Avi Hoffman is a globally renowned award-winning actor, director and producer, and Co-Founder & CEO of Yiddishkayt Initiative, Inc. (YILoveJewish.org)
This is a nonprofit organization dedicated to fighting Antisemitism through the Arts : Yiddish Saves The World.
Avi was recently awarded Congressional recognition. He was invited to the Vatican to meet Pope Francis and was inducted into the Bronx Jewish Hall of Fame for his lifetime work advancing Jewish culture, Yiddish language and Holocaust awareness.
Technically, Arwen Lewis inhabits our blue planet, but so much about her belongs in the celestial realm. First and foremost, her earthily angelic voice (just listen and you’ll know that’s not a contradiction in terms). Then there’s her lineage: The granddaughter of Oscar-winning actress Loretta Young and Tom Lewis who created the Armed Forces Radio Network during World War II. She is the daughter of Peter Lewis, a founding member of ‘60s psychedelic cult heroes Moby Grape, she’s been part of the creative cosmos all her life. So it’s no surprise that Arwen’s new OMAD EP is called Under the Stars—or that a slice of sonic heaven is poised to enter your heart, mind and soul.
Arwen creates music in the professional realm for the pure love of creating art, and because of the community that she has found in the world of music and performance. She not only performs but also works with other musicians. including organizes concerts. She is also the host of a music podcast on Pantheon Podcasts called The Arwen Lewis Show. Arwen looks forward to creating new music in the future and exploring the realm of alternative music with nuances of classical and jazz.
Robert LaRoche has been a musician since his teens in Holyoke, Massachusetts. He toured long and hard with The Sighs in support of their Nineties’ albums What Goes On and Different, and when their frontman elected to step out of the spotlight, he found a satisfying role, writing, recording, and performing with Patricia Vonne, whose pop-rock sound has Latin/country flavors. Ultimately, LaRoche’s own muse stirred anew and he released the aptly titled Patient Man in 2015 and its follow-up, A Thousand Shades, four years later.
Now, on Forevermore, he’s come full circle. There are sparkling, giddy moments and somber, poignant pieces. LaRoche explains: “Loss and gain, dark and light—it’s the basic human experience of redemption that I hope rings true to the listener.”
Janet Rutkowski is a Brooklyn-based artist with a studio in Barryville, NY. She’s a self-taught artist whose work spans over 35 years and primarily works in steel, although during the pandemic, she created hundreds of works on paper entitled Quarantine Compositions. Janet is also a curator and currently has a large show in celebration of Women’s History Month entitled: Behind The Mask. The Art of Women Welders. It features 29 women welders and over 50 works of powerful art, as well as one of her large scale pieces.
Here Rutkowski discuss:
The inspiration for her work
The role of women in the current art world today
The current show that she co-curated featuring women welders for Women’s History Month.
Her numerous projects and events (CLICK to visit her WEBSITE )
Richard Humann is a Brooklyn-based neo-conceptual artist with innumerable international gallery and museum exhibitions, including: the Kemi Art Museum, the Tampere Art Museum, the Tornio Art Museum, the San Cristóbal Art Museum, the Daelim Art Museum, Macao Art Museum, the Kaohsiung Museum of Art, the Museum of Contemporary Art, Ssamzie Space, and the Espoo Museum of Modern Art. Humann was born and raised in the Lower Hudson Valley region of New York State. He divides his time between Greenpoint, Brooklyn and Woodstock, NY.
Hear Richard discuss…
1. Moving to Brooklyn in the mid 1980’s from upstate New York – How has the art scene changed in all those years?
2. His work is displayed now on an international stage. How did this transformation happen?
3. What direction is his art now taking especially given the changing art world due to technological advances?
4. What is the place of art in today’s society and how is he viewing his legacy?
Alan Chapell is an attorney, singer, songwriter and bandleader. Based in NYC, Chapell tours the world. He is influenced heavily by 80s and 90s music – but his lyrics reflect the world around him.
Hear Alan talk about…
1. His career as an attorney and what drove him to become a singer, songwriter and bandleader.
2. What he learned from touring the world and how that’s shared in his music.
3. His future plans for his music and what audiences he plans to impact.
4. What are the takeaways from his journey that will inspire others, especially young people, to follow their dreams.
Constance Hayes Matsumoto and Kent Matsumoto authored “Of White Ashes” which is based on the true story of their Japanese American family during World War II. Constance is a former corporate and interior design devotee who embraced the art of creative writing. Inspired by Shakespeare’s “What’s past is prologue,” her writing is intended to influence positive change in our world. Kent, a third-generation Japanese American, was born in Virginia and spent his formative years living in Japan where he attended the American School. Together they empty-nest in Delaware and will make the Japanese American Memorial Pilgrimage.
Hear them discuss:
1. The inspiration for “Of White Ashes”.
2. Their decision to co-author “Of White Ashes”.
3. What readers can take away from “Of White Ashes”.
Armando Camina is a pioneering Radio & TV personality and Founder of the Hope Faith & Dreams Foundation (501c3). The Foundation
believes in Critical Thinking using Arts and Education as a path to the development of success. His mentorship program’s mission is to motivate by creating fun ways to learn and to meet interesting people who can inspire the path to learning.Click to see more about the Foundation.
Hear Armando discuss his journey and the importance of Arts & Education, mentorship and literacy.
His first career as a Texas Broadcaster
How did Hope, Faith, and Dreams Begin in 2002.
What is the Kaleidoscope of ARTS Mentorship Program and why is it unique and relevant?
From left to right: John DeNicola, Jennifer Grey, Don Markowitz, Patrick Swayze, Franke Previte
The Dirty Dancing movie starring Patrick Swayze came out in 1987. Its soundtrack spent 18 weeks at #1 on the Billboard 200 album sales chart and 230 weeks in the Top 30. With an astonishing 55 million in sales worldwide, the Dirty Dancing original soundtrack is one of the greatest selling soundtracks of all time.
This podcast features the composers of the movie’s iconic songs John DeNicola, Franke Previte, and Stacy Widelitz. You will be inspired by their work and careers.
John DeNicola is an Academy & Golden Globe Award winning singer/songwriter co-wrote the 2 iconic songs “(I’ve Had) The Time Of My Life” + “Hungry Eyes”. In the last few years John has released 2 solo albums. He also discovered MAROON 5, a pop rock band whose lead vocalist is Adam Levine.
is also an Academy & Golden Globe Award winning singer/songwriter who co-wrote the 2 iconic songs “(I’ve Had) The Time Of My Life” and “Hungry Eyes”. Franke also had hits with Franke & The Knockouts …and co-wrote songs with Cyndi Lauper, Fleetwood Mac & many others who are well known in the music industry.
Stacy Widelitz is a multi-platinum songwriter and photographer who co-wrote “She’s Like The Wind” with his late friend Patrick Swayze, the star of Dirty Dancing. The award-winning song has played on US radio 4 million times. Stacy has also scored features, made-for-TV movies, written the end-title song for Disney’s Pocahontas II, and was nominated for an Emmy for ABC’s World of Discovery.
Joseph James is an award-winning mainstream singer-song writer/ producer from New York, and the founder of AP Music Group. He holds a bachelor’s degree in music from Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA. Joseph has performed, produced and toured with major acts all over the world. Some notable acts include Lady Gaga (Stefani Germanotta) and Ritchie Blackmore (Deep Purple).
“Valentine” is Joseph’s debut single released worldwide in January, 2023, followed by 10 more powerhouse tracks on his debut album, ’55.’ With Joseph’s record label, studio and performance experience, Joseph is setting out to be the next big act in the mainstream commercial music business in 2023.
Hear Joseph talk about his experiences of working with SuperStars:
Fun / wild experiences of being on the road with Richie Blackmore
How he met Lady Gaga
Working with Dolly Parton
His decision on finally releasing his first solo album