WADDY WACHTEL - Guitarist, Composer & Record Producer

Waddy recognizes the value to "learn as many songs as you can", having worked with many lead performers, including Linda Ronstadt, Stevie Nicks, Keith Richards, James Taylor & many more, his work has paid off. Great industry names mentioned here & advice..."Be prepared to deal with the word "NO"....don't give up on your dreams".
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[@MrAxman53]

15:22 Leslie West 16:40 The Cowsills 19:37 David Crosby 21:25 Jim Keltner 22:08 Lee Sklar 24:38 David Foster 25:30 Danny "Kootch" Kortchmar 28:52 Jackson Browne 30:10 Linda Ronstadt

[@richprincipe749]

As always Dom - Super job!!! Thank you for doing these interviews!! They are gold!! See ya 'round Long Island!!

[@robertnorton3156]

well hell waddys really is robert a great guitarist.in linda ronstadts band.

[@evanlouis3336]

Great player. Loved him best with Linda in the late 70s and Keith Richards solo stuff.

[@rexrexford5249]

Terrific interview of a music legend. Nice work!

[@organjoe]

Fantastic - excellent interview. Keep them coming . . Longer the better! thanks!!

[@Taylor-kd6lr]

What a fantastic interview this was. Excellent presentation!

[@michaelvaladez6570]

What a great interview with Waddy..the best on the top of the hill.Love his story.Love the inside jokes.What an accompliched player fight from the get go.Love what is a Cowsill. ?And a very Happy Birthday to Waddy belated!!

[@tomcarr4630]

Phenomenal episode!!! Could have listened another 40 minutes! How can you not want to start practicing your instrument immediately after hearing this?

[@SoItGoesCAL34]

That was great! I subscribed. What a wonderful interview with Waddy Wachtel. Thank you so much.

[@TheSessionsPanel]

Thanks for subscribing to our channel for more great interviews!

[@erockscott1184]

Hahaha!!...this kid who couldn't do anything right ended up making his career with a name. Lmao!!...he did something big for you Waddy that's great

[@robster7316]

What a wonderful interview! Don is a great host and how can you not love Waddy? He's an absolute treasure.

[@kenperk9854]

Can you imagine being there in '71 through as an Artist as the music version of Mount Saint helens was exploding all over L. La A and Muscle Shoals and Miami and studios all over the place! They had to have figured out that major history was being made from coast to coast, BY THEM!! And we would never see that again.

[@hugolafhugolaf]

Out of 40 minutes of interview, if you add up the segments where Dom is talking, you probably have 3 minutes, tops. THAT is an interview. Ask a question, let the guest talk. Compare that to Howard Stern or Eddy Trunk...

[@wserafin11]

Absolutely! What a great interview!

[@GlobalDrumming]

Thanks so much! These interviews are not about me!

[@wserafin11]

hugolafhugolaf I don’t know who Eddy Trunk is but totally agree on Stern! He thinks he knows more than he does, especially when it comes to George Martin and his influence on the group’s songs. Sometimes I thinks he says stupid stuff to try and sound controversial!

[@teresaclark1508]

Stern doesn't interview. He has a talk show and he is the one who does the talking. Hate that about him. He can have great guest, but they don't get to say anything.

[@r3ddirtr8r28]

This guy is definitely a great interviewer, however Waddy is also an outstanding interviewee. The guy has so many interesting stories and such a fluid way of putting it all together, he’s a very easy guy to listen to talk as well as play a killer guitar! One of the greats!

[@dwdavis5977]

Love from Carbondale, Illinois. Thanks for all of the good vibrations.

[@aaronfrank9649]

I love this interview and you are two great guys. Super interesting cool and funny.

[@savedalsman2081]

This work is a gift to the music community and is quintessential to what makes KZbin great. THANK YOU!

[@FlyingGemSparkly]

I subscribe to Lee Sklar’s epic KZbin channel and he plays in a band with Waddy called The Immediate Family! The band’s talent & groove is other worldly with all of them being top tier session aces!

[@mightyV444]

@James Sparks - Yes, I've seen/heard their 'Werewolves Of London' jam! Totally amazing! :-)

[@jppagetoo]

I saw Danny Korchmar play last year at Sweetwater's Gearfest. I got in line early to make sure I got in. So yeah, the Immediate Family is the real deal. Kooch and Waddy, is there any band with that kind of talent anymore? The add in Russ and Lee an you might have the best band ever. I'd love to see them live but right now... Corona says no.

[@teresaclark1508]

I listen also. And agree with you about Immediate Family. Great!

[@robertkay9349]

@@mightyV444 when I first heard The Immediate Family play their tune Cruel Twist, I ran home to play along with it right away. These guys are great and I now have a TIF channel in my Pandora. All of their stuff is worth a listen.

[@robertkay9349]

Me too!

[@thecollective1584]

It's amazing hearing Waddy talk about Newport, RI... Dad was a Marine stationed at the Naval Base, and I was born at the hospital there. Dad used to talk about seeing the Cowsills all the time. I saw this incredible guitar player with Stevie Nick's and was blown away by just how good he is....

[@tongusgrump2261]

It’s always the subtle nuances that live interaction recording creates that makes the music we love come to life... pro tools digital medium is sterile. Spill a beer at a bar gig on a helix, axe fx, kemper any solid state PCP VCRand it’s landfill. Just like the music it makes. Feel and interact with musicians live and let go and experience the music it will change your live.

[@BOLLOCKS1968]

Best guitarist ever! Happy Birthday! Cheers ✌❤

[@splashesin8]

Yay! I was so happy to find this❣️💛😊

[@bluespig1]

This story sums Waddy up perfectly @38:45 Thanks for the upload, really appreciated.

[@rollingpuck]

This could have been two hours longer. What a history. One of your best, Dom. Cheers!

[@deheckler]

BeeUUtttFFFULLL So I remember my old pal Sid coming back East after his first trip to LA and he was Goo Goo Gaa Gaa about The Wrecking Crew n meeting Waddy in like 1975 and Yes he learned how to play almost the same way when we were kids in Pittsburgh. Yeah Sid McGinnis of course haha

[@luvbasses5487]

Normal, nice guy...is the vibe I’m picking up here watching this clip. He seems the type that’d engage you in some chat if you met in a waiting line or something like that. By the way the intro to Rock And Roll I think more resembles Keep A Knockin’ by LR. I think that Bonzo’s intent on that one.

[@jppagetoo]

Try to stop. That is the truth! If music has it's hooks in you, you can't. You have to have it and you have to know how it's done.

[@richardoxner9755]

Very cool, very interesting guy. Talented!!

[@philipanania8614]

The stuff he played on the Excitable Boy album is some of the tastiest guitar playing of all time for me. That album was one of the biggest influences on me as a guitar player. What a great interview.

[@rocketpost1]

What a great interview with plenty of sound advice. Learn the songs and solos that you like. Problem is the music business is so cut-throat these days. I always remember Carol Kaye going back to the studio where she'd played on hundreds of hit records and the young people in there didn't even know who she was. Very sad.

[@midnight5780]

I was hoping he would've spoke about stevie's upcoming Pittsburgh release..as he is Stevie's music manager aha..

[@paulfurtado8973]

Johnny B. Goode! Who knew?! What a fabulous interview, full of gems! Thanks once again, Dom.

[@bjpetro3041]

No, It is Keep a Knockin' by LIttle Richard, not Johnny B. Goode

[@paulfurtado8973]

@@bjpetro3041 You're right! I actually just learned this a couple of days ago - it's Charles Connor's drum intro to "Keep A-Knockin' "

[@stevegoldstein6832]

Let’s hear it for Queens & Long Island!I grew up in Flushing & eventually moved down to south Jersey;I’ve played quite a gigs in NYC & Long Island..Great interview..Liked the mentioning of Elliot Randall & Mickey Baker books..I still have my copies..Thanks Dom!

[@U.F.O_0908]

I can literally listen to this gentleman telling stories all day long. Thanks for this!

[@glenkepic3208]

Great here. Been a fan of this era for years. I recall the Weinstien bit. Man been digging my 2 week old Epi Lp Jr, Inspired to play by Leslie West, '73. Never got 'good' but good enough to play out for paying gigs. Even quit, twice ('80, sold everything, '85 sold my band amp, a Mace and put the guitars in the closet. for 8 years). Both times had me on the horse again. Waddy said it right.

[@drtimoshea4087]

I was a stage hand for Waddy with Linda in 1969 at Blossom Music Center in Bath Ohio. Here's a question: where is Linda Ronstadt's replacement today - among our overdressed overproduced autotuned posers? How about Waddy's replacement? I'm serious - name them.

[@NelsonRiverosMusic]

Great interview!! The guitarist he mentions in the beginning George Bien I studied with him in the 80’s.

[@Meterman13]

Keep it UP Waddy!

[@clevelandastwood5584]

LOLOL..DAMN...I have listened to, and even played that song in bands ever since it came out....I am sitting here dying laughing, playing the intro over and over on KZbin. John Bonham's intro on Rock and Roll is Johnny B Goode...LOLOL

[@zdrumrguy]

I just finished doing the same thing :) I figured out the timing before this but now it's even easier to do.

[@randalclarke5487]

It's actually Keep a- Knocking by Little Richard

[@ericlarkins]

Awesome interview Dom, thank you man!!

[@jeffaadkins]

Fantastic

[@suzanchamness376]

Love to hear waddy play And loved all the stories Could listen to this all day ❤️

[@chuckkirkpatrick6712]

OMG...my first amp was a tweed Vibrolux my mother bought for me. Probably worth $8-9K now....

[@massimosalustri1276]

Curly long hairs does 90% of guitarist works

[@wmot206]

Don, what a great conversation w/ Waddy! Thanks, Waddy, for the amazing :) stories!

[@redheadedone7421]

Have always been a huge fan of Waddy's playing. His dynamics,feel &ear are THE BEST. After listening to this segment, am now a HUGE fan of the person! What a gentle,beautiful sweetheart of a man!

[@zdrumrguy]

I remember seeing this guy on, what it seemed to me, every concert video throughout the 80s. I was always saying to myself "there's that guy again" oh and "there's that guy with the long beard again". Crazy.

[@davehollander6543]

Yeah, and finally I broke down and decided I had to find out who the hell he is. TYhis was a good start.

[@robertkay9349]

I drove from Vegas to Santa Clarita to see The Immediate Family, Waddy’s current all legend band. It was so worth the trip. I’ve been doing a deep dive exploration of the history of The Section members, and, of course, Waddy keeps coming up. What an incredible musician he is and has been for many years. I am enriched by learning more about this guy.

[@margaretbeard6564]

Is this the guy that was caught with Kitty p*** on his computer?

[@robertstrobel7237]

What a fantastic conversation.

[@sv5k14]

Wow, incredible history, incredible stories....total legend...thank you.

[@benmeltzer]

Does anyone know why Waddy was not on Warren Zevon's final album The Wind? That album was sort of a reunion of all Warren's cohorts over the years, and Waddy was certainly one of the biggest of those.

[@truckerkevthepaidtourist]

Waddy sounds a little bit like Dee Snider when he talks.m is he a native New Yorker originally? I thought he was a California dude like Luke this was a fantastic interview you're getting much better and better. I'm glad I'm subscribed to you man

[@agentorange2554]

Yep, I've seen this dude my whole life and always thought he was a California hippie. Never heard him speak until this interview. Wow, was I way off.

[@davidgregory8950]

Native New Yorker but he can't help it so don't hold it against him. Lol

[@cjcover6467]

Queens, NY... Jackson Heights.

[@roamlikekane]

He should write a book AND he should also narrate the audio version of it. He's got a way with words and has a pleasant voice and personality. Waddy was in the thick of it all when all that great early to mid-70's music took off. Not only was his arrival to Los Angeles impeccable timing, but his unassuming attitude got him into very exclusive circles of hi-profile musicians and session players. Still gigging around today. Incredible!

[@zincthree]

Surprisingly a session musician's life when talented enough gets knowledge of his skills and his continuous learning to get hired much during LA music biz expansion era. and also now Immediate Family band member ... good interview imo

[@thedustykeratometer8570]

Terrific interview!

[@dougdonley448]

wow

[@Mat1970Thompson]

Thank you Dom and Waddy for another great history lesson! Take care and peace and love to you guys and all!

[@roblawhorne1015]

I'm not quitting... You're all fired!

[@teresaclark1508]

🤣

[@smokefire_southern_eats]

These stories are so cool.

[@JusticeConstantine]

Thank you Dom for interviewing Waddy, who I never knew about until watching your video.

[@BrenQ99]

Such greatness and humility shouldn’t combine in one man so cohesively, but here we have Waddy Wachtel.

[@maddma]

Nice show.

[@NelsonRiverosMusic]

Wonderful interviewer you are Dom

[@jimmytaylor9854]

Great conversation. He just let Waddy talk.

[@AllenGarberGuitarFun]

The drum intro of “Rock and Roll” was not from “Johnny B. Goode”...it was actually the drum intro from “Keep A Knockin’” by Little Richard.

[@user-oz5df9yy6v]

i must correct you .. i, like you, thought for sure it was keep a knocking… which stylistically it’s the same but john paul jones is quoted saying “bonzo played the johnny be goode intro ok rock and roll “ i 😂as/still am blown away by it w²:)

[@AllenGarberGuitarFun]

@@user-oz5df9yy6v Nope, I spoke to Jones about it personally in February of 2000 and it is indeed “Keep ‘A Knockin’” that inspired “Rock and Roll”. He was either mistaken or misquoted in that interview. If you listen to the drum intro by Charles Connor on the original recording of “Keep ‘A Knockin’” you’ll easily be able to tell that it is very obviously the inspiration for the “Rock and Roll” drum intro: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hpSto3iumtyej6M

[@tonymarinelli7304]

Waddy is the man

[@chrisknowlton9460]

He co- produced Starfish by The Church. They weren't enamored by his personality apparently.

[@BlumpkinPrince]

what's the gossip? Love that album.

[@kenperk9854]

Waddy is more prolific than a mama cat!

[@bytornsnowdog1347]

WADDY! "OH what a lovely boy! " You're the man! Lol

[@dmytrozaporizkiy3599]

Huge thanks for your job Dom

[@mightyV444]

The first thing that comes to *my* mind whenever I read or hear his name is a story he's telling in Barney Hoskyn's book 'Hotel California' (which deals with the Laurel Canyon days) about coming to David Crosby's house and finding a massive pile of cocaine on a table there; And when he asked if he may have a lil' bit, Crosby's reply was, "I don't know, man; I don't think I have enough to share" x-))

[@andigisler]

I heard Waddy tell the story somewhere but the setting was a CSN or CSN+Y session at the time of Crosby's lowest point.

[@mightyV444]

@@andigisler - Could've been that; It's several years ago now that I've read that book. In any case, "lowest point" sounds about right.

[@murielpalmer-rhea8250]

“BOB”?? Jerry, George, Lester, maybe…🥸

[@MichaelSSmith-hs5pw]

The first time I became aware of Robert “Waddy” Wachtel was with his many years in Linda Ronstadt’s band as lead guitar player, but he’s done way so much more than that. He’s been a studio musician for a who’s who of rock royalty. The funny thing is he’s looked the same for all those years, long curly blonde hair, glasses, etc. Ronstadt said “Waddy was the heart of my music” rock on! 🎼🎵🎶🎸💕👏👍

[@IronMan-tk8uc]

Same with Lee Sklar. The same faces but their music gets better and better!

[@MichaelSSmith-hs5pw]

@@IronMan-tk8uc 😁👍👌✌️🎶

[@drlarcey]

Great doc Waddy you are amazing Great SIR story wow

[@loopy7776]

You played guitar on a tune I wrote. Thanks.

[@robinsd4]

What a great interview

[@Johnty54]

Great interview - Waddy is such a gentleman

[@brainstain2904]

What a great musician and a cool dude!

[@DrummerDanVa]

Amazing stories. Sadly that world of producing records no longer exists.

[@mickreid7153]

Well done both and Kermit too! 👏👏👍👋

[@edwardmorehouse1424]

Dom,Great interview!

[@JosephRosenfeld]

Wow. What an "amazing" interview. Fantastic!

[@PeteLamont]

Oh Johnny b Goode,

[@59simonh]

Great interview! Great to hear him being so respectful of the Cowills musicality. Our 80's crowd used to follow Billy Cowsill band, Vancouver..what a great singer and champion of rock and roll he was..and introduced a lot of great west coast guitar players. Thanks for mentioning him Mr. W.👍

[@witcheshusband7859]

Thanks so much for the show with waddy. He amazing . I just discovered your channel and signed up

[@TheSessionsPanel]

Awesome! Thank you!

[@wajobu]

Wow, I had no idea about the Cowsills connection. The Cowsills were such a talented family, but you're right about their dad. What an amazing time, all of the connections...listened to ALL of these musicians growing up.

[@sblack48]

Lesley Weinstein??? HA!

[@antoniomaccanti5800]

Definitely one of my music heroes! I can wait to listen to Immediate Family, his new band.

[@teresaclark1508]

Immediate Family is amazing! Waddy can wail! Their EP is out Oct 15th.

[@roblawhorne1015]

Leland Sklar has some Immediate Family posted on his yt channel!

[@Martinuci]

I love this guy...I probably will never meet him, but that doesn't matter. Great musician!

[@jcmguitar8609]

Great interview. Thanks!

[@bjpetro3041]

No, It is based off of Keep a Knockin' by LIttle Richard, not Johnny B. Goode. Great interview.

[@paullacotta5645]

This is incredible ❤️💕😎

[@professorhamamoto]

Best interviewer going, Dom Famolaro. Going with The Cowsills was what got the legend Waddy Wachtel to L.A. Wild! Want to read more in a book.

[@babagadoush1]

Love this dude

[@tongusgrump2261]

The secret is unleashing talented like minded artist together live in a creative space magic happens... never happens in your bedroom or inter web medium. It’s interacting to live music versus listening to iPhone music on your ear buds. Man I miss these times. Great to reminisce and reconnect in live clubs now in 2020. You can’t explain music, you have to experience it live!

[@bradynorris1653]

Fun Fact: He was in the band in “The Poseidon Adventure.”

[@MrGuyroxxx]

who was?

[@sid7088]

He was also on SCTV, playing with Joe Walsh on a segment called The Fishin' Musician with John Candy.

[@sueaustin1796]

Love to hear your past experiences, Waddy! It brings back such wonderful memories for me! I've known you since the 1960s Cowsill days! I was a young Cowsill groupy!!! Seen you many times at Linda Ronstadt and Stevie Nicks concerts!! I always purchased the best upfront seats! You smiled at me and said hello to me once! Love you and the all Immediate Family Band members!! I wish you all the best. You deserve it!!! Blessings my friend!

[@RosePetal17]

Oh my goodness, Waddy is SO charismatic and dynamic to watch. I just saw Stevie Nicks' concert on PBS, and the musicianship of EVERYBODY was "24 Karat Gold!"

[@rickyellison9103]

He's a rare breed like Glen Campbell. Perfect pitch. Maybe one in a thousand

[@GudmundurKristjansson]

Oh boy this guy Waddy has been everywhere in the field of great music. Great musician with a wide range of music style & a good friend of Leland Sklar (y)

[@kenperk9854]

Waddy has always had the most interesting hair in the music biz.

[@revelatorjohn-v5o]

this was a great conversation, also restored faith in world humanity with overlooked symbolism lost perhaps that two brothers in music exemplified serenity in art , common NYC experience, etc , , Amen I have a personal testimonial Dom did low key cliinic , just drums north toronto suburb , and before he started he pulled up a chair next to me in the back row and chatted, creating a lasting impression on budding drummer me, at those in some ways better times, great double bass playing,, I was big on the chet doboe book series at the time , which was smaller trap kit funk Now that I play guitar this is the second time Ive heard mickey baker book recommended , robben ford was also a self guided student of the mickey baker school, and I now own a reprint , great for chord substition, had no idea what Waddys training background was from other interviews, so this interview nailed it

[@TheSessionsPanel]

Thank you! Great story & testimonial to continued learning & Dom's still makes lasting impressions on Artists today ! Thanks for sharing & please be sure to subscribe so you don't miss any interviews!