Kevin Sorbo: Spokesperson for A World Fit for Kids

A World Fit for Kids charity event to help children stay healthy, happy and in school

By Gabrielle Pantera

HOLLYWOOD, CA (Gosh!TV) 2012/1/31 “We teach mentoring to teens to help the younger children in their communities, and we work with 12,000 kids in LAUSD, with a 98% graduation rate for our kids in a 52% drop out area,” says actor and author Kevin Sorbo. “Kids today start dropping out of school as young as 5th grade!”

Join Sorbo in raising funds for the charity he’s spokesman for, A World Fit For Kids! (WFIT). Enjoy appetizers, beverages,  music and conversation while supporting a program to help kids stay in school and lead healthy, productive lives.

This event will be held in Los Angeles on February 8th from 6:30 pm – 9:00 pm.

Location: The Los Angeles Athletic Club at 431 West Seventh Street in downtown L.A.  Guests can get tours of the club. Tickets are $75 per person. All proceeds benefit WFIT to help provide funding for their successful mentoring and healthy behaviors programming and training for inner-city kids and families in L.A.

For tickets call 213-387-7712 or email info@worldfitforkids.org. Follow them at https://twitter.com/worldfitforkids

Exclusive interview with Soul/Blues singer Gizzelle – Listen live on Gosh!Radio on January 28^th at www.goshradio.com and call in at (712) 432-1600, code 210945 (California local time 10am PST) or in Germany +49 (0) 234 543 9810, code 210945 (Berlin local time 7pm)

By Gabrielle Pantera

Gizzelle live on Gosh!Radio on Jan. 28th

HOLLYWOOD, CA (Gosh!TV) 2012/1/27 – “My music is all about soul…in the heart or the feel of the music,” says Soul/Blues singer Gizzelle. “My music is about passion and love…and heartbreak.”

Gizzelle performs late 50s blues, rhythm and blues, and early 60s soul. She’s considered one of the greatest voices on the Soul/Blues scene. Gizzelle describes her style as a mix of retro and modern. Her band members are Ricky McCann on drums, Victor Mendez on piano, Alex Vargas on bass and vocals, and Takao Inoue on saxophone. The band, based in Los Angeles, has many fans in Germany.

Gosh!Radio host Gabrielle Pantera will be interviewing Gizzelle and taking callers’ questions on

Meet the Music.

Gizzelle’s Albums and Distribution

Gizzelle has has a new album Rhythm n Soul, released about a month ago. Her previous album was Devil or Angel, released five years ago. She has also released a CD EP (4 tracks) and two 45 rpm records. She’s working on her next album to be released in 2013.

Gizzelle’s label is Wild Records. “They found me about eight years ago. Reb, the label owner and my manager, was at a show where I was doing a guest spot. He told me he loved my voice, but not the songs I was singing. He told me he had a idea what I might like to become…a soul singer. He was right.”

Performances and History

Upcoming performances include Saturday, Feb. 4th, at the Galaxy Theatre in Santa Ana. She will be performing with Luis and the Wildfires and seven more bands. Gizzelle will sing around midnight.

Gizzelle has played in England, France, Italy, Germany, Spain, Switzerland, Belguim and Holland. “I was lucky to have performed with the late great Ruth Brown, one of my idols. I was onstage with her in Las Vegas. While singing she said to me, ‘How can a little girl like you have that HUGE VOICE?’ Wow, made my day.”

Of today’s pop singers, Gizzelle says Adele is the only singer she really enjoys. Gizzelle has been singing since she was three years old. “I was the kid that would not shut up at parties.” Gizzelle was born in Whittier, California. On her next album, for the first time, she’s writing some of her own songs.

Links

• www.wildrecordsusa.com
• http://twitter.com/wildrecords
• http://www.facebook.com/pages/Gizzelle/145408528886001
• http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=741030336

About Meet the Music

Hosted by Gabrielle Pantera, Meet the Music premiered in June of 2011. The 1-hour weekly music talk show interviews bands, singers, musicians, composers, songwriters, and music executives. The show broadcasts live worldwide at www.ustream.com/channel/goshradio and is also available through other outlets. For the schedule of upcoming shows, international call-in numbers, and to access the archives, go to www.goshradio.com.

Meet the Music is executive produced by Gabrielle Pantera and is a production of Gosh!Radio and Gosh!TV. Gosh!TV is based at the historic Raleigh Studios Hollywood lot. Many TV shows are shot at Raleigh Studios, such as ABC Castle and ABC Private Practice. For further information about Gosh!TV go to www.goshtv.com.

Maria Menounos - Photo by Maury Phillips

Award season has started — let the pampering begin!

By Gabrielle Pantera

HOLLYWOOD, CA (Gosh!TV) 2012/1/25 – The days leading up to award shows are all for getting glammed up. The Wella Beauty Bar was produced by LFB media group. Many celebrities were there getting pampered from head to toe.

Maria Menounos brought her mom Stavroula to get spruced up for the award show. Her mom got a cut and style — the stylist used Wella Professionals products. It’s a tradition for the two to do a full day of treatments before award shows. When asked about Kim Kardashian’s divorce, Maria answered, “We are friends. I feel bad for her. People make mistakes.”

Dancing with the Stars winner for fall 2011, Karina Smirnoff,  also made an appearance and stopped by to speak with the rep for Fake Bake, mentioning that she used to tan the night before every tapping of DWTS. Smirnoff also gave a few private salsa dancing lessons before getting pampered herself.

In the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau lounge Jessica Szhor got a hand massage from Bio-Oil. While there she chatted with everyone in the room.

Giuliana Rancic — looking healthier then ever — stopped by before she rushed off for red carpet rehearsals for E!. Seeing the Schick Quattro, she picked up the new vibrating razor for Joan Rivers. “This is perfect for her,” said Giuliana!

Ali Fedotowsky - Photo by Maury Phillips

Ali Fedotowsky, newly single bachelorette, wanted a complete makeover from top to toe. Is it for someone special or just to rejuvenate? Realizing her skin was dehydrated from the holiday parties, she wanted her skin refreshed and moisturized. She picked a pinky-peach nail polish for her fingers.

Melissa Rycroft and Tye Strickland photo by Tony Lowe

Melissa Rycroft and Tye Strickland came by the Wella Beauty Bar on Saturday. They took photos in the Schick Quattro for Women photo booth. They were very affectionate. The duo also chatted about their new CMT reality TV show, Melissa And Tye: A New Reality, produced by Ryan Seacrest, scheduled to air in April 2012. The couple said it’s very Tori and Dean-esque. The show is a behind-the-scenes look at their own home sweet home with daughter Ava.

Products Featured at the Beauty Bar

Wella Professionals has been around for more than 130 years. Wella Professionals is dedicated to serving the salon industry with exceptional color products and technological advancements. Wella Professional collections are easy to understand and use. There are four collections based on hair texture. Each regimen is formulated to engage the senses during cleansing, conditioning and treatments. The refined Styling range, uniquely organized by wet, dry and finish pillars (referring to the stage of application), is designed to enhance the finished look. You can get Wella Professionals Care & Styling products at professional salons across North America. Price ranges between $13 – $17.

For more information, visit www.wella.com.  Like www.facebook.com/WellaUSA or follow @WellaHairUSA on Twitter.

The Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau (GMCVB) is an independent not-for-profit sales and marketing organization whose mission is to attract visitors to Greater Miami and the Beaches for leisure, business and conventions. They have a  vacation guide at their website www.MiamiAndBeaches.com or visit www.MiamiMeetings.com

The Schick Quattro for Women TrimStyle vibrates as it removes hair. It’s available at drug, grocery, and mass merchandisers nationwide. You can use any Schick Quattro for Women refill cartridge, (Sensitive or Ultra Smooth), as the refill. The Schick Quattro for Women TrimStyle is priced at $10.99. Refills come in 4ct ($9.99) and 8ct ($18.99) packages.  There is also the traditional Schick Quattro for Women fuchsia razor, with its sleek metal handle, that will still be available at an average retail price of $8.99.

For more, visit www.quattroforwomen.com, facebook.com/schickquattroforwomen and twitter.com/quattroforwomen.

Bio-Oil can be used to help minimize scars and stretch marks. It is also nourishes skin and intensely moisturizes to help prevent dryness and flakiness. Bio-Oil leaves no residue and has vitamins A and E, Calendula, Lavender and Rosemary oils, Chamomile extract and PurCellin Oil, inspired by the preen gland oil of ducks. Bio-Oil is available at Walmart, Target, Walgreens, CVS and other leading drug stores for $11.99 for 2 oz. and $19.99 for 4.2 oz. Visit www.bio-oilusa.com

Fake Bake has been around for over 10 years. They’ve conquered the quest for a perfect tan without having to damage skin to do it. Fake Bake contains botanically extracted ingredients and no preservatives. The formulas also moisturize, hydrate and protect the skin without clogging the pores or irritating sensitive skin. For more, please visit www.FakeBake.com

Phillips Distilling Company started as a small distributor of candy and newspapers and has become an innovative and enduring distilled spirit companies here in the U.S. For five generations Phillips Distilling Company products have been made using the finest ingredients from around the globe. In 1930 they produced America’s first schnapps, in 1950s they did flavored vodka and in 2000 they started to do flavored whiskey. Phillips is one of America’s last family-owned spirits businesses. UV Vodka line of flavored vodkas, Prairie Vodka, Trader Vic’s Rums, Liqueurs and Cocktails, Revel Stoke Spiced Whisky, Phillips Union Whiskey, SourPuss Liqueurs and Ice Hole Liqueurs are all part of the Phillips distilling company.  Drink responsibly — don’t drink and drive.

NINE|ZERO|ONE salon is located in a historic West Hollywood building and is one of LA’s newest premiere salons. The salon has a wide range of services, one of which is Great Lengths Extensions. Owner’s Riawna Capri and Nikki Lee wanted to create an atmosphere where everyone can come to relax, feel comfortable and just hang out. http://www.ninezeroonesalon.com

Exhale Spa in Santa Monica was giving partial body massages in the suite. Exhale blends mind and body so you’re whole body feels rejuvenated. Exhale currently operates spa and studios in upscale locations in California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Massachusetts, New York, Texas, Turks + Caicos, and more spas are in development. http://www.exhalespa.com/

January 11th
People’s Choice Awards at the Nokia Theater Live Telecast on CBS at 9/8c
Hosted by Kaley Cuoco with musical guests Faith Hill and Demi Lovato.
Catch the Red Carpet live on www.PeoplesChoice.com and on REELZ Channel starting at 7:30/6:30c. When you go to PeoplesChoice.com you can still vote, too.

January 12^th

Critics’ Choice Awards at the Hollywood Paladium air live on VH1 at 8pm ET/PT. This year’s hosts are Paul Scheer and Rob Huebel.

January 15^th
69^th Annual Golden Globe Awards on NBC at 8/7c
Ricky Gervais is returning to host the Golden Globes for 2012. The foreign press, 83 entertainment journalists from around the world, vote for the host as well as the categories. 62 members vote on the host and only 16 were against the return of Gervais. There is also a statement on the Golden Globes website, stating that the group was moved to bring back Gervais after meeting with NBC official Doug Vaughan.  http://www.goldenglobes.org/

January 21^st
23^rd Annual Producers Guild of America Awards (PGA) held Saturday at the Beverly Hilton Hotel.
The PGA will present comic book legend Stan Lee with the 2012 Vanguard Award.
Receiving the Norman Lear Achievement award for 2012 is award-winning live event producer and director Don Mischer. This is the first time PGA has honored a live television producer with the Norman Lear Achievement Award. President and CEO of CBS Corporation Leslie Moonves will be honored with the 2012 Milestone Award. And Steven Spielberg, producer, director, writer and Principal Partner of DreamWorks Studios will receive the 2012 David O. Selznick Achievement Award in Motion Pictures.
http://www.producersguild.org

January 28^th
64^th Directors Guild of America (DGA) Awards Dinner in the Grand Ballroom at Hollywood & Highland in Los Angeles. This show will not be televised but results will be available on the DGA website that evening.
DGA President Taylor Hackford announced three recipients of three special DGA Awards that recognize lifetime career achievement and extraordinary contribution to the Guild: Ed Sherin will receive the DGA’s 2012 Honorary Life Member Award, Katy Garretson will receive the 2012 Frank Capra Achievement Award and Dennis Mazzocco will receive the 2012 Franklin J. Schaffner Achievement Award.
http://www.dga.org/

January 29^th
18^th annual Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Awards will take place at the Los Angeles Shrine Exposition Center and be broadcast live on TNT and TBS. TNT at 8 p.m. (ET) / 5 p.m. (PT) An encore primetime telecast will begin immediately following on TNT at 10 p.m. (ET) / 7 p.m. (PT).  The ceremony will also be telecast internationally.  Dick Van Dyke will present the 2012 SAG Life Achievement Award to Mary Tyler Moore at the 18th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards.

Bali Conspiracy Most Foul

Exclusive interview with author Shamini Flint and a review of his latest Inspector Singh novel **** 4 Stars

By Gabrielle Pantera

HOLLYWOOD, CA (Gosh!TV) 2012/1/20 –“My dream is that my crime novels will raise awareness of and engage people in a discussion of the social, cultural and religious issues that plague Asian society,” says A Bali Conspiracy Most Foul author Shamini Flint. “The general idea behind the Inspector Singh novels is to write traditional whodunits with an Asian twist. I usually highlight at least one issue of contemporary importance, whether racial or religious issues in Malaysia, draconian laws on drugs or homosexuality in Singapore or the spectre of terrorism in Bali.”

Bali  is a wonderfully exotic locale for Flint’s second mystery with Inspector Singh. The characters and the plot drive the story equally. The overweight Singh is comparable to the detective Hercule Poirot. The differences in culture and history move the story along. The suspense kicks up a level and the ending will surprise you.

In A Bali Conspiracy Most Foul, Inspector Singh is sent to Bali after a terrorist’s bomb goes off.  Singh doesn’t quite know why he’s sent as he deals with homicides, not terrorism. The police, however, find a skull fragment at the scene that was there before the bomb went off. Joining Singh is Australian cop Bronwyn Taylor. The investigation leads them to the wealthy expat wife of the murdered man and her friends. Who killed him and how is it tied to the bomb?

“The Bali bombings of 2002 were a seminal event in Asia,” says Flint. “The island of Bali captures many of the contradictions of Asian society…economic, religious and cultural. I was determined to send Inspector Singh to Bali to investigate a murder in the aftermath of the bombings, but also to trip over all the fault lines within that society. There is no doubt that writing books that are not always complimentary about Asian society, or its political classes, does make me nervous sometimes.”

Flint is Malaysian. “Whenever I return to Malaysia and my passport gets stuck in the Autogate at the airport, I assume I’m in trouble. Fortunately, not many people in authority in Southeast Asia are big readers. Inspector Singh has received very good reviews in the international press and a few angry ones in the regional Asian papers.”

Flint says he did a lot of online research into terrorism in Southeast Asia. He was studying the roots of fanaticism, the social and cultural backdrop to suicide bombers and the ideology and methodology of terrorists. “One day, as I was trawling through the Internet, I was suddenly blocked from various sites by the Singapore authorities with a message suggesting that I was attempting to access banned material,” says Flint. “I printed out a copy of the manuscript and waited for someone to arrive to arrest me, rehearsing my excuses that I was just doing research for a book and wondering whether that’s what the terrorists usually said too.”

Flint says he doesn’t know if his novels make a difference, but that he does enjoy the process of trying to influence people. “I have an Aunt in Malaysia who recently confessed to voting for an opposition figure in a general election after fifty years of being too afraid to step out of line. Who says people can’t change?”

In his research, Flint visits the sites described in his books. “In Bali, this involved going to the bomb sites in Kuta, the hospitals and the police station in Denpasar and a bed and breakfast in the artist colony of Ubud. I knew Bali quite well before writing the book as I have family there. When writing a Singh novel, I usually read an enormous amount about the place…history, politics, geography…anything I can get my hands on really. Once I feel I have the destination in some sort of mental context, I spend a few weeks on location. I wander fairly aimlessly around the place, exploring back alleys and the quality of the beer. Inspector Singh is very fussy about that.”

Flint says there’s a lot of interest in optioning A Bali Conspiracy Most Foul. “I am really keen to see Inspector Singh in the flesh although I can’t think who might play the role.”

Flint says some of his children’s books have been short-listed for awards including the Red Dot Award and the Hedwig-Anuar Prize.

Flint’s agent is Elinor Cooper at AP Watt. “After I had found a UK publisher for the Inspector Singh novels a number of agents approached me about any further writing. Elinor was enthusiastic about my work. She is also a perfectionist so I am currently editing a stand-alone novel for the third time at her behest.”

A Bali Conspiracy Most Foul: Inspector Singh Investigates by Shamini Flint
Hardcover, 304 pages, Publisher: Minotaur Books; Reprint edition (July 19, 2011) Language: English, ISBN: 9780312596989 $ 25.99

By Gabrielle Pantera

Hip-hop artist Valet on Gosh!Radio Jan. 21st

HOLLYWOOD, CA (Gosh!TV) 2012/1/19 – Hip-hop artist Valet with hip-hop artists Kurty Durty will be the guests January 21st on Gosh!Radio Meet the Music.

“I believe my songs have a message,” says hip-hop artist Valet. “I don’t make every song for the radio. It would be unreal to act as if I never went through any struggle. I try to keep the message positive, but life is about positive and negatives so some songs have some of life’s negatives which some of us would have to do to survive.”

While Valet’s style is hip-hop as a whole, he looks for inspiration to great artists and how they created their music catalog. “Music influences me,” says Valet. “I just don’t listen to Rap all day. I might listen to some BB King and Bobby Blue Bland. thers days I might feel like listening to the O’Jays or Michael Jackson. I just love music, as well as trying to pick other artist’s brain and figure out what influenced them to write the song.”

Gosh!Radio Meet the Music host Gabrielle Pantera will be interviewing live Valet and hip-hop artist Kurty Durty. Valet released his latest album Danger Tape in August. “I have more albums in my catalog such as Park That Azz, which was a big hit in Japan, Confessions of a Hustler Movie/CD, and Bet They Hit. Kurty Durty has released the albums Hiphopology and Freak Dancin, and the single She Make It Bounce.

Meet the Music host Gabrielle Pantera

“We’re not afraid to try or speak about different subjects,” says Valet. “This is how the song Somethin Bout Them Boots came to be. Thanks Que’ A.We were trying new ideas and subjects that no one has tried yet.” The song is pop/hip-hop has a hip-hop feel to it with more beat.

“I write my own songs, but we also have a team of writers,” says Valet. “We sit down and colab. When you have three and four minds working together it’s a lot more creation that goes on. Being a hip-hop artist we are trained from the jump to write our own lyrics and songs. But later down the line is when we realize that sometimes it takes input from other writers and artists to make a song complete.”

Valet says his favorite instrument is his computer running JReason 6, my MPC and little keyboards. “Reason is really 70% of my music because it has everything I need. Almost every song that I produce myself is done with Reason. Now all Pro Tools 10 has to do is add 64bit Re-Wire and I can Re-Wire them together again.”

Performances

Hip-hop artist Kurty Durty on Gosh!Radio Jan. 21st

“I’ve preformed with big acts like Snoop Dogg and Ice Cube,” says Kurty Durty. “It was one of the greatest experiences in my life. WC spoke with us about our performance and told us a lot about the music industry. I respect those dudes for real. They gave a chance to rock with them and we weren’t even popular in our city or nothing, so basically you can say that was a big inspiration for us.”

“I’ve played all around the US. I’ve did many shows in California…mainly Hollywood…Nevada, Detroit, Texas, Indianapolis and of course Bakersfield,” says Valet. “Mostly on the West Coast. We have our sights on going overseas in 2012.” Valet has an upcoming spring tour.

“I would love to perform with Will.i.am or the Black Eyed Peas,” says Valet. “I’ve been to one of their shows and it’s like a wave of energy going back and forth from the fans to Will.i.am, from Black Eyed Peas to the fans.” Valet would also like to perform with P Diddy, Rihanna and David Williams.

Background

“I’ve been in the business for long as I can remember, a few years now,” says Valet. “Started off loadin’ speakers for a local DJ group Groove City. Been rockin the M.I.C since high school. Graduated from Musicians Institute in Hollywood.”

Valet was born in Bakersfield, California. “Bake Town is what I call it, but if you’re from there it’s the Patch. A lot of people think it’s a country town and what not, but it’s far from that. It’s a pretty decent town. A few acts came from the town, Brian Hooks, Korn, Merle Haggard, and Mathew Ryan. Also pro ball players Joey Porter, Chris Childs and Michael Stewart.”

Label and Distribution

Valet is signed to an independent label Lo-Down Entertainment/Punch Mode Productions. “It was destined the way I met the company CEO,” says Valet. “I was anxious for more knowledge in the music industry and I went to a music conference in Hollywood. I got lost and ended up
at UCLA a George Clinton concert and they let me through the gate! I had my mind so set and focused on attending the music conference that I turned around and left the concert. I finally found the right place and that’s where I met Cisco, CEO and founder of Lo-Down Entertainment.”

Valet’s Danger Tape album is distributed through CDBaby, iTunes, Amazon, and Napster. “We have all the digital outlets pumping my album,” says Valet. “Soon to be in Best Buy and Target.”

Links

• Gosh!Radio Meet the Music
• http://www.facebook.com/punchmode
• http://www.twitter.com/pkavalet
• Valet iTunes
• http://www.myspace.com/kurtydurty1
• http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/kurtydurty1
• Kurty Durty iTunes
• Kurty Durty iTunes

By Gabrielle Pantera

The Vignatis, the sound of Gypsy rockabilly, on Gosh!Radio on Saturday

HOLLYWOOD, CA (Gosh!TV) 2012/1/12 – “Sometimes a melody/hook will come to us separately and we will build around it together,” says  Bori Rani Tracy of The Vignatis. “Or, Fabrice will write a structure with a general melody and I will embellish it and add lyrics or we each write our own songs.” Boro Rye Fabrice says, “When I co-write with Tracy, I come up with a chord progression that hopefully with inspire her to come up with a great melody and then either she or I or both write the lyrics.”

Boro Rye Fabrice and Bori Rani Tracy are the Gypsy music-inspired pop singing duo The Vignatis. “We write with regard to topics from life’s struggles, childhood insecurities, love, travels and world peace,” says Fabrice. “Part of our message is for each person to become happy by becoming aware of the nature of their own lives.”

The Vignatis blends English and French vocals with Gypsy orchestration featuring acoustic guitar, clarinet, accordion and violin, swingin’ drivin’ rockin’ drum beats with modern/vintage instrumentation of electric guitar and upright slap bass as used in Rock-a-Billy. Their unique sound has the Southern twang of a honky tonk piano and pedal steel. It’s Rockabilly, Gypsy, Country and Jazz.

The Vignatis recorded their first CD, Birth of the Gypsybilly, with the rhythm section of the Brian Setzer Orchestra, featuring Bernie Dresel on drums and John “Spazz” Hatton on upright bass. They also recorded with violinist Charlie Bisharat. The Vignatis is producing a new CD now, Birth of the Gypsybilly Vol. 2.

Gypsy Jazz originated in France. It replaces drums with rhythm guitar to embrace the mobile nature of the Gypsy culture. It uses a special percussive technique of up-down strumming called “La Pompe” emphasized on beats 2 and 4. The Vignatis employ a technique they call La Pompe Renversée, emphasizing beats 1 and 3 in tandem with the bass as a musical signature. They utilize the chromatic and Gypsy scales often performed with violin and clarinet in traditional Gypsy music.

Fabrice plays guitar. “You can do everything on a guitar,” says Fabrice. “Harmony, rhythm and melody. For me, it’s a great instrument for writing.”

Tracy plays clarinet and piano. “I chose clarinet against my will in 7th grade,” says Tracy. “My mom didn’t want me to play my first choice of trumpet. She must’ve known what was best because I really connect with the clarinet and its nerdy ways.”

Fabrice and Tracy have each been singing since a very young age. Their first CD Birth of the Gypsybilly was released in February 2009 on their own label GB Music. It’s available at iTunes, Amazon and CD Baby. Their next CD will be Birth of the Gypsybilly Vol. 2.

The Vignatis has performed in Southern California and Europe. As a contemporary hybrid band, there are many different styles with which they could do a “Crossroads.” “We’d love to tour with Brad Paisley, Brian Setzer, Chris Isaak, Eric Clapton, Trace Adkins, Vince Gill, B.B. King, Zac Brown Band, Royal Crown Revue, Paris Combo, Sanseverino, Pink, Lady Gaga, Jay Z, or U2, to name a few,” says Fabrice. “What they do is so creative and true.”

Fabrice was born in France in the Alps in a little town called Aix Les Bains, known for its healing spa. Tracy was born in California. “I am an Air Force Brat so we moved here and there,” says Tracy. “I spent half of my childhood in Georgia so that’s where I get the Southern influence. Georgia is the epitome of America and I love the hospitality of the people and of course, Country music.” Animals are a passion says Tracy, who supports both Last Chance for Animals run by Chris DeRose and St. Martin’s Animal Foundation run by Sky Valencia.

Upcoming Performances

* January 17th, 7pm-8pm, Santa Monica, California, at Bar Pico (http://barpico.com/)

* January 19th to 22nd, various times, Anaheim Convention Center, at NAMM in the Legere Reeds, Ltd. booth (www.namm.org)

www.thevignatis.com

Meet the Music Live Call-in Numbers

During live broadcasts, the call-in phone lines are open. Call with questions for the show’s guests or about the music industry. There are U.S. and international phone call-in numbers. Select the best number for your area from the list below.

United States +1 559 546 1700 (California)

When prompted for conference code, enter 472737.

To calculate the correct time to tune in or call where you are, you can use this time zone converter.

International Dial-in Numbers

• Australia +61 1300 559 047
• Austria +43 (0) 1 265 05 40
• Canada +1 559 546 1800
• Czech Republic +420 225 989 140
• France +33 (0) 1 8014 0620
• Germany +49 (0) 234 543 9810
• Japan +81 3 5050 5073
• Nigeria +234 1 667 0010
• Portugal +351 21005 1191
• Romania +40 317 807 020
• South Africa +27 87 825 0190
• Spain +34 91 119 6770
• Switzerland +41 (0) 44 595 9030
• United Kingdom +44 (0) 784 843 2901

About Meet the Music

Hosted by Gabrielle Pantera, Meet the Music premiered in June of 2011. The 1-hour weekly music talk show interviews bands, singers, musicians, composers, songwriters, and music executives. The show broadcasts live worldwide at www.ustream.com/channel/goshradio and is also available through other outlets. For the schedule of upcoming shows, international call-in numbers, and to access the archives, go to www.goshradio.com.

Meet the Music is executive produced by Gabrielle Pantera and is a production of Gosh!Radio and Gosh!TV. Gosh!TV is based at the historic Raleigh Studios Hollywood lot. Many TV shows are shot at Raleigh Studios, such as ABC Castle and ABC Private Practice. For further information about Gosh!TV go to www.goshtv.com.

The World Of Downton Abbey

Exclusive interview with author Jessica Fellowes and a review of her best-selling companion book to Downton Abbey, the TV series premiering season 2 on PBS Masterpiece on January 8th **** 4 Stars

By Gabrielle Pantera

Hollywood (Gosh!TV) 2012/1/5 – “It’s been a real delight to catch a ride on the Downton Abbey train, just being caught up in the general wave of positive feeling,” says The World of Downton Abbey author Jessica Fellowes. “At signings you meet the real fans of the show and you realize just what a broad spectrum of people the series appeals to…specifically, that it manages to cross generations. Mothers say they’ve been able to sit down with their daughters for the first time in years to really enjoy something together.”

Season 2 of Downton Abbey, produced by the British production company Carnival Films and aired on England’s ITV network, premieres to great anticipation from American fans on PBS Masterpiece on January 8th. As with Pride & Prejudice, the Downton Abbey story traces the life of a family with only daughters as they attempts to find a suitable husbands, and figure out how the families way of life will survive in a world changed by war and the industrial revolution.

The World of Downton Abbey, a book featuring a behind-the-scenes look at Downton Abbey, was released in England on September 15th, 2011, where it became a #1 bestseller. It’s a mixture of history of the manor house and actor quotes. Fans of the TV series have already made the book a bestseller. The beautiful pictures make it a keepsake and very pretty on your coffee table.

The TV series is set at the fictional manor house Downton Abbey during the reign of King George V. The exterior of the house is actually Highclere Castle, residence to the Earl of Carnarvon. It was the 5th Earl with archaeologist Howard Carter who discovered the tomb of the Egyptian Pharaoh Tutankhamun. The castle was redesigned and renovated by Sir Charles Barry after he had built the Houses of Parliament. Highclere is open to the public in April, July and August. It’s home to the Egyptian Exhibit.

In researching the book, Jessica Fellowes interviewed the cast and crew for the series, as well as visiting Highclere Castle and the built set at Ealing Studios. “I talked to Julian Fellowes, the series creator and writer, as well as being my uncle. His knowledge of the time is almost unparalleled. Plus, I have always had an interest in that time, so I was already familiar with the history and the mood, if you like, from memoirs written by people who lived at the time, from both above and below stairs. There’s a surprising number of them and I’m delighted that the interest in the period generated by Downton Abbey has led to the rediscovery and republication of many of those memoirs.”

Fellowes writes books as commissions rather than as fictional ideas of her own. “HarperCollins bid for the rights to publish the official Downton Abbey companion book,” says Fellowes. “The agent who brokered the deal between them and Carnival Productions who made the series happened to mention it to my agent, they are both at PFD [Peters Fraser & Dunlop, a leading UK literary agency], that they were looking for a writer for the book. I went in to meet HarperCollins and the deal was done.”

Fellowes editor was originally Louise Stanley. “It was her idea it in the first place to do the books,” says Fellowes. “Sadly for me, but happily for her, she went on maternity leave before I had finished the first draft. So, after that I worked directly with the HarperCollins team, Louise Wedgewood, who was chiefly in charge of the design and production, and the publisher Hannah Macdonald.

Fellowes agent at PFD is Rowan Lawton. “I went to a drinks party and got chatting to a very nice man about writing,” says Fellowes. “He said his daughter was an agent and that we should meet. I don’t know many people who listen to their dad on these sorts of things but luckily Rowan does. So we met for breakfast at Soho House and within weeks she had found me a project: Is There A Psycho In Your Life?”

Fellowes says the biggest challenge writing The World of Downton Abbey was that there were so many stakeholders in the Downton Abbey brand. “I had to be careful that I kept them all happy. It’s obviously a very strong, authentic brand, with a lot of integrity and I had to ensure that every part of my process, from the research to the shortest caption, stayed true to that. Making sure that everything was completely accurate and yet keeping to the almost insanely tight deadline. We had just six months to produce the book and we were writing about the second series before they had finished filming it.”

In addition to The World of Downton Abbey, Fellowes has written two other books: Mud & the City: Dos and Don’ts for Townies in the Country (based a collection of columns she wrote for The London Paper) and Is There A Psycho In Your Life? co-written with the forensic psychologist Kerry Daynes. Her next book will be a business guide written with the co-founders of notonthehighstreet.com, Sophie Cornish and Holly Tucker.

Fellowes has been a journalist since 1999, starting at the Mail on Sunday. She became Deputy Editor of Country Life magazine and a freelancer four years ago. She’s written for many newspapers and magazines. She’s based in London, the city where she was born.

Fellowes says she’s enjoyed giving talks with Julian Fellowes, Dan Stevens who plays Matthew Crawley and Gareth Neame, the executive producer. She has events coming up, the Scarborough Literary Festival, Words by the Water, and Theatre Royal in Bath. Details available on her Amazon Author page. Her website is www.jessicafellowes.com. On Twitter she’s @jessicafellowes. She’s on Facebook, too.

Fellowes says she’s had wonderful feedback from the people who’ve read the book. The TV series has been renewed for a third season. It will start production in early 2012 and premiere on ITV in September 2012. In addition to the eight episodes of season two, there’s a Downton Abbey Christmas Special that recently aired in England.

The World of Downton Abbey by Jessica Fellowes
Hardcover, 304 pages, Publisher: St. Martin’s Press (December 6, 2011), Language: English, ISBN: 9781250006349 $ 29.99

PBS premieres Downton Abbey season 2 on January 8th

HOLLYWOOD, CA (Gosh!TV) 2012/1/5 – “Building on an exceptional fall season, we’re excited to announce a winter/spring schedule packed with an incredibly diverse line-up of programming,” says PBS President Paula A. Kerger. “This season, we continue our focus on the arts with a fresh slate of dynamic performances from legendary artists. We also are going to take an extraordinary look at America through profiles of influential figures, and fresh perspectives on our infrastructure, industry and nature. And I know I’m not the only one who’s excited about the return of favorites such as Sherlock Holmes and the Emmy Award-winning Downton Abbey. We look forward to featuring many of these shows at PBS’ portion of the TCA press tour.” PBS has almost 360 member stations, and the shows that PBS offers viewers the chance to learn new things and explore new places and enjoy their shows as a family. All the subjects that you would love to learn about are available like cooking, history, politics, science and nature. January 8 Masterpiece Classic’s Presents Downton Abbey Season 2 premiering at 9:00pm and goes for seven weeks. The much anticipated return of  Downton Abby opens as  World War I is raging across the continent and those left at home and fighting abroad try to deal with their changing lives. The case includes Hugh Bonneville, Elizabeth McGovern, Maggie Smith and Brendan Coyle. www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/downtonabbey/ January 10 American Experience about the American West 8:00pm Billy the Kid is the first in the America Experience.  And on January 18^th is Custer’s Last Stand on January 17, airing at 8:00 p.m. January 11 Nature Kangaroo Mob at 8:00 p.m. January 12 Independent Lens at 9:00 p.m. Have You Heard From Johannesburg is a five-part series following the citizens who fought to bring down the system of apartheid in South Africa. January 13 Great Performances 9:00 p.m. 90-minute Anna Deavere Smith’s one-woman show Let Me Down Easy, is a theatrical exploration of matters of the human body January 18 Inside Nature’s Giants 10:00pm As part of science and nature night on Wednesdays, PBS has a team of scientists, a comparative anatomist, an evolutionary biologist and a veterinary scientist the series searches for the secrets and tries to solve the mysteries of some of nature’s largest animals like the sperm whale, large pythons, a great white shark, a lion and a tiger. January 27 Great Performances 9:00 p.m., the 90-minute Tony Bennett: Duets II showcases the legendary singer with a diverse roster of contemporary artists including Lady Gaga, John Mayer, Michael Buble, k.d. lang, Sheryl Crow, Willie Nelson, Queen Latifah, Norah Jones, Josh Groban, Andrea Bocelli, Faith Hill, Alejandro Sanz, Carrie Underwood and the late Amy Winehouse in her last recording. February 2 Michael Feinstein’s American Songbook, Season 2 9:00 p.m., with three episodes leading viewers across America and through musical history with a variety of surprising guest stars. February 8 Nature at 8:00 p.m. Raccoon Nation, is about how human try to outwit raccoons. But are we actually doing that our are we making the Raccoon’s smarter? February 20 American Experience Clinton, on President’s Day, 9:00 to 11:00p.m., and continues Tuesday night February 21 from 8:00-10:00 p.m. the two-part special, covers  Clinton’s presidency using interviews with journalists, friends and foes. Clinton is the latest in the series for the American Experience presidential collection. Past presidents covered are Theodore Roosevelt, LBJ, FDR, and Ronald Reagan. February 24th Great Performances Premiering Memphis, 9:00-11:30 p.m. Viewers get a front row seat to Memphis, starring the original 2010 Tony Award Best New Musical winning  cast from the Broadway show. March 25th Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates, Jr. 8:00 p.m., a 10-part series Gates is a Harvard scholar leads us on the intriguing exploration of genealogy and genetics of famous Americans. History and science are almost always being combined in today’s world what better way then using it to learn the history famous Americans. A few of the celebrities family trees we explore are Kevin Bacon, (How many degrees of separation are there between him and the rest of us.), Robert Downey, Jr., Branford Marsalis, John Legend, Martha Stewart, Barbara Walters and Rick Warren, among many others.

By Gabrielle Pantera

Can't get enough Pride & Prejudice? Read the new Annotated Edition

LONDON, ENGLAND (Gosh!TV) 2012/12/24 – It’s not too late to pop into a bookstore to get a gift for a special someone or for yourself. Let’s look at a dozen great books perfect for the Anglophile or for any reader.

Historical Fiction

1. Pride and Prejudice: An Annotated Edition

Pride and Prejudice, first published in 1813,was Austen’s most popular novel during her lifetime. It was also her favorite. This version of Pride and Prejudice has gorgeous illustrations and is annotated by scholar Patricia Meyer Spacks who explains the literary and historical contexts, allusions, and outdated language that can be a bit confusing. Spacks helps the reader delve deeper into the story and characters.

Pride and Prejudice: An Annotated Edition . Author Jane Austen, Editor Patricia Meyer Spacks. Hardcover, 464 pages, Publisher: Belknap Press of Harvard University Press; Annotated edition (October 1, 2010), Language: English, ISBN: 9780674049161 $35.00

2. Persuasion: An Annotated Edition

Persuasion was originally published in 1817, after Austen’s death. Persuasion is quite introspective and more passionate that other Austen novels. The introduction for Persuasion is by scholar Robert Morrison. His notes are about the relationship between Anne Elliot and Frederick Wentworth. He also covers Austen contemporaries such as Lord Byron, Walter Scott, and Maria Edgeworth.

Persuasion: An Annotated Edition. Author Jane Austen, Editor Robert Morrison. Hardcover: 360 pages, Publisher: Belknap Press of Harvard University Press; Annotated edition (November 7, 2011), Language: English, ISBN: 9780674049741 $35.00

3. Madam Tussaud

This story of Madame Marie Tussaud starts just before the French revolution. Tussaud and her family consider themselves survivalists. They work both sides of the revolution to survive the war. Will Marie survive or will her wax figures be her only legacy?

Madam Tussaud by Michelle Moran. Hardback, 464 pages, Publisher: Crown (February 15, 2011), Language: English. ISBN: 9780307588654 $25.00 Paperback comes out Dec 7^th, 2011 $15.00

Modern Fiction

4. The Little Women Letters

Donnelly’s novel evokes the love and nurturing nature of Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women. The trials and tribulations that are inherent with families and sisters in particular are woven beautifully through out the novel. The bond between the sisters in the novel will make even those who don’t have sisters want one or two.

In The Little Women Letters, Lulu Atwater is the middle sister. She’s close to her sisters and parents, but her life isn’t going as planned…if she had a plan. Older sister Emma loves her career and is planning her wedding. Younger sister Sophie is an actress whose career is starting to take off. Fed up with dead-end jobs, Lulu realizes that she needs to get her life together. Lulu finds some old letters written by her great-great-grandmother Josephine March. Lulu gets caught up Jo’s life lesson. Can the words of her great-great-grandmother help Lulu figure out who she wants to be?

The Little Women Letters by Gabrielle Donnelly. Hardcover, 368 pages, Publisher: Touchstone (June 7, 2011), Language: English, ISBN: 9781451617184. $10.20

5. Mermaid Garden

In Mermaid Garden, ten-year-old Floriana loves the Tuscan villa that overlooks the sea just outside her small village. Sitting on the crumbling wall she looks over the garden imagining she’ll one day live there. Dante, the son of villa owner Beppe Bonfanti, invites Floriana in to look at the mermaid garden. As Floriana and Dante grow up they fall in love, but his powerful and ruthless father has the poor girl from the local village disappear. Dante is devastated. Decades later on the coast in Devon, a beautiful old country house has been turned into a hotel. Marina Turner hires Argentinean artist Rafa Santoro for the summer to teach the guests how to paint. What’s the secret to how Floriana, Dante, Marina and Rafa all connect?

Mermaid Garden, by Santa Montefiore. Hardcover, 432 pages, Publisher: Touchstone; Original edition (May 3, 2011). Language: English, ISBN: 9781451624304 $24.99

Mysteries

6. Naughty in Nice (A Royal Spyness Mystery)

Set in the 1930s, Naughty in Nice presents Lady Georgiana Rannoch, 34th in line to the throne of England. Unfortunately, her branch of the family is flat broke. It’s the Great Depression. She struggles to make her own way in a difficult world. Unwilling to marry or settle for less then love, she is determined to be an independent woman.

Naughty in Nice the fifth book in Bowen’s wonderful the Royal Spyness series. Lady Georgiana takes a trip to Nice to unobtrusively recover a snuffbox missing from Queen Mary’s collection. What more could an unmarried woman want but to escape to a warm climate during the coldest time of year in London? Jean-Paul is a sexy Frenchman who hits on Georgiana. She’s glad for the distraction when she sees her man Darcy O’Mara with another woman and child who looks like him. There are a few surprises for Georgiana in this novel. With each new novel Bowen makes the characters more enchanting. Read this novel alone or read the series in order.

Naughty in Nice (A Royal Spyness Mystery) by Rhys Bowen. Publisher: Berkley Hardcover; 1 edition (September 6, 2011), Language: English. ISBN: 9780425243497 $ 24.96

7. Where Shadows Dance: A Sebastian St. Cyr Mystery

Where Shadows Dance is set in 1812 London.  Sebastian St. Cyr, the only surviving son and heir of the Earl of Hendon, is asked by his friend, surgeon Paul Gibson, to solve a mystery. A body Gibson illegally bought from body snatchers for study has a stab wound at the base of the skull. The man was murdered. The dead man was Alexander Ross, who worked for the Foreign Office. St. Cyr and his wife to be, Hero Jarvis, work together to solve this mystery. With Napoleon invading Russia and the Americans going to war, will they find the answer without creating an international scandal?

The historical facts add to the story, such as deaths compiled by the elderly women in each parish for more than 200 years prior to 1812 called the Bills of Mortality. Harris’ descriptions draw you into 1812. The characters and characteristics of the protagonists, St Cyr and Hero Jarvis, feel a bit modern at times.

Where Shadows Dance: A Sebastian St. Cyr Mystery by C.S. Harris. Hardcover, 352 pages, Publisher: NAL Hardcover; First Edition (March 1, 2011). Language: English, ISBN: 9780451232236 $24.95

Factual

8. Scandalous Women

Scandalous Women provides succinct biographies of some of the most fascinating women in history. Their lives are revealed showing the high and low points in their lives. The chapter titles include Warrior Queens, Scintillating Seductresses, Wild Women of the West and Amazing Adventuresses. A total of 35 different women are in this book. Mohan is entertaining and even humorous at times. Whether it’s less familiar biographies like Vita Sackville-West and Emilie du Chatelet, or the ones everyone knows like Cleopatra and Eleanor of Aquitaine, the women’s lives are fascinating.

Scandalous Women, Trade Paperback, 320 pages, Publisher: Perigee Trade (March 1, 2011), Language: EnglishISBN13: 9780399536458 $15.00

9. George II: King and Elector (Part of the English Monarchs Series)

Raised in Northern Germany, George II was the last British monarch born outside Great Britain. He was also the last British monarch to lead an army in battle, participating at the Battle of Dettingen in 1743. While still the Prince of Wales he quarreled with his father, King George I, and was banned from the palace and from seeing his children. George II became king in 1727 on his father’s death. In 1745, supporters of James Stuart failed to depose the George II in the last of the Jacobite rebellions. The attempt to install a Catholic king was over.

This is not a social book describing parties, clothing or food. It describes family jealousies and gives a deeper understanding of the relationship between George II and his children. For anyone who wants to know more about George II, this is a definite must-read.

George II: King and Elector (Part of the English Monarchs Series) By Andrew Thompson Hardcover, 315 pages, Publisher: Yale University Press (June 28, 2011),Language: English, ISBN: 9780300118926 $40.00

10. The Second World War: A Military History

The Second World War is not controversial, but is thoroughly explored in nearly 700 pages. Despite the length, Corrigan’s writing is easy to read. This book is for anyone who wants to know about the conflict. It is straightforward due to the author’s dry wit and clear writing style. A historian, Corrigan compares WWII with previous wars. He’s not timid about voicing his opinion of actions during the war. Corrigan explores the different ways each country went about dealing with their part of the war. Even though there were alliances, rarely did they work together in accord. Corrigan discusses the different contributions the Americans, British and Russians made. The book presents in chronological order and moves back and forth between countries. A large portion of the book covers fighting in Asia.

The Second World War: A Military History by Gordon Corrigan . Hardcover, 672 pages, Publisher: Thomas Dunne Books (November 8, 2011), Language: English, ISBN: 9780312577094 $35.00.

11. A Thousand Times More Fair: What Shakespeare’s Plays Teach Us About Justice

Kenji Yoshino is a constitutional law professor at NYU. He compares Shakespeare’s justice against law in today’s society. Starting with Titus Andronicus, a very violent play that is all about revenge, he compares the play to America’s wars against terrorism in Iraq and Afghanistan. Is America waging a war for safety or is it an act of revenge? Yoshino examines Hamlet, Lear, The Tempest and more. If Yoshino classes are half as good as this book no wonder he’s got students vying to get in his class.

A Thousand Times More Fair: What Shakespeare’s Plays Teach Us About Justice Kenji Yoshino. Hardcover, 320 pages, Publisher: Ecco (April 12, 2011), Language: English. ISBN: 9780061769108 $26.99

12. The Time Traveler’s Guide to Medieval England

The Time Travelers Guide to Medieval England drops you in the year 1300 to learn all about how people lived, dressed, worked, the difference between the classes and anything else you wanted to know about Medieval times but were afraid to ask.

The Time Travelers Guide to Medieval England is a surprisingly engrossing read even if you don’t care about history. There are facts that will make you think about all you were taught about history and make you re-think it all. Now out in Trade paperbck.

The Time Traveler’s Guide to Medieval England: A Handbook for Visitors to the Fourteenth Century by Ian Mortimer. Hardcover, 352 pages, Publisher: Touchstone (December 29, 2009), Language: English. ISBN-13: 978-1439112892 $26.00