History of L.A. Ska: One On One Sessions

Host Junor Francis and producer Eric Kohler talk with Richard Blade, legendary radio DJ, television host, author, and producer, who is one of the most recognizable voices of 1980's new wave and alternative music.

On this special Celebrating Stranger Cole episode, host Junor Francis and producer Eric Kohler are joined by: singer, songwriter Persephone "Queen P" Laird; DJ, promoter, record collector Darren Reggae; Australian DJ, promoter, musician, documentarian Mohair Slim; and record label operator, DJ, promoter Chuck Wren. Stranger Cole passed away on June 11, 2026 at the age of 86. His musical contributions spanned the birth of ska, rise of rocksteady, global expansion of reggae, and current resurgence of ska. His timeless songs, joyful spirit, infectious energy, and enormous influence will continue to resonate for generations to come.

On this Promoter Roundtable episode, host Junor Francis and producer Eric Kohler talk with three well-respected, veteran promoters -- Tom Chasteen (Dub Club, Echodelic Sound), Dane Roberts (Victoria Ska & Reggae Festival), and Jon Halperin (The Glass House, Vegas Records).

Host Junor Francis and producer Eric Kohler talk with two founding members of The Expanders - Devin Morrison and John Butcher.Devin's credits also include Man Like Devin & The Relatives, Long Beach Dub Allstars, The Lions, and Hepcat. John's credits also include Jr. Thomas & The Volcanos, The Steady 45s, Western Standard Time Ska Orchestra, Brothers of Reggae, and Ryan Thorne & The Ramblers.

Host Junor Francis and producer Eric Kohler talk with trumpeter, keyboardist, singer, songwriter, Stephen Bradley, whose credits include No Doubt, Gwen Stefani, Steel Pulse, Sullvn Band, and Smashing Pumpkins.

Host Junor Francis and producer Eric Kohler talk with legendary frontwoman, singer, songwriter, and actor, Pauline Black, of 2-Tone group, The Selecter.

Host Junor Francis and producer Eric Kohler talk with two Jamaican ska and rocksteady legends, the husband and wife singing duo of Roy Panton and Yvonne Harrison.

Host Junor Francis and producer Eric Kohler talk with London-based, veteran promoter, musician, songwriter, deejay, and record label operator, Sean Flowerdew, of The London International Ska Festival, Happy People Records, Phoenix City All-Stars, Pama International, The Loafers, and Special Beat.

Host Junor Francis and producer Eric Kohler talk with singer, songwriter, and producer, George "Clive" Murphy, of legendary rocksteady trio, The Tennors.The Tennors alongside Eric "Monty" Morris will perform for SkaMania at La Santa in Santa Ana, CA on February 28, 2026.

Host Junor Francis and producer Eric Kohler talk with reggae legend, singer/songwriter, Lloyd "Bread" McDonald of Wailing Souls.

For this 2025 Year in Review Roundtable, host Junor Francis and producer Eric Kohler are joined by singer, multi-instrumentalist, and influencer Jer Hunter (Skatune Network, We Are The Union), artist manager and promoter Nancy Arteaga (Nance Arte Productions, Regent Theater), and radio host Mikey Rhude (That Same Old Show, Rhude Awakening).

J. BONNER, SCOTT ABELS & JIMMY CLIFF'S REBIRTH is the focus of our final episode of 2025. On this Episode 115 hosted by Junor Francis and produced by Eric Kohler, J. and Scott reflect on recording and performing with Jimmy as part of his ENGINE ROOM backing band led by TIM ARMSTRONG. This seminal album, Rebirth, won a Grammy Award in 2012, and deservedly so.J.'s credits include JANDISC RECORDS, STUDIO ONE, THE AGGROLITES, THE VESSELS, BLACK EMERALDS, and DUB STREET ROCKERS. Scott's credits include HEPCAT, THE AGGROLITES, LARS FREDERIKSEN & THE BASTARDS, THEE HURRICANES, WESTERN STANDARD TIME, JR. THOMAS & THE VOLCANOS, LET'S GO BOWLING, and CYPRESS HILL.

On this Reggae Got Soul - Part 1 episode, host Junor Francis and producer Eric Kohler talk with three soulful and groovy guys on the scene - Dan Ubick (The Lions, Night Owls, Mad Geezers, Connie Price & The Keystones, Breakestra), Tony Greene (The Trojanites, The Decisions, The Revivers, The Debonaires), and Obi Fernandez (Westbound Train).

Host Junor Francis and producer Eric Kohler talk with two veterans on the San Diego ska scene - John Roy and Steve Kader, who represent (either together or individually) such bands as Gangbusters, The Big Express, Unsteady, Colorblind, Spy Kids, Citizen X, and Smoke & Mirrors Soundsystem.

On this Celebrating the '90s: Part 2 episode, host Junor Francis and producer Eric Kohler talk with three veterans on the ska punk scene - Scott Klopfenstein (Reel Big Fish, The Littlest Man Band, Knuckle Brothers, The Scholars), Mike Berault (Bite Me Bambi, My Superhero), and Bill Meadows (Mealticket).

Host Junor Francis and producer Eric Kohler talk with three well-respected California-based deejays - "Young Royal" Corey Poluk, "Boss Selektah" Diana Hernandez, and "DJ Kilabeat" Ernesto Arce - in Part 4 of this Boss DJs Roundtable series.

Host Junor Francis and producer Eric Kohler talk with Chris Dowd, singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist of veteran group, Fishbone.

Host Junor Francis and producer Eric Kohler preview The Rude Girl Riot Ska Festival with singers Karen Roberts of Chase Long Beach and Erin Smith-Norrick of The Step Daughters. Presented by Stiff Dog and Steady Beat, The Rude Girl Riot Ska Festival takes place at The Sardine in San Pedro, CA on October 18, 2025.

Host Junor Francis and producer Eric Kohler talk with the talented power trio known as Reggae Workers of the World - Vic Ruggiero (The Slackers, The Mooks), Jesse Wagner (The Aggrolites, Western Standard Time), and Nico Leonard (The Moon Invaders, The Utopians, Badasonic Records).

On this Supernova Ska Festival 2025 Preview episode, host Junor Francis and producer Eric Kohler talk with veteran musician/bandleader "Rocksteady" Freddie Reiter (New York Ska-Jazz Ensemble), singer Kelly Di Filippo (The Loving Paupers), and co-founder of Supernova, Tim Receveur.Supernova takes place September 12-14, 2025 at Fort Monroe in Hampton, VA.

On this Bay Area Ska episode, host Junor Francis and producer Eric Kohler talk with three veterans on the scene - singer/guitarist Eric Din (The Uptones), singer/guitarist Curtis Meacham (Monkey), and singer Adam Davis (Omnigone, Link 80, In Defense of Ska Podcast).

Host Junor Francis and producer Eric Kohler talk with three members of the Orange County, CA-based, veteran ska/punk group, The Goodwin Club - singer Tami Demaree, saxophonist Dean Medford, and guitarist Jesse Wilder.

On this Latin Ska Roundtable - Part 4 episode, host Junor Francis and producer Eric Kohler talk with keyboardist Esteban Flores (Out of Control Army, Matamoska, The Steady 45s), singer/guitarist Angel Salgado (The Delirians), and promoter/proprietor/musician Balti Rodriguez (One Shot Records, Allen Theater, Union 13).

Host Junor Francis and producer Eric Kohler talk with legendary musicologist, historian, artist manager, and curator of Jamaican Music Museum, Herbie Miller, and Tip-A-Top Records and Moonlitegroover Studio proprietor and musician, Jay Schaetz. Herbie and Jay are behind the new "60 Years of Jamaican Ska: A Recording Tribute to The Skatalites" documentary series and recordings.

Host Junor Francis and producer Eric Kohler talk with members of the Los Angeles-based traditional ska/rocksteady group, The Elysians - Lino Luna, Dexter Krohn, Bubba Sanchez, Mandie Bee, and Chris Murray.

Host Junor Francis and producer Eric Kohler talk with seven former members of the veteran ska-jazz-punk-funk-reggae fusion group, Pocket Lent: Joel Elsten, Mike Long, Justin Sears, Todd Simon, Ian Souter, Tavis Werts, and Tim Wu.

Host Junor Francis and producer Eric Kohler celebrate their milestone 100th podcast episode by talking with Karina Denike and Jason Hammon from the highly-influential and beloved group, Dance Hall Crashers.

Host Junor Francis and producer Eric Kohler talk with UK-based Adam Reeves, writer, creator, and publisher of "Trombone Man: Ska's Fallen Genius, The Don Drummond Story."

Host Junor Francis and producer Eric Kohler talk with a true Jamaican music legend - harmonica master, arranger, percussionist, and singer Charley "Organaire" Cameron.

On this Celebrating the '90s: Part 1 episode, host Junor Francis and producer Eric Kohler talk with singer, songwriter, musician Malik "The Freq" Moore (Mobtown, Ocean Eleven, The Lions, Irie Beats, The Rhythm Doctors, The Bullets, The Freqtones) and musician, scooter enthusiast Michael Mercado (Liquidator, The Dynamics, The Mob).

Host Junor Francis and producer Eric Kohler talk with legendary bassist, "Sir" Horace Panter, of The Specials, General Public, and Special Beat.

For this 2024 Year in Review Roundtable, host Junor Francis and producer Eric Kohler are joined by singer/songwriter/musician/emcee Dunia Best (Rude Girl Revue, Supernova Alliance, Dunia & Aram, Dubistry, Agent 99, Brave New Girl, The Slackers), podcast host/ska newscaster Matt Vest (On The Upbeat), and DJ/record collector/promoter Darren Reggae (Jamaican Oldies Productions).

Host Junor Francis and producer Eric Kohler talk with two veterans from the Southern California scene (who are also cousins), Jeremiah Benzion and Spanky Kingston of Brotheration Records.

Host Junor Francis and producer Eric Kohler talk with Jamaican music legend, Roy Ellis, a.k.a. Mr. Symarip and The Boss Skinhead. We also preview Roy's upcoming SkaMania show on January 18, 2025 at La Santa in Santa Ana, CA where he'll be backed by The Aggrolites and share the stage with Mobtown and The Steady 45s. 

Host Junor Francis and producer Eric Kohler talk with fellow ska enthusiasts Matt Wixson and JJ Loy for our very special Hornpod Ska Podcast Crossover episode. Visit www.hornpod.org.

Host Junor Francis and producer Eric Kohler talk with singer, songwriter, and guitarist Jeremy Peña of The Bandulus.

Host Junor Francis and producer Eric Kohler talk with legendary singer, songwriter, musician, fashion designer, yoga instructor, and spiritual healer, Sarah-Jane "SunJay" Owen of The Bodysnatchers and The Belle Stars fame.

Host Junor Francis and producer Eric Kohler talk with Daniel Rachel, UK-based author of "Too Much Too Young: The 2 Tone Records Story."

Host Junor Francis and producer Eric Kohler talk with Raylin Joy, Clarence "Pocket" Kidd III, and Adam Porris of Hellcat recording artists, The Calamatix.

Host Junor Francis and producer Eric Kohler talk with two veteran singers, songwriters, musicians, bandleaders, promoters, and label operators from Southern California's traditional and Christian ska scenes - Rich Carlstedt of The Israelites and David Hawkins of Kingston Beat All-Stars.

Host Junor Francis and producer Eric Kohler talk with Mike Sosinski, owner/operator of Bad Time Records, filmmaker of This Is New Tone, and singer/songwriter/guitarist of Kill Lincoln.

Host Junor Francis and producer Eric Kohler talk with legendary reggae singer Susan Cadogan, who's celebrating 50 years in music. Susan's responsible for such hits and fan favorites as "Hurt So Good," "Do It Baby," "Nice 'N' Easy," and "Fever" We also preview Susan's upcoming SkaMania show where she'll be backed by The Debonaires and share the stage with fellow legends, Stranger Cole and Rudy Mills, on August 10, 2024 at The Glass House in Pomona, CA. This will be her West Coast U.S. debut appearance.

Host Junor Francis and producer Eric Kohler talk with their longtime friend, Roberto Angotti, a radio DJ pioneer ("Reggae Revolution" on KROQ and KNAC, "3 O'Clock Reggae" on KWIZ, "Roberto, Rock, Reggae" on KSPC), artist manager, promoter, journalist, filmmaker, professor, and baseball aficionado.

Host Junor Francis and producer Eric Kohler talk with two key players from Southern California's Latin ska scene - Don Diavlo of Chencha Berrinches and Adrian Gonzalez of Raskahuele.

Host Junor Francis and producer Eric Kohler talk with singer/songwriter Tara Hahn and guitarist/songwriter Max Beckman of Orange County, CA's Half Past Two.

Host Junor Francis and producer Eric Kohler talk with four members of Riverside, CA's veteran group, The Skeletones - Jonas Cabrera, Paul Hampton, Kip Wirtzfeld and Woody Diaz. We also preview their upcoming performances at No Values Festival on June 8, 2024 at Pomona Fairplex and on June 9, 2024 at The Glass House, where they will support The Selecter. Visit www.theskeletones.com. This exclusive intro jingle is written, performed and recorded by Jesse Wagner of The Aggrolites. Drums courtesy of Scott Abels.

Host Junor Francis and producer Eric Kohler talk with 7 members of The Cover-Ups and women of the Los Angeles ska scene - Nina Cole, Stacey Iguchi, Mini Kurhan, Sarah Lundeen, Nessa Roffredo, Gina Rodriguez, and Cris Verso.

Host Junor Francis and producer Eric Kohler talk with Canadian-born, veteran singer, songwriter, musician, producer and promoter, Chris Murray. He was also the front man for King Apparatus and curator of the Bluebeat Lounge.

Host Junor Francis and producer Eric Kohler talk with three members of Fresno, CA's veteran ska group, Let's Go Bowling - Darren Fletcher, Dean Olmstead and Paul Miskulin.

Host Junor Francis and producer Eric Kohler talk with veteran British singer, musician, producer, label operator, DJ, promoter, Gaz Mayall, of The Trojans and Gaz's Rockin' Blues Club.