CooperTalk

Steve Cooper talks with actor Stephen Manley. Stephen is a veteran actor of film and television for over 40 years. Best known as "Young Spock" in Star Trek III: The Search for Spock (1984). His experience spans from work as a child on shows such as All in the Family (1971) and Emergency! (1972) to work as a teen on The Love Boat (1977) and Little House on the Prairie (1974). After graduating with a degree in film from the Pasadena Art Center, he continues to work as an actor. His diversity as a character actor include playing a seedy drug dealer in Death in the Desert (2015), a Neo-Nazi Hitler in Not on My Mountain, a tormented scientist in Rogue Warrior: Robot Fighter, a Hells Angel biker gang leader in Outlaw Chronicles: Hells Angels, and an outlaw cowboy in Billy the Kid: New Evidence. His most recent roles this year include an eccentric scientist in Ghost Hunters and a gullible genius in the series The Idiot. This episode sponsored by Blowfish for Hangovers. Check them out at www.forhangovers.com (Use the promo code COOPER for 20% off.)

Steve Cooper talks with singer/songwriter Billy Burnette. Billy amassed four decades of experience recording music, writing songs, and performing since embarking upon his career at age 7. At 18, he was only a week out of high school when he recorded his Columbia Records album with famed Memphis hit-making producer Chips Moman. In his early 20’s, he played guitar for Roger Miller as well as for his father, Dorsey Burnette.  Meanwhile, he also continued his solo career, which included recording records and writing for such hit makers as Rod Stewart, Ray Charles, Roy Orbison, Tammy Wynette, Jerry Lee Lewis, The Everly Brothers, Conway Twitty, Loretta Lynn, Glen Campbell, Eddy Raven, and many more. He then began his journey as a member of one of the greatest rock bands of all time.  He toured with Fleetwood Mac between 1987-1995 and appears on such records as: The Chain, Fleetwood Mac/Greatest Hits, Behind the Mask and The Very Best of Fleetwood Mac. In the last few years, he has contributed his talents as a guitar player and singer on tours with legendary musicians Bob Dylan and John Fogerty. Additionally, he has also collaborated regularly with the Mick Fleetwood Band. He also has landed parts in several feature films including: Richy Rich, The Addams Family Reunion, Casper and Wendy, Not Like Us, and the leading role in Saturday Night Special, which featured his songs throughout the film. This episode sponsored by Blowfish for Hangovers. Check them out at www.forhangovers.com (Use the promo code COOPER for 20% off.)

Steve Cooper talks with singer/songwriter Jade Starling. Jade is best known as one half of the late 80s duo Pretty Poison who had the #1 platinum hit Catch Me I’m Falling. She returned to the Top 5 on the Sept. 5th 2015 Billboard Club Chart with Better and Better which peaked at #3. That song was not only the 3rd single from the critically acclaimed Captive album but also the highest charted record featuring her since When I Look Into Your Eyes topped the charts in 1988. In addition to Better and Better, Captive has also yielded the Billboard club hits Insominiak and Think About U. Catch Me I’m Falling has continued to reach new fans with features on AMC’s smash hit Breaking Bad & MTV’s Ridiculousness starring Rob Dyrdek and featuring Derek Hough of ABC’s Dancing with the Stars. She hs sold millions of records in her career and in this era of social media, has continued to grow in popularity. Her recordings have been featured in scores of movies including such high profile releases as You Don't Mess with the Zohan featuring Adam Sandler, the art house classic Pinero starring Benjamin Bratt and the cult favorite Hiding Out starring Jon Cryer. She has also helped raise money for charities through her philanthropic passions Breast Cancer Awareness and the TJ Martell Foundation as well as her work in the LGBT community and has a new single Party2Life which he performed on the WKTU float at NY Pride.  This episode sponsored by Blowfish for Hangovers. Check them out at www.forhangovers.com (Use the promo code COOPER for 20% off.)

Steve Cooper talk with singer/songwriter G Love. G is best known for being the leader of the band G Love and Special Sauce. He began playing guitar at age eight. He wrote his first song by the time he was in the ninth grade and began playing harmonica in a wire rack. He credits Bob Dylan and John Hammond Jr., as well as the then-contemporary "old school" hip-hop sounds of Run-DMC, the Beastie Boys, and Philadelphia's own Schoolly D, as influences. He began playing solo on the streets of Philadelphia. After one year at Skidmore College, he dropped out and relocated to Boston, working as a fundraiser for Peace Action and playing wherever and whenever he could. One of his few indoor gigs at this time was a Boston bar called The Tam O'Shanter, where he met drummer Jeffrey "The Houseman" Clemens in January 1993. Him and Clemens began working as a duo, they were joined a few months later by bassist Jim "Jimi Jazz" Prescott and became the house band on Mondays at The Plough and Stars in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He has never looked back recording albums and touring the world since then and has even written a children's book and has his own line of hot sauce. This episode sponsored by Blowfish for Hangovers. Check them out at www.forhangovers.com (Use the promo code COOPER for 20% off.)

Steve Cooper talks with actor Diane Franklin. Diane is most recognized for her film roles in the 80s playing the French-exchange student, Monique Junet, in Better Off Dead, the Medieval babe-princess in Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure, and the teen crush, Karen, in The Last American Virgin. Her most recent acting work can be seen on YouTube in the films, My Better Half, Humanized (screened at 2012 Los Angeles Film Festival), Royal Effups and Agouraphobia. She also has released her autobiography, Diane Franklin: The Excellent Adventures of the Last American, French Exchange Babe of the 80s, available on Amazon and Kindle and is working on a follow up. This episode sponsored by Blowfish for Hangovers. Check them out at www.forhangovers.com (Use the promo code COOPER for 20% off.)

Steve Cooper talks with singer/songwriter Lisa Loeb. Lisa launched her career in 1994 with the song Stay (I Missed You), which was included in the film Reality Bites. She was the first artist to have a number one single in the United States while not signed to a recording contract. Her five studio CDs include her major label debut, the gold-selling Tails and its follow-up, the Grammy-nominated, gold-selling Firecracker. She has also worked in film, television, voice-over work and children’s recordings. Loeb has appeared in two television series, Dweezil & Lisa, a weekly culinary adventure for the Food Network and Number 1 Single, a reality show on the E! Network in 2006 focused on her quest for love, success, career, and family. Her children's music includes the albums Catch the Moon (2003) and Camp Lisa (2008). Her first joint children's book and album Lisa Loeb's Silly Sing-Along: The Disappointing Pancake and Other Zany Songs was published in 2011. In 2010 she founded the Lisa Loeb Eyewear Collection, which is based on her own designs. She co-wrote the lyrics and music to Camp Kappawanna, a family musical that was premiered in New York on March 21, 2015 by the Atlantic Theater Company. Loeb's third children's album, Nursery Rhyme Parade!, was made available on October 16, 2015 and she is releasing a new album this coming October. This episode sponsored by Blowfish for Hangovers. Check them out at www.forhangovers.com (Use the promo code COOPER for 20% off.)

Steve Cooper talks with actor/singer/songwriter/author Michele Greene. Michele is perhaps best known for her role as attorney Abigail "Abby" Perkins on the TV series L.A. Law from 1986 to 1991 Her first big role was in the short-lived Steven Bochco series Bay City Blues. When that was cancelled, Bochco kept her in mind and offered her the role on L.A. Law a show that earned her an Emmy nomination in the Best Supporting Actress category in 1989. After leaving L.A. Law, she had acting roles in a number of popular television series including Bones, CSI, CSI: Miami, Cold Case, Crossing Jordan, Diagnosis: Murder, JAG, Judging Amy, Nip/Tuck, The Outer Limits, Six Feet Under, Stargate SG-1 and The Unit. She also appeared in an episode of Brothers and Sisters on ABC-TV in March 2009 as a fictional Governor of California and had a recurring role on HBO's Big Love as a TV reporter. In addition to acting she has recorded two bilingual CDs, Ojo de Tiburon and Luna Roja.and has written two young adult novels, Chasing the Jaguar: A Martika Gálvez Mystery and Keep Sweet with a third to be published very soon.

Steve Cooper talks with jazz pianist John Colianni. John recorded John Colianni, his debut album, Blues-O-Matic and Live at the Maybeck for Concord Records. Other records followed, the latest being Johnny Chops, recorded with his quintet. At nineteen, John toured the world as Lionel Hampton's pianist and was Mel Tormé's pianist for six years. He has recorded in studio with both Tormé, and Hampton as well as with Cleo Laine, Emily Remler and many others. He has also served as pianist for the Les Paul quartet and did a stint with the New Orleans-inspired band of movie director/clarinetist Woody Allen that played steadily at Michael's Pub in New York. 

Steve Cooper talks with comic/director Wil Shriner. Wil started on TV at age one doing commercials with his twin brother Kin and his father TV humorist Herb Shriner. Growing up with a 8mm camera in his hand, he attended famed UCLA Film and TV program where he learned from the greats how to entertain with story and image. Appearing at the famed Comedy Store, he met another young comedian, David Letterman who liked his comedy films so much that he brought his talents along with him on his rise to fame . He continued as a writer/director on numerous projects and shows with Letterman and it was one of his films that got him noticed by Francis Ford Coppola and it produced  a co-starring role opposite Oscar nominee Joan Allen in Peggy Sue Got Married.  From there he hosted his own nationally syndicated and three time Emmy nominated talk show, the Wil Shriner Show  and dozens of shows and series followed one after another. In 2000 he began directing sitcoms starting with Frasier and spent six years on all the top shows including Everyone Loves Raymond, Becker, Gilmore Girls and many others. He recently wrote the screenplay, produced and directed the film Hoot.               

Steve Cooper talks with actor Deborah Foreman. Deborah is best known for her lead role in the 80's classic Valley Girl. She won the prestigious Most Promising New Star award from Sho West in 1986, following her starring roles in the critically acclaimed Valley Girl and the award-winning My Chauffeur. Subsequently, she had the lead (actually the two leads!) in April Fool's Day which continues to be a video favorite. She is a hard-working actress, equally at home with comedy and drama, who has earned the respect of colleagues and press alike. In addition to her acting, she is a certified yoga instructor through Yogaworks, a Stott Pilates instructor, owner and operator of Fried Ham Productions (specializing in e-commerce stores) and owner and operator of Deborah Foreman Handcrafted Jewels.

Steve Cooper talks with director/actor Dennis Dugan. Dennis is famous for his partnership with comedic actor Adam Sandler, with whom he directed the films Happy Gilmore, Big Daddy, I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry, You Don't Mess with the Zohan, Grown Ups, Just Go with It, Jack and Jilland Grown Ups 2. He made guest appearances on several TV series during the 1970s including The Mod Squad, The Waltons, Cannon, Columbo, The Rockford Files, and Alice. He also appeared in the mini-series Rich Man, Poor Man, as well as two episodes of M*A*S*H and in 1978 starred in the short-lived series Richie Brockelman, Private Eye, a spin-off from The Rockford Files. He took on a semi-regular role as an erstwhile caped crusader who called himself Captain Freedom on Hill Street Blues and also appeared on Empire and Shadow Chasers. He played Walter Bishop, briefly the husband of Maddie Hayes (Cybill Shepherd) on Moonlighting. His other film credits of the 1980s include Water, Can't Buy Me Love, The New Adventures of Pippi Longstocking and Ron Howard's Parenthood. He launched a career as a television and film director, making cameo appearances in many of his films. Ones he directed include Problem Child, Brain Donors, Saving Silverman, National Security and he has directed episodes of such television series as Moonlighting, Ally McBeal, and NYPD Blue.

Steve Cooper talks with bassist Rudy Sarzo. Rudy has held down the bottom end for some of the most beloved and successful acts in heavy metal history since the early 1980s. He was a member of Ozzy Osbourne's band beside renowned guitarist Randy Rhoads (which he chronicled in his best selling book Off the Rails.) He rejoined Quiet Riot in time for its smash album Metal Health and went on to work with Whitesnake, Dio and Queensryche, not to mention a 5-year stint with hard rock juggernauts Blue Oyster Cult.

Steve Cooper talks with comic/writer Mike Dugan.  Mike has written on television series, pilots, or specials for a long list of comedians, including Dennis Miller, Keenen Ivory Wayans, Tom Arnold, Paul Rodriguez, Stephanie Miller, Rich Hall and even George Hamilton. He received, along with five other writers, an Emmy Award for writing on the first season of  'Dennis Miller: Live' on HBO.  The show's writers were also nominated for Cable Ace and Writers Guild of America Awards.  While in London he also co-created with Rich Hall the BBC TV show "Rich Hall's Badly Funded Think Tank". A move to Los Angeles quickly led to a shot on 'The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson'. Johnny raved, and that debut has led to over seventy national television appearances, including one more spot on "Johnny" before his retirement and another appearance with Jay Leno - making him one of only a handful of comics to have appeared on 'The Tonight Show' with both Johnny and Jay. His stand up and hosting has been a favorite at corporate events for companies the likes of Oracle, Xerox, Christian Brothers, Bank of America and Visa to name just a few.  He has also lent his talents to many great causes, having performed or hosted at benefits for The American Red Cross, Katrina Relief, Pepsi All Stars for Sickle Cell Anemia, San Jose Ballet, United Cerebral Palsy, Quake Relief with Crosby Stills and Nash, American Cancer Society and many more. 

Steve Cooper talks with actor Keith Powell. Keith is best known for his role as Toofer in the Emmy winning NBC TV series 30 Rock. He was the Producing Artistic Director of Contemporary Stage Company, a summer theater in Wilmington, Delaware. He has produced/starred in/directed shows with Lynn Redgrave, Jasmine Guy, Keith David, Richard Easton, Duncan Sheik, and Sean Patrick Thomas. In the spring of 2007, while working as a recurring character on 30 Rock, he shot an ABC pilot called Judy's Got A Gun. It was subsequently not picked up for the Fall 2007 season, and he returned to 30 Rock, where he was promoted to a series regular. In 2014, he began a recurring role on the television series About a Boy as Richard, Will's workaholic friend/accountant/business manager and recurred on the final season of The Newsroom. He currently is working on the second season of the web series he created, writes, directs, and stars in called Keith Broke His Leg. 

Steve Cooper talks with guitarist Tracii Guns. Tracii formed L.A. Guns in 1983 and in 1985 he formed a new band with Hollywood Rose frontman Axl Rose. They put the two band names together; Guns 'N' Roses was born, but they both finally went separate ways and he rejoined L.A. Guns. After some lineup changes, the band finally signed with Polygram Records in 1987 recording their first album titled L.A. Guns. Over 1,000,000 copies were sold earning the band its first platinum album award. A compilation of the videos made for this first album also earned the band a gold video award. In 1989 the band went into the studio to record their second album titled Cocked and Loaded. They sold over 1,000,000 copies earning the band its second platinum record award. The video compilation of this second album earned the band a second gold video award. Their third album Hollywood Vampires was released in 1991. Over 1,000,000 copies were sold earning the band its third platinum album award. In late 2002 he decided to join Mötley Crüe bassist Nikki Sixx to create the project Brides of Destruction, signing on as lead guitarist and after the departure of Sixx he decided to revive the most important band of his life: L.A. Guns. He is currently in the studio with the band's singer Phil Lewis recording new music.