Cool Cats! How Cats are the Soul of Rock 'n' Roll 🎸🥁🎶
Featuring cat daddy Jackson Galaxy, Fender upside-down lefty shredder Malina Moye and Dolly Parton and Janis Joplin biographer Holly George-Warren
Behold, music and cat fans among ye - A NEW 6 DEGREES OF CATS EPISODE IS OUT NOW!! Link here - or “wherever you get your podcasts” 🎧
Listen to learn about the purr-fect harmony between cats and rock 'n' roll in this episode of 6 Degrees of Cats, your favorite cat-themed culture, history and science podcast!
Tracy Chapman and Beyoncé are trending for their recent entries into the country & western charts - but why should we NOT be surprised? And why is it factually correct that they, too, fit beautifully into the lineage of rock ‘n’ roll and blues of cool cats?
Wait - cats? What’s that all about?
Follow the Captain as she explores the untold stories of how these enigmatic creatures have influenced the genre. From legendary rock icons like Freddie Mercury and David Bowie who found inspiration in their feline friends to the timeless melodies that echo the spirit of independence and liberation by Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Ma Rainey and - yes - Tracy Chapman, appreciate the hidden connections between cool cats and the soulful rhythms of rock 'n' roll.
We’ll be joined by not one, not two, but THREE award-winning rock stars! ‘My Cat From Hell’ star, musician and international cat advocate Jackson Galaxy shares how cats purr-fectly fit into his rock ‘n’ roll persona - and still do! Leading R&B musician and guitarist Malina Moye explains how cats have informed and inspired her artistry, and acclaimed music journalist and former Das Fürlines guitarist Holly George-Warren provides historic and cultural insights as to how, and why, cats are the rock stars of the animal kingdom.
We'll talk jive about blues, jazz, rock ‘n’ roll and hepcat slang - as well as about American history - in this fact and fret-filled episode.
Tune in for a meow-nificent journey through music history and cat appreciation! 🐾🎸
Pledge to support this Substack, which is the companion podcast newsletter to help keep this ship afloat, and follow us on all the places here: linktr.ee/6degreesofcats.
Referenced episodes:
Cats vs Cupid: Why Cats are the Better Valentine’s Day Mascot
Did You Know the Vikings had Cats? Magic, Freya and Norse Folklore
Referenced materials:
Fast Car (from Tracy Chapman, Elektra Records, 1989)
Chili’s Babyback Ribs Commercial BTS video (MUST WATCH)
About the experts:
Jackson Galaxy is a cat behavior and wellness expert, YouTube creator, musician and the star of hit Animal Planet series, My Cat From Hell. Visit jacksongalaxyproject and follow @catdaddy on YouTube and all social media platforms.
Holly George-Warren is a two-time Grammy nominee and the award-winning author of sixteen books, including Behind the Seams: My Life in Rhinestones (Clarkson Potter/Ten Speed, 2023) co-authored with Dolly Parton, and Janis: Her Life and Music (Simon and Schuster, 2019), named best nonfiction book of 2019 by the Texas Institute of Letters. She teaches at SUNY New Paltz and New York University’s The Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music and can be found at https://www.hollygeorgewarren.com.
Malina Moye is an award-winning blues guitarist and R&B singer and is the first African American female upside-down lefty guitarist to be endorsed by Fender USA. Her 2023 full length release, ‘Dirty’ landed at the top of the Billboard blues chart and was listed among Guitar World Magazine’s top five greatest guitar albums of 2023. Purchase her records, learn about the “Enough” campaign and when Moye will be playing your city by visiting malinamoye.com.
Producer, writer, editor, sound designer, host, basically everything*
Amanda B. (Instagram @catsuitband)
* with co-executive producers Binky & Snuggles
Animal voices include:
Binky & Snuggles _^..^_
Music supervision, mixes and arrangements: Amanda B.
Leathered: "Look Alive", “Break it Down” and “Nothing But Love” © 2022
Captain Kitty: “Not Fast Car”
Samples licenced via Loopcloud
Additional sound effects from Pixabay.com
Logo design:
Edward Anthony © 2022 (Instagram: @mtotallywired)
Research used:
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