John Szwed has written a new biography of Sun Ra, the orchestra leader and piano player who claimed to be from outer space. His new book is "Space is the Place: The Lives and Times of Sun Ra" (Pantheon Books). Szwed is Musser Professor of Anthropology, African American Studies, Music and American Studies at Yale University.
Guitarist and record producer Scotty Moore, was Elvis Presley's first guitarist and manager and one of the early influences of the rock guitar sound. He has co-written an account of his work with the King of Rock'n'Roll, entitled "That's Alright, Elvis." (Schirmer Books) He also has a new CD out of collaborations he and drummer DJ Fontana did with various musicians including Keith Richards, Tracy Nelson and Cheap Trick, among others. The CD is entitled "All the King's Men." (RCA)
Children's book writer Mavis Jukes is the award-winning author of such books as "Like Jake and Me," "Blackberries in the Dark" and "I'll see you in My Dreams." Her new book is a guide for preteen girls who are about to enter puberty, "It's A Girl Thing: How to Stay Healthy, Safe, and in Charge."
Chaz Bono is the child of Sonny Bono and Cher. In 1990 Star Magazine "outed" Bono as a lesbian. Since then Bono has become an outspoken advocate for lesbian and gay rights. Bono was the former spokesperson for the Human Rights Campaign, a national lesbian and gay political organization. Bono is now Entertainment Media Director for the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation.
Moore, who died Tuesday at the age of 84, booked gigs for Presley during the early part of the musician's career. He later penned the memoir, That's Alright, Elvis. He inspired a generation of guitarists. Originally broadcast in 1997.
Former Massachusetts State Senator Joseph Timilty. In 1993 he was indicted for conspiracy to commit fraud in a condominium development project. He refused to plea bargain, was arrested and spent four months in prison. His new memoir is of those four months: "Prison Journal." (Northeast University Press)
Folk singer and collector of folk recordings Mike Seeger. In the early 1950s he sought to preserve the music traditions of the mountains of the Southeast U.S. thru recordings and through his own playing. In 1958 he cofounded the New Lost City Ramblers. Seeger is the half-brother of folk singer Pete Singer. He has a new collection of music he recorded: "Close to Home: Old time Music From Mike Seeger's Collection: 1952-1967" (Smithsonian). There's also a new collection: "There Ain't No Way Out: New Lost City Ramblers" (Smithsonian)
Spider specialist at London's Natural History Museum Paul Hillyard. His 1994 book is "The Book of the Spider: From Arachnophobia to The Love of Spiders" (Random House)
Curator of Herpetology in the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, Harry Greene and Professor of Integrative Biology at the University of California. He has a new book on snakes (with photographs) "Snakes: The Evolution of Mystery in Nature." (University of California Press)
Henry Foster Jr., M.D. is Senior Advisor to President Clinton on Teen Pregnancy Reduction and Youth Issues. He founded the I Have a Future program to encourage at-risk youth to stay in school, and to build self-esteem. Foster was nominated by Clinton to be U.S. Surgeon General but his nomination was withdrawn because of controversy over Foster's record on abortion. He has a new book, "Make a Difference." (Scribner)
Commissioner for New York's Child Welfare Agency, the Administration for Children's Services Nicholas Scoppetta. He recently called for an expansion of foster care for the city's children, including "neighborhood based" care. Scoppetta understands well the struggles of children in foster care. As a five year old boy, he was taken out of his home in New York's Little Italy for neglect, and lived in several foster institutions for six years.
Poet and undertaker Thomas Lynch has combined his two occupations to produce his new book, "The Undertaking: Life Studies from the Dismal Trade." (W. W. Norton) The work is a collection of essays whose topics range from the scheme to use cemeteries as golf courses to poignant stories from his twenty year career as an undertaker. Lynch says he thinks that the meaning of life is connected to death, and his book primarily discusses the impact of the dead on the living.
