Bruce Hornsby: Take a Light Strain

In this episode of Literally! With Rob Lowe, host Rob Lowe sits down with legendary musician Bruce Hornsby for a candid and wide-ranging conversation that spans decades of music, personal history, and unexpected life stories. Hornsby reflects on the seismic shifts in the music industry since his 1986 debut, citing Napster and the decline of paid records as pivotal moments that forced artists to rely on touring for survival. He shares a deeply personal and vivid dream about his late father, which inspired the emotional centerpiece of his new album, *Indigo Park*, and recounts a touching reunion with legendary A&R executive Lenny Waronker, who finally heard his music after years of near-misses. The conversation also takes a playful turn with Hornsby’s astonishing claim of beating Allen Iverson in a series of basketball games during Iverson’s teenage years, a story he insists is true despite its incredibility. Hornsby also reveals his deep ties to Virginia’s Peninsula District, his early days in LA, and his surprising connection to the Orioles through a national anthem performance at Camden Yards. The episode closes with a tease about a mysterious baseball stadium blackout, leaving listeners intrigued.