When Fred had his bookstore in Capitola, we had a barrelhouse duo ,”Boogie Bruce and Champagne Charlie” playing Club Zayante in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Hafa Adai from the Micronesia Blues Society on the island of Guam.
Great video, Otis! I always enjoy your content. I recently started my own UA-cam channel-just diving into it! I’m a songwriter in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, trying to get my music out there and connect with others. Your videos are inspiring, and it’s awesome to see the community you’ve built. Keep up the great work, and thanks for all the good vibes!
"What happened? Where did that whole side of country music go to?" - Fred Koller Yes, indeed. Wonderful post, Otis. Thank you for capturing and sharing this deeply amazing, organic music history.
Thank You Otis!! My favorite songwriter of all time. I’m blown away. You were absolutely killing it with these interviews. Please never stop what you’re doing. It means the world to the WORLD.
Fantastic interview, and I'll say that Fred Koller is likewise one of a kind. Encyclopedic knowledge of songwriting and writers and the business of songwriting. Mention any song or artist to Fred and you'll hear more than you can imagine about the context, connections and details of that song and scene. Glad you captured this interview, hope you'll ask Fred about more songwriter and songwriting history, I've wished I'd recorded nearly every conversation we've ever had over many years, endlessly detailed and fascinating lore.
The forging of talented writing among song writers is the synthesis of the best of both; Shel Silverstein is a good example. Thank you for the interview concerning their connection and a spreading of their light.
Hi Otis, I enjoyed this interview tremendously! Would it be too much of an imposition to ask Fred back one day soon to talk about writing country songs? Best wishes, Robert Inglis, New York City
Awesome interview about one of my childhood (and now adult) heroes. I grew up on his kids poetry and my head about fell off when I found Freaking at the Freakers Ball at the Marin co library in my 20's. It made alot of sense to me that he was my favorite childhood writer and that he was oh so wild. I loved this interview! So much great information about him and The Bay area too! ❤ Thank you guys❤❤❤❤🌉❤💖.
These videos you do should be seen by the whole world. I loved everything I ever read by Shel. The children’s books were some of the best, right there with Dr. Seuss. My older sister introduced me to Dr Hook in the 70s and I know people don’t take those songs seriously but there’s a lot of real human experience in tunes like Queen of The Silver Dollar and I liked to hear Dennis sing!
Hey Otis...use should interview Bobby Bare...played a show with him a few years back...great man, entertainer and could tell great tales of the golden years of country music.
I just took note of something. Your guests are dressing up for your interviews. I think that’s some kind of success marker. This guy is fascinating. To have missed a Bob Dylan concert in your own house has to get to you !!
I completely forgot The Marvelous Toy. Thanks for the reminder and the interview. I went and listened to a few versions. The Irish Rovers is the one I remember the best.
Ways to support this channel. www.patreon.com/otisgibbs ua-cam.com/channels/YX2MTovE0vYjD8touqRH7Q.htmljoin Tip jar for anyone who wants to help support this channel. paypal.me/otisgibbs?locale.x=... www.venmo.com/OtisGibbs Paypal: @otisgibbs Venmo: @OtisGibbs
What An Amazing Story Teller and Common Teller Of Life from a Chicago Aspect like that Mailman turned Troubadour, John Prine who I wished I would have met in Person in my 59 years as a musician from Delaware, Ohio and Otis I’ll Fly Somewhere in 2025 to See You Perform Live! Coming from Fort Lauderdale, Florida! I Actually Had A Cocktail At The Playboy Club with my Older Brother Stephen and His Wife Sandy in 1973 in Chicago off Michigan Ave! Seagrams 7 & 7! “Keep Live Music Pure” after my Father Passed Away Selling A Buick in August, 1973
Great stories about a great songwriter and unchained melody man. Every time I hear Shel stories, I learn there was so much more to the man. Found a Dutch made video on UA-cam, guy researched and found Sylvia's mother, great entertainment ,, wonderful lady, yes Sylvia herself makes an appearance at the end ,, The Sausalito video is a bit wild , but also you understand why the band was sooo successful. Thanks Otis !
Wonderful interview about shel silverstein. I have read the book a boy named shel, where fred also contributed. Shel, is the reason i started writing poetry... and i am now starting to publish my own books. A great influence on me, and i love his books. I have almost all of them
So my stepdad played guitar for Ray Sawyer and Dr. Hook… so I might be a little biased but I REALLY think that Shel is the greatest writer of the last century and maybe more
Oh what a day, Oh what a day, My baby brother ran away. And now my tuba will not play. Oh what a day, Oh what a day. (Illustration: Little brother is hiding in tuba!)
I got lucky. Shel was a co-writer (with Vince Matthews) on a Gordon Lightfoot song called On Susan's Floor, one of my favorites. Early seventies. The woman referenced is the song was Susan Brewer. Check her out. Anyway, I was intrigued because Gordon wrote nearly all of his own material. I followed Shel Silverstein from then on. Fascinating guy and immensely talented.
Just listen to the brilliance of Dr. Hook and the medicine show work alone BF but his books cartoons not just writing funny songs but top 40 hits that were funny. How cool is that?
Great interview! One of the first interviews I listened to was with a guy who mentioned he did walking tours of Nashville. I misplaced his name. Does anyone remember who that was? Thank you!
Love shel love this love fred great stuff I saved watching this cuz I love shel so much and cuttlefish is something other than if ur a seaman u don't much hear other than from the likes of Monty Python or shel... Lol
Put another log on the fire. Cook me up some bacon and some beans. Go out to the car and lift it up and change the tire. Wash my socks and sew my old blue jeans
I love John Lennon. He was a brilliant songwriter, but that’s just not possible. A song every hour for 72 hours is 72 songs - 144 every half hour 3 straight days
Its great to see someone that knew shel, and talking about him... i am trying to bring some people that might be around to be interviewed and talk a bit about shel silverstein. It would be great for people to know more about the man...
What An Amazing Story Teller and Common Teller Of Life from a Chicago Aspect like that Mailman turned Troubadour, John Prine who I wished I would have met in Person in my 59 years as a musician from Delaware, Ohio and Otis I’ll Fly Somewhere in 2025 to See You Perform Live! Coming from Fort Lauderdale, Florida! I Actually Had A Cocktail At The Playboy Club with my Older Brother Stephen and His Wife Sandy in 1973 in Chicago off Michigan Ave! Seagrams 7 & 7! “Keep Live Music Pure” after my Father Passed Away Selling A Buick in August, 1973
Its great to see someone that knew shel, and talking about him... i am trying to bring some people that might be around to be interviewed and talk a bit about shel silverstein. It would be great for people to know more about the man...
Fred owns Rhino Books in Nashville and you should visit him while you're in town. Be sure to tell him Otis sent ya!
instagram.com/rhino.booksellers/
Otis, i must admit, you know some interesting people. Great show
When Fred had his bookstore in Capitola, we had a barrelhouse duo ,”Boogie Bruce and Champagne Charlie” playing Club Zayante in the Santa Cruz Mountains.
Hafa Adai from the Micronesia Blues Society on the island of Guam.
Great video, Otis! I always enjoy your content. I recently started my own UA-cam channel-just diving into it! I’m a songwriter in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, trying to get my music out there and connect with others. Your videos are inspiring, and it’s awesome to see the community you’ve built. Keep up the great work, and thanks for all the good vibes!
"What happened? Where did that whole side of country music go to?" - Fred Koller Yes, indeed. Wonderful post, Otis. Thank you for capturing and sharing this deeply amazing, organic music history.
I don’t need to put a pickup truck in there, we already know it’s parked outside. Gold and so true!
Thank You Otis!! My favorite songwriter of all time. I’m blown away. You were absolutely killing it with these interviews. Please never stop what you’re doing. It means the world to the WORLD.
Thanks Fred & Otis
Thanks Otis! This one was priceless.
I've loved Shel Silverstein ever since my mom gave me Uncle Shelby's ABZs when I was about 13. What a brilliant mind. Quaaludes Again is a classic.😅
Wow, really loved this one Otis, oh and Todd Sharp is Mr. Cool!!
Great informative interview. Thanks, Otis
Fantastic interview, and I'll say that Fred Koller is likewise one of a kind. Encyclopedic knowledge of songwriting and writers and the business of songwriting. Mention any song or artist to Fred and you'll hear more than you can imagine about the context, connections and details of that song and scene. Glad you captured this interview, hope you'll ask Fred about more songwriter and songwriting history, I've wished I'd recorded nearly every conversation we've ever had over many years, endlessly detailed and fascinating lore.
The forging of talented writing among song writers is the synthesis of the best of both; Shel Silverstein is a good example. Thank you for the interview concerning their connection and a spreading of their light.
Man, I love Shel's record " Freakin at the Freakers Ball " Pure Masterpiece. Great interview Otis.
Hi Otis, I enjoyed this interview tremendously! Would it be too much of an imposition to ask Fred back one day soon to talk about writing country songs? Best wishes, Robert Inglis, New York City
Awesome interview about one of my childhood (and now adult) heroes. I grew up on his kids poetry and my head about fell off when I found Freaking at the Freakers Ball at the Marin co library in my 20's. It made alot of sense to me that he was my favorite childhood writer and that he was oh so wild. I loved this interview! So much great information about him and The Bay area too! ❤ Thank you guys❤❤❤❤🌉❤💖.
These videos you do should be seen by the whole world. I loved everything I ever read by Shel. The children’s books were some of the best, right there with Dr. Seuss. My older sister introduced me to Dr Hook in the 70s and I know people don’t take those songs seriously but there’s a lot of real human experience in tunes like Queen of The Silver Dollar and I liked to hear Dennis sing!
Whole Earth kind of crowd😊
“kick out the jams” ☮
First time I met Bobby Bare Jr was back in the Bare Jr days. Told him how much I loved his Dad. Should have told him the same about his Uncle Shelby.
You got the best story tellers. Thanks again.
Thanks, O, a special piece
Great interview. If anyone is curious about Fred’s music check out: Fred Koller Live at Norm's River Roadhouse. 👍
Nice interview. I have one of Fred's albums of Shel's songs. Now I gotta pull it out and give it a listen.
Great. I’ve always wanted to know more about Shel Silverstein. I understand he is a legend.
This cat is the best kind of teacher cuz he's not trying to teach he just can't help but drop biscuits left and right with life lessons
Hey Otis...use should interview Bobby Bare...played a show with him a few years back...great man, entertainer and could tell great tales of the golden years of country music.
Oh yes, Bobby Bare, what a great idea!
The great smoke off.... 😙👌💭 That's my favorite. What a genius that is surely missed. ✌😊
I loved Shel my whole life. I'm still asked to do Beans Taste Fine by family members.
I just took note of something. Your guests are dressing up for your interviews. I think that’s some kind of success marker. This guy is fascinating. To have missed a Bob Dylan concert in your own house has to get to you !!
I completely forgot The Marvelous Toy. Thanks for the reminder and the interview. I went and listened to a few versions. The Irish Rovers is the one I remember the best.
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When I lived in Greenwich Village..'80-'82..I used to see Shel in Bleecker Street Records.
I lived on West 82nd near Amsterdam in ’60-’62 each decade a newer NYC.
Did you know shel? Ever talked to him? 👍
@@Zheugma No...
What An Amazing Story Teller and Common Teller Of Life from a Chicago Aspect like that Mailman turned Troubadour, John Prine who I wished I would have met in Person in my 59 years as a musician from Delaware, Ohio and Otis I’ll Fly Somewhere in 2025 to See You Perform Live! Coming from Fort Lauderdale, Florida! I Actually Had A Cocktail At The Playboy Club with my Older Brother Stephen and His Wife Sandy in 1973 in Chicago off Michigan Ave!
Seagrams 7 & 7! “Keep Live Music Pure” after my Father Passed Away Selling A Buick in August, 1973
He. Is. Priceless!!!!
Thanks, Otis.
I loved “Son of a Boy Named Sue.”
Great stories about a great songwriter and unchained melody man.
Every time I hear Shel stories, I learn there was so much more to the man.
Found a Dutch made video on UA-cam, guy researched and found Sylvia's mother, great entertainment ,, wonderful lady,
yes Sylvia herself makes an appearance at the end ,,
The Sausalito video is a bit wild , but also you understand why the band was sooo successful.
Thanks Otis !
The Calistoga kid " he smiled, and Pearly just grinned " ...shout out from Calistoga! Loved hearing these stories. 😊
Over the fence...out of the park. Shel and Billy Joe. Thanks Otis
Great Story!!
Wonderful interview about shel silverstein. I have read the book a boy named shel, where fred also contributed. Shel, is the reason i started writing poetry... and i am now starting to publish my own books. A great influence on me, and i love his books. I have almost all of them
cool story! I heard Boy named Sue in junior high. My daughter ‘s first book was Where the sidewalk ends. Thanks for the story
So my stepdad played guitar for Ray Sawyer and Dr. Hook… so I might be a little biased but I REALLY think that Shel is the greatest writer of the last century and maybe more
He wrote "Whistlers and Jugglers" for Waylon Jennings. One of my favorites.
Oh what a day, Oh what a day, My baby brother ran away. And now my tuba will not play. Oh what a day, Oh what a day. (Illustration: Little brother is hiding in tuba!)
I got lucky.
Shel was a co-writer (with Vince Matthews) on a Gordon Lightfoot song called On Susan's Floor, one of my favorites. Early seventies. The woman referenced is the song was Susan Brewer. Check her out.
Anyway, I was intrigued because Gordon wrote nearly all of his own material.
I followed Shel Silverstein from then on. Fascinating guy and immensely talented.
The other writer was Vince Matthews
Most of Shel's albums are impossible to find in Canada
Just listen to the brilliance of Dr. Hook and the medicine show work alone BF but his books cartoons not just writing funny songs but top 40 hits that were funny. How cool is that?
Great interview!
One of the first interviews I listened to was with a guy who mentioned he did walking tours of Nashville. I misplaced his name. Does anyone remember who that was? Thank you!
Believe it’s Bill DeMain
@TR-yi8up Thank you, I believe it was. That rings a bell.
Love shel love this love fred great stuff I saved watching this cuz I love shel so much and cuttlefish is something other than if ur a seaman u don't much hear other than from the likes of Monty Python or shel... Lol
I'm guessing that "literary magazine with all the great literary articles" was Playboy.
Put another log on the fire. Cook me up some bacon and some beans. Go out to the car and lift it up and change the tire. Wash my socks and sew my old blue jeans
Ok odd I suppose. And btw Fred made me think of ..ever since Mom and David Allen coe got out of jail and the dog died in the purple pick up .. lololol
Free creative expression cohorts ladies friends art nothing sounds crazy to me about that lol
I was told (long ago) that John Lennon took a bet to write 500 songs in 3 days. Ever heard that one? (of course he won the bet)
I love John Lennon. He was a brilliant songwriter, but that’s just not possible. A song every hour for 72 hours is 72 songs - 144 every half hour 3 straight days
Unless he had 300 already weitten in advance lol
I write about 16-20 songs per day. I’ve been dropping 32 songs every Friday. Would love to talk about the process
Its great to see someone that knew shel, and talking about him... i am trying to bring some people that might be around to be interviewed and talk a bit about shel silverstein. It would be great for people to know more about the man...
Gold lines Fred lol pretty cool... could you please share some advice on how shel would get over writers block?
I never experienced Shel having writers block
@ the man was amazing. My mentor in magic knew him from chicago... he stayed at his houseboat many years ago
What An Amazing Story Teller and Common Teller Of Life from a Chicago Aspect like that Mailman turned Troubadour, John Prine who I wished I would have met in Person in my 59 years as a musician from Delaware, Ohio and Otis I’ll Fly Somewhere in 2025 to See You Perform Live! Coming from Fort Lauderdale, Florida! I Actually Had A Cocktail At The Playboy Club with my Older Brother Stephen and His Wife Sandy in 1973 in Chicago off Michigan Ave!
Seagrams 7 & 7! “Keep Live Music Pure” after my Father Passed Away Selling A Buick in August, 1973
Its great to see someone that knew shel, and talking about him... i am trying to bring some people that might be around to be interviewed and talk a bit about shel silverstein. It would be great for people to know more about the man...