Rock historian Ed Ward has part four of our five part series on the evolution of blues music in America. He talks about how the regional nature of the blues kept it flourishing during the dawn of rock and roll.
Pacino talks with Terry Gross about his new movie "Looking for Richard." He directed, produced and stars in this experimental film. It takes us behind the scenes of a production of Shakespeare's Richard the Third, and features Winona Ryder, Alec Baldwin, Vanessa Redgrave and Kenneth Branagh. Pacino currently stars in the Broadway production "Hughie" by Eugene O'Neil.
The sixty-year-old writer talks with Terry Gross about his new book "Angela's Ashes." The memoir recounts his childhood experience growing up in the slums of Ireland. McCourt lives in New York.
We continue our conversation with Rabbi Burton Visotzky. He talks about being an academic rabbi, whose role is to teach rather than lead a congregation.
Rabbi Burton Visotzky teaches at the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York City. Since 1987 he's been leading seminars on the Book of Genesis. The seminars gained a following among novelists, poets, editors, filmmakers, CEOs, and attorneys. The New York Times described the them as "the best conversations in New York City." His new book is called The Genesis of Ethics: How the Tormented Family of Genesis Leads Us to Moral Development.
He's known as the King of the Blues. King was born on a cotton plantation in Mississippi before moving to Memphis where he began his career. Since then, among numerous other awards, he's received seven Grammies, an MTV award, and a Presidential Medal of the Arts. He is also a member of the Rock-and-Roll Hall of Fame. In his biography, entitled "Blues All Around Me" he recounts his life from his early days in Mississippi, to breaking into the music business in Memphis, to his career today. He has over 74 albums to his credit.
Music critic Ed Ward has part two in our week long series tracing the evolution of blues music in America. Today, Ed focuses on the growth of the genre after The Depression.
Part 2 of Terry's interview with the influential blues guitarists and singers. In this segment, he talks about making it to Memphis, a city that expanded his musical horizons.
Rock historian Ed Ward begins his five-part series on the history of the blues. Today's installment includes Mamie Smith, Blind Lemon Jefferson, Furry Lewis, Blind Willie Johnson, and Tommy Johnson.
Leno talks with Terry about his life: growing up, his struggling years as a standup (with other comics like Robin Williams, Andy Kaufman, and Steve Martin), and taking over The Tonight Show. His new memoir is called "Leading With My Chin."
TV critic David Bianculli says the new sitcom is positioned to draw viewers back to network TV with its star Ted Danson -- but it's not love at first sight.
Simon's plays and movies include, "Barefoot in the Park," "The Odd Couple," "The Goodbye Girl," "The Out-of-Towners," and "The Sunshine Boys." He won a Pulitzer Prize for his play "Lost in Yonkers." He has a new memoir, called "Rewrites"
Fresh Air linguist Geoff Nunberg talks with Terry about the new collection of essays he's edited, "The Future of the Book," about how new technologies are affecting the future of printed books.
