Straight From The Hat With Ben Vaughn

Episode 16: Frank Zappa, Sandy Denny, Legendary Stardust Cowboy, Rosco Gordon

Season One Finale Episode! A teenage Ben provides doo wop guidance to Frank Zappa. Sandy Denny visits New Jersey. The Legendary Stardust Cowboy, whose outsider records

Episode 15: The Stooges, Danny & The Juniors, Rip Torn, Hasil Adkins

Inspired by The Stooges, Ben refuses to take "no" for an answer at a record store. Ben tells the story of Danny & The Juniors, a tough tale from the early generation of

Episode 14: Jerry Lee Lewis, Gamble & Huff, Reggie Young, Freddy "Boom Boom" Cannon

Visit Ferriday, Louisiana with Ben to honor the town's native son, the iconic Jerry Lee Lewis. Come along with Ben on his truck driving route where he makes routine deli

Episode 13 - Ringo Starr, Dee Dee Sharp, Bob Lind, Sonny Bono

Ringo Starr mistakes Ben for someone else in the recording studio. Always pick up the phone, because you never know when Dee Dee Sharp will be on the other end. What do

Episode 12: Los Straitjackets, Johnny Otis, Charlie Gracie, Marshall Crenshaw

Loitering backstage at the Grand Ole Opry leads to Ben working with America’s favorite musical masked men, Los Straitjackets. Ben accompanies Johnny Otis to the Capitol

Episode 11: Willie Nelson, Alan Vega, Sam Phillips

Ben joins Willie Nelson on Willie’s tour bus, and discovers a mysterious briefcase with a surprise inside. A creative force and a true artist’s artist, Ben remembers his

Episode 10: Winona Ryder, The Cramps, Rambler 65

Winona Ryder mourns the loss of a counterculture icon at Ben’s airplane hangar studio. Learn the backstory of Rambler 65, the album Ben recorded entirely in his car— a d

Episode 9: That '70s Show, Pig Robbins, Allen Ginsberg, Charlie Feathers

That 70s Show enlists Ben, his guitar, and his cowbell to build a musical time machine and provide the soundtrack to a well-loved sitcom. Country boy Pig Robbins gives h

Episode 8 - The Jordanaires, Rod McKuen, Laura Nyro

Ben recalls the explosive experience of working with legendary country vocal group The Jordanaires. Take a deep breath and listen to the warm: Ben fondly remembers poet

Episode 7 - Norma Tanega, Roy Head, Arthur Alexander

Learn about Norma Tanega and the story behind one of the oddest hit records of the 1960s. Down in New Orleans, Ben meets up with rockabilly wild man Roy Head. Ben tells t

Episode 6 - Roky Erickson, Ruthann Friedman, Alex Chilton

Ben and friends pay a visit to Roky Erickson and assist with an important mission. Meet Ruthann Friedman, author of one of the biggest pop hits of the 1960s, and that’s

Episode 5 - Ween, Nancy Sinatra, The Berlin Wall

Ben saves country music by bringing Ween to Nashville. Hollywood dreams come true when Ben’s work as a film composer leads to producing Nancy Sinatra. Drafted as a good

Episode 4 - Lenny White, The Geator

Unlikely musical worlds collide in an elevator ride with Lenny White. Meet Ben's mentor, the legendary Philadelphia radio DJ Jerry Blavat a.k.a. The Geator With The Heat

Episode 3 - Lalo Schifrin, Jonathan Richman, Evie Sands

A chance encounter with iconic composer Lalo Schifrin comes while Ben worries if he’ll ever see his car again. Ben reflects on his friendship with Jonathan Richman, incl

Episode 2 - Attila, 3rd Rock From The Sun

Finding himself in the 1970s counterculture scene, Ben learns to trust his instincts when faced with heavy rock group Attila.  Ben unexpectedly finds himself thrown into

Episode 1 - Lynyrd Skynyrd, Gene Pitney, Duane Eddy

Ben’s time in blues harmonica bootcamp leads to a moment in the superstardom sun with Lynyrd Skynyrd.  Ben meets up with Gene Pitney backstage at Carnegie Hall to talk a

Straight From The Hat With Ben Vaughn Trailer

Straight From The Hat With Ben Vaughn: first episodes arrive January 22, 2026.