Derrick and Jeff welcome Donnie Wayne Smith to The Rhythm Section Podcast, sharing how he started guitar at age six, was inspired by early concerts and albums like Ratt’s “1984” and Ozzy’s “Bark at the Moon,” and played Memphis-area rooms including the Stage Stop, where he recalls Nita’s guidance and classic club moments. Donnie discusses his COVID-era YouTube series “Separate Studios Together,” explaining his remote-stem workflow and listing collaborators from the local scene. He details joining Winger as John Roth’s backup guitarist from 2014–2019, including major festival experiences and how vocal-cord damage eventually ended his live singing work. Donnie also covers his transition into full-time photography with his wife through http://SmithArtisan.com, his approach to making clients feel confident, and his studio/gear-focused recording setup.

On the Rhythm Section podcast, Derrick and Jeff chat with Memphis guitarist and longtime instructor Rick Forbes about his background as an army brat who settled in Memphis in 1976, switching from saxophone to guitar after classic rock concerts, and joining bands soon after arriving. Forbes discusses how radio, FM album cuts, and modern streaming changed music discovery, and how he teaches students not to rely solely on YouTube. He outlines his current projects with Amber McCain and the cover band Spectrum, as well as past work with Jared Price’s “Almost Elton.” He describes the challenges of faithfully performing pop and Elton John material live. He also recounts years in the instrumental jazz group Pacific Flight, odd gigs, and transcription work for Willie Mitchell’s catalog, and highlights common Memphis venues and scheduling challenges.

Derrick and Jeff welcome back Kevin and Bethany Paige for their second appearance and talk about upcoming and recent projects. The main focus is the debut of Saddle Up Memphis, an ’80s/’90s (with a few exceptions) “diva country” band featuring Bethany Paige on lead vocals. They share details for the debut show on Saturday, May 2nd at Neil’s Music Room, encourage listeners to follow Saddle Up Memphis on Facebook and reserve tables, and discuss plans for future gigs. The conversation includes influences and artists they plan to cover (e.g., Reba, Shania Twain, Faith Hill, Martina McBride, Trisha Yearwood, Jo Dee Messina, Patty Loveless, Bonnie Raitt, Dixie Chicks, Rascal Flatts, and more), thoughts on story-driven country vs. “beer and trucks,” and the appeal of ’90s country for musicians and dance floors. They also recap Kevin and Bethany’s “All About Love” event at the Esplanade Event Center in November, including theextreme effort it took to put it on, and the large band lineup (including Angelo Earl, Gerald Allen, Eric Freeman, a four-piece horn section with Victor Sawyer, Mark Franklin, Chris Barnes, and their daughter singing). Additional topics include their duo performances around Southaven and elsewhere (Tequila, casinos, Lucky Dog, Lafayette’s) and their sitcom-theme segment (e.g., The Jeffersons, Facts of Life, Friends, Cheers). The episode ends with reminders to check out Saddle Up Memphis at Neil’s on May 2nd

In this episode, we catch up with the members of Fevertree - Tim Dills, John Paterson, Mike Bertoldo, and Rocco Wallz - for a hilarious and fun-filled Zoom call. The band members reminisce about their past shows, recent activities, and even share some wild and embarrassing stories. From discussing their haircuts and hunting adventures to Rocco's infamous pranks and gadgets, this episode provides an inside look at the band's dynamic and camaraderie. Don't miss out on the laughs and memories shared in this entertaining reunion!

In this packed episode of The Rhythm Section Podcast, hosts Derrick and Jeff kick things off by recapping their Friday night hang at Nashoba’s, where they caught a killer set from their friends in Land/Divided. Derrick also gives a big shout-out to Matt and Jennifer at Supernova Music for coming through in the clutch with some much-needed gear support.

The featured interview spotlights Scott Sudbury—lead guitarist, vocalist, and driving force behind Almost Famous, Famous, Lost 45s, Six Feet Thunder, and The Scott Sudbury Band. Scott walks the guys through the origins of Almost Famous, shares what the Memphis music scene was like “back in the day,” and tells the story of how he first fell in love with music.

In this episode of The Rhythm Section Podcast, hosts Derrick and Jeff kick things off by teasing some exciting new content coming to the show through the holidays — and what listeners can expect during the off-season from the traditional interview format.

Then, the guys welcome Doug McMinn, a lifelong Memphis drummer known for his work with Roxy Love, The Deb Jam Band, and Southbound, just to name a few. Doug shares stories from decades behind the kit, including memories of his father, Papa Don McMinn, a legendary figure in the Memphis music scene of the ’70s and ’80s. He recalls the history of Rum Boogie Café, his early touring days, the night he jammed with Stevie Ray Vaughan, and the journey that led him to Roxy Love. Doug also talks about his favorite drummers and the influences that have shaped his groove over the years.

For the feature interview, the guys welcome all four members of the rising Memphis-based band Land/Divided — Jacob Turner, Jillian Acor, Nick Ireland, and Zach Perry. The group dives deep into the making of their new record, sharing the creative energy behind its sound, themes, and overall vibe. They talk about their songwriting process, how Nick and Jillian each joined the already established lineup, and the importance of the rhythm section in shaping their music. Jillian opens up about designing the album’s stunning cover art and the deeper meaning behind it, while the band reflects on their experience recording with Jimmy Fulp at Broken Snare Studios. They wrap up by expressing heartfelt gratitude to their families for their unwavering support.

For the feature interview, the guys sit down with Tom Slagle, saxophonist and keyboardist for Thumpdaddy, Rock The Boat, Back In Time, and Heartless. Tom reflects on his musical roots, including his father Ed Slagle, a WWII veteran and Polka Hall of Fame inductee. He shares stories of his journey through various projects, his love for performing, and how he taught himself music theory the old-fashioned way — by reading books from the library.

In this episode of The Rhythm Section Podcast, hosts Derrick and Jeff kick things off by paying tribute to the legendary Ace Frehley of KISS and sharing highlights from their time at Fall Fest during the Starship featuring Mickey Thomas concert. For the feature interview, the guys welcome their friend Ken Houston, one half of the acoustic duo Ken & Darrin and lead singer of No Hit Wonders. Ken opens up about his lifelong love for Cheap Trick and music as a whole, the origin story of No Hit Wonders, how the band came to a halt during COVID, and its exciting relaunch planned for 2026. He also shares some memorable tales from the historic Memphis venue Stage Stop and its beloved owner, Nita Makris.

In this episode of The Rhythm Section Podcast, hosts Derrick and Jeff sit down with Alex Pruitt, drummer for the band Formerly Known As. Alex shares how his musical journey began playing drums alongside his brother in church, which led to his time touring nationally and spending four years at Stax Music Academy. He also discusses how he connected with Shawn Few, leading to his spot in Formerly Known As, and dives into his favorite drum brands, influences, and the lessons learned along the way.

In this episode of The Rhythm Section Podcast, hosts Derrick and Jeff welcome guitarist and vocalist Steve Taylor to the studio for an in-depth conversation about his musical journey. Steve, known for his work with Generation-X and Back In Time: The Music of Huey Lewis and the News, shares stories from his early days to his time performing with bands like Chasing Angels, Rants, and Night Call with Stephen Haynes. The trio dives into Steve’s Memphis connection, his unexpected career as a Nuclear Pharmacist, his musical beginnings, and the artists who helped shape his sound.

On this episode of The Rhythm Section Podcast, hosts Derrick and Jeff kick things off with a big shoutout to Matt Montgomery and Supernova Music, a local shop dedicated to supporting musicians through consignment, repairs, setups, and custom effects. They encourage listeners to support Matt and his team at 8785 Chaffee Road, Arlington, TN, United States, Tennessee - supernovamusicmemphis.com .

For the feature segment, Derrick and Jeff sit down with Corey Riggs, lead singer of the premier Memphis hard rock band The Boneyard. Corey shares stories from his early days in Tokyo Rose, including an unforgettable audition with Allan Bone, and opens up about his personal testimony and spiritual journey during time away from the stage. He talks about returning to live gigs, dives into setlists and band dynamics, and even joins Jeff in some Star Wars lightsaber nerdom. It’s a fun, insightful, and rock-filled conversation you won’t want to miss.

On this exciting episode of The Rhythm Section Podcast, hosts Derrick and Jeff kick things off with Stephanie Wilson-Nichols to promote Fall Fest Memphis Presents: Starship Featuring Mickey Thomas — live in concert on Saturday, October 18th at the Catholic Church of the Incarnation in Collierville, TN. Then, the guys sit down for a fun-filled interview with the legendary Mickey Thomas himself. From his Memphis connections in 1973, to being the unforgettable voice behind Elvin Bishop’s “Fooled Around and Fell in Love,” to joining Starship in 1979 and leading the ultimate revival in 1992 as Starship Featuring Mickey Thomas, Mickey shares stories, influences, and plenty of laughs. Huge thanks to Stephanie for making this connection possible and to Mickey for bringing his energy and time to the show!

On the season finale of The Rhythm Section Podcast, we take a heartfelt moment to reflect on an incredible season and celebrate a major milestone—100 episodes! We shine a light on the amazing guests and sponsors who helped shape this season, and most importantly, thank the listeners for their unwavering support.

This episode is all about the community that made it possible. We share listener engagement highlights and impressive show stats, from downloads and views to shares, likes, and tags. It’s a wrap on this chapter, but The Rhythm Section will return with even more great interviews this September.

Thank YOU ALL for an incredible season!

Derrick and Jeff celebrate a major milestone—100 episodes of The Rhythm Section Podcast! Filmed live at Rooster’s Blues House Highland in Memphis, this special event brings together an all-star lineup of guests and friends from the Memphis music and podcasting scenes. From hilarious stories to heartfelt moments, special guests like Tim Dills, Steve Owens, Paul Moreau, Kenny Francis, Sebastian Hinds, Jason Moore, Jacob Turner, Zach, and Jillian for representing Land/Divided, Chris Craig, Nina Makris, Ric Chetter, Monica O'Donniley-Summerfield, La-Shon Robinson, Derrin Lee, Shawn Few and Jimmy Fulp join the celebration. With music, memories, and laughter filling the room, this episode is a true testament to the community that’s grown around the show.

In this episode of The Rhythm Section Podcast, hosts Derrick and Jeff kick things off by recapping a night out at Neil’s Music Room enjoying a killer set by The Boneyard. Then they welcome special guest Bobby Ireland, drummer for Hairspray Nation, for a deep dive into his musical journey. Bobby shares how he landed the gig with Hairspray Nation and how it’s become a family affair with his son Nick on guitar. He also revisits his early days playing with childhood friends Todd Poole and Ronnie Spain, their shared obsession with KISS, and starting their first band together.

Bobby gives heartfelt insight into his late father Rick Ireland’s legacy in the Memphis music scene and his time at Ardent Studios. From funny first audition stories to almost landing a record deal with his original band “Ireland,” Bobby’s journey is rich with history. He also shares how a job at Apple unexpectedly pulled him back into music, and the amazing rise of his son Matt’s teenage band, Under The Radar. A full-circle story you won’t want to miss.

On this episode of The Rhythm Section Podcast, hosts Derrick and Jeff kick things off with a quick chat with Eric Graham from Deadfall Road to promote their epic July 4th Reunion show, Concert Under The Trees, in Arlington, TN—featuring Your Mom’s New Boyfriend at 4:30pm and Deadfall Road headlining at 8pm. Plus, they’re celebrating the digital release of Come What May! (More at deadfallroad.band)

The main interview dives deep with special guest Ronnie Knight, drummer for Rock The Boat, as he shares his musical journey—from early influences and high school gigs to wild Stage Stop memories and near-label deals with Roxy Blue. Ronnie takes us through his history with bands like Tempest, 901, Triple X, M Slider, and Xavion. A must-listen for Memphis music lovers and drumming fans alike.

In this celebratory episode of The Rhythm Section Podcast, hosts Derrick and Jeff kick things off with a heartfelt recap of their epic Episode 100 live taping at Rooster’s on June 7th. They show love to the incredible fans, venue staff, and all the special guests who helped make it a night to remember.

Then, the spotlight shifts to a lively feature interview with Brent Dennis, lead vocalist of the high-energy party band Music BoXx. Brent shares the band’s origin story, talks about his fellow bandmates, reflects on his time in the Navy, and opens up about his journey from singing with Lee Ann’s Alarm Clock to fronting Music BoXx. From vocal influences to hilarious concert memories (including a Poison show mishap), Brent also breaks down how the band picks the right songs to keep crowds dancing.

In this episode, Derrick is joined by guest co-host Steve Owens, who fills in for Jeff and recaps Rooster’s Original Night from Sunday, May 25th. Steve also shines a light on Take 12, a fresh band making waves in the Memphis scene.

The featured interview is with Preston Jones, lead vocalist for Your Mom’s New Boyfriend. Preston shares the story of how the band came together, current and former members, and his own trial-by-fire debut on stage. From his musical inspirations to his journey into live performance, Preston brings energy, heart, and a whole lot of rock to the show.

In this heartfelt and high-energy episode of The Rhythm Section Podcast, Derrick and Jeff kick things off with another tribute to their friend Thomas Halfacre and his upcoming cancer benefit concert. They share all the details about the event at Rooster's Blues House Highland on Sunday, June 1st—featuring bands like Almost Famous, Black 59, Play Rough, and The Pinch, with special guests John Roth, Jeff Adams, Kevin & Bethany Paige, Paul Moreau, Vanessa Sudbury, Shara Matlock, Steve Rhodehamel, Ken Houston, Ronnie Knight, Seth Kuykendall, Patrick O’Daniel, David Haynes and Tom Slagle. They also dive into how #ILoveThomasThursday and a wildfire group text helped Thomas go viral in the best way.

In the feature interview, the guys are joined by Joel Rustenhaven and T-Bone Hood of The Rustenhaven Band. They share hilarious stories about the band’s original name drama, how they got started as musicians, their wide-ranging influences, and what it’s like performing in the casino circuit with bandmates Eric Westpy and JJ Barnett. From heartfelt to hilarious, this one hits all the right notes.