Gregg Wright, Dig Lewis, Al Salas and Eric Ragno Guest on “Ask Dino” on EOE on Time Warner Cable

Dawna Lee Heising of “Eye on Entertainment” on Time Warner Cable interviewed Gregg Wright, Dig Lewis, Al Salas and Eric Ragno in the Costa Mesa studio on March 11, 2010.  Gregg Wright performed, and 2009 Record Producer of the Year Dino Maddalone also filmed another segment of “Ask Dino”.  The set was decorated by artist Jeff Maddalone’s exquisite paintings of music legends.

The Monterey Bay Blues Festival calls master guitarist Gregg Wright “the new King of Rockin' Blues Guitar!” He’s an electrifying live performer who “learned how to not look like a statue, performing beside Michael Jackson every night on the Victory Tour!” His guitar playing leaves audiences spellbound “Wright is one of the most innovative guitarists of our time . . . he's got more depth than the Atlantic Ocean!” raves the International Guitar Festival of Great Britain. All this is accompanied by excellent songwriting, a soulful voice and rare style.

Wright’s professional career began on the U.S. Southern circuit in the mid-1970's, playing years of one-nighters. He opened shows for Blues legends like Albert King and Freddie King. An '80's move from Louisiana to Los Angeles saw Wright become an A-list session guitarist. Awards, platinum albums and world tours with Mick Fleetwood, Michael Jackson, the Gap Band, Spencer Davis and others followed. Wright is a featured soloist on the IMAX film soundtrack “Ocean Oasis” with the Prague Philharmonic Orchestra.  Wright's new CD “King of the Rockin’ Blues!” contains some of his best guitar work to date, putting him in a class among the world’s elite Blues guitarists.

Dig Lewis is always in demand having played bass for Tina Turner, Stevie Wonder, Boz Scaggs and John Mellencamp. When he’s not stroking the bass he composes music for film and television. As a child prodigy, Dig became an accomplished violin, viola and cello musician at the age of 13 in Detroit, Michigan, where he played on some of the earliest of Motown’s famous R&B sound tracks. Lewis followed these remarkable accomplishments by serving as a junior concert master for the Detroit Junior Symphony orchestra for three years, while concentrating his attention toward composing and conducting a diverse variety of musical scores. During this time, he conducted orchestrations and concerts for notables such as Frank Sinatra and the Pointer Sisters.

He is an alumnus of the University of Arizona and also attended Wayne State University and the University of Detroit. As his career evolved, Lewis continued to develop his skills as a musician gaining respect among the elite members of the R&B community, and was named among the top 10 bass players in the nation by both Downbeat and Bass Player magazines. He worked on numerous recording sessions as a studio musician and toured extensively with major performing artists such as Stevie Wonder, George Benson, Jack McDuff and John Mellencamp. As time progressed, Lewis became seriously interested in pursuing his true love in music which is composing. Over the years he has used his unique and formidable composing skills, both electronically and “live” to make film scores come to life

One World’s rock steady conga/percussionist, Al Salas, has his roots in an unlikely source. Says Salas, "I started out as a clarinetist, playing with such groups as the Junior Philharmonic Orchestra of California and the Youth Foundation Orchestra.”  With a background playing in orchestras, marching bands, drum and bugle corps, etc., he was looking for a challenge and to broaden his horizons.  So, in 1972, he bought his first set of congas and started playing in a band that included One World drummer Tom Pugliese. Although One World began primarily as an instrumental band, it has evolved over the years and Salas enjoys the challenge of singing harmonies in the band. Asked what he enjoys most about being a part of One World, Salas says; "All of it - performing, rehearsing, recording, or just hanging with the fellas. We all feel part of something very special. It’s the music that has, and will, keep us together".  Salas also plays the percussion for Brothers Johnson.

Eric Ragno is an in-demand keyboardist in Los Angeles. Growing up in a musical family, he quickly made a name for himself while touring with various 80's bands on the east coast. Since moving to California, he has appeared on over 35 albums, many with vintage artists that everyone has grown up with.  Whether its rock, R&B, New Age or metal, Ragno’s playing and stage presence brings the music to a higher place, with a strong camaraderie. He has performed across the U.S. and around the world, including a European stint with the legendary Graham Bonnet of Rainbow. Other tours include jaunts with Dawn Robinson (En Vogue, Lucy Pearl), Eric Martin (Mr. Big) and others. He has appeared on numerous TV shows and live DVD's.  The prestigious rock site www.facebook.com/l/2fb04;MelodicRock.com has named him Keyboard Player of the Year for the second year running.  Look for Ragno on the new Pushking project, an all star affair which finds him collaborating with Alice Cooper, Joe Lynn Turner, Steve Vai and Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top, among others.

To see the Ask Dino interview, please go to:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=npON1EeyKUE

To see Gregg’s performance video, please go to:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dMedMZpf7Q4

About Eye on Entertainment
"Eye on Entertainment", a division of Eye on Excellence™ Productions, is aired twice weekly on Time Warner Cable in Southern California. The EOE team covers entertainment and music events, film festivals, red carpets and award shows, and features interviews with successful people in all walks of life, exploring the traits they have in common. Dawna Lee Heising, EOE executive producer and host, is a member of SAG & AFTRA, has an MBA and PhD in business and is Ms. Universe 2009. The EOE team includes Linda Maxwell of Time Warner Cable, producer/photographer David J. McNeil, former executive with United Artists and one of the developers of Pay-per-View, director/editor John Cox, Steve Van Wormer, Paul Heising, music director/2009 Record Producer of the Year Dino Maddalone and talk show hosts Keith Harris and Nikki Clarke from Canada.  EOE original score is by Jmusiz Musiz and EOE set paintings are by Jeff Maddalone. For more information, please visit http://www.eyeonentertainment.tv/, http://www.dawnaleeheising.tv/, www.youtube.com/eyeonentertainment and www.youtube.com/EOEWorldwide