We take a trip back to the 70s, 80s and back to now as we sing, in a gravelly soulful voice, the praises of one Michael McDonald, Brother of Doobie, maestro of the piano, and owner of cool hair. Our guest is our friend, musician, author, and mental health advocate Andrew Walen, who is a longtime friend of Lynne and Leslie's, and a longtime devoted fan of Michael McDonald's. This was a really really fun episode, where we talk reinvention, fandom, and why we don't like the term "Yacht Rock", while we love the music put in that genre. We hope you love it. Andrew Walen, a magna cum laude graduate from Berklee College of Music ('95). His journey began with him moving from Boston to Nashville where he thrived as a singer/songwriter and guitarist. Known for his performances in the iconic Lower Broadway clubs, Andrew released several CDs and had his songs recorded by artists across various genres, including children's music, R&B, rock, and country. Andrew later shifted his talents to music journalism, writing for both local and national publications. Andrew earned a degree in social work from the University of Tennessee and built a successful 20-year career as a psychotherapist and mental health executive in Nashville and Baltimore. Andrew felt drawn back to his first love: music. He opened the School of Rock in Pikesville, where he combines his deep industry knowledge and therapeutic skills to inspire and mentor the next generation of musicians. You can find him and School of Rock Pikesville on Facebook , Instagram and YouTube , and you can find the article that Leslie wrote about Andrew for the Baltimore Banner here!
