Terry Gross

A double interview: Terry talks with musicians John Cage and David Del Tredici. John Cage is one of the leading figures in 20th century music. Cage pioneered the use of chance processes in music. David Del Tredici is at the forefront of what's been called "the new tonality," music that is less dependent on the harsh dissonances and complex rhythms of the avant-garde, in favor of lusher arrangements and melodies.

Character actor and screenwriter Wallace Shawn. Shawn was an obscure playwright until 1981, when his movie, "My Dinner With Andre" appeared. That movie opened things up for Shawn, he's since continued to write, and he's appeared in the movies "Manhattan," "All That Jazz," "The Hotel New Hampshire," and "The Princes Bride." (Originally broadcast nationally as part of the Weekly half hour "Fresh Air" series on 11/05/1985.)

Character actor Divine. Divine was the most famous character in John Waters' movies...a 300 hundred pound transvestite who stared in such Waters classics as "Pink Flamingoes" and "Female Trouble." In "Hairspray," Divine played two roles--a man and a woman. Toward the end of his career, Divine appeared in two movies independent of Waters and also started to land T-V roles. Divine died shortly after he and Terry spoke. (Original date 2/23/88).

Monologuist Spalding Gray. In the 80s, Gray went from New York cult status to something approaching fame as more people discovered his autobiographical monologues, as his acting roles increased, and in the wake of his movie, "Swimming To Cambodia." In mid 1986, when Terry and Spalding did this interview, Gray had appeared in the movies "The Killing Fields" and "True Stories," and then had headed out to L.A. to make big bucks as a T-V actor. (This interview originally broadcast on the weekly national version of Fresh Air on 11/4/86).

Jazz vocalist Bobby McFerrin. He's been called a one man vocal group, with teh ability to simultaneously sing parts from bass to falsetto. McFerrin had been well known to jazz audiences for years, but finally had a big crossover hit with his song "Don't Worry, Be Happy." Terry spoke with him two years before that song came out, in an interview originally broadcast on 1/20/87 and 09/29/1986

A live concert featuring singer Susannah McCorkle. Stereo Review Magazine has called McCorkle "the finest interpreter of sophisticated song." Her recordings have paid tribute to song writers like Harry Warren, Johnny Mercer and Leo Robbin. (Rebroadcast of December 23, 1988)

Sports writer Rick Telander (TAL-en-der). Telander's new book, "The Hundred Yard Lie," is a scathing indictment of the college football system. Telander says college football makes millions and millions of dollars while bathing itself in a false light of amateurism. The players, meanwhile suffer physical pain, financial corruption, and educational starvation. Telander has seen college football from both sides of the fence. He's a staff writer for Sports Illustrated and a former all-conference cornerback for Northwestern University.

Jazz guitarist Jim Hall. In the 50s, Hall was part of the West Coast jazz scene. Several years later he was touring South America with Ella Fitzgerald when the Bossa Nova craze hit. That music's been a lasting influence on Hall. In the 70s, Hall recorded with free-jazz player Ornette Coleman and made several albums with jazz's best bassists. In all, Hall's made more than 100 albums, his latest, with his quartet, is called "All Across The City." It's on the Concord jazz label.

Writer Randy Cohen. He's an Emmy award-winning writer for "Late Night With David Letterman." A collection of his pieces, "Diary of a Flying Man," has just been published.

Stephen Harvey, associate curator in the Department of Film of The Museum of Modern Art. The museum is currently showing a retrospective of the films of director Vincente Minnelli, including "Meet Me in St. Louis" and "An American in Paris." Harvey has written the companion book to the retrospective.