Rock is 26 years-old and grew up in Brooklyn. He got his start in show business performing stand-up comedy routines in Manhattan. He spent three years on "Saturday Night Live" and appeared in a few films, including the recent "Beverly Hills Ninja." He has a new comedy and talk-show series, "The Chris Rock Show," premiering February 7 on HBO.
Commentator Milo Miles looks at the singing career of Jesse Stone. Stone helped shape the sound that was to become rock and roll. As chief arranger during the early days of Atlantic records, he guided the company towards a more swinging, urbane sound. A new collection focuses on his own singing career.
A broadcast of the debate between playwright August Wilson and critic Robert Brustein over multiculturalism and the theater. The discussion is moderated by actress, playwright, and performance artist Anna Deavere Smith. Wilson, winner of the Pulitzer Prize and author of the play "Fences," says the modern theater system jeopardizes the values of black actors because it is dominated by white society. Brustein, the American Repertory Theater's artistic director and the theater critic of "The New Republic," claims Wilson's ideas encourage black separatism.
Bonham Carter grew up and lives in London with her mother and father. Never formerly trained as an actress, she first began at the age of 16 in the film "Lady Jane." Now, at age 30, she's been in a number of films, including "Room With a View," "Howard's End," and Woody Allen's "Mighty Aphrodite." Her latest film, "Margaret's Museum," is a 1940's love story set in Nova Scotia.
Actor Vondie Curtis Hall was raised in Detroit. He plays a doctor on the TV series "Chicago Hope" and has had roles in the movies "Broken Arrow," "Passion Fish," and "Romeo and Juliet." His latest project is the writing and directing of the new film "Gridlock'd," a comedy about the troubles two men encounter when they make a pact to overcome their heroin addictions, starring Tim Roth and Tupak Shakur.
Freelance journalist and music critic Fred Goodman. In a new book, "The Mansion on The Hill" Goodman chronicles how the record industry has changed rock 'n roll from the music of the counterculture to a billion dollar commercial enterprise. Goodman's past publications have appeared in The New York Times, Vanity Fair, New York, and Spy.
William Labov teaches at the University of Pennsylvania discusses Ebonics. He's been studying Black English for 30 years and traced the rules governing Black and White English. He also examined the differences between the two and explored the roots of the changes taking place in the languages.
Filmmaker Ken Burns is the director of "The Civil War" and "Baseball," the hit documentaries on PBS. The former was the network's highest rated series. Burns' newest project is the three-hour documentary, "Thomas Jefferson" about our third president, narrated by Ossie Davis.
Chef Robert Lehmann is the former Executive Chef of MANNA, a meals-delivery service organization for homebound people with AIDS in Philadelphia. He developed diet and nutrition standards for people who are HIV positive. He has a new book: "Cooking for Life: A Guide to Nutrition and Food Safety for the HIV-positive Community" Lehmann is currently Projects Coordinator for HIV Nutrition Research at The Graduate Hospital in Philadelphia.
Founder and president of First Nations Development Institute, Rebecca Adamson. The organization helps Native Americans build sustainable economies. They fund projects which rely on traditional values and help tribal communities gain control of their land and natural resources. Adamson started the organization 16 years ago as a single mother. Now the Institute raises and distributes millions of dollars for micro-enterprises from coast to coast. Adamson was the recipient of one of Ms. Magazine's "Women of the Year Award."
Book critic Maureen Corrigan reviews "Independent People" the novel by Icelandic author Halldor Laxness which was first published in 1946 and has been out of print until now.
Journalist, novelist, and playwright Susan Berman. Her childhood is rooted in the infamous, fast-paced, Vegas lifestyle of a mafia family. Her latest book, "Lady Las Vegas" tells the story of her experience as the daughter of Davie Berman, mafia partner to Bugsy Siegel. She is also the author of four other books, including her acclaimed memoir "Easy Street."
E. Fuller Torrey, M.D., is a research psychiatrist at the Neuroscience Center of the National Institute of Mental Health. He has come out with a new book, "Out of the Shadows: Confronting America's Mental Illness Crisis." Torrey examines the dangers of neglecting the mentally ill and provides political and economic approaches necessary for change. Torrey is the author of 12 books in all, including the best-selling book "Surviving Schizophrenia."
Tsongas died Saturday at the age of 55 from complications of lymph cancer. He ran his presidential campaign in 1992 on the issue of the economy, offering tough solutions to the nation's economic problems. During the campaign his cancer (which was in remission) was an issue. His book "Heading Home" was about his fight with cancer. He also wrote the book "Economic Call to Arms" which was published by his presidential campaign. (REBROADCAST from 6/19/92)
Rock historian Ed Ward profiles veteran bluesman Z.Z. Hill. Hill's career spanned decades, but took off in the 1980s, just when rap was becoming the dominant form of black music.
