Terry Gross

Felice Picano talks about losing 74 friends to AIDS. He recently came across a list with 75 people who attended his 40th birthday party in 1984. All but one....who is unaccounted for have died from AIDS.

Broadway singer John Raitt. He's the father of singer Bonnie Raitt. The two have collaborated on a new album of show tunes, "The Broadway Legend," (Angel). Raitt made his Broadway debut as Billy Bigelow in the original production of "Carousel." He also was in the original Broadway cast and film of "The Pajama Game." He's performed in many other musicals including "Oklahoma," and "South Pacific."

Internationally-renowned violinist Itzhak Perlman. He celebrates his 50th birthday this year. He has several new releases, and a PBS special: "The Beethoven Triple Concert" two live concert recordings with pianist and conductor Daniel Barenboim, and cellist Yo Yo Ma. And "In the Fiddler's House," featuring Perlman playing Klezmer music with four Klezmer bands. There's also a PBS Great Performance special on Klezmer music featuring Perlman. (It aired nationally November 27 at 10PM. Check local listings). Both CD's are on the EMI Classics label.

From the hip-hop group, PM Dawn, Prince Be. The duo consists of Prince Be (Attrell Cordes) and his brother J.C. the Eternal (Jarrett Cordes). One reviewer writes of them, "the duo effortlessly blends disparate elements -- balladeering and rapping, samples and live orchestration -- into gorgeous, wide-screen tableaux of sound. They also write terrific songs, from galloping melodies. . . to exquisite forlorn ballads." Their new album is "Jesus Wept" (Gee Street, Island Records).

Bill Shore is founder and executive officer of the non-profit hunger organization, Share Our Strength (SOS). The organization is a new form of non-profit, the "nonprofit run for profit." It gets no money from the government. It generates wealth through entrepreneurial ventures and has raised $30 million which it then gives to programs dealing with hunger. Shore has written a new book, Revolution of the Heart: A New Strategy for Creating Wealth and Meaningful Change (Riverhead Books). S.O.S. is located at 1511 K Street NW, Suite 940, Washington, D.C. 20005 (202) 393-2925.

Bill Gates is chief executive and co-founder of Microsoft, the world's largest software company. Microsoft has made Gates rich and famous, and has earned him a reputation as a computer visionary. Gates recently wrote the book The Road Ahead (Viking). Gates explores the new, growing technology and how it will effect people's lives, including the realms of education, politics, and business. Gates says that he does not "necessarily have all the answers, but the book is my way of getting us all to start thinking about the opportunities and challenges ahead."

Stephen Manes writes the "Personal Computers" column for The New York Times. He's been writing about computers for over a decade, and was a columnist and contributing editor for PC Magazine and PC/Computing. He is the co-author of the book about Bill Gates, Gates: How Microsoft's Mogul Reinvented an Industry and Made Himself the Richest Man in America (1993, Doubleday).

Temple Grandin is one of the nation’s top designers of livestock facilities. She is also autistic. In her book, Thinking in Pictures: and other reports from my life with Autism she describes how her inner-autistic world has led her to develop animal empathy. She is currently an assistant professor of animal sciences at Colorado State University in Fort Collins. Her new book is published by Doubleday 1995. Grandin was the subject of Oliver Sack’s 1993 New Yorker article An Anthropologist on Mars.

Corby Kummer has been called the Dean of food writers in America. As one of the most respected food journalists, he writes for The New York Times Magazine, New York and Food and Wine. In addition he also a senior editor at The Atlantic Monthly. Kummer talks about his newest book The Joy of Coffee: The Essential Guide to Buying, Brewing and Enjoying (Chapters Publishing Ltd 1995) He talks about the reasons behind America’s love affair with gourmet coffees and some tips on how to make a good cup. Kummer lives in Boston, Mass.

Larry McMurtry is considered one of Texas most prominent fiction writers even though he has not lived in that state for nearly two decades. Over his career, he has written 19 novels...including the 1986 Pulitzer Prize winning book Lonesome Dove.. His newest Dead Man’s Walk (Simon & Schuster 1995) takes readers to the early days of his Lonesome Dove heroes Gus McCrae and Woodrow Call. Other books by McMurtry include: Streets of Laredo (sequel to Lonesome Dove), Terms of Endearment and The Last Picture Show.