Pop

Roy A. Loney was lead singer (1965-1971) of the San Francisco band "Flamin' Groovies." Buddha Records has re-issued their albums "Flamingo" and "Teenage Head" Both out-of-print cult classics. After Loney left the band, he recorded with "Phantom Movers" and currently performs with his new band "Fondellas."

Singer-songwriter and guitarist Richard Thompson. He first became known for his work with "Fairport Convention." He's since gone solo and is known for his dark songs which blend elements of British folk ballads and the blues. He's released a number of solo albums, "Mirror Blue," and "Rumor and Sign". Rykodisc also compiled a retrospective of his work "Watching the Dark: The History of Richard Thompson," . Thompson's newest solo CD is "Mock Tudor" (Capitol)

Rock critic Ken Tucker reviews the debut album of singer Macy Gray, "Macy Gray On How Life Is."

Rock historian Ed Ward reviews "On Broadway" (Britain's Westside label) a new collection of lesser-known pop treasures that came out of the Brill Building in the 1950s.

Singer and songwriter Loudon Wainwright the Third. He has a new CD, "Social Studies," a collection of topical songs, many which were first featured on NPR's Morning Edition. Loudon Wainwright III grew up in the town of Bedford in wealthy Westchester County north of New York City. He became a folk singer/songwriter in the late '60s, singing humorous and autobiographical songs.

Rock critic Ken Tucker reviews Randy Newman's new release "Bad Love" (on the Dreamworks label).

We remember one of America's great lyricists, Yip Harburg. He wrote over 500 songs including, "Somewhere Over the Rainbow," "Brother Can You Spare a Dime," and "It's Only a Paper Moon." We talk with his son, Ernie Harburg and his wife Deena Rosenberg. They have collaborated on the new show "Somewhere Over the Rainbow: Yip Harburg's America" which is showing this week in Philadelphia. Rosenberg worked closely with Yip Harburg for nearly a decade including working with him on the early concept of this show. Yip Harburg died in 1981.

Adam Schlesinger and Chris Collingwood who are co-founders of the band "Fountains of Wayne". Their second album "Utopia Parkway" has just been released. (Atlantic) Anchored by the song writing team of Chris and Adam , the New York-based band released its debut album "Radiation Vibe" in late 1996. Now the Fountains are back with "Utopia Parkway," described as a concept album about teenage life in the "Greater Metropolitan Areas" outside of New York City.

Singer Mel Torme died Saturday at age 73 of complications from a stroke. We'll hear an interview Terry Gross did with Mel in 1988. For more than 50 years, Torme was one of most accomplished and versatile pop and jazz singers. Known for years as "The Velvet Fog," Born Melvin Howard Torme to Russian-Jewish immigrants in Chicago on Sept. 13, 1925, Torme first made his reputation in the Big Band era as a songwriter, arranger, drummer and singer. He later sang in MGM musicals.

World Music critic Milo Miles reviews a new 5-CD box set of modern Brazilian pop music, "Tropicalia 30 Anos" (Brazilian Polygram).

Singer, songwriter, pianist Ben Folds of the piano-bass-drum trio, Ben Folds Five. They're best known for their hit "Brick" a ballad about an abortion, in which the word "abortion" is never used. The band, from North Carolina, has been in existence since 1994. It includes drummer Darren Jesse and bassist Robert Sledge.

Rock critic Ken Tucker reviews "The Ego Has Landed" the new solo CD by Robbie Williams.

Harry Warren's music publishing company, Four Jays Music, is now headed by his grand-daughter, Julia Riva. She talks about her grandfather and his music.

The John Pizzarelli trio continues. Listen to the first segment with the John Pizzarelli Trio.

Philip Furia is currently writing a book on Hollywood's musicals. He discusses the impact of Harry Warren on movie musicals. FURIA is the author of "The Poets of Tin Pan Alley," "Irving Berlin: A Life in Song." He is chair of the English department at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington.

We continue with Philip Furia on Harry Warren's role in the evolution of the Hollywood musical in the 1930's.

We again feature The John Piazzarelli Trio discussing and performing several of Harry Warren's songs.

We feature The John Pizzarelli Trio discussing and performing several of Harry Warren's songs. The trio is John Pizzarelli, guitar and vocals, his brother Martin Pizzarelli bass; and Ray Kennedy, piano.

Harry Warren's music publishing company, Four Jays Music, is now headed by his grand-daughter, Julia Riva. She talks about her grandfather and his music.

Mark Linkous of the rock band Sparklehorse. He writes, sings, and plays nearly all the music. They debuted in 1995 with the album, "Vivadixiesubmarinetransmissionplot." Their latest release is "Good Morning Spider" (Capitol).