Episodes

  • Podcast Episode 211: Jimi Blacksheep

    Podcast Episode 211: Jimi Blacksheep
    Jul 7 2025

    Welcome, Jimi Blacksheep, AKA James A. Bourne, musical artist. His mantra: sounding good and looking good. His alter ego, his stage persona, is Jimi Blacksheep, and his life has been a musical journey. Now in his 60s, this transplanted New Bedford, Massachusetts, resident is most at home busking on the streets, entertaining pedestrians with his vast catalog of covers and original songs.

    Jimi Blacksheep has been taking his dream to the streets for quite some time, and he continues to do it with style. He regularly commutes to Boston to entertain pedestrians with his catalog of covers and original songs on the city’s sidewalks. It's just Jimi, his guitar, voice, amplifier, and another page in his continuing musical journey.

    Jimi spoke with The Artists Index’s cofounder, documentarian, and podcast host, Ron Fortier, recently after meeting him at an AHA! event. Ron asked him to talk about his passion, his life, and his journey as a working musician. This episode was recorded at our recording studio at Spectrum Marketing Group at Howland Place in New Bedford.

    Jimi Blacksheep

    (AKA James A. Bourne)

    New Bedford, MA 02746

    774 271-5179

    Email | Website | Facebook | Instagram | Linktree | Other

    Please consider donating whatever you can to help and assure us in our mission to continue documenting the legacies of South Coast Artists.

    If you would like to be a guest on The Artists Index or have a suggestion, please let us know!
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    57 mins
  • Gallery X Series Episode 7: Matthew Ryckebusch

    Gallery X Series Episode 7: Matthew Ryckebusch
    Jun 24 2025

    In Episode Seven, our Gallery X Documentation Project podcast host Sean FitzGerald speaks with Matthew Ryckebusch, musician and ESOL instructor at UMass Dartmouth Workers’ Education Program for over 20 years. Matt, AKA Gaston Jethro, is the vocalist and bass player in the popular South Coast musical group, The Jethros! He is an associate member and an important part of the evolution of Gallery X.

    Matthew joins Sean's other guests in contributing his memories to the Gallery X Documentation Project and discusses his part in the gallery's growth. Gallery X is integral to New Bedford and the South Coast creative community.

    PHOTO CREDIT: UMass Dartmouth

    About Gallery X

    The gallery was founded in 1990 and is a contemporary, cooperative art gallery of visual, performing, and literary artist members and volunteers. Gallery X has served as an incubator for emerging artists and is a venue for established artists. It is a platform for local artists, performers, and creatives of all ages, skill levels, and backgrounds to showcase their talents as an integral part of the South Coast‘s community.

    This eight-episode podcast series supports and documents the overall project and provides historical and background information about the gallery and the progress made to date. The Gallery X Documentation Project will reach out to listeners and anyone seeking information about historical or contemporary artists from the South Coast's creative community.

    The Artists Index offers listeners up-close and personal conversations with the artists, supporters, and cultural impresarios of South Coast's creative community. Listen to the artists talk about their work, backgrounds, passions, dreams, and accomplishments. Also featured are those who work in or manage the creative community’s economy, promotion, and cultural agenda.

    Please consider donating to, sponsoring, or underwriting our podcasts and programs. This and other podcasts are available on The Artists Index and your favorite media app, including Amazon Music / iHeart Radio / Libsyn / Podcast Page / Spotify / WebPlayer / APPLE PODCASTS
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    49 mins
  • Gallery X Series Episode 6: Don Wilkinson

    Gallery X Series Episode 6: Don Wilkinson
    Jun 17 2025
    In Episode Six, our Gallery X Documentation Project podcast host Sean FitzGerald speaks with Don Wilkinson, painter/art writer. Don is an important part of Gallery X and contributes his memories to the Gallery X Documentation Project! He's one of the earliest Gallery X members and an integral part of the gallery's formation and growth into a New Bedford and overall South Coast creative community institution. Don's art articles have appeared in Artscope Magazine, Art New England, The Standard-Times, The Providence Journal, Ceramics Ireland Magazine, and currently, as the Chasing the Muse arts columnist for The New Bedford Light, is a free, nonprofit, nonpartisan digital news outlet for the South Coast. PHOTO CREDIT: Don Wilkinson About Gallery X The gallery was founded in 1990 and is a contemporary, cooperative art gallery of visual, performing, and literary artist members and volunteers. Gallery X has served as an incubator for emerging artists and is a venue for established artists. It is a platform for local artists, performers, and creatives of all ages, skill levels, and backgrounds to showcase their talents as an integral part of the South Coast‘s community. This eight-episode podcast series supports and documents the overall project and provides historical and background information about the gallery and the progress made to date. The Gallery X Documentation Project will reach out to listeners and anyone seeking information about historical or contemporary artists from the South Coast's creative community. The Artists Index offers listeners up-close and personal conversations with the artists, supporters, and cultural impresarios of South Coast's creative community. Listen to the artists talk about their work, backgrounds, passions, dreams, and accomplishments. Also featured are those who work in or manage the creative community’s economy, promotion, and cultural agenda. Please consider donating to, sponsoring, or underwriting our podcasts and programs. This and other podcasts are available on The Artists Index and your favorite media app, including Amazon Music / iHeart Radio / Libsyn / Podcast Page / Spotify / WebPlayer / APPLE PODCASTS
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    52 mins
  • Gallery X Series Episode 5: John Neiman

    Gallery X Series Episode 5: John Neiman
    Jun 9 2025

    In Episode Five, our Gallery X Documentation Project podcast host Sean FitzGerald speaks with John Neiman, AKA Screamin' Johnny Neiman. John is an important part of Gallery X and the Gallery X Documentation Project! He's one of the founding members of Gallery X.

    John has served in many capacities as an active member, an integral part of the everyday operations, and in all aspects and projects, from hanging work to helping set up musical productions. John is also a member of the musical Pumpkin Head Ted.

    The gallery was founded in 1990 and is a contemporary, cooperative art gallery of visual, performing, and literary artist members and volunteers. Gallery X has served as an incubator for emerging artists and is a venue for established artists. It is a platform for local artists, performers, and creatives of all ages, skill levels, and backgrounds to showcase their talents as an integral part of the South Coast‘s community.

    This eight-episode podcast series supports and documents the overall project and provides historical and background information about the gallery and the progress made to date. The Gallery X Documentation Project will reach out to listeners and anyone seeking information about historical or contemporary artists from the South Coast's creative community.

    The Artists Index offers listeners up-close and personal conversations with the artists, supporters, and cultural impresarios of South Coast's creative community. Listen to the artists talk about their work, backgrounds, passions, dreams, and accomplishments. Also featured are those who work in or manage the creative community’s economy, promotion, and cultural agenda.

    Please consider donating to, sponsoring, or underwriting our podcasts and programs. This and other podcasts are available on The Artists Index and your favorite media app, including Amazon Music / iHeart Radio / Libsyn / Podcast Page / Spotify / WebPlayer / APPLE PODCASTS
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    1 hr
  • Jazz Series Episode 6: Terry Gibbs

    Jazz Series Episode 6: Terry Gibbs
    Jun 2 2025
    In Episode Six, Dave Reis speaks with internationally renowned, award-winning jazz musician and centenarian, Terry Gibbs, via Zoom from Australia! Terry Gibbs, was born Julius Gubenkon in 1924. The renowned American jazz vibraphonist and band leader is 101 years old! According to his Wikipedia page, Gibbs has performed or recorded with many of the greatest names in Jazz, including Tommy Dorsey, Chubby Jackson, Buddy Rich, Woody Herman, Benny Goodman, Alice Coltrane, Louie Bellson, Charlie Shavers, Mel Tormé, and Buddy DeFranco to name just a few. "I am the oldest bebopper alive!” proclaims 93-year-old Terry Gibbs, according to an article in Jazz Times, "This forefather of the jazz vibraphone may well be right; age-wise he beats out his closest competitors, including Roy Haynes (92), Jimmy Heath (91), Lee Konitz (90) and Sheila Jordan (89). Certainly, few musicians of any age can top his ability to whip up a storm of excitement on his instrument." The Artist Index's jazz documentarian and Jazz Podcast Series host, Dave Reis, spent nearly 26 years as a Jazz radio show host, among his many other accomplishments. He was one of the original longtime DJs who worked at the former WUSM, which became radio station WUMD, 89.3 FM, on the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth campus. Dave Reis, AKA David Domingo Reis, began as our guest on In-Focus Podcast 154 and In-Focus Podcast 181. He returns once again as the host of our first-ever ten-part jazz podcast series underwritten by the Fiber Optic Center. There is no better host for this series than Dave Reis, a walking, talking jazz encyclopedia and local legend himself. Dave grew up surrounded by and hanging around with many of the jazz greats he will be presenting his ten-part Jazz Podcast Series underwritten by the Fiber Optic Center. Podcasts are also available on your favorite media app, including Amazon Music / iHeart Radio / Libsyn / Podcast Page / Spotify / WebPlayer, and APPLE PODCASTS Please consider donating whatever you can to help and assure us in our mission to continue documenting the legacies of South Coast Artists. If you would like to be a guest on The Artists Index or have a suggestion, please let us know!
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    1 hr and 13 mins
  • Podcast Episode 209: John Irwin

    Podcast Episode 209: John Irwin
    May 27 2025

    Welcome, John Irwin, a Tiverton, Rhode Island, artist. His studio is in The Handkerchief Factory, which is located in Warren, Rhode Island. Tiverton, by the way, is a part of the South Coast. John has been painting for almost 50 years.

    He is a Special Education teacher at East Providence High School and teaches art at his studio and several other venues. John Irwin paints landscapes and portraits in oil and acrylic. He enjoys painting from life but, increasingly, also from memory.

    For the last half a dozen years, he has been teaching art, and he says, "I think it has made me a much better artist." John Irwin emphasizes drawing and experimentation with his students. He is interested in depicting emotion and feelings in his private work.

    John spoke with The Artists Index’s cofounder, documentarian, and podcast host, Ron Fortier, recently about his passion, his life, and his journey as an artist. This episode was recorded at our recording studio at Spectrum Marketing Group at Howland Place in New Bedford.

    John Crawford Irwin

    Studio Address:
    The Hankerchief Factory
    569 Main Street. #121
    Warren, Rhode Island 02885

    401-639-2037

    Email | Website | Facebook | Instagram | Linktree | Other

    Please consider donating whatever you can to help and assure us in our mission to continue documenting the legacies of South Coast Artists.

    If you would like to be a guest on The Artists Index or have a suggestion, please let us know!
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    43 mins
  • Podcast Episode 208: Mwalim - DaPhunkee Professor

    Podcast Episode 208: Mwalim - DaPhunkee Professor
    May 21 2025
    Welcome, Mwalim (AKA Daphunkee Professor AKA Morgan James Peters), who has been studying music since he was ten years old. He is formally trained in classical, jazz, and is a fourth-generation musician on his mother’s side. Mwalim’s first instrument was the viola, and he performed at Carnegie Hall with an orchestra before he was 14. He also started studying piano and composition with his grandfather, the noted jazz arranger, band leader, and producer for Southern Records and Decca Records, Allan Nurse. Mwalim went to the Music & Art High School (LaGuardia) in New York City, and later earned his BA in Music and an MS in Film from Boston University. He earned an MFA in Writing from Goddard College. Mwalim spoke with The Artists Index’s cofounder, documentarian, and podcast host, Ron Fortier, recently about his passion, his life, and his journey as an artist. This episode was recorded at our recording studio at Spectrum Marketing Group at Howland Place in New Bedford. Representative Work OUT OF THE WOODS (Black Squirrel Version)LET OURSELVES GO7 GHOSTSTHIEF IN THE NIGHT01-7 CANDLESGEMINI - BY THEMSELVES Mwalim - Daphunkee Professor (Morgan James Peters) New Bedford, Massachusetts 02746 Email | Website | Facebook | Instagram | Linktree | Other Please consider donating whatever you can to help and assure us in our mission to continue documenting the legacies of South Coast Artists. If you would like to be a guest on The Artists Index or have a suggestion, please let us know!
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    1 hr and 9 mins