I had a chance to talk with Gregg Allman last week as he will be in concert at the Grand Theater tomorrow (Tuesday) night. He told some interesting stories about the genesis of the Allman Brothers Band and also what he's doing now. I've never been that excited about interviewing people that I enjoyed growing up. Whether it's musicians, actors or athletes invariably they will not be what you thought they would be. At the best they are doing interviews because they have to and want to get them over with as quick as possible....at worst they are jerks who deal with the press like something on the bottom of their shoe. I always preferred to keep my illusions intact, but in this line of work interviews are a necessity. Allman was one of the good ones....maybe it's all of the bad things that have happened in his life that makes him much more easy-going at this point but he talked as long as I wanted and told some good stories. You can hear excerpts from the interview today on "Kallaway on the Rise" on WIFC and also hear the complete interview on the "Kallaway on the Rise Home Page at wifc.com. Gregg Allman and his band will be in concert at the Grand Tuesday and tickets are available. I think it will be a top-notch show and from the set-lists I've seen from this tour...you won't be disappointed.

A couple of other music notes today....the rock world is mourning the passing of Ronnie Jame Dio. He died Sunday at the age of 67 from stomach cancer. Dio was the leather lunged vocalist for a number of bands in the 70's& 80's including Black Sabbath, Elf and Dio...but I best remember him from Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow. He sang on two classic LPs in the mid-70's including Rainbow's Risin' where he delivered a hard-rock masterpiece called "Stargazer" which I have included below.

Also, Dan Fogelberg fans will want to head to Peoria, Illinois this weekend for a number of events including the dedication of a Fogelberg Memorial at Riverfront Park. The singer-songwriter was born in Peoria in 1951 and there will be a Memorial concert on Saturday.

I'll have high school baseball today on our sister station Foxsports1390 WRIG as Wausau EAst hosts Marshfield. Pre game at 4:15...first pitch at 4:30.

Songs of The Day   (from my I-pod)

Stargazer-Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow (1976) the melding of Blackmore's incindiary guitar, Dio's searing vocals and some great drumming from Cozy Powell as well...the lyrics are also classic seventies hard-rock invoking mysticism and ancient sorcery themes.

Ghosts-Dan Fogelberg (1981) from his double Lp 'The Innocent Age" a magnificent effort filled with great songs . Fogeleberg at his creative peak.