The John Lennon Hour

John Lennon expert and author of The John Lennon Series,http://johnlennonseries.com, Jude Southerland Kessler, will interview four of the most entertaining Beatles authors of 2015! First, Lanea Stagg of The Recipe Records Series (Recipe Records, Recipe Records: Sixties Edition, and Recipe Records: A Tribute to The Beatles) will talk about her passion for the meld of food and music. Lanea will be "food for the soul" as she shares her upcoming "Lunch and Learn" program for Beatles at Ridge, Sept. 18-19 and tells us about her new kid-dult book "Little Dog in the Sun." Then New York Times best-selling author, Richard Buskin, teams up with respected Beatles writer, Robert Rodriguez to give us an overview of their "The Beatles Southern Roots" podcast coming up on Sat. Sept. 19. As a part of their regular "Something About The Beatles" podcast series, this special program will be broadcast LIVE from "Beatles at the Ridge." Free! Finally, Sara Schmidt, successful creator of http://meethebeatlesforreal.com will give us the schoop on her panel at "Beatles at the Ridge" in which she'll interivew the people who actually met The Beatles when they landed in that small town in 1964!!! And we'll get a sneak preview of Schmidt's upcoming book about The Beatles in St. Louis! Join us for an action-packed show with four exciting, current authors who have much news to share. All four will be guests of The Beatles Symposium, "Beatles at the Ridge," Sept. 18-19 in Walnut Ridge, Arkansas. Free festival for any fan of the Fabs!  

Join Jude Southerland Kessler, author of The John Lennon Series,http://www.johnlennonseries.com as she takes you on a quick 45-min. tour of Beatles at the Ridge, the FREE Beatles festival coming up in Walnut Ridge, AR, Sept. 18 and 19. You'll get to meet 3 of the authors and artists who are volunteering to make this a wonderful, informative, and Beatlesque weekend! First, meet famed musician (he's played with Paul McCartney and Bo Diddley), Anthony Robustelli, whose book I Want to Tell You: The Definitive Guide to the Music of The Beatles, 1962-63 is one of the best books written on the complete catalogu from that era (cover songs included!). Anthony will tell you about the "Multi-Track Meltdown" he'll be doing at The Ridge...and taking requests! Then, Dr. Kit O'Toole, Contributing Editor of Beatlefan magazine, will share her special insights on Beatles music from her new book, Songs We Were Singing! And she'll give us a sneak peek of her BATR presentation, "Beatles Sounds That Changed the World 2.0"! She'll also make 2 BIG ANNOUNCEMENTS! Finally, reknown Louisiana artist Rande Kessler, will talk about the 4 mediums in which he has captured the spirit of The Beatles for The Ridge: photography, pen and ink art, charcoal sketches, and his gorgeous mixed media sculptures of each Beatle! Coool stuff. Don't miss this great show!

Join Dr. Kit O'Toole (author of Songs We Were Singing) Jude Southerland Kessler, author of The John Lennon Serieshttp://www.johnlennonseries.com  as they discuss John Lennon's political protest anthems. They'll exmaine 4 of John's impactful solo creations and pose the question: Are these songs righteous or rubbish? What makes a successful protest anthem? And did John hit or miss the mark? Find out when Kit and Kaboodle (Jude) get together for an hour of informational and fun debate.

When Rebeat magazine asked host Jude Southerland Kessler (http://www,johnlennonseries.com) to select the 10 "Best of the Fest for Beatles Fans 2015," she was a little daunted! ONLY TEN? It was hard to do with live bands, scores of Beatles experts and authors, panel discussions, Beatles yoga, Beatles recipe demos and tastings, "happenings" in the Faboratory, trivia contests, art displays, and SO much more!!! But on this show, Jude will attempt to nail down the 10 most exciting things to see and do at the Chicago Fest for Beatles Fans, Aug. 14-16 at the Hyatt Regency O'Hare! Count up with her from #10 to #1, and then mark your calender to see them all in person in just 8 days! The Chicago Fest for Beatles fans really IS the place where "a splendid time is guaranteed for all!" Jude will see you there for her 3 lives presentations and book signing in the Marketplace.

Join host Jude Southerland Kessler as she gives you a sneak peek of her upcoming book, Vol. 4 in The John Lennon Series, Should Have Known Better. Taking you on a journey through John Lennon's life (and The Beatles' lives) from 1 March 1964 to the end of December 1965, Should Have Known Better will bring to life the struggles and joys of Beatlemania. The making of "A Hard Day's Night" and "Help," the release of the "Hard Day's Night" Soundtrack," the "Help!" soundtrack and "Rubber Soul," and the World Tour of 1964 coupled with the 1964 and 1965 North American Tours...these were the years that tried the boys' souls! Fame was demanding its pound of flesh from each member of The Beatles entourage in the mid-Sixties, but once in a rare while, the boys slipped away for a quiet weekend. THIS is one such weekend. Enjoy! And order Vols. 1-3 in The John Lennon Series at http://www.johnlennonseries.com

At the request of Rebeat magazine (http://www.rebeatmag.com), author Jude Southerland Kessler was asked to preview the 2015 Fest for Beatles Fans and select the 10 BEST things to see, do, hear, and experience when the fest commences Aug. 14-16 at the Hyatt Regency O'Hare. After much deliberation Kessler chose the most exciting events from the Main Stage, Marketplace, Faboratory, and discussion/AV rooms to share with you tonight!!! Join her to meet the STARS of the upcoming Beatles weekend...stars such as Jim Berkendstadt (author of The Beatle Who Vanished), Lanea Stagg (author of the Recipe Records Series...3 cookbooks combining rock'n'roll with a passion for food), Dr. Kit O'Toole (author of the NEW BEATLES BOOK, Songs We Were Singing...premiering at the fest), and Susan Ryan (fest moderator for the Women Historians' Panel and tour guide for FabFourNYCWalkingTours). Count up from #10 right up to @#1 with Kessler, and enjoy the trek! Check out Kessler's John Lennon Series at http://www.johnlennonseries.com

Part Two of our discussion with Beatles experts and authors Chuck Gunderson (Some Fun Tonight: How The Beatles Rocked America: The Historic North American Tours), Al Sussman (Changin' Times: 101 Days That Changed a Generation), Bruce Spizer (The Beatles on Capitol Records, expanded version on e-books and many more great books!), and Andrew Jackson (1965: The Most Revolutionary Year in Music)! We will be looking at the impact of Beatlemania and current events on The Beatles during this harried year..and examining the ways in which The Beatles changed the world at large during this time of change and upheaval.  At 8:20 p.m. we'll be taking YOUR CALLS at 646-668-2641 about 1965 in general and about The Beatles specifically. You'll get to ask anyone on our panel...or all of us! Join in the fun and call!             W

Was 1965 The Beatles zenith year? Or was it an unbearable drudge? Beatles experts and authors Chuck Gunderson (Some Fun Tonight: The Backstage Story of How The Beatles Rocked America, The Historic North American Tours), Al Sussman (Changin' Times: 101 Days That Shaped a Generation), Bruce Spizer (The Beatles are Coming! and The Beatles on Capitol Records and many more!) and Andrew Grant Jackson (1965: The Most Revolutionary Year in Music) will be here to chat with host Jude Southerland Kessler (author of The John Lennon Series, http://www.johnlennonseries.com They will examine the hectic diary of The Beatles in '65...their successes and the events that began the gradual unraveling of the thread holding the Fab Four together. Films, LP's, tours, television and radio shows, interviews...all of it added up to one whirlwind success, and one near-collapse for John, Paul, George, and Ringo!

July is "Chicago Fest for Beatles Fans" month as we prepare for the big celebration at the Hyatt Regency O'Hare on Aug. 14-16. And one of the biggest guests of the Fest will be George Harrison's sister, Louise! Here she talks with John Lennon expert, Jude Southerland Kessler, author of The John Lennon Series (http://www.johnlennonseries.com) about the early days of The Beatles when Louise went radio station to radio station promoting the fledgling group. Here of her exciting days with George during the first American visit in Feb. 1964 and of her closeknit releationship with her brother as the years moved along.  

In Episode #3 of the highly popular Kit and Kaboodle show, Beatles/rock music critic, Dr. Kit O'Toole and Jude Southerland Kessler, author of The John Lennon Series (http://www.johnlennonseries.com) discuss why The Beatles failed The Decca Audition on New Year's Day 1962. Kit will consider each song the Fab Four played - the strengths and weaknesses, and Kaboodle (Jude) will analyze the physchological/personality factors that entered into the mix that wintry day in London. The Beatles were rejected by Decca...but why? Could things have ended differently? And whose fault was it that the lads walked awy empty-handed? That's tonight's topic. Then, after the show, join Kit and Kaboodle for the After Party, also on The John Lennon Hour from 10:05-11:00 p.m. ET. The link for that show is:      he After Party is YOUR chance to call in and agree or disagree, express your own opinion about the audition, and chime in. We want to hear from you! 646-668-2641.    

Our show tonight will be dedicated to Dennis Ferrante. Please join us at the top of the hour for a tribute to this lovely man. Rest in peace, Dennis. Shine on. Then...pop culture historian and author of 2 fab-tastic books on The #Beatles, Dave Schwensen, will be joining Jude Southerland Kessler of The John Lennon Series http://www.johnlennonseries.com for an hour of fascinating info on discoveries made while he was writing The Beatles at Shea Stadium and The Beatles in Cleveland! How did the ban on rock'n'roll concerts get lifted in Cleveland? Were The Beatles in danger at Shea? What did Brian Epstein require up front if you wanted to book his boys for your event? These answers and more on Dave's frank and interesting show! Join Jude and Dave...and enjoy!

No one knows Beatles' music like author and Beatles expert, Bruce Spizer!!! His numerous books (including The Beatles Are Coming!, The Beatles' Swan Song, and many others) tell the complete story of the Fab Four - their singles and LP's. Invited to create the questions for "The Beatles Trivial Pursuit Game" because of his extensive knowledge of the lads' songbook, Spizer is a Beatles-effin-pedia of their musical facts, history, and trivia. In this episode, Lennon expert, Jude Southerland Kessler (author of The John Lennon Series http://www.johnlennonseries.com) will talk with Bruce about his brand new digital book, The Beatles on Capitol Records, Vol. 1, revised. This book - formerly in physical form - has been vasttly expanded to include new photo images and new information, and Spizer will give Beatles aficianodos a glimpse of this essential volume for informed fans. Funny, witty, and oh-so-smart, Bruce Spizer will delight listeners of all ages!

Tonight, YOU will have the chance to ask one of America's most informed and articulate Beatles experts your question on The Beatles during The Beatlemania Years (late 1963-end of 1965). Jonathan Gould, revered author of Can't Buy Me Love: The Beatles, Britain, and America will return for part 2 of his chat about the Fab Four. Last time Gould was on our program, we weren't able to go live and let you talk with him person-to-person, but tonight is YOUR SHOW...ask anything about John, Paul, George, Ringo, Brian, the music, EMI, George Martin..."Help" or "Hard Day's Night!" Go for it! Call 646-668-2641 at 9:30 p.m. ET tonight! What a great opportunity to hear from one of our greatest American Beatles gurus!      

John Lennon's vivacious, witty, and wonderful sound engineer at the Record Plant, Dennis Ferrante, stopped by the studio to talk with Jude Southerland Kessler the week after the passing of the lovely Cynthia Lennon. And in the sad events of that week, his interview (which is AMAZING and so funny! and so honest!!!) didn't get the attention it deserved. Many of you have mentioned that you missed it and would like to have it re-run. So, here it is! Grab a Coke or a cuppa and settle in. Dennis will delight you from the moment he starts speaking until the hour ends (too soon for my taste). He is brilliant!

Tonight our host, Jude Southerland Kessler, author of http://www.johnlennonseries.com will have the joy of talking to John Lennon's boyhood friend, Michael Hill. Michael attended Dovedale Primary in Woolton with John, and later, QuarryBank Grammar with both John and Pete Shotton! His stories are incredible... and not the same tired tales you've heard a dozen times! Michael is the author of a brand new book: John Lennon, The Boy Who Became a Legend, and it is fascinating! In fact, Michael proposes a new story about the event that "hooked" John on rock'n'roll. Don't miss this exciting new info for Beatles fans!