“for the LOVE of Music” with Sara Troy and her guest Marilyn Scott, on air fromAugust 2nd
Marilyn Scott is best known for her Grammy-nominated work as a contemporary jazz musician, having performed with some of the best musicians in the world over the last few decades.
A native of southern California, vocalist Marilyn Scott counts among her earliest influences, artists Aretha Franklin, Donny Hathaway, Etta James, Jean Carn and Andy Bey. She began performing in local clubs and fronted soul-jazz bands around the San Francisco Bay area. Among the many friends she made were the guys of Tower of Power, who gave her the opportunity to do backing session vocals with the Oakland-based band. Those recording sessions steered her to making her way back to Los Angeles as a studio session singer, where she performed with musicians and groups including Spyro Gyra, Yellowjackets, Hiroshima, John Mayall, Etta James, Bobby Caldwell and Bobby Womack. Scott’s first recording in 1977, as a solo artist, was a single version of Brian Wilson’s “God Only Knows”, which led to her first album, Dreams of Tomorrow, on Atco/Atlantic. Her discography continued with, 1983 Without Warning, Polygram, 1991 and 1992 Sin-Drome recordings, Smile and Sky Dancing. 1996 and 1998 Warner Bros. releases of Take Me with You and Avenues of Love. The Japanese Venus Records recording, Every Time We Say Goodbye, in 2008.
Marilyn moved to Prana Entertainment and released from 2001 to 2017, Walking With Strangers, Nightcap, Handpicked, Innocent of Nothing, Get Christmas Started and Standard Blue in 2017. Her 2022 release on Blue Canoe Records marks her most recent release, The Landscape.
She has combined her interest in neo-soul, jazz and Brazilian music. She has collaborated with Dori Caymmi, George Duke, Russell Ferrante, Bob James, Jimmy Haslip, Brenda Russell, Bob Mintzer, Perri Sisters, Terri Lyne Carrington, Patrice Rushen and Scott Kinsey.
Marilyn is best known for her Grammy-nominated work as a contemporary jazz vocalist and singer songwriter. As the years have progressed, she has dived deeper into jazz writing and interpretations. Collaborations with many acclaimed artists and musicians have opened and widened her range in a music that’s rich in texture and complexity.
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Sara’s View of Life with Sara Troy, on air from July 26th
I have been asked for years if I have written a book, my answer is always coming soon. That soon is now; I am taking the time this summer to write my book so I can get going on the collaborative Forgotten Children’s book which comes after mine, so no more delays, here I go.
Easier said than done, it is rather daunting writing about one’s self, Where does one start, what do I cover, what do people want to hear or read? ?????? Do I format it like other books or can I do it a different way, would it be understood if I do it a different way????? and so much more chatter is in my head.
In the end, once all the excuses and chatter has had its say, I will write it as it comes.
I am a blogger, an article writer, so for me to do a long chapter is not my style, so I am writing it as each memory comes to mind and getting it down in no particular order, and rearrange it later. Lets face it, memories come up in the most piacular times in odd ways, so just letting it out in the moment is my best way.
There is one size fits all, some people can put out a book in a jiffy, some it takes years, the real question is, what you are sharing, your truth? or a version of the truth you think people want to see? Just be you, in all your pain, mistakes, missteps and glory, for that every step made you who you are today, and that is what we are celebrating.
So as I delve into my memories, some I wish never to remember, this summer, I leave you with 3000 shows of abundant wisdom to hear, and I will see you back here late August. FIND THEM HERE
I will not be bringing you shows after July 28th until August 30th, and I will be concentrating on my book, and the book invite for the Forgotten Children book series.
I WISH EVERYONE A WONDERFUL SUMMER, AND SEE YOU LATE AUGUST. (I will still be checking emails if you wish to get booked in for September)
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Choose Positive Living with Sara Troy and her guest Dr Allen Lycka, on air from July 26th
Dr. Allen Steven Lycka was acknowledged as one of the leading cosmetic dermatologists in the world for three decades. A pioneer in cosmetic surgery, he helped to develop laser-assisted tumescent liposuction – an advanced body sculpture technique, and Moh’s Micrographic Surgery, an advanced means of removing skin cancer with 99% success. He has lived and practiced in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada since 1989. He’s written 17 books, 30+ academic papers and hosted the number one internet radio show in the world – Inside Cosmetic Surgery Today. He is a co-founder of Doctors for the “Practice of Safe and Ethical Aesthetic Medicine” and founder of The Canadian Skin Cancer Association. He won the prestigious Consumers Choice Award For Cosmetic Surgery for 16 consecutive years.
In 2003, Dr. Lycka’s life changed drastically when he suddenly developed a right foot drop while on vacation with his family at Disneyland. He promised his wife he would explore it, and after seeing many doctors was misdiagnosed with having ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease). Still, he maintained his status as a leading cosmetic doctor for 30 years. He later discovered he has Chronic Lyme disease.
Because of what he learned through his experience, he left his practice and co-authored the bestselling book, “The Secrets To Living A Fantastic Life” with Harriet Tinka, a former fashion model and Woman of Distinction.
He has also authored two more books: one with Corie Poirier entitled, “bLU Talks Presents: Business, Life and the Universe” and one with Jack Canfield entitled, “The Pillars of Success.” Both books also became bestsellers during the Covid crisis in 2020. Currently acknowledged as a leading expert in Living A Fantastic Life and Turning Points, he is a transformational speaker, thought leader, coach, and mentor.
Dr. Lycka is happily married to Dr. Lucie Bernier-Lycka for 38 years and they have four lovely daughters and seven beautiful grandchildren. He counts his family as his most important accomplishment.
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Their Story Matters with Sara Troy and her guest Bari Kang, on air from July 26th
Deeply rooted in his experience as a Punjabi immigrant to America, Bari Kang’s two independent crime thriller films Lucky (2016) and The Scrapper (2022) have earned favorable comparisons to the works of his longtime idols Martin Scorsese and Quentin Tarantino. Yet, the multi-talented actor, writer, and director’s personal story of sacrifice and struggle as a DIY filmmaker, has more in common with three world renowned creative hyphenates – Sylvester Stallone, Vin Diesel and Lena Dunham – who, weary from a constant cycle of auditions and rejections, launched their careers by writing scripts they also starred in.
As a self-taught artist, Kang’s success with two films is nothing short of a miracle. His debut film Lucky, a dark, gritty tale inspired by his own personal family experiences as illegal Punjabi immigrants in Queens, NY, won the Audience Award at the Urban world Film Festival and earned the praise of critic Michael Rechtshaffen of the Los Angeles Times: “Kang, in his filmmaking debut proves adept at capturing background detail with a close-up hand-held authenticity. . .Palpably gritty!” Jared Mubarak of The Film Stage wrote of Lucky: “A script bolstered by a complex and relatable antihero.”
Kang’s The Scrapper, earned an 88% aggregate score on Rotten Tomatoes. “I wrote a million-dollar screenplay but could only raise a fraction of that.” Kang humbly credits his committed crew and talented cast for making it happen. The Scrapper, currently available for streaming was released by 1091 Pictures and continues to be distributed around the world. Tim Brennan of About Boulder wrote: “The Scrapper is a smart, solid, crime film that promises more good work from Bari Kang…he’s made a film with a point of view and something to say. Kang is a smart screenwriter.” Movie blogger Federico Furzan said, “The Scrapper is a pearl of its own world of small budget films. . . an action thriller that doesn’t let you rest. . . Bari Kang shines in the film.” Testifying on the compelling, gritty story, Battle Royale With Cheese’s Joel Fisher wrote “Kang creates a gritty world filled with gangsters, tense action and a heart at the centre.” Movie Insider’s review byBrian Renner highlighted him as a multi-hyphenate creator: “Kang shows prowess in all departments from writing/directing to acting.”
Kang’s cultural ties have shaped his work as a filmmaker; beginning with the deflating of a showbiz stereotype attributed to ethnic actors. He grew tired of watching colored performers “being pigeonholed.” Specifically, South Asians feeling obligated to pursue a career in comedy as the only way in. Kang recalls how difficult it was for him growing up in America, as an outsider. Struggling with poverty and living on the fringes, he admits there’s no comedic fodder to be gleaned from a difficult childhood that was often full of tears. The last thing he wanted to do was to become “an Indian funny guy.”
Having experienced real life, Kang became fascinated with the dark side of human nature, drawing him to the films of Scorsese, Tarantino and Brian De Palma. This fascination for the lives of the underdog, the outcast, and the anti-hero, led him to write The Scrapper. Growing up in Queens in the 90s and early 2000s, exposed him to Mafia-Gang culture, and inspired him to think of a thriller involving Punjabis and Italians. “Then I saw the article about a Punjabi truck driver who got caught moving money around for a Mexican cartel. I realized there was a whole shadowy history between these two cultures that seemed a compelling topic to explore. As I researched the Punjabi experience, I stumbled upon the Punjabi-Mexican families in California during the early 1900’s. Even though interracial marriage was illegal at that time, Punjabi men and Mexican women gamed the system because they were judged ‘brown.’ This led to over 1000 Punjabi/Mexican families! I already knew of the contemporary criminal links between Punjabi’s and other cartels and this history became the backbone of The Scrapper. With Jake, the protagonist, I was able to explore my inner conflict between fitting in and staying true to my roots.”
Those roots included a surreal and a bitter history. As a young child, Kang’s life and those of his extended family, were threatened during the 1980’s Sikh Massacres, a series of organized pogroms against Sikhs in India and Punjab which continue to impact the region to this day. Government estimates projected 3,350 Sikhs were killed nationwide, while independent sources claim tens of thousands! Fearful for his family, Kang’s father–who had recently started a hardware business–organized an escape plan that found, five year old Bari, in androgynous disguise, using the passport of his aunt’s young daughter to board a flight to America. Aboard the aircraft, was the first time he used a western style toilet — and crayons! Although he and his aunt entered America illegally as refugees, they were given asylum. Kang became a U.S. citizen in 2011. As for his parents, who escaped Punjab separately, his mother was tortured by Police at one point. They had to go through Mexico to get to the U.S., spending time in California detention camps. His grandfather, too old to leave, encouraged everyone else to go. Once settled in Queens, Kang’s parents toiled in a sweat shop. Eventually, they started a small retail discount store, which the family still owns.
Kang’s commitment to honoring his parents’ sacrifice and struggle, led him to earn an MBA from Columbia Business School, with the hope of launching a career in finance. However, he graduated in 2008 during the economic collapse, and his degree wasn’t enough to get him a job during a precarious time. But he worked non-paying internships in the film business, which rekindled his creative aspirations as an Actor.
Though many thought he was crazy, he forged ahead and sought out the best acting teachers in New York; eventually getting on the frustrating treadmill of auditions and rejections. With the obvious lack of opportunities for ethnic actors, he took the advice of a prominent casting director and decided to write his own projects to star in. Kang says, “I felt I had the skills to be a leading man, and the only way was to make a movie and prove it.”
“It’s never easy, especially with a budding young family to raise, and sometimes I have doubts. However, there’s always something inside that keeps pushing me ahead. When I strike a powerful chord with my characters and get lost in a whole new world I created, then it becomes exhilarating. The business is frustrating, but I’m grateful for my journey. If I make a movie that’s both entertaining and meaningful, I’ve achieved something.
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Mental Health Awareness with Sara Troy and her guest Denise Beck-Clark, on air from July26th
In Her Debut Literary Fiction, Psychotherapist-Turned-Novelist Examines How Wounded People Heal From Trauma With The Help Of Friends andUnique Treatment
Set in the 1970’s “me decade,” Thirty Years Hence, is the debut novel of retired psychotherapist Denise Beck-Clark. The story of two women’s developing friendship feels like the opening of a time capsule to when many disillusioned souls sought out quirky, experimental therapies led by gurus to “find themselves”. A confused, 20-ish aspiring writer meets a troubled Psychotherapist-Turned-Novelist and, with NYC as a backdrop, they bond over their mutual experiences of existential crisis. Unpredictable characters and plot twists are sure to interest anyone fascinated with the devil-may-care, anything goes culture of the era. “Thirty Years Hence,” says the author, “is about people dealing with the pain and suffering caused by the war specifically, and the so-called Human Condition generally. That humans have consciousness and the capacity to think is both the good and the bad news. The point of view presented in the book ascribes to both Buddhism and Cognitive Therapy, which in a summary statement might be, ‘Find and be grateful for whatever is good in your life because as bad as it may seem, your life could always be worse.’ This is hopefully what readers of Thirty Years Hence will apply to their own lives if they have a need to.”
How she takes a unique approach to examining the impact of the Holocaust on its survivors many decades after suffering great trauma
How her practice of psychotherapy for three decades inspired — and prepared her for –the writing of this book
How women can develop a friendship while coping with their own individual malaises
Why white supremacists still pose a huge threat to our country – and why anti-Semitism is still a problem today. Can we cure society of hate?
How psychotherapy can help one overcome, and heal from, identity-defining trauma
Why the book is set in 1970s NYC – and what the “Me Generation” was really like.
“That the 70’s were only thirty years after the Holocaust and World War Il is important in understanding its culture,” says Beck-Clark. “The hindsight of today, five decades later, allows us to see that in the 70’s many survivors of the Holocaust were in a state of suppression and reticence. They, and in turn their families, were acting “as if” they just got on with their lives the terrible memories and dreams would subside or even vanish. I think it’s fair to say that in the collective unconscious mind, the psychological aftermath of the Holocaust and the war was very much a reality, and the lives of many people, Jews in particular, were seriously undermined by having endured an unimaginable act of persecution. Perhaps my book puts that into perspective.”
ABOUT THE BOOK: A story of two women in NYC in 1973: Michelle Cooper, age 23, is despairing and without direction, having barely survived the turbulent household of her parents, and her own adolescent foray into sixties’ hippiedom. Forty-something Ida Birnbaum, a Queens, NY wife and mother, and survivor of Auschwitz concentration camp, 30 years later battles her own malaise during a serious and potentially damaging midlife crisis.
Like many folks during the so-called “Me Decade”, both Michelle and Ida indulge in hedonistic and self-destructive activities and then must deal with the consequences. They each turn for support to their evolving friendship and to characters such as Theo, an idealistic young immigrant who lives in an Upper West Side SRO hotel and works for a telephone prayer service run by Charles, another Holocaust survivor, and self-fashioned spiritual guru.
Central to the novel’s conflict and narrative is the mechanism by which Ida and Michelle cope with and attempt to overcome their pasts. Ida, as many survivors did in the 1970s, internalizes her trauma and memories of the Holocaust. She spins out of control one night and has a wild and destructive experience in the tawdry part of the city; the consequences of which cause her much grief. Michelle and Ida then turn to Charles, who has created an experiential program that helps victims of trauma to recover. The results of the program alter Michelle and Ida’s lives forever.
Both Michelle and Ida, Ida’s husband, and even Paul, a white supremacist who stalks Michelle after a one-night stand, seek psychological healing via another of Charles’ creations. The Rogen Treatment Program is a unique process wherein participants “experience” the Holocaust and, through a kind of aversion therapy, conquer their respective individual demons.
“Thirty Years Hence is a powerful and heart-rending story of survival, acceptance, and belonging. Beck-Clark does a great job of tackling weighty topics in a way that inspires introspection without detracting from the narrative flow. She also does extremely well in recreating the New York of the early 1970s, including all the sights, sounds, dreams, and despair. Given the exploration of trauma, it might not always be a comfortable read, but it is an important one.” — San Francisco Book Review
“Denise Beck-Clark’s Thirty Years Hence is an intriguing story where an experimental form of treatment has an unpredictable impact on characters suffering from a wide variety of human frailties. It’s a fascinating look at our common struggle to overcome our pasts, told with great care.” — Russell Rowland, author of 56 Counties and Cold Country
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Since childhood, Denise Beck-clark has had the parallel interests of psychology and writing/literature. After spending her twenties writing and earning a living with menial jobs, she spent the next 30-some years as a psychotherapist and social worker, finding time to write whenever possible. Now retired and devoted to writing full-time, Ms. Beck-Clark hopes her writing will have the same positive impact on readers as her work did for patients as a clinician.
Her writing career began with the publication of several nonfiction articles. In 1999, her creative non-fiction book, Concurrent Sentences: A True Story of Murder, Love and Redemption, was published by New Horizon Press. A screenplay adaptation is in process.
She’s recently published flash fiction and essays online, along with a paperback poetry collection, The Zen of Forgetting. She wrote a blog for several years until 2015 and currently writes essays for Medium. Thirty Years Hence is her first published novel.
Beck-Clark started her career in psychotherapy as a social worker at Manhattan Psychiatric Center outpatient clinic, and as a psychotherapist at Flatlands Guidance Center in Brooklyn, in 1986. She had a private psychotherapy practice in Manhattan for 13 years while acting as a psychiatric social worker at Bronx Psychiatric Center inpatient wards until 1999. She then moved to the center’s outpatient clinic, from 1999 – 2011.
She earned a Bachelor of Arts form Columbia University, A Master of Sciences in social work from Columbia University, and a Master of Fine Arts in creative writing from Lindenwood University.
Beck-Clark lives with her adult special needs son in Yonkers, New York. For more information, please visit:
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