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Terry Gross at her microphone in 2018

Terry Gross

Terry Gross is the host and an executive producer of Fresh Air, the daily program of interviews and reviews. It is produced at WHYY in Philadelphia, where Gross began hosting the show in 1975, when it was broadcast only locally. She was awarded a National Humanities Medal from President Obama in 2016. Fresh Air with Terry Gross received a Peabody Award in 1994 for its “probing questions, revelatory interviews and unusual insight.” America Women in Radio and Television presented her with a Gracie Award in 1999 in the category of National Network Radio Personality. In 2003, she received the Corporation for Public Broadcasting’s Edward R. Murrow Award for her “outstanding contributions to public radio” and for advancing the “growth, quality and positive image of radio.” Gross is the author of All I Did Was Ask: Conversations with Writers, Actors, Musicians and Artists, published by Hyperion in 2004. She was born and raised in Brooklyn, NY, and received a bachelor’s degree in English and M.Ed. in communications from the State University of New York at Buffalo. She began her radio career in 1973 at public radio station WBFO in Buffalo, NY.

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27:36

Keyboard player and record producer Ray Manzarek

Keyboard player and record producer Ray Manzarek talks about his experience playing in one of the most influential bands of the 1960s. The Doors disbanded after its lead singer Jim Morrison died in 1971. Since The Doors, Manzarek has produced four albums for the punk rock band X and recorded several solo albums. He also performs with Beat poet Michael McClure at nightclubs and on college campuses.

Doors keyboardist Ray Manzarek
14:08

Patti Smith's guitarist Lenny Kaye

Patti Smith's guitarist Lenny Kaye talks about the four-CD collection called Nuggets. (Rhino) It showcases some of the most influential garage rock bands in the late 60's following the British Invasion. Kaye compiled the first volume which was released in 1972. He collaborated with Gary Stewart to expand the collection to a box-set. This interview first aired October, 15, 1998.

Interview
06:51

Nancy Sinatra, daughter of Frank Sinatra

Nancy Sinatra, daughter of Frank Sinatra. She recorded a few hits of her own including "These Boots are Made for Walking," and "Something Stupid," the duet she recorded with her father. Nancy Sinatra wrote a book about her father, Frank Sinatra: An American Legend. Nancy Sinatra released the album One More Time. (Cougar records) in 1995. This interview first aired December 12, 1995.

Interview
28:04

Record producer Nick Venet

Record producer Nick Venet produced more than 300 albums in his career and collected numerous Grammy nominations and awards. He was co-producer of a Bobby Darin box set (Rhino). He was also Darin's producer and friend. Nick Venet died in 1998. This interview first aired March 19, 1996.

Interview
16:22

Colin Blunstone

The group's hits include She's Not There, You've Really Got a Hold On Me and Time of the Season. An anthology of the group's recordings The Zombies: Zombie Heaven (Big Beat label) was released in 1998. This interview first aired January 28, 1998.

Interview
10:10

Guitarist Pete Townshend

In the 1960's he made waves as the lead guitarist in the British rock group The Who. He was world famous for smashing guitars during concerts. Tommy, the rock opera he wrote for The Who in 1969, became a Broadway musical. This interview first aired November 23, 1993.

Musician Pete Townshend of The Who
13:02

Ray Davies

He started The Kinks in 1964 with his brother. They are said to be the pioneers of the rowdy garage band genre of rock music. Their many hits included: You Really Got Me, Lola, All Day and All of the Night, and Tired of Waiting for you. In 1993 he wrote his - unauthorized autobiography - Ray Davies: X-Ray. This interview first aired October 17, 1995.

Interview
08:26

Singer Marianne Faithfull

Singer Marianne Faithfull got her start in the English music scene of 1964, when she dated Mick Jagger and had the hit song, As Tears Go By. In the following years she had a drug addiction that almost killed her, before recovering in 1985 and releasing new albums. Her memoir, Faithfull: An Autobiography published in 1994 tells her story of highs and lows with music and drugs. This interview first aired September 26, 1994.

Interview
20:24

Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil

Husband and wife song writing team, Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil, the duo responsible for such songs as Youve Lost that Loving Feeling, On Broadway, We Gotta Get Out of This Place, Here You Come Again, Dont Know Much, and more. The two met when they were both working in the famous songwriting landmark, the Brill Building Mann as a composer and Weil as a lyricist. The two have been writing ever since. In edition to their many pop hits, Mann and Weil have also written songs for films.

18:13

Pop Singer Bobby Vee

He was one of the big hitmakers of the 60's with such songs as Devil or Angel, Take Good Care of my Baby, The Night has a Thousand Eyes, Rubber Ball, Run to Him, and Come Back When You Grow Up. He got his start at the age of 15 when his band filled in for Buddy Holly at the concert Holly failed to appear at because of his death in a plane crash. Vee released a tribute recording to Holly in 1999.

Interview

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