In this second installment of Legends of the Cue with Mark Kendall — famed guitarist, songwriter, and founder of the multiplatinum rock band Great White — we journey deeper into the fire and rhythm of a life shaped by equal parts grit, melody, and cue chalk. From his early days strumming in garages and dreaming beyond backyard gigs, to the electric moment when fate and a record label executive collided in a smoky L.A. club, Mark shares the unlikely path that led him from factory shifts and cover sets to international stages alongside Whitesnake and Judas Priest.

With his trademark humility and humor, Mark recounts the grind behind the glamour — five-set club nights, demo tapes financed by his singer’s father, and the relentless work ethic that kept him chasing opportunity long before the spotlight found him. Alongside co-hosts Mike Gonzalez, Allison Fisher, and Mark Wilson, we explore how passion for both guitar and pool intertwined to fuel his creative energy, and how lessons from the felt mirrored those from the stage: precision, patience, and performance under pressure.

Kendall reflects on the rise of MTV, the shift of the music scene in the ’90s, and the enduring connection with fans who’ve grown up with Great White’s anthems. He also opens up about his love of the cue game — trading riffs for runouts, and late-night rock shows for all-night pool halls with legends like Grady Matthews.

This episode captures the drive, discipline, and sheer joy of a man who never stopped learning — whether from Hendrix or Hall, Morrison or Mosconi. Mark Kendall’s story reminds us that greatness is earned one note, one stroke, and one dream at a time.

Give Allison, Mark & Mike some feedback via Text.

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Music by Lyrium.

About

"Legends of the Cue" is a pool history podcast featuring interviews with Pool Hall of Fame members, winners of major championships and other people of influence in and around pocket billiards. We also plan to highlight memorable pool brands, events and venues. Focusing on the positive aspects of the sport, we aim to create and provide an engaging and timeless repository of content that listeners can enjoy now and forever. Co-hosted by WPA and BCA Hall of Fame member Allison Fisher, Mosconi Cup player and captain Mark Wilson, our podcast focuses on telling the life stories of pool's greatest, in their voices. Join Allison, Mark and Mike Gonzalez for “Legends of the Cue.”

In this first installment of a captivating four-part series, Legends of the Cue welcomes Mark Kendall — the soulful guitarist and founding member of the multi-platinum rock band Great White, and one of the most accomplished celebrity pool players in the world. Known for his passionate guitar riffs and humble nature, Kendall opens up to hosts Mark Wilson, Mike Gonzalez and Allison Fisher about the fascinating intersections of music, family, and the game of pool that shaped his life.

Born into a musical household in Southern California, Mark’s journey began with jazz records spinning in the background and a deep appreciation for rhythm and melody passed down from his trumpet-playing father and singer mother. By age nine, a neighbor’s garage band sparked a lifelong love affair with the guitar — one that would eventually propel him to international rock stardom. But just as powerful was his discovery of the pool table in the family garage, igniting another lifelong passion.

Kendall recounts his early years juggling baseball, music, and pool, his formative experiences at California’s famed Westminster Family Billiards, and his first brushes with the competitive world of straight pool and nine-ball. With his trademark humility and humor, he reflects on lessons learned from early defeats, the thrill of live performance, and the shared intensity between the stage and the pool hall.

From neighborhood jam sessions to his first electric guitar on Christmas morning, from teenage tournaments to facing future pros, this episode paints a vivid portrait of a natural talent driven by curiosity, competition, and pure love of craft.

Tune in as Mark Kendall begins his journey — where cue balls meet power chords, and the rhythm of the game mirrors the heartbeat of rock ’n’ roll.

Give Allison, Mark & Mike some feedback via Text.

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Follow our show and/or leave a review/rating on:

Our website: https://www.legendsofthecue.com

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/legends-of-the-cue/id1820520463

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4Za0IMh2SeNaWEGUHaVcy1

Music by Lyrium.

About

"Legends of the Cue" is a pool history podcast featuring interviews with Pool Hall of Fame members, winners of major championships and other people of influence in and around pocket billiards. We also plan to highlight memorable pool brands, events and venues. Focusing on the positive aspects of the sport, we aim to create and provide an engaging and timeless repository of content that listeners can enjoy now and forever. Co-hosted by WPA and BCA Hall of Fame member Allison Fisher, Mosconi Cup player and captain Mark Wilson, our podcast focuses on telling the life stories of pool's greatest, in their voices. Join Allison, Mark and Mike Gonzalez for “Legends of the Cue.”

In this second installment of Legends of the Cue featuring the incomparable Keith “Earthquake” McCready, the stories get wilder, the stakes higher, and the characters larger than life. With his trademark wit and fearless honesty, Keith takes us deep into the gritty underworld of American pool during its most colorful era — where the lights never dimmed, the games never stopped, and the money was always on the line.

From marathon gambling sessions at California’s legendary Billiard Palace to encounters with icons like Minnesota Fats, Ronnie Allen, and Danny DiLiberto, McCready recalls a time when skill, nerve, and street smarts were the only currencies that mattered. He shares how his early years were a “mini-laboratory” for learning to play under relentless pressure — and the sometimes-questionable methods players used to keep going for days on end.

Listeners will hear Keith’s hilarious and heartbreaking tales of triumph and trouble: falling asleep under pool tables with cash in his pockets, only to wake up robbed; being “jarred” mid-match by opponents looking for an edge; and hustling through the West Coast’s roughest rooms armed with nothing but talent and charm.

Co-hosts Mike Gonzalez, Allison Fisher, and Mark Wilson bring warmth and insight as they guide Keith through these vivid memories — from his friendship with the greats to the challenges of vision loss that ended his playing days far too soon.

Equal parts humor, danger, and heart, this episode captures the essence of a man who lived pool at full throttle and left an indelible mark on the game.

🎱 Join us for Part 2 of “Earthquake” Keith McCready — the stories only he could tell, from a life lived at the edge of the table.

Give Allison, Mark & Mike some feedback via Text.

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Follow our show and/or leave a review/rating on:

Our website: https://www.legendsofthecue.com

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/legends-of-the-cue/id1820520463

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4Za0IMh2SeNaWEGUHaVcy1

Music by Lyrium.

About

"Legends of the Cue" is a pool history podcast featuring interviews with Pool Hall of Fame members, winners of major championships and other people of influence in and around pocket billiards. We also plan to highlight memorable pool brands, events and venues. Focusing on the positive aspects of the sport, we aim to create and provide an engaging and timeless repository of content that listeners can enjoy now and forever. Co-hosted by WPA and BCA Hall of Fame member Allison Fisher, Mosconi Cup player and captain Mark Wilson, our podcast focuses on telling the life stories of pool's greatest, in their voices. Join Allison, Mark and Mike Gonzalez for “Legends of the Cue.”

In this first installment of our Legends of the Cue four-part series, hosts Mike Gonzalez, Allison Fisher, and Mark Wilson sit down with one of pool’s most electrifying personalities—Keith McCready—to trace the raw, unfiltered beginnings of a life that could only be described as cinematic.

Born in Elmhurst, Illinois, and raised under the California sun, Keith’s early years were anything but ordinary. By age ten, while most kids were trading baseball cards, he was already gambling, running pool tables, and learning the delicate art of survival. After losing his mother at a young age, Keith found refuge in the game—and in the smoky glow of California pool halls where legends like Louis Lemke and “Cowboy” Jimmy Moore tested his growing talent.

Adopted at 13 by Bob Wallace, the owner of a local poolroom, Keith’s new family gave him both stability and access to the best action on the West Coast. By fifteen, he was on the road, matching up against future world champions, and earning a nickname that captured his fearless spirit—El Diablo. His stories of those days—standing on Coke crates to reach the table, running 56 balls at age twelve, winning thousands at the racetrack before eighth grade, and learning from icons like Ronnie Allen—paint the portrait of a natural-born competitor with an edge as sharp as his stroke.

This episode captures the roots of a player whose talent, charisma, and streetwise grit later caught the eye of none other than Martin Scorsese, who cast him as Grady Seasons in The Color of Money. Join us as Keith McCready takes us back to where it all began—before the fame, before the film—when the hustle, the game, and the gamble were one and the same.

🎱 A story only Keith could tell, and only pool could create.

Give Allison, Mark & Mike some feedback via Text.

Support the show

Follow our show and/or leave a review/rating on:

Our website: https://www.legendsofthecue.com

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/legends-of-the-cue/id1820520463

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4Za0IMh2SeNaWEGUHaVcy1

Music by Lyrium.

About

"Legends of the Cue" is a pool history podcast featuring interviews with Pool Hall of Fame members, winners of major championships and other people of influence in and around pocket billiards. We also plan to highlight memorable pool brands, events and venues. Focusing on the positive aspects of the sport, we aim to create and provide an engaging and timeless repository of content that listeners can enjoy now and forever. Co-hosted by WPA and BCA Hall of Fame member Allison Fisher, Mosconi Cup player and captain Mark Wilson, our podcast focuses on telling the life stories of pool's greatest, in their voices. Join Allison, Mark and Mike Gonzalez for “Legends of the Cue.”

In this concluding episode of our four-part series with the incomparable Mike Massey, we journey through a defining chapter of his extraordinary life in pool. Already recognized as the game’s premier trick shot artist, Mike reflects on the mid-2000s when his career transitioned from peak competition to enduring legacy.

We begin with his collaboration with noted author Phil Capelle on Mike Massey’s World of Trick Shots, a groundbreaking instructional book blending precision diagrams, insider tips, and colorful travel stories. From near-miss train rides in Europe to unforgettable exhibition moments, Mike brings his adventures vividly to life.

The discussion turns to honors befitting a master: induction into the Billiard Congress of America Hall of Fame in 2005 and, more recently, the inaugural class of the Artistic Pool Hall of Fame alongside Tom Rossman and George Middleditch. Mike shares candid reflections on what those accolades meant, the pioneers who paved the way, and the responsibility of carrying pool’s entertainment tradition forward.

Yet, beyond titles and trophies, Mike reveals his other passions—music, poetry, and faith. A self-taught country singer with a catalog on ReverbNation, he describes storytelling through song as both a creative outlet and a spiritual calling. He also speaks openly about challenges, redemption, and the lessons he hopes others might learn from his journey.

As always, we close with our signature three questions, where Mike offers timeless advice to young players, contemplates the “do-over” shots that still linger in memory, and reflects on how he would like the pool world to remember him.

This episode is not only about one man’s remarkable career but also about resilience, integrity, and leaving a legacy that transcends the table.

Give Allison, Mark & Mike some feedback via Text.

Support the show

Follow our show and/or leave a review/rating on:

Our website: https://www.legendsofthecue.com

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/legends-of-the-cue/id1820520463

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4Za0IMh2SeNaWEGUHaVcy1

Music by Lyrium.

About

"Legends of the Cue" is a pool history podcast featuring interviews with Pool Hall of Fame members, winners of major championships and other people of influence in and around pocket billiards. We also plan to highlight memorable pool brands, events and venues. Focusing on the positive aspects of the sport, we aim to create and provide an engaging and timeless repository of content that listeners can enjoy now and forever. Co-hosted by WPA and BCA Hall of Fame member Allison Fisher, Mosconi Cup player and captain Mark Wilson, our podcast focuses on telling the life stories of pool's greatest, in their voices. Join Allison, Mark and Mike Gonzalez for “Legends of the Cue.”

In this third installment of our four-part conversation with Mike Massey—BCA Hall of Fame inductee, Artistic Pool Hall of Fame member, and the greatest trick shot artist of all time—we continue charting the incredible journey of one of the game’s most colorful and accomplished legends.

Mike takes us inside one of his proudest achievements: a grueling 24-hour marathon in Austria where he recorded an astonishing 330 break-and-runs in nine-ball, a feat witnessed live on national television that helped billiards gain recognition as a sport in Austria. From charity marathons pocketing thousands of balls to exhibitions that inspired young players like Jasmine Ouschan, Mike reflects on how endurance, creativity, and sheer love for the game have shaped his legacy.

We also revisit his early Mosconi Cup experiences—battling the likes of Jimmy White and a teenage Ronnie O’Sullivan—and hear how those high-stakes moments showcased both the rivalry and camaraderie between pool and snooker greats. Along the way, Mike shares vivid memories of iconic figures such as Minnesota Fats, Luther Lassiter, Steve Mizerak, Buddy Hall, and Earl Strickland, offering candid insights into their personalities, strengths, and quirks at the table.

The episode closes with a warm look back at Pool School in Paradise, the innovative training experience he co-created with Allison Fisher and Gerda Hofstätter that blended world-class instruction with unforgettable camaraderie in Hawaii and Vancouver.

From epic matches and world-class runs to bicycles in Vancouver and late-night storytelling, this chapter of Mike Massey’s life captures the spirit of a man who has not only mastered the cue but elevated the game for fans and players around the globe.

Give Allison, Mark & Mike some feedback via Text.

Support the show

Follow our show and/or leave a review/rating on:

Our website: https://www.legendsofthecue.com

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/legends-of-the-cue/id1820520463

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4Za0IMh2SeNaWEGUHaVcy1

Music by Lyrium.

About

"Legends of the Cue" is a pool history podcast featuring interviews with Pool Hall of Fame members, winners of major championships and other people of influence in and around pocket billiards. We also plan to highlight memorable pool brands, events and venues. Focusing on the positive aspects of the sport, we aim to create and provide an engaging and timeless repository of content that listeners can enjoy now and forever. Co-hosted by WPA and BCA Hall of Fame member Allison Fisher, Mosconi Cup player and captain Mark Wilson, our podcast focuses on telling the life stories of pool's greatest, in their voices. Join Allison, Mark and Mike Gonzalez for “Legends of the Cue.”

In this second installment of our four-part conversation with legendary cue artist Mike Massey, we continue to trace the winding road of one of the most fascinating figures in billiards history. From the highs of tournament victories to the depths of personal struggles, Mike shares his remarkable story with unflinching honesty, warmth, and humor.

We pick up in the mid-1980s, a time when Massey was rebuilding his life after personal turmoil, finding new love with his wife Francine, and embarking on a life on the road filled with pool cues, dogs, cats, and countless miles in a small Honda. Listeners will hear how he balanced the dual demands of being a competitive player and a globe-trotting entertainer, performing exhibitions that dazzled audiences and, at times, distracted from tournament success.

Mike recounts the early days of artistic pool and trick shots, when he became a pioneer of the craft, setting the standard with creativity and unmatched shot-making ability. From the famous “boot shot” to his dominance in Trick Shot Magic, he describes how exhibitions became both his livelihood and his ministry, a unique way to share his faith while entertaining crowds across the world.

Alongside co-hosts Allison Fisher, Mark Wilson and Mike Gonzalez, Mike also reflects on his experiences in Europe, where television exposure on Eurosport gave him a platform years before the U.S. audience caught on. His stories of arm-wrestling fellow pros, bench-pressing over 400 pounds at age 60, and competing against snooker greats provide a window into the colorful personality behind the legend.

This episode captures the resilience, showmanship, and pioneering spirit that made Mike Massey not only a world champion but also the greatest trick shot artist the game has ever seen.

Give Allison, Mark & Mike some feedback via Text.

Support the show

Follow our show and/or leave a review/rating on:

Our website: https://www.legendsofthecue.com

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/legends-of-the-cue/id1820520463

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4Za0IMh2SeNaWEGUHaVcy1

Music by Lyrium.

About

"Legends of the Cue" is a pool history podcast featuring interviews with Pool Hall of Fame members, winners of major championships and other people of influence in and around pocket billiards. We also plan to highlight memorable pool brands, events and venues. Focusing on the positive aspects of the sport, we aim to create and provide an engaging and timeless repository of content that listeners can enjoy now and forever. Co-hosted by WPA and BCA Hall of Fame member Allison Fisher, Mosconi Cup player and captain Mark Wilson, our podcast focuses on telling the life stories of pool's greatest, in their voices. Join Allison, Mark and Mike Gonzalez for “Legends of the Cue.”

In this opening installment of Legends of the Cue, we sit down with one of the most colorful and compelling figures the game of pool has ever known—Mike “Tennessee Tarzan” Massey. Widely celebrated as the greatest trick shot artist of all time, Massey is also a fierce competitor, a winner of major nine-ball titles, and a Hall of Fame member whose story reaches far beyond the table.

Mike Gonzalez, Allison Fisher, and Mark Wilson guide the conversation as Massey begins to recount a remarkable life shaped by hardship, hustle, and resilience. From a turbulent childhood in Loudon, Tennessee—marked by poverty, addiction in the family, and a precocious turn to gambling—to discovering an almost instinctive gift for pool as a teenager, Massey’s early story is raw, unfiltered, and unforgettable.

Listeners will hear how, at just 17, he joined the military and found himself winning tournaments across Europe while painting murals for his battalion. From there, he hit the road, navigating the dangerous, high-stakes world of hustling in bars and backrooms across America. Along the way, he crossed paths with legendary gamblers like Titanic Thompson, faced life-threatening encounters, and endured battles with drugs that nearly consumed him.

This episode doesn’t shy away from the darker chapters of Massey’s journey, but it also sets the stage for the redemption, faith, and triumphs to come. His candid storytelling offers a rare glimpse into the hidden corners of pool’s underworld and the resilience it takes to rise from it.

Join us for Part One of this four-part series as Mike Massey begins to share his extraordinary life story—a tale of survival, transformation, and a love for the game that would ultimately define him.

Give Allison, Mark & Mike some feedback via Text.

Support the show

Follow our show and/or leave a review/rating on:

Our website: https://www.legendsofthecue.com

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/legends-of-the-cue/id1820520463

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4Za0IMh2SeNaWEGUHaVcy1

Music by Lyrium.

About

"Legends of the Cue" is a pool history podcast featuring interviews with Pool Hall of Fame members, winners of major championships and other people of influence in and around pocket billiards. We also plan to highlight memorable pool brands, events and venues. Focusing on the positive aspects of the sport, we aim to create and provide an engaging and timeless repository of content that listeners can enjoy now and forever. Co-hosted by WPA and BCA Hall of Fame member Allison Fisher, Mosconi Cup player and captain Mark Wilson, our podcast focuses on telling the life stories of pool's greatest, in their voices. Join Allison, Mark and Mike Gonzalez for “Legends of the Cue.”