Let It Roll

In this episode, author James Kaplan and host Nate Wilcox discuss the youth of Frank Sinatra, his childhood and parents, his early struggles, his rise to fame singing for Harry James and Tommy Dorsey, his tenure as the teen idol of the War era, how it all fell apart, Ava Gardner, From Here to Eternity and his amazing come back.Let It Roll is proud to be part of Pantheon Podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nate Wilcox and Ryan Harkness continue their discussion of “Last Night A DJ Saved My Life - The History of the Disc Jockey” by Bill Brewster and Frank Broughton. Today's topic is the early days of disco in New York when an innovative wave of DJs like David Mancuso and Francis Grasso created a dancer’s utopia in Manhattan. ⁠ GO TO THE LET IT ROLL SUBSTACK TO HEAR THE FULL EPISODE⁠ -- The final 15 minutes of this episode are exclusively for paying subscribers to the Let It Roll Substack. Let It Roll is proud to be part of Pantheon Podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today author Harold Claros-Maldonado joins Nate to discuss his book “Heavy Tales: The Metal. The Music. The Madness. As lived by Jon Zazula.”In this episode, Harold and Nate discuss Jon Zazula’s career as the manager of Metallica and Anthrax, his label Megaforce Records and its bands Manowar, Raven, Testament, King’s X and more.Let It Roll is proud to be part of Pantheon Podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Author Allan “Dr Licks” Slutsky joins Nate to discuss his book “Standing in the Shadows of Motown: The Life and Music of Legendary Bassist James Jamerson.”In this episode, Allan and Nate discuss the Funk Brothers -- the legendary session band that played on hundreds of hits for Motown Records, their leader bassist James Jamerson, the great drummer Benny Benjamin, how they worked with the great songwriter producers of Hitsville such as Smokey Robinson, Berry Gordy, Holland Dozier Holland and more.Let It Roll is proud to be part of Pantheon Podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nate Wilcox and Ryan Harkness continue their discussion of “Last Night A DJ Saved My Life - The History of the Disc Jockey” by Bill Brewster and Frank Broughton. In this episode, Nate and Ryan discuss the uniquely British dance culture called Northern Soul where the kids of the British rust belt just wouldn't let go of their favorite up-tempo 60s soul and kept the style alive into the 1980s.Let It Roll is proud to be part of Pantheon Podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Author David N. Meyer returns to discuss his book "The Bee Gees: The Biography" with host Nate Wilcox. Dave and Nate discuss the Brothers Gibb's Australian apprenticeship, their sudden rise in late 60's London, their breakup and fall from popularity, their disco rebirth, second fall and Barry Gibb's behind the scenes role in the creation of modern pop.Let It Roll is proud to be part of Pantheon Podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nate Wilcox and Ryan Harkness continue their discussion of “Last Night A DJ Saved My Life - The History of the Disc Jockey” by Bill Brewster and Frank Broughton. In this episode, Nate and Ryan go way way back to the beginnings of the 20th Century and discuss the very first radio DJs -- including Sybil True the first female radio DJ who started in 1913 -- and the first club DJs including the now-infamous Jimmy Savile.Let It Roll is proud to be part of Pantheon Podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Author Mark Blake returns to tell host Nate Wilcox about his books “Is This the Real Life?: The Untold Story of Queen” and "Freddie Mercury: A Kind of Magic."In this episode, Mark and Nate discuss Queen and their brilliant lead vocalist Freddy Mercury, how they conquered the world of classic rock in the 70s, how they fell out of favor in the US in the 1980s, Freddie’s tragic death and more.Let It Roll is proud to be part of Pantheon Podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today hosts Nate Wilcox and Ryan Harkness are joined by producer Stephie Haynes to introduce the series and our main source book “Last Night A DJ Saved My Life - The History of the Disc Jockey” by Bill Brewster and Frank Broughton. In this episode, Nate, Ryan and Steph discuss their personal history with dance music and the introductory chapter of "Last Night A DJ Saved My Life", the connection it makes between DJs and shamans, DJs and conductors and DJs and musicians.Let It Roll is proud to be part of Pantheon Podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Host Nate Wilcox speaks with Maria Sherman author of "Larger Than Life: A History of Boy Bands from NKOTB to BTS" for a discussion of the history of Boy Bands from Franz Listz, Frank Sinatra, The Beatles and the Jackson 5 to K-Pop. Most of the conversation focuses on Maurice Starr's 80's groups New Edition and New Kids on the Block and Lou Pearlman's *NSYNC and The Backstreet Boys.Let It Roll is proud to be part of Pantheon Podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices