Hello everyone! Hope all is well with all who are listening.

I am accused many times of being too sentimental, but I can’t help it sometimes.

Right now, the Seniors at UGA are getting ready for Graduation! They are everywhere taking pictures under the famous “Arches” and many other landmarks on campus. I love watching this happening every year for several reasons.

1. It reminds me of my days at Kansas University in Lawrence, Kansas.

2. They are about to embark of the rest of their lives. I have nothing but hope for each and every one of them, even with the times the way they are. I do believe it will get better.

3. As much as I like it, it is nicer without them for a while. Us townies as we are called get a short respite from the hustle and bustle during the school year.

All of this leads to a very special episode for AthCastMusic’s Podcast.

I had David Barbe on my last podcast and now I’m going to be talking to the students under David’s MBUS tutelage. These students including my intern Raya Ackleh, will each be talking about their project. They have performed them here in Athens in the last two days. The first time was at international day. And once again yesterday. I unfortunately couldn’t make either performance since I had some previous obligations.

I was so excited to speak with them and see if the future looks bright enough to wear shades!

This is my conversation with these great minded students from the Music Business Certificate Program at UGA. .

AthCastMusic (©): The Music of Athens Georgia, Now and Then

SEASON 5: EPISODE: 58

LENGTH: 1:05.56

PUBLISHED: April 30, 2026

UPDATED BI - WEEKLY ON THURSDAYS

ENGINEER: KAYLA DOVER

MBUS INTERN : RAYA ACKLEH

MUSIC BUSINESS SCHOOL STUDENTS:

Tobey Barden

Zac Mihalko

Pluto (former Patriot) Mckee

Twiggy ( Daniel Majd)

Guy Mayer

Sky Ciela (Smith)

Raya Ackleh

Aslin Ward

RECORDED AT TWEED RECORDING AUDIO PRODUCTION SCHOOL

https://tweedrecording.com (https://tweedrecording.com/)

PHOTOS BY:

PRODUCER: MARLENE SOKOL STEWART

CONTACT FOR ATHCASTMUSIC:

EMAIL: marlene@athcastmusic.com

INSTAGRAM: AthCastMusic

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61550294283019

YOUTUBE CHANNEL: AthCastMusic. @MarleneSokolStewart-12

Thank you for listening to AthCastMusic. On many of the podcast platforms

“IF YOU DON’T LISTEN, YOU CAN’T HEAR!”

David Barbe grew up in Atlanta, Georgia, where he attended Ridgeview High School and began playing in bands during the 1970s. Barbe’s parents were influential in his love as music as both his parents, John and Jane Barbe were big band musicians as well as creating Jingles.

David Barbe arrived in Athens, Georgia in 1981 to attend the University of Georgia, and stepped straight into a music scene that would help shape his entire life.

The move to Athens quickly found Barbe immersed in the creative energy of the music in Athens—playing with local punk bands like Bar-B-Que Killers, Mercyland and later Buzz Hungry . When Mercyland disbanded in 1991, Barbe didn’t slow down. While taking the lead in Buzz Hungry, he caught the attention of Bob Mould from the band Husker Du and joined his band Sugar, a band that was part of an explosion of indie alternative rock, helping to shape Sugar’s evolving sound before departing in 1995. Years later, that musical connection would come full circle with a reunion performance at the Treasure Island Music Festival in 2009.

But one of the most defining turns in Barbe’s story happened behind the scenes. A call from John Keane opened the door to studio work—and a whole new creative path. Under Keane’s mentorship, Barbe mastered the art of production and engineering, laying the foundation for what would become an extraordinary part of his life, losing count of up to 400 albums he has produced, mixed or engineered.

In 1997, he co-founded Chase Park Transduction in Athens, a studio that would become a cornerstone of the city’s music legacy. From there, Barbe went on to produce hundreds of records—working with artists like Drive-By Truckers, Deerhunter, The Glands, Amy Ray, k.d. lang, and R.E.M.. Somewhere along the way, the number of albums he’s worked on climbed into the hundreds—so many, he’s stopped counting.

And as if that weren’t enough, Barbe continues to shape the next generation of artists as director of the Music Business Certificate Program at the University of Georgia—bringing his journey full circle, right back to where it all began.

Barbe, a firm believer of family first — and his wife, Amy, have three children — a daughter and 2 sons. . He is a past president of the Athens-Clarke County Little League baseball league and has managed his sons' all-star teams to several city championships.

Barbe’s name has been equated as one of the best producers in Athens, attracting bands from all over. He has been a stronghold for musicians here for a long time and I don’t see him stopping any time soon.

Barbe gave me the opportunity to ask him about things he doesn’t necessarily get a chance to answer often. Here is me, talking to David Barbe.

AthCastMusic (©): The Music of Athens Georgia, Now and Then

SEASON: 5 EPISODE: 57

LENGTH: :55

PUBLISHED: April 16, 2026

UPDATED WEEKLY ON THURSDAY’s or Fridays

ENGINEER: KAYLA DOVER

RECORDED AT TWEED RECORDING AUDIO PRODUCTION SCHOOL

https://tweedrecording.com

Produced by Marlene Sokol Stewart

Photos and Camera: Raya Ackleh

Contact for David Barbe:

dbarbe@uga.edu

Email: marlene@athcastmusic.com

Instagram: AthCastMusic

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61550294283019

THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO ATHCASTMUSIC WHERE YOU LISTEN TO PODCASTS.

REMEMBER, “IF YOU DON’T LISTEN, YOU CAN’T HEAR.”

Welcome to AthCastMusic, the music of Athens,

Georgia now and then. My name is Marlene Sokol

Stewart, and this is my podcast. Hello, hello,

hello, everyone. I hope everyone's doing well.

It's been crazy flying around this country with

the TSA crap going on, but... We made it back

to Athens fine and I made it here to record this

episode and I'm very happy about that because

my guest today is Randall Bramblett and he is

a fine, fine musician and an Athenian still as

he moved here in 1970. And he's still here. My

conversation was great. It was just great. Randall

Bramblett is a singer, songwriter, and multi - instrumentalist,

born in Jesup, Georgia, but based in Athens,

Georgia. His music is rooted in south funk, blues,

R &B, psychedelic punk, jazz, and wherever the

hell else he wants to go. His music spans a career

of solo work, collaborations, and being the leader

of the band. He played with the Allman Brothers,

Steve Winwood, Bonnie Raitt, Sea Level, Widespread

Panic, Levon Helm, the Atlanta Rhythm section,

Delbert McClinton, Betty LeVette, you name it.

Because there's just too many people to list.

It really is phenomenal what this man has accomplished.

He went to UNC with the intent to major in psychology

and to join the seminary. But that was not to

be after hearing artists like James Taylor, Carole

King, and Bob Dylan and thinking, you know what,

I probably could do this. Once he abandoned that

pathway, he moved to Athens to write songs and

see how it would carry him. It led to much more

than songwriting. It led to a plethora of creativity

that couldn't be stopped. His music continues

to grow like grapes on a vine, always tasting

different and always depending on the weather.

He probably says yes, too many times and plays

wherever time will take him. We talked about

beginning his music, when he went to UNC, how

he got involved with Sea Level, Steve Winwood

and some of these other artists and just how

his life has been since he started this wonderful

journey. So here is my lovely conversation

with Randall Bramblett.