From The Jackson Five to Shaun Cassidy: Bob LeVitus’ Untold Tales of Touring Legends

Gig Gab - The Working Musician's Podcast

Ever wondered what it’s like to tour with music legends? This episode of Gig Gab takes you behind the scenes with Bob “Doctor Mac” LeVitus, a tech author and former roadie for the Jackson 5 and Shaun Cassidy.

Bob LeVitus, who has authored 92 books on technology, shares his unique journey from aspiring recording engineer to working alongside iconic musicians. With a background in audio and touring production, Bob’s stories are both entertaining and insightful.

In this episode, Bob recounts his early days with the Jackson 5, including the thrill of managing stage lights at the Inglewood Forum and the chaos of Michael Jackson’s spontaneous stage antics. He also delves into his time as a guitar tech for Shaun Cassidy, revealing the behind-the-scenes dynamics of a major tour.

Listeners will also hear about Bob’s transition into writing, his passion for GarageBand, and the unexpected paths his career has taken. Remember, in the world of music and beyond, it’s crucial to “Always Be Performing.”

Tune in to discover untold stories of rock and roll history and gain a new perspective on the music industry. Click to listen now!

• 00:00:00 Gig Gab 449 – Monday, September 30th, 2024
  • September 30th: International Podcast Day
• 00:01:26 Guest Co-host: Bob LeVitus
• 00:02:44 Macworld All-Star Band
  • “Alias Cooper” Tribute Band in High School
• 00:05:19 Wanted to be a recording engineer
  • Bill Lazarus at Evergreen Studios
  • GarageBand – A free recording studio inside something you already own
  • GarageBand for Dummies
• 00:08:45 I liked the wires and re-tuning more than practicing, so I became a roadie!
• 00:10:19 Got into the industry by accident: I went to school with Jermaine Jackson
• 00:10:49 On the road with The Jackson Five
  • Sold Out Show, 16,000 People at The Englewood Forum… with two trees of 6 Par Cans on them each
  • Calling and Mixing Lights…First Gig!
  • Learned a ton about how to make things work during a live show
• 00:14:11 What was Michael Jackson like the first time you saw him live?
  • The Jacksons took good care of us
• 00:16:19 Remembering Tito Jackson
• 00:17:58 Rehearsing at SIR with The Jackson Five
• 00:20:09 Chasing a Girl Trying to Get Michael Jackson’s Shoe Back
• 00:21:55 A good summer job: Being Shaun Cassidy’s guitar tech!
  • Michael Lloyd
• 00:24:16 Managing Shaun Cassidy’s stage volume…the “creative” way
  • Carlos Vega
• 00:28:54 Toto was (basically) the backing band for Thriller
• 00:30:41 Strong Songs on Gig Gab
• 00:32:02 Recreating Songs…for Fun!
• 00:33:22 Big Budgets on the Shaun Cassidy Tour
  • Eleven people sleeping on the bus…and still getting a good night’s sleep
• 00:35:38 The importance of sleep on the road
• 00:38:50 Managing your health on the road
• 00:41:38 The Eagles with Vince Gill
• 00:43:32 John Fogerty’s 2024 Tour…with Credence Songs
• 00:45:33 Possible Macworld All-Star Band Reunion
• 00:48:18 Gig Gab 447 Outtro
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