Pacific Coast Radio

12/29/2025

Happy 79th Birthday to Edgar Winter
He is a highly influential American multi-instrumentalist, singer, and songwriter known for blending rock, jazz, blues, and soul.

He is recognized for his virtuosity on the keyboards, saxophone, and percussion, as well as for his high-energy live performances.

He was the younger brother of the late blues-rock legend Johnny Winter. Both brothers were born with albinism and were legally blind.

He is best known for the 1973 #1 instrumental hit “Frankenstein” and the classic rock staple “Free Ride”.

Winter achieved significant commercial success in the 1970s, particularly with The Edgar Winter Group.

Winter is credited with inventing the keyboard body strap (keytar prototype), which allowed him to move freely around the stage while playing.

He has performed with various ensembles, including Edgar Winter’s White Trash and has been a frequent member of Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band.

Beyond his own hits, he has played saxophone for icons such as Meat Loaf (“All Revved Up with No Place to Go”), Tina Turner (“Simply the Best”), and David Lee Roth.

12/28/2025

Happy 74th Birthday to Karla Bonoff
She is a highly influential American singer-songwriter, widely regarded as a pioneer of the Southern California singer-songwriter scene. While she has released several solo albums, she is perhaps most celebrated for writing timeless ballads that became massive hits for other legendary artists.

Bonoff’s songs helped define the sound of the 1970s and 80s, particularly through her close association with Linda Ronstadt.

Ronstadt recorded several of Bonoff’s classics, including “Someone to Lay Down Beside Me,” “Lose Again,” and “If He’s Ever Near”.

The Bonoff-penned duet, “All My Life”, recorded by Linda Ronstadt and Aaron Neville, won a Grammy Award for Best Pop Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group in 1990.

Her songs have also been covered by Bonnie Raitt (“Home”), Wynonna Judd (“Tell Me Why”), and Lynn Anderson (“Isn’t It Always Love”).

As a recording artist, Bonoff is known for her expressive, moving vocals. Her 1982 single “Personally” became a Top 20 hit on the Billboard Hot 100.

Bonoff remains an active performer, often appearing with longtime collaborator Nina Ge**er. She has a robust touring schedule extending into mid-2026, with upcoming shows across the United States:

12/28/2025

Happy 47th Birthday to John Legend
He is a prolific American singer, songwriter, and pianist who became the first Black man to achieve the prestigious EGOT status (winning an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony).

He gained early recognition playing piano for Lauryn Hill and collaborating with Kanye West. His debut album, Get Lifted (2004), featured the hit single “Ordinary People” and won three Grammy Awards.

His 2013 ballad “All of Me,” dedicated to his wife, became one of the best-selling digital singles of all time, reaching #1 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Beyond 12 Grammy wins, he won an Oscar for “Glory” from the film Selma (2015), a Tony for producing Jitney (2017), and an Emmy for producing Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert (2018).

Legend has been a staple coach on the reality competition series The Voice since 2019.

12/26/2025

Perry Bamonte, Guitarist and Keyboardist for The Cure, Dies at 65

The Cure confirms Bamonte died "after a short illness at home over Christmas" in a statement on their official website on Friday, Dec. 26.

Bamonte first became involved with The Cure as a part of the band's road crew in 1984 and later as the guitar technician and personal assistant for Robert Smith.

In 1990, after keyboardist Roger O'Donnell left the band, Bamonte joined as a full-time member, playing both guitar and keyboards, as well as bass and percussion on occasion.

Bamonte was a member of The Cure from 1990 to 2005, and contributed to several of the band’s significant releases, including 𝘞𝘪𝘴𝘩 (1992), 𝘞𝘪𝘭𝘥 𝘔𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘚𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 (1996), 𝘉𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘥𝘧𝘭𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘴 (2000), and the self-titled 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘊𝘶𝘳𝘦 (2004).

After being dismissed in 2005, Bamonte was the bassist for the supergroup Love Amongst Ruin, appearing on their 2015 album 𝘓𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘞𝘢𝘺. He also pursued a career as an illustrator and was the artistic director for the magazine 𝘍𝘭𝘺 𝘊𝘶𝘭𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦.

In 2019, he was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as a member of The Cure.

Bamonte unexpectedly rejoined the group in 2022 for their "Shows of a Lost World" tour, performing another 90 shows through late 2024.

His final live performance with the band took place on November 1, 2024, at London's Troxy.

12/26/2025

Remembering Teena Marie
She was a trailblazing American singer, songwriter, and producer often referred to as the "Ivory Queen of Soul." Renowned for her powerful soprano vocals and multi-instrumental talents, she was one of the few white artists to achieve significant success and deep respect within the R&B and soul genres.

Her discography includes 14 studio albums and massive R&B staples such as:

"Square Biz" (1981) – A pioneering track where she famously rapped.

"Lovergirl" (1984) – Her biggest pop crossover hit, peaking at #4 on the Billboard Hot 100.

"Ooo La La La" (1988) – A #1 R&B hit famously sampled by the Fugees for "Fu-Gee-La."

Signed to Motown in 1976, she was mentored by funk legend Rick James. Their chemistry led to iconic collaborations like the duet "I'm a Sucker for Your Love" (1979) and the legendary live performance of "Fire and Desire" (1981).

Following a legal battle with Motown in the early 1980s, she helped establish a landmark legal precedent often called the "Teena Marie Law." This law prevents record labels from keeping an artist under contract without releasing their new material.

She was the godmother to Maya Rudolph (daughter of Minnie Riperton) and Nona Gaye (daughter of Marvin Gaye).

Teena Marie passed away at the age of 54 on December 26, 2010, at her home in Pasadena. The coroner ruled her death was due to natural causes, potentially related to seizures she had suffered since a head injury in 2004.

In 2023, she won a posthumous Grammy for co-writing Beyoncé's "Cuff It," which sampled her work.
(March 5, 1956 – December 26, 2010)

12/25/2025

Remembering Shane MacGowan
He was a British-born Irish singer, songwriter, and poet, widely celebrated as the primary lyricist and frontman of the Celtic punk band The Pogues. He is best known for fusing traditional Irish folk with the energy of punk rock, creating vivid and often gritty portraits of the Irish immigrant experience.

MacGowan was highly literary, influenced from a young age by authors like James Joyce and Brendan Behan.

Known for his heavy drinking and drug use, his physical decline was well-documented, including the loss (and 2015 surgical replacement) of his teeth and his later reliance on a wheelchair following a broken pelvis.

In 2018, he received a lifetime achievement award from the President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins, for his contribution to Irish culture.

He married his long-term partner, journalist Victoria Mary Clarke, in 2018 in Copenhagen.

He passed away on November 30, 2023, in Dublin at age 65 from pneumonia, shortly after being treated for viral encephalitis.
(December 25, 1957 – November 30, 2023)

12/25/2025

Steve Perry voted "Favorite Rock Singer of All Time" in recent Billboard Poll

Perry’s win was decisive, showing strong fan affection for his vocal talent with Journey.

Billboard readers voted Journey’s Steve Perry their favorite rock singer of all time, securing a massive 67% of votes.

Renowned for his soaring tenor range and nicknamed “The Voice,” Perry’s distinctive vocals powered classic hits such as “Don’t Stop Believin’,” “Open Arms,” and “Faithfully”.

Ann Wilson, Robert Plant, Paul McCartney, and Axl Rose also appeared in the top ranks, showcasing a mix of classic and modern rock icons.

The top 10 rock singers from the 2025 Billboard reader poll are:

1. Steve Perry (Journey)

2. Hayley Williams (Paramore)

3. Freddie Mercury (Queen)

4. Stevie Nicks (Fleetwood Mac)

5. Chester Bennington (Linkin Park)

6. Ann Wilson (Heart)

7. Robert Plant (Led Zeppelin)

8. Paul McCartney (The Beatles)

9. Axl Rose (Guns N' Roses)

10. Kurt Cobain (Nirvana)

This reader poll differs from Billboard's 2023 editorial list of the "50 Greatest Rock Lead Singers," which famously ranked Mick Jagger at #1.

12/25/2025

Remembering James Brown
He was a towering figure of 20th-century music, widely hailed as the "Godfather of Soul" and the primary architect of funk music.
Brown was renowned for his athletic, high-energy stage performances, earning him the title "The Hardest Working Man in Show Business".

Born into extreme poverty in Barnwell, South Carolina, Brown’s life was marked by both legendary success and significant personal turmoil, including several arrests and legal battles.

He rose to fame in the mid-1950s with The Famous Flames, scoring hits like "Please, Please, Please" and "Try Me".

His 1965 hit "Papa’s Got a Brand New Bag" is cited as one of the first funk songs. He solidified this sound with tracks like "Cold Sweat" (1967) and "Get Up (I Feel Like Being a) S*x Machine" (1970).

In 1968, he released the anthem "Say It Loud – I’m Black and I’m Proud," which became a defining track for the Civil Rights and Black Power movements.

Over a career spanning six decades, he transformed rhythm and blues into soul and later into the rhythmically driven, stripped-down aesthetic of funk, which became the foundational DNA for hip-hop. His stripped-down, rhythmically driven style has also influenced many genres of world music, including reggae and Afrobeat.

One of the first ten inductees into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (1986), he also received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award (1992) and the Kennedy Center Honors (2003).

He died on Christmas Day, 2006, from congestive heart failure resulting from pneumonia. His complex estate remained in legal dispute for 16 years, only reaching a final settlement in 2022.
(May 3, 1933 – December 25, 2006)

12/25/2025

12/25/2025

Remembering Jimmy Buffett
He was an iconic American singer-songwriter, author, and businessman who became a global symbol of "island escapism". Over a career spanning six decades, he crafted a unique "Gulf and Western" musical style—a blend of country, rock, folk, and calypso that celebrated a laid-back coastal lifestyle.

Buffett is best known for his signature hit "Margaritaville" (1977), which became a cultural phenomenon and part of "The Big 8" songs he performed at nearly every concert.

The Big 8 Hits were "Margaritaville," "Come Monday," "Fins," "Volcano," "A Pirate Looks at Forty," "Cheeseburger in Paradise," "Why Don't We Get Drunk," and "Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes".

His exceptionally devoted fanbase, known for wearing Hawaiian shirts and tropical gear to his high-energy, "tailgate-style" concerts.

Buffett successfully parlayed his musical persona into a massive business empire, estimated at a net worth of over $1 billion at the time of his death.

Beyond music, Buffett was a best-selling author, reaching number one on the New York Times best-seller lists for both fiction (Where Is Joe Merchant?) and non-fiction (A Pirate Looks at Fifty).

He was also an avid pilot and sailor, and he actively supported environmental causes, co-founding the Save the Manatee Club in 1981.

Jimmy Buffett passed away on September 1, 2023, at age 76, following a four-year battle with Merkel-cell carcinoma, a rare and aggressive skin cancer. His final studio album, Equal Strain on All Parts, was released posthumously in November 2023 and featured the poignant single "Bubbles Up".

He was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2024 for Musical Excellence.
(December 25, 1946 – September 1, 2023)

12/25/2025

Happy 86th Birthday to Bob James
He is a Grammy-winning American jazz keyboardist, composer, and producer. He is often referred to as the "Godfather of Smooth Jazz".

His early tracks, particularly "Nautilus" and "Take Me to the Mardi Gras," are among the most sampled in hip-hop history by artists such as Run DMC, Nas, and Missy Elliott.

James was discovered by Quincy Jones in 1962 and released his debut album, Bold Conceptions, in 1963.

He is best known for writing "Angela," the theme song for the TV sitcom Taxi.

In the 1990s, he co-founded the successful smooth jazz supergroup Fourplay with Lee Ritenour, Nathan East, and Harvey Mason.

He released a collaborative album titled Just Us with saxophonist Dave Koz in March 2025. The project has received a Grammy nomination for Best Contemporary Instrumental Album.

He is currently on the "Just Us Tour" with Dave Koz, performing across the United States, including recent stops in cities like Louisville.

12/25/2025

Remembering George Michael
He was a legendary English singer-songwriter, record producer, and philanthropist who became one of the best-selling music artists of all time, with over 115 million records sold worldwide. Known for his soulful vocals and masterful songwriting, he first rose to fame in the 1980s as half of the pop duo Wham! before launching a monumental solo career.

In 1991, he formed with Andrew Ridgeley. The duo produced hits like "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go," "Club Tropicana," and the seasonal staple "Last Christmas".

His 1987 debut solo album, Faith, won the Grammy for Album of the Year and produced four U.S. number-one singles: "Faith," "Father Figure," "One More Try," and "Monkey".

His Later albums like Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1 (1990) and Older (1996) showcased a more mature, soul-influenced sound.

Michael came out as gay in 1998 and became a prominent campaigner for LGBTQ rights and HIV/AIDS charities.

He was known for quiet, extensive philanthropy, including donating royalties from "Last Christmas" to famine relief and making substantial anonymous donations to individuals in need.

He died on Christmas Day 2016 at age 53 from heart disease (dilated cardiomyopathy with myocarditis and fatty liver).

In 2023, he was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

As of 2025, his classic "Careless Whisper" continues to be voted a top favorite song in the UK.
(June 25, 1963 – December 25, 2016)