John Floridis
Host and ProducerJohn Floridis, the host and producer of Musician's Spotlight, has been with Montana Public Radio since 1997. He has interviewed over 200 musicians during that time from household names like B.B. King, Alison Krauss and Lyle Lovett, to Montana musicians such as Eden Atwood, Darko Butarac and Tom Catmull. He is also an independent recording and performing artist in his own right and a former registered music therapist.
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Host John Floridis visits with percussionist Matt Zimbel of Manteca, the unique Pan fusion collective also described as “Jazz adjacent, heavy metal, hoe down rock band…" -
Electronic music composer, producer and songwriter Scott Hansen, also known as Tycho joins host John Floridis for this episode. The Grammy nominated musician discusses his early inspiration into music which came more from a knowledge of computers than from mastering a musical instrument. -
This program is a 20 year retrospective on our visit with the legendary B.B. King. On July 30th, 2004 Musician's Spotlight host John Floridis and then co-host Brian Kopper ventured to the Big Sky Brewery in Missoula, Montana for a blues festival that included Shemekia Copeland and Dr. John as well as B.B. King. -
Son Cubano legend and virtuoso of the cuatro and tres string instruments Kiki Valera joins host John Floridis to talk shop. -
One of America's most acclaimed and respected songwriters, Lucinda Williams joins host John Floridis for her first interview on Musician's Spotlight. The conversation took place in late June of 2024 as Lucinda was embarking on a 50th anniversary tour celebrating her over five decade career. -
Renowned multi instrumentalist, singer and folklorist Bruce Molsky returns to Musician's Spotlight after more than two decades to visit with host John Floridis. -
Singer songwriter Rhett Miller, front man of the Old 97's dives into his early days growing up in the Dallas, TX music scene, the key to keeping the same band members in a group for over three decades, how he flows his songwriting between the band and his solo work. -
Bill Harley is one of America’s most beloved storytellers and children’s entertainers. He’s released over 30 recordings. He received two Grammy Awards for Best Spoken Word Album For Children and five additional Grammy nominations. He has also won Parents' Choice awards, ALA (American Library Association) awards and has published numerous books and won a number of awards in that field as well. -
Acclaimed singer songwriter Martha Scanlan is welcomed back to Musician's Spotlight to talk about her most recent recordings "Save It For Later" and "Last Stars First Light," both collaborations with her longtime musical partner Jon Neufeld. -
Singer, songwriter, composer Kora virtuoso Sona Jobarteh visits with host John Floridis on this edition of Musician's Spotlight. Sona is a master of the Kora, a harp like instrument from her native country The Gambia.
