‘Champagne Sundays’ SouthwestBlend.com’s Online Radio features two Special Art & Entertainment Shows on Sunday, March 16^th, 2008
Find out more about artists, musicians, cowboy poets, and authors from the Southwest!  Shows air on March 16, 2008 from 11 am to 1 pm PST, second show from 2 pm – 4pm PST

For the entire, unedited, Art, Book & Music show that aired 11 am - 1 pm with the guests below, please double click on the Play button below.

To hear the featured guest of your choice, please follow the links below.

Show #1 – ‘Art, Books & Music’ Show – airs live from 11 am-1pm PST
Featured Guests include:
Lance Laber - Executive Director of the DeGrazia Foundation and Gallery of the Sun
The DeGrazia foundation and the DeGrazia Gallery of the Sun is located in the Sun Historic District in Tucson, Arizona, and was listed on the National Register in October 2006 because of its association with the life and art of Ettore "Ted" DeGrazia. Beginning in the early 1950s, DeGrazia designed and built the Gallery in the Sun complex from the ground up with Native American friends who made traditional adobe bricks on the ten-acre foothills site. The first buildings include the Mission in the Sun, the artist's home, a studio and small gallery.
The main gallery opened in 1965, a place where the prolific artist could exhibit his growing collections of work. Six permanent collections of paintings trace historical events and native cultures of the Southwest. Rotating exhibitions display some of the 15,000 DeGrazia originals housed at the gallery, including oils, watercolors, sketches, serigraphs, lithographs, sculptures and ceramics. To listen to the interview – Click here.

Robert K. Swisher Jr. – Author of Western Contemporary Fiction
Robert K. Swisher, Jr. has been writing western contemporary fiction since 1967. To date twelve of his novels have been published ranging from young adult novels to historical fiction along with numerous short stories and a book of poetry. He is listed in ‘Young Contemporary Authors’, ‘Who’s Who in the West’, and the ‘2005 Who’s Who in America’. Six of his novels are still in print, with three out of print books due to be released within a year. During his writing career Swisher worked on several large ranches in New Mexico and for many years was a high mountain wilderness guide for hunting, fishing, and photography trips. The Land has been put on tape for the blind and physically handicapped, several novels have been optioned for movie rights and his books have received many excellent reviews from national publications. He is joining us to talk about his new novel ‘How Far the Mountain’. To hear the interview – Click here.

Steve Smith – from the ‘Hard Road’ Band
From New Mexico, Mandolin player Steve Smith will be joining us to talk about his band ‘Hard Road’ and their new CD ‘Only So Fast’, on the Desert Night label, which features nine vocals and three instrumentals ranging from hard driving Bluegrass and Old-time to modern acoustic music and features the vocal compositions of the award winning songwriting team of Chris Sanders and Steve Smith. Stellar fiddle, mandolin, banjo, guitar and bass work are highlights throughout. Steve Smith is a musician and composer, who has been performing mandolin and vocals for over 20 years in about as many different types of musical situations as one can imagine, from hard-driving traditional Bluegrass, his first love, to New Acoustic, Celtic, and Jazz ensembles, Old-Time, and chamber music. In addition, Steve has been involved in a number of theatrical productions, and maintains a busy teaching and workshop schedule, and a broad pallet of recording sessions. To listen to the interview. – Click here.

Ted Phillip Denton – Contemporary Artist
A visit to Ted Phillip Denton's studio and gallery in Palm Springs, California, is a unique experience offering a variety of contemporary art forms from delicate clay objects, to large scale paintings of bold color and metal sculpture both functional and decorative of all sizes. A self-taught artist and a true minimalist, Ted produces contemporary works of art with an architectural influence, and is potentially one of the most important artists of the 21^st century. To listen to the interview – Click here.

Jana Botkin – Fine Artist
Jana Botkin grew up in rural Tulare County, California, surrounded by orange groves with a daily view of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. In 1987 Jana named her business CABINART because she began her professional career began with drawing cabins in Mineral King using just pencil. The detailed accuracy in these renderings is still her trademark style. Jana also works in colored pencils and has transitioned to oil painting. Her painting style is different than her drawing style, although one can recognize the signature subject matter: citrus, local landscape, Sequoia National Park, and the historic Mineral King area. To listen to the interview – Click Here.

Show #2 – ‘Music & Entertainment’ Show – airs live from 2 pm – 4 pm PST

To hear the entire, unedited show, please double click on the play button below.

To hear your choice of featured guest, please follow the links below.

Featured Guests include:
Shauna Burns – Singer, Songwriter and Pianist
One of the most promising multi-talents on today's indie music scene, Shauna Burns, is an ethereal voiced singer, songwriter and pianist. She will be joining us to talk about her emotionally compelling new album ‘The Moon and the Fire Circle’. Her 2005 Debut ‘Every Thought ' spawned two popular AAA format radio singles; was chosen as one of the ‘Top CD's Of The Year’ by the Indie website Collected Sounds; was chosen for “Best of the Batch” from the Music Industry News Network and featured on TowerPod.com, Indie-Music.com, Billboard, VH1, Artist Direct, AOL Music and Fox TV, among other outlets. Over the past few years, Burns has enchanted audiences at clubs and Borders Stores across the U.S. and in the U.K. To hear the interview – Click here.

Jon Roniger – Singer, Songwriter and Guitarist
Jon Roniger’s heartfelt roots rock is a truly American slice of songwriting. Adding his unique voice to the lineage of great U.S. artists, Roniger brings to the table music that touches on the human spirit without pretence and with much emotional power. Capturing the passion and power of what it means to be us, his songs are mirrors into which we each can look and see ourselves. Roniger has shared the stage with such artists as Big Head Todd and the Monsters, The Samples, Stroke 9, Luce and others. Jon will be joining us to talk about his third new album ‘Charmed Life’ and his upcoming tour throughout the UK. ‘Charmed Life’ was produced by Robert Reynolds (The Mavericks, Swag) and Jim Reilley (New Dylans, Curb Writer). He is currently working with A&R Select, the leading indie A&R firm in Hollywood, CA. To listen to the interview - Click Here. 

Albert Tenaya – Native American Flute Player Singer, Songwriter & Storyteller
Albert Tenaya is a Native American Flute Player, Singer, Songwriter, and Storyteller of the Ahwahneeche band of the Yosemite Valley California Paiutes. He has a rare talent--he is a master storyteller. Using only a few words--he conveys emotion through simple melody lines, dynamics and a voice that compels you to sit back and really listen. Even listening is not enough. Albert's vocals, guitar, flute playing and arrangements are like strands that stand alone, eventually weaving themselves together to evoke a feeling in the listener. He successfully brings his Native American heritage to life and shares it with you in a very personal way. He in fact, feels his work here on earth, is as a messenger to help bring cultures together. To listen to the interview – Click Here.  

Mike Moutoux – New Mexico’s Most Enchanting Cowboy
Mike’s songs, like his poems, draw you into an "experience" similar to those he has had as a working cowboy on the J.E.J. Ranch in Silver City, New Mexico, where they ranch in the traditional methods. He creates characters like Slick Rock Sam and Cowboy Charley that will stick in your mind. In 2006, Mike was nominated for “Cowboy Poet of the Year” with the Western Music Association and performed at their festival in Albuquerque. After Mike's performance at the 100th Anniversary of the Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument, one of his poems, “Spirits Still Remain”, has been archived by the National Park System in a time capsule. Headin' Home, Mike's third CD, won a nomination from the Western Music Association for "Cowboy Poetry CD of the Year" in 2007. To listen to the interview– Click Here. 

Anna Stafford – Eclectic, Classical & Rock Violinist
While earning heavy critical acclaim for her Indie debut ‘String Music’, Anna Stafford has performed with MASS Ensemble (In Hong Kong, The Bahamas and Canada), and Christian artist Michael W. Smith. Last year she performed with the Dixie Chicks at Grammy Awards, and this year she took to the stage again, playing behind Kanye West’s memorable, multi-faceted presentation that included famed house music duo Daft Punk. Other noteworthy performances include the 2007 Emmy Awards Party, the Governor’s Ball after The Oscars, playing on TV behind pop superstars LeAnn Rimes, Andrea Bocelli, 3 Doors Down, Mary J. Blige and Kelly Clarkson (“The Tonight Show,” “The Early Show,” “Good Morning America”). She’s working with instrument manufacturer Yamaha—one of her endorsers, along with Pirastro and Schertler--on a series of concerts for educators featuring String Music and the latest Yamaha four and five string models. Facing the future head on with a sense of optimism that her fascinating hybrid rock classical vibe will continue to capture hearts and spirits everywhere, she calls her latest CD ‘Staring At The Sky’. To hear the interview – Click here.