#snuffywalden

Tony Braunagel, Terry Wilson & Snuffy Walden Live on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson 

What do you get when you Zoom with three amigos from Texas who go back over 50 years? A whole lot of fun, rock stories galore, and a ton of love. The Grammy, Emmy, BMI, and Blues Award Winning trio of Snuffy Walden, Tony Braunagel, and Terry Wilson took us back to the 60s in Houston, playing at the Cellar, a strip club in Houston, Tony and Terry off with Johnny Nash and Snuffy off with Stray Dog to open for Emerson, Lake and Palmer. They all ended up in London, there was Rabbit, Paul Kossoff, Free, Back Street Crawler, Pete Townshend, and Eric Burdon for all of them, at least twice. Some great war stories along the way… there was Michael Ruff, some crashed cars and trashed hotel rooms. 

Tony took us through his time with Rickie Lee Jones, Bonnie Raitt, and The Blues Brothers backup band, leading to be an actor and musician on According to Jim. Snuffy getting Chaka Khan, Donna Summers and then segueing to TV, Thirty Something and The Wonder Years, his first foray in––both Emmy-winning shows that year, leading to the West Wing and his own Emmy. Terry partnering with Teresa James in music and in life, their Grammy nod, his song-writing, producing through his latest for Back Street Crawler’s Terry Slesser which reunited him with Tony and Terry. 

They’ve shared many stages and sessions over the years, but it’s their rock-solid friendship borne in decades-long history that sweetens their song. What a joy to be in their joy. A great time was had by all. Lucky me and you to be a fly on that wall. 

Tony Braunagel, Terry Wilson & Snuffy Walden Live on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson 

Wednesday, 3/19/25, 5 PM PT, 8 PM ET

Streaming Live on my YouTube & my Facebook 

Replay YouTube here:

Replay FB here:

Today LIVE! Texas rockboys, friends since the 60s, playing together since the 70s in Back Street Crawler, and then with Eric Burdon in the 80s, Tony Braunagel, Terry Wilson & Snuffy Walden have gone on to great success individually as musicians, songwriters, composers, and producers, as well as enjoying to continue to play together, with Teresa James and The Rhythm Tramps and the new Terry Slesser (Back Street Crawler) album. 

Drummer Tony Braunagel is a Grammy and Blues Music Award Winner who's played with Rickie Lee Jones, Bette Midler, and Bonnie Raitt, on two of her best, including 3x Grammy Winning Album of the Year, Nick of Time, and toured with her during her hotter than hot years. Tony followed that up playing on two Grammy Winning Albums of Taj Mahal, producing the second, Shoutin’ in Key, and toured with him for years. Follow that with Robert Cray, starting it off with Paul Kossoff of Free, producing dozens of artists, he 8 yrs featured on According to Jim, as an actor and as a player. Tony's also a Blues Brother and plays in innumerable other bands. 

Grammy nominee, bassist/vocalist/songwriter/producer, Terry Wilson, played bass for Eric Burdon throughout the years,  composed The Animal’s single Love is for All Time, and has also worked with Maria Muldaur, Johnny Nash, and Juice Newton. A Babylon Tramp as well as a Rhythm Tramp, Terry was nominated along with his wife Teresa James, for a 2019 Grammy award for Best Contemporary Blues Album. He's written and produced innumerable artists including the new Terry Slesser (Back Street Crawler) album. 

Emmy Award-Winning Composer Snuffy Walden fronted Stray Dog, opening for Emerson, Lake & Palmer around the world, played on Songs in The Key of Life for Stevie Wonder, recorded with Free, played with Dave Mason, toured with Donna Summer, Chaka Khan, when she was breaking I Feel For You,  Eric Burdon, twice, before composing for over 100 television shows, including Thirty Something, The Wonder Years, and the aforementioned Emmy win for The West Wing. He's also picked up 51 BMI Awards along the way. 

I kinda like these guys. I've had the pleasure of sitting down with each of them and have watched them play separately and together...  hung out with them as a group, but chatting with the three of them at once on here... well, this will no doubt be a wild and crazy, fun ride. 

Due to new FB restrictions,  we're moving the Live conversation to YouTube. It'll still be live-streamed on FB and LinkedIn but me and the boys will be taking and answering questions on the YouTube. Hope you join us there. 

Tony Braunagel, Terry Wilson & Snuffy Walden Live on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson 

Wednesday, 3/19/25, 5 PM PT, 8 PM ET

Streaming Live on my YouTube 

youtube.com/@VickiAbelsonLive

Snuffy Walden Live on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson

Lemonade! That’s what you get when you take a brilliantly talented, supportive beau, and the greatest, most fun-loving, and devoted co-commiserators on the planet and mix them together on what could have been a rough one.  My gratitude is boundless. What fun this was! 

It helps when said Beau is Emmy Award-Winning Composer, Snuffy Walden, even though we didn’t really go there. From piano to trombone, finding guitar, playing strip clubs, to living in a park with his roadie, Aphrodite in Denver to fronting Stray Dog, opening for Emerson, Lake & Palmer around the world, a near-miss with me in ’74, drinking and debauchery, recording Songs in The Key of Life with Stevie Wonder, earning a platinum record, being in the passenger seat when Stevie drove––oh yes, he did; playing with Dave Mason, Donna Summer, Chaka Khan when she was breaking I Feel For You, touring with Eric Burdon, two times, and having an epiphany, thanks to longtime friend and bandmate, Michael Ruff, which would change, and save, his life. 

We focused on Snuffy’s playing, rock years… check out this Stray Dog front and center  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7sbEdHgb2Oo

Thirty Something, The Wonder Years, The West Wing, an Emmy Award, a dozen other Emmy nominations, 51 BMI Awards, representing over 100 TV shows followed. It’s all in the great Mark Maxey doc, Up to Snuff. 

Thanks for the thoughtful understanding, enthusiastic encouragement, sweet words, and unyielding support y’all showered us with. Special thanks to the sweetness that is Snuffy. How blessed am I? 

Snuffy Walden Live on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson

***TUESDAY, JULY 9th, 5 pm PT, 8 pm ET***

Streaming Live on my Facebook

Replay here:

Snuffy Walden Live on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson

There are no accidents. House stand-in as he so aptly named hisslef, Emmy-Winning Composer, Snuffy Walden, was just what the doctor ordered. Live from the dining room, with Rufus for the most part chillin’ between us, Snuffy got down, got real, letting us in as he seamlessly weaved through music, alcoholism, geographics, hitting big, breaking bad, highs, lows, getting sober, switching gears, success beyond his imaginings, the pandemic abyss, to slowly stepping back out amidst life’s challenges. 

From piano to trombone, finding guitar, playing with BJ Thomas at 14 and strip clubs at 17, DJing, to living in a park with a roadie, Aphrodite in Denver to fronting Stray Dog, rocking like hell, and opening for Emerson, Lake & Palmer around the world, a near-miss with me in ’74, drinking and debauchery, recording Songs in The Key of Life with Stevie Wonder, earning a platinum record, being in the passenger seat when Stevie drove––oh yes, he did; playing with Dave Mason at the peak, Chaka Kahn when she was breaking I Feel For You, touring with Eric Burdon and having an epiphany, thanks to longtime friend and bandmate, Michael Ruff, which would change, and save, his life. 

With all his success before, a few years later, without experience or training, he scored Thirty Something, then The Wonder Years, both Emmy nominees their first year, then meeting Sorkin and doing Sports Night, and then The West Wing, where he won that Emmy with his iconic main title, and then a dozen other Emmy nominations and 51 BMI  Awards, representing over a hundred other shows… then the pandemic slowdown to almost shut down, and a recent rebirth doing what he loves and loving what he’s doing, committed to turning up the joy in the monitors, because of and in spite of recent news. 

Snuffy’s humility, humanity, and heart soar in his words and music. His dedication to being of service, hIs talent, and his sweetness, are ongoing inspirations to me and countless others. 

I neglected to say Happy Passover. Historically I’ve been a second-nighter, and this year is no exception. Tomorrow, Snuffy will be attending his first Seder. Hide the Manischewitz. From both of us.

Snuffy Walden Live on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson

Wed, April 5th, 5 pm PT, 8 pm ET

Streamed Live on The Facebook

Today, Live! Good things can come from bad. Tim Busfield, who took years to say yes to guest, found out on Monday that he has a make-up shoot on Wednesday with no leeway. Sick and panicked, I made “the face.” What’s a fella to do? This is not the first time this guy saved the day. Four and half years ago he jumped in at the last minute when another guest fell ill at the last moment.

My hero. In innumerable ways.

Musician/Composer Snuffy Walden, has won over 50 BMI awards, was awarded BMI’s Richard Kirk Award for Outstanding Career Achievement, and has been nominated for 13 Emmys, winning the Emmy for Outstanding Title Theme for The West Wing. Snuff performed his iconic masterpiece for the 2020 special. Get out your hankies. https://www.facebook.com/HBOMax/videos/385733205881479

He’s toured with Chaka Khan, Eric Burdon, and Donna Summer to name but a few. Fronting Stray Dog in the early 70s, he opened for Emerson, Lake & Palmer around the globe and if not for… well, story to be told, live @5, we would’ve been at the same place at the same time a whole lot sooner. Snuffy's originals rock like hell. Stray Dog’s cut of ZZ Top's Chevrolet is better than the original in my unbiased opinion, and one of my favorite tunes. He's a friggin' rock star. How I heard of this man for the first time in 2018 thanks to Pete George, makes no sense to me. Right up my tree. Check this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7sbEdHgb2Oo

Mark Maxey’s doc, Up to Snuff, has won 21 awards, been an official selection in 61 film festivals, features, Aaron Sorkin, Martin Sheen, the beforementioned Tim Busfield (who’ll be with us in May), and Tom Arnold singing Snuffy's praises, exposing a few foibles, and is a stupendous entertainment about this genius of a man. Available to stream, it's crazy fun, and musically delicious. As is its namesake. 

With a few tracks on albums about to hit the can and very recent live performances, Snuff’s back doing what he loves and what I love watching and hearing him do. 

We’ll be Live from the dining room, no doubt with a special, not-so-surprise guest. 

Snuffy Walden Live on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson

Wed, April 5th, 5 pm PT, 8 pm ET

Streaming Live on The Facebook