Orlando Radio: WUCF Launches Podcast For Professional Musicians

You may not know their names, but you know their sounds – Side Player Stories, a new podcast produced by WUCF 89.9 FM Jazz & More is now available. The first episode featuring Liberty DeVitto, Billy Joel’s long-time drummer, is available at wucf.org/sideplayerstories, with additional episodes released each Thursday.

In this weekly series, musician and WUCF FM producer Jesse Morgado gets an in-depth look inside the lives of professional musicians. Side Player Stories offers fast-paced and fun conversations with musical guests who are “side players” – artists including drummer DeVitto (Billy Joel); studio hitmaker guitarist/bassist Carol Kaye (You’ve Lost that Lovin’ Feelin,’ Mission Impossible, La Bamba, etc); keyboardist Carey Frank (Tedeshi/Trucks Band and Social Distortion); and bassist Eva Gardner (Pink, Cher, Mars Volta), whose unique talents and musical abilities create opportunities to make their living playing for many different bands.

“As Central Florida’s Storytellers, we are proud to give our listeners an inside look at the life of professional musicians, some of the best in the industry, with our new podcast Side Player Stories,” said Dr. Phil Hoffman, WUCF Executive Director. “Listeners will learn the fascinating details on touring, recording, and what’s in between, all thru the words and experiences of some of the music industry’s elite artists.”

In the first episode, Billy Joel’s former drummer for 30 years, DeVitto tells all in his new memoir – and this unfiltered character has no problem sharing stories that will have you laughing along with him. Later in July, bassist, recording artist, songwriter and LA bar owner Eva Gardner, who has toured with Pink for the last 14 years and has made a name for herself as a first-call musician for countless artists, talks about her inspiration and the talent running rampant in the household from her father Kim Gardner and friends. Heard of the Dave Matthews Band? Well don’t miss a conversation with DMB saxophonist Jeff Coffin. Coffin has also been a part of Bela Fleck & the Flecktones – racking up 3 Grammy’s along the way.

Listeners can check out episodes now at wucf.org/sideplayerstories or listen on all major podcasting platforms.