A Gentleman and a Ska-ler with Horace Panter (The Specials, General Public, The Dirt Road Band)

(Do I really need to write any show notes after coming up with that title?) It’s time to pick it up with Horace Panter (nickname: Sir Horace Gentleman), the man whose elastic lines launched generations of skanking acolytes. From their shambolic/iconic “Saturday Night Live” performance in 1980 all the way through waves of reunion tours that ended after the untimely death of singer Terry Hall in 2022, the Specials created a sound and energy that continue to inspire Coachella headliners and rudeboys alike. Horace regales us with his life in music and offers up pearls of wisdom for aspiring players, too. The Specials (https://open.spotify.com/artist/6xnvNmSzmeOE1bLKnYXKW3?si=RoeShhSMTFmTnmo6BhZRYw) General Public (https://open.spotify.com/artist/6BZbe6PDrJgxiXZ3cIXA8o?si=AgmG7MDjTnCbnVkWKevWug) The Dirt Road Band (https://dirtroadband.com/) - his latest combo Horace’s auto-bio, Ska’d For Life (https://www.amazon.com/Skad-Life-Personal-Journey-Specials/dp/033044073X) - a great, quick read Horace’s art (https://www.horacepanterart.com/) - check out the cassette series!

Om Podcasten

"Four Strings and the Truth: The Bassists Who Changed Music" features intimate conversations with players who have changed the course of the music that came after them, and continue to do so. We'll uncover their four-string mindset - their influences, approach, artistic practice, and how they go about practicing, playing, composing songs, being in a band and living their lives. Host Sandy Smallens, an indie- and major label-recording artist and bassist of 40-plus years, shines a light on the sometimes unsung (or at least under-sung) heroes who continue to redefine the bass's role in contemporary music, channeling his experience as a music writer and founder of Spotify's original content department. Check out the official pod playlist here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2NJT1Dpc6eGi09uJOuQWKs?si=4d76eeff2b5c4615. Theme music by Surface Wound. "Four Strings and the Truth" is an Audiation Original production.