Ben Vaughn is Still Under the Hat

Written By Mike Greenblatt
Ban Vaughn

We told you about Ben Vaughn the musician in 2023, then announced his podcast earlier this year. Now, the composer, performer, producer, radio host, born in Camden County 71 years ago, has released the 11th installment of his podcast series, “Straight From The Hat” with co-host Laura Pochodylo of Sun Records in Tennessee. She picks names out of the hat and he has stories on them all. It can be heard bi-weekly on Thursdays (listen here:  https://lnkfi.re/SFTH.)

Episode #11 focuses on writing songs with Marshall Crenshaw, and how he met such colorful characters as Rockabilly Hall of Famer Charlie Gracie [1936-2022]; Los Straitjackets (instrumental surf-rockers from Tennessee who perform in masks); and the legendary Johnny Otis [1921-2012] who discovered Etta James, Big Mama Thornton, Johnny Ace, Jackie Wilson, Hank “The Twist” Ballard and Little Esther. (Otis was a singer, musician, composer, bandleader, producer, talent scout and preacher.)

Advertisement
Mike Greenblatt

MIKE GREENBLATT has been writing for Goldmine magazine and New Jersey's Aquarian Weekly for more than 35 years. His writing subjects fill the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

He's interviewed Joe Cocker, Graham Nash, David Crosby, Carlos Santana, Bruce Springsteen, Paul McCartney, Johnny Cash, and members of The Rolling Stones and The Beatles. He was 18 when he attended Woodstock in 1969.

In addition to writing about music, Greenblatt has worked on publicity campaigns for The Animals, Pat Benatar, Johnny Winter, Tommy James and Richard Branson, among others. He is currently the editor of The Jersey Sound.

Next

Songwriters On The Beach…For Free