Music

Rock historian Ed Ward tells us the tale of Joe Tex, a black man who longed to be a country singer, a preacher who renounced Christianity, and a life-long teetotaler who died of drug and alcohol abuse.

Sataloff discusses the physiology of how we talk and sing. He is author of "Professional Voice: The Science and Art of Clinical Care." (1997 Singular Publishing Group) Sataloff is a Professor of Otolaryngology at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He is part of a emergency clinic there for singers who experience vocal problems. He has treated many famous singers. Sataloff himself is also a performer. He sings professionally and is the University's choir conductor.

Rock historian Ed Ward looks back at the career of Lonnie Johnson, a bluesman who also made a career as a studio musician and club owner.

Critic Milo Miles reviews a new CD by Paolo Conte, an Italian piano player and singer, "The Best of Paolo Conte" (Nonesuch)

Nigeria's King Sunny Ade ("ah-DAY") has a new album. World music critic Milo Miles reviews "Odu" (o-DOO). (Altantic Records)

Peter D. Goldsmith is author of "Making People's Music: Moe Asch." (Smithsonian Books) The book explores the history of folk music in America. He uses the life of Moe Asch who was the founder of Folkways Records to tell that story. Asch recorded with such legendary folk singers as: Pete Seeger and Woody Gutherie. Peter D. Goldsmith is an anthropologist who grew up to listening to Folkways records. He currently an adjunct associate professor at Dartmouth College in New Hampshire.

Gospel singer Cissy Houston has released her biography titled "Cissy Houston, How Sweet The Sound: My Life with God and Gospel." (Doubleday) Cissy Houston won the 1997 Grammy Award for Best Traditional Soul Gospel album for "Face to Face." She is the minister of music at New Hope Baptist Church in Newark, New Jersey and lives in Fort Lee, NJ. Her daughter is the singer Whitney Houston.

Rock Historian Ed Ward has pt 2 of 2 in our look at Ray Charles career. This year marks his 50th year in the music business. Much of the music comes from "Ray Charles: Genius & Soul: The 50th Anniversary Collection" (Rhino)

Rock historian Ed Ward begins a 2-part retrospective on the work of Ray Charles, who celebrates 50 years in show business this year. Much of the music comes from "Ray Charles: Genius & Soul: The 50th Anniversary Collection" (Rhino)

Critic Milo Miles reviews Volume One of "Kurtis Blow Presents the History of Rap" (Rhino)