Revisiting the unheralded hitmakers of the 1970s

For a number of years, I’ve been given the privilege of teaching classes for the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at the University of Richmond.

My class proposals have covered lots of topics: writing, cowboy music, the Andy Griffith Show, and book discussions.

While I have enjoyed putting those classes together, it has been my collaborations with my childhood friend, Joe Vanderford, from Burlington, North Carolina, that has brought lots of satisfaction.

Since 2016, Joe and I have developed eight classes on the following recording artists: The Beach Boys’ Pet Sounds, Carl Wilson of the Beach Boys, Brian Wilson presents Smile, George Harrison’s All Things Must Pass, The Band, The Beatles’ Abbey Road, and Stevie Wonder.

Class number eight focused on a Denny Tedesco documentary, The Immediate Family. This film is all about a gifted group of session musicians from the 1970s.

I’ve included a link to an article that I wrote for The University of Richmond Magazine about this class.

Special thanks to Editor, Matthew Dewald, for all that he and his team did to support the publishing of the article.

That thanks is also extended to Osher Director, Peggy Watson, and her staff, and the Dean of the School of Professional and Continuing Studies, Dr. Jamelle Wilson.

And finally a special thanks to the Osher students, and Joe Vanderford and Denny Tedesco.

And one more finally, if a college or university in your area participates in the Osher Institute, I hope you will check it out.

Hopefully, the link works:

https://magazine.richmond.edu/article/-/26718/revisiting-the-unheralded-hitmakers-of-the-1970s.html?utm_source=magazine&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=magazine-story