Don Randi & Denny Tedesco Discuss Wrecking Crew Stories and The Magnificent Legacy Of Brian Wilson!

Don Randi is a keyboard player, songwriter, arranger, bandleader and one of the most prolific session musicians in history. Don was born in New York City but raised in the Catskill Mountains where he studied classical music. He moved to Los Angeles in 1954 and, by the early 60s, Don was leading his own groups and working with a who's who of now legendary artists. Don is also the founder and owner of the long-standing L.A. nightclub the Baked Potato which he opened way back in 1970. 

Denny Tedesco is a film producer known for the documentaries "Immediate Family" and "The Wrecking Crew" although Mr. Tedesco has worked on films over the years as a set director, lighting technician, grip and location producer.

Maggie, Don & Denny discuss the revolving cast of musical characters we now know as The Wrecking Crew and later we discuss the extraordinary musical legacy of Brian Wilson who passed away June 11, 2025 at the age of 82. 

Brian Douglas Wilson was an American musician, songwriter, singer, and record producer who co-founded the Beach Boys. He was born on June 20, 1942, at Centinela Hospital Medical Center in Inglewood, California and passed away on June 11, 2025 at the age of 82 in Beverly Hills. 

Brian Wilson has been frequently called a genius for his compositions and recording techniques and is regarded as one of the most significant songwriters in popular music.

His best-known work is distinguished by high production values, complex harmonies, orchestrations and vocal layering.

In 1961, Brian began his professional career as a member of the Beach Boys, serving as the band's songwriter, producer, co-lead vocalist, bassist, keyboardist, and de facto leader. After signing with Capitol Records in 1962, he became the first pop musician credited for writing, arranging, producing, and performing his own material.

By the mid-1960s he had written or co-written more than two dozen American Top 40 hits, including the #1 hits "Surf City" (1963), "I Get Around" (1964), "Help Me, Rhonda" (1965), and "Good Vibrations" (1966). He is considered among the first music producer auteurs and one of the first rock producers to use the studio as an instrument. We dedicate the show to Brian Wilson, there will never be another so bright and so brilliant! 

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don_Randi
Source: https://www.wreckingcrewfilm.com/
Source: https://www.brianwilson.com/
Source: https://thebeachboys.com/

Host Maggie LePique, a radio veteran since the 1980's at NPR in Kansas City Mo. She began her radio career in Los Angeles in the early 1990's and has worked for Pacifica station KPFK Radio in Los Angeles since 1994.