Rock

Rock historian Ed Ward continues his series on cities and their contribution to music. Today's city is Memphis. Artists discussed include Chuck Berry, Sam Phillips, B.B. King, Howlin' Wolf, Elvis Presley, The Marquees, Sam & Dave, Al Green

Rock historian Ed Ward continues his series on cities and rock and roll. Today's city is New Orleans. Artists discussed include Dave Bartholomew, Fats Domino, Lloyd Price, Little Richard, Allen Toussaint, Lee Dorsey, Dr. John (Mac Rebennack), The Meters, The Neville Brothers,

Rock historian Ed Ward begins a special series on the contribution of various cities to rock and roll. He begins with Los Angeles. Artists discussed Roy Milton, Johnny Otis, Esther Phillips, Richie Valens, Eddie Cochran, Beach Boys, Phil Spector, The Ronettes, and The Byrds.

Milo Miles reviews a tribute album to Harry Nilsson "For the Love of Harry," (Music Masters

Dennis Diken of the band The Smithereens. He's just compiled a collection of recordings by the English record producer Joe Meek. Meek's heyday was in the late 50s and early 60s, and was responsible for "the best pop to come out of pre-Beatles England." Meek committed suicide in 1966. The new CD is "It's Hard to Believe It: The Amazing World of Joe Meek" (Razor & Tie Music, P.O. Box 585, Cooper Station, New York, N.Y. 10276)

Rock critic Ken Tucker reviews Emmylou Harris' new album, "Wrecking Ball." (Elektra/Asylum)

Lead singer and songwriter for The Kinks, Ray Davies. He's just written his "unauthorized autobiography." The book is written in the third, nameless person, and takes place in a corporation-run future. It's called, Ray Davies: X-Ray. (The Overlook Press). Ray 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."

Rock critic Ken Tucker comments on the way rock music may be once again uniting people of different race and class again.

Rock writer and critic Robert Palmer. He was the New York Times's first full-time rock writer and chief pop critic, and he's a contributing editor at Rolling Stones. He's written several books on blues and rock and roll, and was the writer and music director for the award-winning documentary films, "The World According to John Coltrane," and "Deep Blues." His latest work is chief advisor to the ten-part PBS documentary, "Rock & Roll: An Unruly History," currently airing on PBS. He's also a companion book (Harmony Books).

Guitarist Danny Amis from the band, "Los Straitjackets." The group hails from Nashville. They perform in Mexican wrestling masks, and play instrumental surf-rock with a "dark vibe lurking in the mix." (Guitar Player). They have a new CD, "The Utterly fantastic and totally unbelievable sound of. . . Los Straitjackets." (Upstart records 617-354-0700).