#dannykortchmar

Kootch tells the story of how his and Don Henley’s monster hit, Dirty Laundry was born, how his and Jackson Browne’s, Somebody’s Baby was birthed, and how Running On Empty was recorded Live. This legendary guitar hero, songwriter, and producer, who’s been integral to more hits with more iconic artists than just about anyone I can think of, shared about all of them… James (or Jamie as he calls him), Taylor, Carole King, Linda Ronstadt, the aforementioned Don Henley, and Jackson Browne. Kootch talked about his first producing gig - Louise Goffin, and the killer band he put together for her, which included Steve Lukather and Kenny Aaronoff, saying he learned from observing Peter Asher, who produced so many of the albums Kootch played on. He talked about producing Jon Bon Jovi, Toto, and Billy Joel, and the controversy that surrounded that gig. We got a few of his favorite memories through the years, and his shattering heartbreak, losing Lisa Roy, the love of his life, the sad for fans, and the boys themselves, seeming end of his dream band, The Immediate Family, both leading to his leaving LA and relocating to Rhode Island to be near his blood family. We got the hows and whys with little hope of resurrection. We also got his newfound joy playing with his new band, The Back Burners, whom I can’t wait to hear. The band features frontman Rocco DeRosa, Marty Ballou on bass, Vinny Pagano on drums, and Joel Latulippe on harmonica. A departure for Danny, it’s groove-driven soul and blues. Playing small clubs in the thriving local music scene and preparing to record, Kootch is feeling at home with his new band and his new digs. 

I've been blessed to know Kootch for some years. Thanks to Steve Postell, Danny played at my book launch for Don’t Jump almost a decade ago. He was a pretty serious man of few words for most of the time I knew him. Thanks to Lisa and the bliss of banding with Leland Sklar, Russ Kunkle, his fellow mates of The Section, 50 or so years in the playing, and Waddy Wachtel, whom he’s gigged with for almost as long, as well as Steve Postell, with whom he’s done innumerable projects in more recent years, and appearing in the Denny Tedesco award-winning documentary about them, Kootch was lighter, brighter, and happier than I’d seen him. I hope this move eases recent losses and brings creative and personal fulfillment. I also hold hope that we’ll see Kootch, Lee, Russ, Waddy, and Steve reunited, someday in some way. 

Danny, thanks for your enormous contribution to the soundtrack of my youth. 

Danny Kortchmar Live on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson

Wed, February 18th, 5 pm PT, 8 pm ET

Streamed Live on my FB, YouTube & LinkedIn

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I've been blessed to know Daniel Kortchmar for some years. Thanks to Steve Postell, Danny played at my book launch for Don’t Jump in 2015. I’ve been additionally blessed to have seen, heard, and witnessed him play many times over the years... James Taylor, Carole King, Jackson Browne, Linda Ronstadt... to name but some... the iconic songs I know every word to, Somebody's Baby, All She Wants To Do Is Dance, Dirty Laundry, oh come on! The list goes on, and on… from The Section to The Immediate Family and his new band, The Back Burners, which I can’t wait to hear about. Featuring Kootch on lead guitar and frontman Rocco DeRosa, Marty Ballou on bass, Vinny Pagano on drums, and Joel Latulippe on harmonica. Together, they deliver a groove-driven, soulful take on the American blues tradition, full of dynamic interplay and the kind of spontaneity that only happens live. Oh, to be a fly in that room! 

Since first meeting Danny, whom I don’t think said 2 words to me in ten years, he let his guitar do the talking. This Danny is kinder, gentler, and oh, so fun. The last time we sat down, he was brilliantly entertaining, and we heard a few previously undocumented firsts.  He told us about his early teenage friendship that would change his life with Jamie, as Kootch calls James Taylor––their lifelong friendship, musical collaboration, how it started, and why it ended. Meeting, working, and loving Peter Asher, Lou Adler, Carole King, Russ Kunkel, Leland Sklar, Waddy Wachtel, Linda Ronstadt, and Jackson Browne. The story behind Somebody’s Baby. We talked about his extensive, successful producing career, including Jon Bon Jovi, Billy Joel, Toto, and his extensive collaboration with Don Henley, the good and tough of it. There are no endings with Kootch. Once family, always family. He remains close to all of them. I look forward to updates, as well as hearing about why he chose to move east, the state of the great, Immediate Family, the supergroup he founded with Leland Sklar, Waddy Wachtel, Russ Kunkel, and Steve Postell. 

One of my favorite artists who’s becoming one of my favorite people, can’t wait to ketchup! 

Danny Kortchmar Live on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson

Wed, February 18th, 5 pm PT, 8 pm ET

Streamed Live on my FB, YouTube & LinkedIn

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Kootch! Worth waiting for! Timing is everything, and his was perfect. It’s taken years to get Danny Kortchmar alone in the Game Changers guest seat, having paid us a couple of previous visits with his Immediate Family brothers. This Danny is kinder, gentler, and oh, so fun. He’s been leaning more and more in this direction to my view since falling in love with Lisa Roy, even after surviving the devastating loss of her life. She was the love of his, and it appears she did him a world of lasting good. Danny will be the first to admit he can be serious and… cranky. No sign of that guy this evening… just great stories of some of the greatest musicians of our time, from one of them, all wonderfully, entertainingly, told. We may have even heard a few previously undocumented firsts… starting as a kid discovering early rock ’n roll, to very soon playing it, summering on Martha’s Vineyard, and the early teenage friendship that would change his life. Jamie, as Kootch calls James Taylor, who talked him into some questionable behavior, then blamed him, classic! Not something I’d imagine or associate with sweet baby James. Their lifelong friendship, their musical collaboration, how it started, and why it ended. Meeting, working, and loving Peter Asher, Lou Adler, Carole King, Russ Kunkel, Leland Sklar, Waddy Wachtel, Linda Rondstadt, and Jackson Browne. The story behind Somebody’s Baby. We talked about his extensive successful producing career (although he has a caveat which was fascinating to hear) - including Jon Bon Jovi, Billy Joel, Toto, and his extensive collaboration with Don Henley, the great and the tough of it. There are no endings with Kootch. Once family, always family. He remains close to all of them. And speaking of family, Danny spoke to the birth, development, and current state of affairs of The Immediate Family, his beloved creation. His frustration with the pandemic’s impact and the conflicting work schedules of his brothers doesn’t dampen his passion for their new album yet to drop, and their soon-to-be-released brilliant Denny Tedesco documentary, Immediate Family. There is remorse that Waddy Wachtel’s commitment as Stevie Nick’s musical director, a position he’s held for 25 years will keep him from 5 scheduled live shows, but Danny did drop some news… The Cars Elliot Easton will be jumping in for those shows, certainly softening the blow. 

This time with Danny was a joyous romp through the musical soundtrack of so much of my life. His songs, and his playing, are forever etched in my heart and soul. The man sure do know how to rock ’n roll. Good God!

Danny Kortchmar Live on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson

Wed, August 16th, 5 pm PT, 8 pm ET

Streamed Live on The Facebook

Replay here:

Today, Live, KOOTCH!!! It's been a long time coming! The founding brother and he last of The Immediate Family to jump. Well, technically, he has done the show twice with said brothers. This time we fly solo.

I've been blessed to know Daniel Kortchmar for some years, thanks to Steve Postell, he played at my book launch in 2015, more blessed to have seen, heard, and witnessed him play many many times over the years... James Taylor, Carole King, Jackson Browne, Linda Ronstadt... to name but some... the iconic songs I know every word to, Somebody's Baby, All She Wants To Do Is Dance, Dirty Laundry, oh come on! The list goes on, and on… from The Section to The Immediate Family and everything in between, nobody rocks like Kootch. And speaking of which, their Denny Tedesco doc, The Immediate Family, is brilliant, an entertaining triumph, and will soon be in a theatre near you. And, he smiles now! This is gonna be epic! 

Danny Kortchmar Live on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson

Wed, August 16th, 5 pm PT, 8 pm ET

Streaming Live on The Facebook

Whaddya get when you put 5 rock icons and a rockstar filmmaker together on a Zoom screen… besides a ridiculously hip Brady Brunch, Hollywood totally not Squares scene? Nirvana - sans Kurt.  Sitting down with The Immediate Family, Danny Kortchmar (Kootch), Leland Sklar, Waddy Wachtel, Russell Kunkel, and Steve Postell, plus documentarian, Denny Tedesco, could have been a chaotic mess, instead. like the brilliance that pervades their music and art, the time flew like smooth jazz, only more like great rock ’n roll… cause that’s way more fun. 

We talked current events, their upcoming album, tentatively titled, The Best Record Ever Made, the one cover they’ve covered, to be the first single, their hitting the festivals now documentary, Immediate Family, featuring James Taylor, Keith Richards, Jackson Browne, Linda Ronstadt, Carole King, and Stevie Nicks, to name some, touring in real-time, with Lyle Lovett and Stevie Nicks, and the toll COVID is taking, upcoming shows in Los Angeles at all the Canyon Clubs in November (for the dates, ask Steve), how they first assembled 50 years ago, became The Section, and how they reassembled, added Steve and became The Immediate Family. Denny gave us insights into the making of the movie, and the boys tossed out favorite parts. 

For anyone who grew up with or now listens to rock ’n roll, these players define the music of our generation. Pretty much every record in heavy rotation on my turntable through the years was graced with their genius. And now, the brothers come together front and center, featuring not only the hits they helped create, but new songs that will no doubt blaze a similar trail. They rock like hell and together they may just be the best rock ’n roll band any of them has ever been a part of. 

Check out the doc preview: https://immediatefamilyfilm.com/

I can’t wait for the thing. I love these guys so damn much as people and as artists. Still flying from the time spent in their collective good company, and I haven’t boarded a plane in 3 years. Long live rock!

The Immediate Family Live on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson

Wednesday, 9/14/22, 5 pm PT, 8 pm ET

Streamed  Live on my Facebook 

Replay here:

Today! Live @5 - Iconic musicians with history, and for the fun of it, I've got some history with some of them, as well. The Immediate Family, oft known as The Section, has played with pretty much every artist I've seen Live and played on most of the albums I've listened to throughout my life. Iconic barely begins to describe the legacy of Danny Kortchmar (Kootch), Leland Sklar, Waddy Wachtel, Russell Kunkel, and my 35+ yrs long friend, more recent addition, Steve Postell. Together now, front and center themselves, first with the music they created with, and for others, and now with new music and The Denny Tedesco documentary Immediate Family, winning festivals and soon to drop, they're doing what they love, loving it, in each other's great company. Happiness is... 

The Immediate Family can be heard on albums from Jackson Browne, James Taylor, Linda Ronstadt, Stevie Nicks, Keith Richards, Warren Zevon, Graham Nash, Neil Young, David Crosby, and many, many, many more. Kortchmar, Sklar, and Kunkel have worked together since the early 70s and made up three-quarters of The Section, best known for both their studio and live work in support of some of the top-selling singer/songwriters and solo singers in the history of music, as well as their own acclaimed instrumental albums. (By the mid-70s, they were later joined by Wachtel). Collectively, these musicians helped define the sound of a generation. Talkin' 'but my generation.

Danny Kortchmar’s credits as guitarist, producer, songwriter, and session musician include work with James Taylor, Don Henley, Carole King, Linda Ronstadt, Jackson Browne, and Billy Joel, among many others. As a songwriter, Kortchmar has both written alone or collaborated with numerous artists, penning indelible tracks such as Don Henley’s “Dirty Laundry,” “All She Wants to Do Is Dance,” and “New York Minute,” as well as Jackson Browne’s “Somebody’s Baby” and “Shaky Town,” to name a few.

Legendary guitarist, producer, and songwriter Waddy Wachtel has worked with many of the same artists as Kortchmar, as well as artists like the Rolling Stones, Keith Richards, Stevie Nicks, Randy Newman, Bryan Ferry, and the late Warren Zevon, with whom he co-wrote and produced a number of hit songs including “Werewolves of London,” which The Immediate Family has included in their setlist. Wachtel’s production work includes Keith Richards, Bryan Ferry, George Thorogood, and The Church, and he has composed numerous scores for feature films. 

Leland Sklar has performed in the studio and on tour with Phil Collins, James Taylor, Toto, and Billy Cobham, to name a few. Actually, Sklar has the most credits of any of the members of The Immediate Family, having worked on over 2,600 albums.

Russ Kunkel’s credits include Jackson Browne, James Taylor, Linda Ronstadt, Bob Dylan, Stevie Nicks, Lyle Lovett, and dozens more. He has created and co-produced film scores for Mike Nichols’ Heartburn, Joyce Chopra’s Smooth Talk, and New World Films’ Certain Fury. Production work includes Clannad, Jimmy Buffett, The Derek Trucks Band, Dan Fogelberg, Aaron Neville, and others.

Steve Postell is a seasoned touring and session player who has worked with David Crosby, Jennifer Warnes, Michael McDonald, John Oates, Robben Ford, and many others. He recorded and mixed the final 3 performances of Ravi Shankar, and has scored films including “Dying To Know” about Timothy Leary & Ram Dass and narrated by Robert Redford.  He has released several solo records, including the critically acclaimed “Time Still Knockin’” on Immergent Records. 

The Immediate Family’s new EP Live from Telefunken Soundstage is a six-song live recording captured at Telefunken’s Connecticut headquarters on November 14, 2021 during a stop in the group’s recent nationwide tour.

Visit The Immediate Family online:

Band home page: https://www.immediatefamilyband.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheImmedFamily  

Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheImmedFamily  

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theimmedfamily/

Immediate Family documentary Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/immediatefamilyfilm/