firefall

In this episode, we speak with Jock Bartley of Firefall about the band's great 70's music, their longevity,and their latest album "Friends And Family".

Time does not wait for anyone, but you always have to wait for time.

• The natural fireball is one of Yosemite National Park's most amazing spectacle, it occurs in mid-late Feb annually, if the conditions (sufficient snowpack, warm temperatures and a clear sky at sunset) are  right, the fireball will light up but only last ten minutes. I sensed this could be an adventure, and took a chance to have a special adventure, only 48 hours, traveled there and back, enjoying to fullest this place in this brief time. 
• In the early morning of 24 hours, I traveled to the Tunnel View, driving through the  Wawona Tunnel is an enjoyable experience. I was greeted by the Tunnel View and enjoyed the scene a while, but the most interesting thing was the present of so many photographers there to capture every moment and angles of the scene together, like a gathering of souls. 
• I walked on the heavy snow, using my hands to claw the branches, saw a new picturesque scene: the reflection of El Capitan and bare trees, the sound of the river flowing attracted me deeply. I got closer to the river, looked at the surroundings, a whole white color played on the deep snow. It is another beautiful and special place for Yosemite, like a Sleeping Beauty: she is waiting something to happen quietly, maybe the right time to awaken. 
• I chased the waterfall endless there. My spirit left the cage of my body and soared high, much higher than any waterfall in the world, making circles in the sky. Maybe this is one reason why I always chase waterfalls. Sleeping Beauty's world and my worlds were not very different at that moment. 
• I found the Fireball finally, my mission completed ! But the most inspiring part of the experience, beyond the Firefall itself, was waiting for the right time and conditions to witness it.
• Over the following 24 hours, I traveled to Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park. I was very tiny standing next to these gentle giants. I looked up at the blue sky and bare trees, rays of sunshine reflecting off the ice entering my eyes, the winter air and scene glowing. It is silent but full of mysterious power — time.  
• The sound of a rippling stream echoed around me, and wondering where it came, I followed the sound, walking far from the original trailhead, and came to the river covered in white snow. I felt life running through my veins, I seemed to see Sleeping Beauty awaken, welcomed the new day, the snowing melting into the water then flowing far away, creating a new chapter in her life. 
• I found new wisdom through you—Sleeping Beauty. Your power and beauty unfolds slowly, your time will come, the snow will give way, bare and dead trees will be lush and the rivers and falls will be filled with movement and life. They would be in the right time. You and I learn to wait for the time, witness and understand the power of time, meet love, happiness and wisdom. “Slow down, wait for the right time” is the best lesson I learned and can pass onto others from this special adventure. 

Firefall's drummer Sandy Ficca and lead vocalist/guitarist Gary Jones join us on this episode.  Award-winning program director Ray White talked with the two newest members (Sandy since 1984 and Gary since 2014) in August of 2021, about the band's newest album Comet and their songwriting contributions to the first studio album by Firefall since 1994.  Be sure to hear from other members of the band on Episodes 1, 15, 24, 42, 85 and 93.  In our showcase segment we feature the latest by Jackson Browne - who has a new release called Downhill From Everywhere and the amazing Santana who just dropped their latest album Blessings and Miracles.  From the 70's through today...the best from your favorite classic artists on the CAT!

John Hall co-founded Orleans in 1972 and has played a key part in the band, on and off, as a songwriter, singer and guitarist, throughout their history.  John has also written songs for numerous other musicians that received airplay, especially in the 1970's through the 1980's.  In our May of 2021 interview, multi-award winning program director Ray White caught up with John to discuss his history with Orleans, involvement in Musicians United for Safe Energy and his latest solo album Reclaiming My Time.  In our showcase segment we feature Firefall, whose new album is titled Comet - reuniting 3 original members of the band.  Two of the bands that helped make music of the 1970's great, right here on Classic Artists Today!

Grammy Award-winning engineer Bruce Hensal joins co-host Chase Steele from the Melrose Center in welcoming special guest Rick Roberts, singer-songwriter and founding member/lead singer for the band Firefall. Rick talks about getting his start in the business, playing in The Flying Burrito Brothers, the formation of Firefall, his time working with Bruce in the 1970s and his success as an author. The guys talk about how the pandemic has impacted the industry going forward, and Bruce asks Rick how he feels about Firefall being termed “yacht rock.”

Firefall was founded in 1974 by Rick Roberts, Larry Burnett, Mark Andes, David Muse and this episode's guest -- lead guitarist Jock Bartley. By the end of they decade, they had three gold albums and three Top 10 singles: "You Are the Woman," "Just Remember I Love You" and "Strange Way."  

In this episode we talk with Jock about...

• How he got started in music.
• How the '70s rock scene in Boulder, Colorado boosted his career.
• How Firefall came together and got its record contract with Atlantic.
• How the group's first album "Firefall" became the fastest record to achieve gold status in Atlantic Records history.
• How the group's hits like "You Are the Woman" differed from the band's deeper cuts.
• Firefall's connection to the Southern California folk rock and country rock sound.
• How successful musicians don't make as much money as we might think.
• How the band broke apart in the early '80s.
• How he brought Firefall back with help from the resurgence of interest in classic rock.
• The group's new album "Comet," including the song "Way Back When."

Firefall was founded in 1974 in Boulder, CO and included past members of The Byrds, Flying Burrito Brothers, Spirit and Zephyr.  Throughout the years they've had 13 singles land on the charts, and in 2014 the band was inducted into the Colorado Music Hall of Fame.  Today, original members Jock Bartley, Mark Andes and David Muse are with the band along with long time drummer Sandy Ficca and newest member Gary Jones.  Jock joins multi-award winning program director Ray White, in October of 2020, to talk about Comet - their first studio album featuring the 3 original members, in 40 years!  Be sure to listen to Episodes 001, 015, 024, 042 and 085 to hear from other Firefall members who've joined us throughout the years!  In our "showcase segment" we feature the dynamic guitarist/singer of Heart, Nancy Wilson, who has an awesome new solo album on the way!!  Your favorite legacy rock bands and performers, we've got 'em on The CAT!!!

Rick Roberts kicked off his musical career joining The Flying Burrito Brothers in 1970, after the departure of Gram Parsons.  In 1974, he co-founded Firefall, who had 6 Top 40 hits, 2 Platinum and 1 Gold albums.  Multi-award winning program director, Ray White, caught up with Rick after his reunion show with Firefall's Larry Burnett in August of 2019 to talk about his Burrito days, current activities, and fond memories touring with Firefall in the mid-to-late 1970's.  Rick's latest EP is Full Bloom.  In our showcase segment, we feature a tribute to the legendary country rock musician Charlie Daniels who passed away on July 6. 2020.  Hall of Famer and Grammy award winning Daniels was a strong advocate of America and his last studio album was a collaboration with several friends under the name Beau Weevils, on the project Songs in the Key of E.  Bringing you the best interviews and more from many of your favorite bands and performers... Classic Artists Today!

In the latest edition of Uncommon Engineering, Coach Hawk turns to Jock Bartley, the lead guitarist for Firefall, a band best known for radio hits “You Are The Woman” and “Just Remember I Love You,” plus classic rock staples such as “Strange Way” and “Cinderella.” An alumnus of the University of Colorado, Bartley pursued his dreams of becoming a professional musician. He landed his first big break when he joined Gram Parsons & The Fallen Angels, then in 1974, he formed Firefall along with Rick Roberts, Mark Andes and Larry Burnett. In this episode, we hear the firsthand story of how that group went from its humble beginnings, to catching an opportunity to record its self-titled debut, to touring with the likes of Fleetwood Mac and Lynyrd Skynyrd. Bartley also discusses his growth as a writer and lyricist, dealing with success and failure, and becoming an artist (he designed the cover art for his solo album Blindside). Firefall has a new album called Nature’s Way, featuring Sacramento’s own Timothy B. Schmit (The Eagles), due this fall.

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Pat and Mike welcome Mike Schmidt to the show to discuss that hard to define genre of music... "Yacht Rock"

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