https://www.amazon.com/Ramones-Monte-Melnick-Frank-Meyer/dp/1606710206/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1543688724&sr=8-1&keywords=Melnick+Monte
For those who would enjoy seeing a little bit of the Ramones in action and at their best, here's a little clip. 14 songs in 26 minutes! It doesn't get better than that!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sp3zaeOyL7Q&t=128s
And finally, here's a great way to get familiar with their songs - a classic collection of hits. If like me, you prefer to hear actual albums, you can't go wrong with their first or third. But this collection will get you started: 
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=ramones+mania+full+album
Thanks again to Monte, and I hope everyone enjoys this episode of So Important!
 

Tosh Berman on GROWING UP IN WALLACE BERMAN'S WORLD!

Hello everyone! I talked with Tosh Berman, an influential and beloved member of the Los Angeles literary scene, on his new book entitled, Tosh: Growing Up in Wallace Berman's World. This book is a masterful story of growing up as the son of the well-known artist Wallace Berman, who is often referred to as the creator of Assemblage Art and was a beloved figure in the early "beatnik" or hippie scene in California. Tosh recounts his unique childhood and talks openly about the cavalcade of luminaries that visited his home, his father's influence in the art world, and the impact of Wallace's untimely death on the young Tosh. 
Tosh: Growing Up in Wallace Berman's World is published by City Lights books, and is a beautifully written, honest, and endearing memoir of a unique upbringing. The book will be available on Amazon and directly from the publisher. You can learn more about Tosh's book, and Tosh himself, here:
http://www.citylights.com/book/?GCOI=87286100746120&fa=description
Thank you, and enjoy the show!