{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"Episode 104: Paul Rappaport","description":"\u201cThis is the best book about how it used to be,\u201d writes the influential music critic and record industry analysts Bob Lefsetz, in praise of Paul Rappaport\u2019s wild ride of a memoir, Gliders Over Hollywood: Airships, Airplay and the Art of Rock Promotion. \u201c[It\u2019s] the only book I can remember that truly details what it was like inside the star factory.\u201d After a career spanning more than three decades in rock promotion at Columbia Records, \u201cRap\u201d knows as much as anyone what it takes to launch a new act, pump up a new record, or beat the drums on behalf of a world tour. Before capping his career at the label as a senior vice president, he had played a pivotal role in shaping and re-shaping the careers of some of the biggest stars in the business, including artists such as Bruce Springsteen, Billy Joel, Elvis Costello, and the Boomtown Rats. \u201cI\u2019m a storyteller,\u201d he explains, of the many ways he tried to frame the stories of the musicians on his roster. \u201cWe were making it up as we went along, and the characters were everywhere\u2014not just the artists, but the behind-the-scenes people, the managers. No one had captured anything\u2026 I started thinking if I don\u2019t write this down now, I don\u2019t know how long I\u2019ll have these memories. But I have them now, so that\u2019s why a book, and why now.\u201d Upon leaving Columbia, Rap formed his own production company, Tres Hombres, and for many years wrote the \u201cBackstage Access\u201d block for Classics du Jour. He was the lead guitarist in the pioneering Los Angeles punk band Mogan David & His Winos. Join us for a frenzied and free-wheeling look back at the glory days of rock \u2018n roll, as Rap reflects on the writing of his first book, and a culture-stamping career that gifted him the chance to eat latkes with Lou Reed, receive a backstage guitar lesson from Keith Richards, talk Bob Dylan down from writer\u2019s block, and trade licks onstage with David Gilmour in a once-in-a-lifetime turn as a featured guest of Pink Floyd. Learn more about Paul Rappaport: Website Facebook Instagram Please support the sponsors who support our show: Gotham Ghostwriters' Gathering of the Ghosts Ritani Jewelers Daniel Paisner's Balloon Dog Daniel Paisner's SHOW: The Making and Unmaking of a Network Television Pilot Heaven Help Us by John Kasich Unforgiving: Lessons from the Fall by Lindsey Jacobellis Film Movement Plus (PODCAST) | 30% discount Libro.fm (ASTOLDTO) | 2 audiobooks for the price of 1 when you start your membership Film Freaks Forever! podcast, hosted by Mark Jordan Legan and Phoef Sutton Everyday Shakespeare podcast A Mighty Blaze podcast The Writer's Bone Podcast Network Misfits Market (WRITERSBONE) | $15 off your first order  Film Movement Plus (PODCAST) | 30% discount Wizard Pins (WRITERSBONE) | 20% discount ","author_name":"As Told To","author_url":"http:\/\/astoldtopodcast.com\/","html":"