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Mike Ragogna
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New York-born Mike Ragogna was signed at 15 as a songwriter by producers Terry Cashman & Tommy West who developed him as a recording artist for their label, Lifesong Records. After writing and recording songs for Tippi Hedren’s international hit movie, Roar, Mike teamed with producer Terrence P. Minogue to record his debut album in 1982, Safari In America. In 1984, Mike also supplied the Joey Ramone-esque voice in the popular TV commercial for Atari's video game Pole Position.

Mike’s album The Almost Brothers (recorded Everlys/Simon & Garfunkel-style with vocalist Steve Mosto) was released in 1985 on MTM—Mary Tyler Moore's Nashville-based record company that was distributed through Capitol Records. Label-mates Girls Next Door recorded Mike’s first big hit as a songwriter, “Slow Boat To China,” that was a Billboard Country Top Ten and one of 1986’s top-selling country singles. It also was the first major hit for MTM’s publishing division, Uncle Artie Music, and received an ASCAP award honoring it as one of the most frequently-played country singles of that year.

Mike Ragogna and Steve Mosto then recorded and performed as the groups Body Politic and Bone People before moving on to solo careers. Since 1999, Mike has released a series of solo albums including Minefield Diaries, Writer’s Block, Valentine’s Day, and Summerland that featured "Home," a duet with legendary vocalist Dobie Gray. In 2009, Mike released a remixed retrospective of his last four albums titled Greatest Hits, that title being a wiseguy nod to his days as a record business executive.

Over a sixteen year period, Mike also performed A&R duties for various record labels, including EMI-Capitol, Universal, BMG, and Razor & Tie, where he produced and oversaw catalog compilations and reissues for many acts.

Additionally, Mike has supplied the teacher's voice for over 200 courses for the online school, Universal Class, and currently, he is a radio personality on KRUU, the Midwest’s only solar-powered station in addition to being a contributor to The Huffington Post.

Blog Entries by Mike Ragogna

Chatting With Airbourne's Ryan O'Keeffe, Plus Caleb Hawley's 'Little Miss Sunshine' and Noah Chenfeld's 'Frozen'

(0) Comments | Posted May 21, 2013 | 9:20 AM

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A Conversation with Airbourne's Ryan O'Keeffe

Mike Ragogna: Ryan, the band just finished up its US tour, right?

Ryan O'Keeffe: Yeah, we finished it up a few days ago.

MR: How did it go? What did you think?

RO: It was really, really good....

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From Foreigner to Songwriters Hall of Fame: A Conversation with Mick Jones

(4) Comments | Posted May 17, 2013 | 8:59 AM

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Photo Credit: Bill Berenstein
A Conversation with Mick Jones

Mike Ragogna: So how do you feel about being inducted into the Songwriter's Hall of Fame, Mick?

Mick Jones: Well, I was pretty taken aback when I first heard the news. It was my...

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The Last Fears: A Conversation With Teddy Geiger, Plus Buddy Miller & Jim Lauderdale and Highness Exclusives

(1) Comments | Posted May 12, 2013 | 11:25 PM

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A Conversation with Teddy Geiger

Mike Ragogna: Hi Teddy, how are you?

Teddy Geiger: How's it going man? It's good to talk to you.

MR: Nice to talk to you too. New album, The Last Fears. Say more, sir.

TG: Well, it's kind of...

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Epitaph: A Conversation with Judas Priest's Rob Halford, Plus Agnetha Fältskog and Fortress Social Club Exclusives

(2) Comments | Posted May 10, 2013 | 8:43 AM

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AGNETHA FÄLTSKOG, FORMERLY OF ABBA, ON "THE BUBBLE"

Agnetha Fältskog might be best known as "the blonde from ABBA," but her musical prowess did not stop when the Swedish pop band ended. After decades of releasing some of the most compelling pop hits like...

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Attaining Womanhood: Falu's 'Ghumar' Audio Exclusive

(0) Comments | Posted May 8, 2013 | 11:02 AM

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Photo Credit: Studio Dima

Based in New York, India born songstress Falu drops her new album Foras Road on May 28th, which was produced by Grammy-award winning producer Danny Blume of Jewel and Lisa Loeb fame. The road referenced in the title is located...

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Diversity: A Conversation with Emily Bear, Plus Arian Saleh's 'Underhill' Video Premiere

(1) Comments | Posted May 7, 2013 | 9:42 AM

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photo credit: Sai Mokhtari

ARIAN SALEH'S "UNDERHILL" PREMIERE

New York based singer/songwriter Arian Saleh will release Undone on June 11, and it's his debut full length, following the 2010 release of his Cobbestone EP. The artist recently shot a video for...

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I Thought About You: A Conversation With Eliane Elias, Plus The Wilderness of Manitoba's 'Head and Heart' Exclusive

(2) Comments | Posted May 1, 2013 | 12:00 AM

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A Conversation With Eliane Elias

Mike Ragogna: Eliane! Let's talk about your new album, I Thought About You and all things Eliane Elias. First, can you tell us about yourself and how you got into music?

Eliane Elias: Sure. I was born in Sao...

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Have Harmony, Will Travel: A Conversation With Carla Olson, Plus a Koji and Run For Cover Exclusive

(2) Comments | Posted April 29, 2013 | 12:00 AM

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A Conversation with Carla Olson

Mike Ragogna: Hi Carla, how are you?

Carla Olson: I'm great. LA is not too hot today, and it's going to be a great day.

MR: Every day is a great day in LA.

CO: Well, that could...

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Gentlemen Streets & The Blue Dog: A Conversation with Nick Mery and Audio Exclusives, Plus Bow Down Before LoKi and The Untz Challenge

(1) Comments | Posted April 26, 2013 | 8:24 AM

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A Conversation with Nick Mery

Mike Ragogna: Nick, why two albums?

Nick Mery: I guess I'm a bit of a show-off! I wanted to release two albums in order to move forward stylistically--Gentlemen Streets is...

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A Conversation with Blind Melon's Christopher Thorn, Plus Premieres by Drop Out Orchestra and Party Police

(1) Comments | Posted April 24, 2013 | 12:00 AM

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A Conversation with Blind Melon's Christopher Thorn

Mike Ragogna: Hey Chris, how are you?

Christopher Thorn: I'm doing great. How are you doing?

MR: I'm doing well. Let's start right from the beginning with the news that your self-titled '92 album has been remastered...

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Spirit In The Room: A Conversation with Tom Jones, Plus The Adversary's 'De La Luna' Video Premiere

(2) Comments | Posted April 22, 2013 | 9:39 AM

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A Conversation with Tom Jones

Mike Ragogna: Tom, welcome.

Tom Jones: Thanks, mate!

MR: You have a new album, Spirit In The Room, on which you take songs by artists such as Bob Dylan, Paul Simon and you make them your own. How did...

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Thank You, Mr. Dog Ears: My Interviews with Phil Ramone, Plus H.D. Harmsen's 'Teetotaler' Video Premiere

(6) Comments | Posted April 19, 2013 | 8:14 AM

Bye, Phil...

When people use the phrase "...it's the end of era" with regards to someone's passing, it's almost always a respectful exaggeration. But with Phil Ramone's recent death, it's the definition of "The End Of An Era," and I'm sure most who consider themselves pop music aficionados would agree.

...
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My Fifth HuffPost Anniversary, Drifting Away with Dobie Gray, and Dump the Filibuster or Dump Harry Reid

(3) Comments | Posted April 18, 2013 | 9:18 AM

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YEARS AGO WITH DOBIE GRAY...

Thanks to David Wild's introducing me to my first editor at The Huffington Post, I have been a weekly contributor to this online titan's entertainment page for over five years. My first post, on April 5th, 2008, was a...

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Churchill's Audio Exclusive of "The War Within"

(0) Comments | Posted April 17, 2013 | 8:17 AM

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"THE WAR WITHIN" WITH CHURCHILL

Those Denver-based alt-folk rockers Churchill have a brand new single with "The War Within." This energized quintet is currently wrapping up a US college tour with Phillip Phililps and afterwards, they'll be going overseas to join P!nk's European...

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A Different Time: A Conversation With John Medeski, Chatting With 2Cellos, and Thom Chacon's "Chasing The Pain" Exclusive

(1) Comments | Posted April 15, 2013 | 12:01 AM

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A Conversation with John Medeski

Mike Ragogna: It's A Different Time for John Medeski. And that time is...?

John Medeski: The time is kinda now, isn't it?

MR: [laughs] Yup! John, you took a solo approach on this album, you usually recording with...

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Road to Forever: A Conversation With Don Felder, Plus Spin Doctors' 'About a Train' Exclusive

(6) Comments | Posted April 12, 2013 | 12:02 AM

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A Conversation with Don Felder

Mike Ragogna: How are you, Don?

Don Felder: Hey Mike, I'm doing really well. How are you?

MR: Really well as well, thanks. Okay, let's dig right into your new album, Road To Forever, which is your first in...

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LL Cool J & Brad Paisley "Live For You," Plus A Conversation With Todd Rundgren

(8) Comments | Posted April 10, 2013 | 12:00 AM

LL COOL J & BRAD PAISLEY "LIVE FOR YOU"

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photo courtesy of 429 Records and LL Cool J, Inc.

As a respite from the deafening hullabaloo surrounding "Accidental Racist," here's a sneak peak at another brand new Brad Paisley/LL Cool J track,...

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Except Sometimes: Chatting with Molly Ringwald

(3) Comments | Posted April 8, 2013 | 3:13 PM

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A Conversation with Molly Ringwald

Mike Ragogna: Hi Molly, how are you doing?

Molly Ringwald: I'm great, how are you?

Ragogna: I'm pretty good and I'm really grateful to have this time with you. Let's get into your new album Except Sometimes. What inspired...

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Honky Tonk: Chatting With Son Volt's Jay Farrar, Plus Longreef's 'She Likes The Ladies' Video Exclusive and More

(1) Comments | Posted April 5, 2013 | 12:00 AM

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A Conversation with Son Volt's Jay Farrar

Mike Ragogna: Jay, how are you?

Jay Farrar: Hello, I'm good, thanks.

MR: The last time we spoke, you were working on the documentary on Kerouac.

JF: Yeah, One Fast Move Or I'm Gone, writing songs from...

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The Mystery of You: Chatting With Spencer Day, Plus a Sean Forbes Video Exclusive

(1) Comments | Posted April 4, 2013 | 12:00 AM

MEET SEAN FORBES AND HIS "MOOD SWINGS"

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The Bass Brothers discovered him, Eminem took him under his wing. Marlee Matlin is a huge fan and friend, and at his NYC show last month, NYC Mayor Bloomberg's famed interpreter Claudia was there.

So what's all...

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