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Liberty DeVitto Live on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson

Sitting down with iconic Billy Joel drummer, Liberty DeVitto, after a too-long three-year hiatus was fantastical! Friends since the 80s, I never get enough of Lib’s stories and his spectacular storytelling. 

Hot off the heels of being a major player in the current HBO/MAX Billy Joel doc, And So It Goes, Lib caught us up and filled in the blanks. Over the course of five interviews spanning the last decade, pieces of the story have been uncovered; today, Liberty put them all together. How did Billy’s once fierce loyalty wane, replaced with a detached coldness? The reasons stated in the doc, only part of the story. We got the deets, including turning down George Martin in favor of his band, refusing a ride to McCartney’s 911 recording session when there wasn’t room for Lib in the car, and to an ill-shared secret spilled by Lib’s then wife to Billy’s then wife, Christie. Liberty’s sobriety sobering, and a joy killer to Billy. How the end came down without a word to their longtime bandmates, Russell Javors and Doug Stegmeyer, perhaps responsible for the latter’s demise. And how, sometime later, the same fate awaited Liberty. The truth about his lawsuit and why he fought. Elizabeth Weber, Billy’s first wife and manager’s support, and why she finally chose to speak up and set the record straight. Lib talked about his and Billy’s 15-year silence following their 30-year collaboration, their reconciliation, and their ongoing renewed friendship, as Billy faces serious health issues. 

We got the scoop on his meeting Beatles, Ringo and Paul, playing with them - full circle from their inspiring his life’s path. Karen Carpenter, Carly Simon, The Beach Boys, Phoebe Snow, Ronnie Spector, just a few he’s shared a studio and or a stage with. 

How, with Billy’s blessing, the original Billy Joel Band, Liberty, Richie Cannata (gratefully recovered from a life-threatening aortic dissection), and Russell Javors, carry on as The Lords of 52nd Street, and how his Slim Kings are amassing a huge following, dropping a new record, and readying to tour. He’s got a gorgeous wife, a happy marriage, four thriving daughters, and two grandchildren; he’s sober. Life is good! Mine’s better with Liberty in it. Adore the man! 

Liberty Devitto Live on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson

Wednesday, 8/27/25, 5 PM PT/ 8 PM ET

Streamed Live on my FB & YouTube

[vickiabelson]

Today LIVE! Hot off the heels of being a major player in the current HBO/MAX Billy Joel doc, And So It Goes, our old pal, Liberty DeVitto comes to catch up and fill in the blanks.

One of the greatest iconic rock drummers of all time, Billy Joel's Liberty Devitto, is also a bestselling author, devoted family man, sober, and a long-time great friend.

Liberty's an active session and touring musician who's worked with Carly Simon, Phoebe Snow, Karen Carpenter, Stevie Nicks, Rick Wakeman, Bob James, The Beach Boys, Meat Loaf, and more. His memoir, LIBERTY, Life, Billy, and the Pursuit of Happiness, hit #1 on Amazon, and his Love, Santa Claus: A humble-hearted Christmas story is a 5-star Amazon hit.

A drummer’s drummer, Lib, along with Sax player Richie Cannata and the rest of the Billy Joel Band, was inducted into the Long Island Music Hall of Fame.

Liberty's an official supporter of Little Kids Rock, a nonprofit organization that provides free musical instruments and instruction to children in underserved public schools throughout the USA.

Along with Billy Joel Band members, Richie Cannata, and Russell Javors, Liberty formed The Lords of 52nd Street and play their original hits. Liberty is a founding member of The NYC Hitsquad and was featured in the rock doc, Hired Gun.

Liberty's funny, a great storyteller, and a fabulous human being. I've loved this man for decades, watched him slay the sticks innumerable times, and witnessed him besting the best in "battle."

A big juicy slice of home, my heart, and no doubt my accent will be on my sleeve. Can't wait for the laughs, the fun, and the stories!

Liberty Devitto Live on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson

Wednesday, 8/27/25, 5 PM PT/ 8 PM ET

Streaming Live on my FB & YouTube

facebook.com/vickiabelson

youtube.com/@VickiAbelsonLive

WednesDaily by Toni Vincent 

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Shooting The Shit With Vicki

Monday, August 25, 2025

Streamed Live @5ish PM PT on my FB

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Today on STSWV, Rufus update, who we've seen, and what we've binged. Let's ketchup! 

Shooting The Shit With Vicki

Monday, August 25, 2025

Streaming Live @5ish PM PT on my FB

facebook.com/vickiabelson

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The Cowsills Live on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson

What’s better than sitting down with your old friend and childhood hero, Bob Cowsill? Being surprised when Paul and Susan Cowsill join him. Us. What fun!  The Cowsills  (Hair, The Rain, The Park, and Other Things, We Can Fly), currently out on The Happy Together Tour, are the real-life Partridge Family, upon whom the show was based. A fan since the 60s, they adorned my walls and turntable. I love them.

Bob Cowsill holds the distinction of having the most viewed video on my YouTube channel, over 203K views and counting, daily, years after its release. Bob's Women Who Write appearance, middling for the late, great Ed Asner, with incredible opener, James Morrison, of 24, was a KILLER! It was an instant classic, timeless, not to be missed!  It'll make you happy, happy, happy, as no doubt this 4th sitdown with the always ridiculously entertaining, funny man and the second with the lot of 'em will. 

We talked about their watching The Beatles on Ed Sullivan, and the impact they had on Bob and Bill, their first two failed record deals, some oddly named group, Simon & Garfunkel, who bested them. The third deal was the charm with The Rain, The Park & Other Things written for them. How Mom, Paul & Susan each joined the brothers. How Hair came to them, thank you, Carl Reiner...how pleasing their fans, whether on The Happy Together Tour, which they've opened for 11 years, or on The Flower Power cruise, which they do annually, is their primary purpose. They always play their hits and love doing so.

We talked about their new releases, Rhythm of the World, Global, and the upcoming The Cocaine Drain, and their long-awaited a cappella album. If you're lucky enough to catch one of their bi-monthly Cowsills gigs, you might get to hear Is Your Love Alive, or other previously unreleased gems. But you can bet you'll hear their classics and some great covers. They are now and have always been crowd pleasers, and that includes sitting down with them. They're open, fun, clearly love each other, and have infectious enthusiasm for what they do and life in general.

As always, whether at one of their shows or chatting, I had a ball. I trust you will, too.

The Cowsills Live on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson

Wednesday, 8/20/25, **2 PM PT, 5 PM ET**

Streamed Live on my FB & YouTube

[vickiabelson]

Today LIVE @2 PM PT! We're back. Finally! And with whom better than Bob Cowsill, currently out on The Happy Together Tour, with TheCowsills (Hair, The Rain, The Park And Other Things, We Can Fly), the real-life Partridge Family, upon whom the show was based.  Bob holds the distinction of having the most viewed video on my YouTube channel, over 200K views and counting, daily, years after its release. Bob's Women Who Write appearance, middling for the late, great, Ed Asner, with incredible opener, James Morrison, of 24, was a KILLER! It was an instant classic, timeless, not to be missed!  It'll make you happy, happy, happy, as no doubt this 4th sitdown with the always ridiculously entertaining, funny, funny, funny man is sure to be. Can't wait to see/hear what his stream of consciousness playing and speaking will take us to this day. 

Bob Cowsill Live on Game Changers With Vicki Abelson

Wednesday, 8/20/25, **2 PM PT, 5 PM ET**

Streaming Live on my FB & YouTube

facebook.com/vickiabelson

youtube.com/@VickiAbelsonLive

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We talked a fabulous dinner at Soho House with Shogun Emmy Winner, Nestor Carbonell. & producer, Mark Maxey, a wonderful show with our sweet, and crazy talented friend, Keb Mo, seeing Weapons, a spectacular film, in the theatre, where it’s meant to be seen, (please run to do so, it’s great!), a live meeting, maybe only the 5th or so I’ve attended since the pandemic, it all felt so normal. So, 2019. Enjoying Code of Silence, loving Dexter Resurrection, and the John Kennedy Jr doc on CNN, and, of course, a Rufus update 🙏🏻

Shooting The Shit With Vicki

Monday, August 18, 2025

Streamed Live @5 PM PT on my FB

Replay here:

[vickiabelson]

Today on STSWV, we left the house! A dinner, a concert, a movie, oh my! Health update: Ru & mine... and this week's hits & misses. Let's ketchup! 

Shooting The Shit With Vicki

Monday, August 18, 2025

Streaming Live @5 PM PT on my FB

facebook.com/vickiabelson

[vickiabelson]

Today on STSWV, RUFUS! Waiting on word from his needle test... so grateful for your 🙏🏻s & good wishes... adjusting to change, this week's viewing. Let's ketchup! On time! 

Shooting The Shit With Vicki

Monday, August 11, 2025

Streamed Live @5 PM PT on my FB

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We talked the wedding, the aftermath, a fun family day pre-honeymoon, finding my mother of the bride and mother-in-law feet, enjoying the new, grateful for the familiar, proud, and happy. I read a few pages from Don’t Jump, about my wedding - with wise words from a wise man about marriage. And of course this week’s viewing Together 👍🏻 Sovereign 🫳 Dexter 👍🏻 and the Annika binge  👍🏻👍🏻

Shooting The Shit With Vicki

Monday, August 4, 2025

Streamed Live @5ish PM PT on my FB

[vickiabelson]

Today on STSWV, post Samantha & Tristan wedding reflections and a reading from Don't Jump about mine. 

Shooting The Shit With Vicki

Monday, August 4, 2025

Streamed Live @5ish PM PT on my FB

facebook.com/vickiabelson

Daily by Toni Vincent & Peter and Paul Cartoons

[vickiabelson]

The wedding soup to nuts, sprinkled with a whole lotta salty tears. 

Shooting The Shit With Vicki

Monday, July 28, 2025

Streamed Live @5 PM PT on my FB

Replay here:

[vickiabelson]

Today on STSWV, the most glorious day I've lived... the wedding of Samantha & Tristan Cappel was absolute perfection! Can't wait to tell you about it! Let's ketchup! 

Shooting The Shit With Vicki

Monday, July 28, 2025

Streaming Live @5 PM PT on my FB 

facebook.com/vickiabelson

[vickiabelson]

Today on STSWV, a year ago this day Samantha Abelson said "Yes, to the dress!" In 5 days, she'll be walking down the aisle wearing it and returning up the aisle, Samantha Cappel. There's not a dry eye at this computer. Let's talk! 

Shooting The Shit With Vicki

Monday, July 21, 2025

Streaming Live @5 PM PT on my FB 

facebook.com/vickiabelson

[vickiabelson]

The wedding countdown is officially underway… we talked today’s fitting with my longtime stylist, Craig Ames, bling shopping with Snuff, hair options, the weekend rundown, writing blessings, and my inevitable ugly cry, ruining my makeup. I only have one daughter, and this really is a BIG deal. With each day closer, I realize it all the more. I want to savor every second.  We talked this week’s hits, Patience, Little Fires Everywhere, The Live Aid doc on CNN, and Lena Dunham’s Too Much. Happily, there were no misses. 

Shooting The Shit With Vicki

Monday, July 14, 2025

Streamed Live @5 PM PT on my FB 

[vickiabelson]

Today on STSWV, is this the little girl I carried... yes, it is, and in 12 days we'll be walking her down the aisle, and "giving her away." Ugly crying just typing those words. Wedding countdown is officially underway, plus this week's hits & misses. 

Shooting The Shit With Vicki

Monday, July 14, 2025

Streaming Live @5 PM PT on my FB 

facebook.com/vickiabelson

[vickiabelson]

We talked scorpions, spiders, and snakes, oh my! This city girl lives in Critterville. Celebrated family on the 4th, cause the state of our union is perverse, Paula’s pingpong tournament, social awkwardness post the pandemic, a visit from a longtime cross country FB to the reals friend, and this week’s hits, Squid Game👍🏻, Air Force 1 👍🏻, and misses, The Four Seasons 👎🏻, And Just Like That 👎🏻 but neglected to talk about the three docs we watched. Highly recommend My Mom Jayne & Barbara Walters: Tell Me Everything. Eric Clapton: Life in 12 Bars kind of left me cold, as does the man himself these days, as much as I’ve worshipped his talent. The big hack I shared for saving public engagement and our Lives may or may not work. I was too late to salvage the last five months; they were permanently deleted as I spoke. I’m currently trying it with a couple of gems, the jury’s still out on whether it’s actually going to work, but I’ll be doing my damndest to save them. 🙏🏻🤞🙏🏻 Update: the hack no longer works 😭 I sure wish they'd reconsider and allow our work and art to stand.

Shooting The Shit With Vicki

Monday, July 7, 2025

Streamed Live @5 PM PT on my FB