Episode 4

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Published on:

22nd Jan 2024

Guest: Laurie Kaye, Author, Producer & Casting Director

On this episode of Big Conversations, Little Bar, author and former radio host Laurie Kaye sits down with Patrick Evans and Randy Florence to share her captivating story. On December 8, 1980, Laurie had the opportunity to interview her longtime idol, John Lennon, in the legendary Dakota apartments in NYC. Little did she know that it would be his last interview before tragedy struck. Just hours after their conversation, Lennon was shot dead outside the same building by a man Laurie encountered earlier. Laurie also opens up about her interviews with several other music industry icons.

Laurie’s radio days launched at the legendary KFRC-AM in San Francisco. She wrote and co-produced several rock specials, from RKO’s epic Beatles series to Dick Clark's popular weekly countdown. She later moved on to TV and film, embracing her talents as a writer, producer, and casting director which she continues to do today. Join us as Laurie shares her unforgettable journey and discusses her book, Confessions of a Rock 'n' Roll Name-Dropper: My Life Leading Up to John Lennon's Last Interview. Don't miss out on this extraordinary conversation with a true music industry insider who calls the Coachella Valley home. Recorded in Palm Desert at Skip Paige’s Little Bar – the Center of the Coachella Valley Universe.

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About the Podcast

Big Conversations, Little Bar
Hosted by Patrick Evans and Randy Florence, get up close and personal with fascinating people who live in and visit the Coachella Valley and have made an impact on the region's economy, culture and global appeal as a leading tourism destination.
The series is now in its sixth season and has just launched its third year of production as it reaches the 100th episode mark in the first quarter of 2025! Many thanks to our outstanding listeners from throughout the Golden State, North America and around the world. And, a very special note of gratitude to our friends Skip Paige and Kate Spates for hosting us at Little Bar in Palm Desert, CA, and to Chairman Garry Kief, Digital Content Whiz Leanne McNeil and all the fine staff at the McCallum Theatre, without whose sponsorship this program would not be made possible to bring you every single week. Please support these enterprises as doing so helps support our ability to deliver hours of entertainment each month to our loyal followers.

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