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41:35

The "Country Crusoe" Comes Back From Career-Stopping Vocal Ailment

Honky-tonk singer Johnny Bush. He hails from Texas and began his career in the 1950s. Later he went on to such best-selling singles as "Sound of a Heartache," "You Ought to Hear Me Cry," "What a Way to Live" and "You Gave Me a Mountain." He wrote the song ""Whiskey River" for his friend Willie Nelson, and later had a hit with that too. This singer with the melancoly songs never became a household name, and in the late 70s an voice ailment curtailed his career.

Interview
51:25

John Fogerty and His Acoustic Guitar

Songwriter, musician and former leader of the Creedence Clearwater Revival, John Fogerty. He wrote the hits "Born on the Bayou," "Susie Q," "Who'll Stop the Rain," "Proud Mary" and "Bad Moon Rising." He was with the band from 1967 to 1972. His blend of rock, blues, country and bluegrass has influenced a generation of musicians. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Last year he released a solo album of new songs "Blue Moon Swamp" (Warner) and went on tour.

Interview
21:19

Elektra Records Founder Jac Holzman

Holzman founded the record label in 1950, initially focusing on recording folk and ethnic music. In the 1960s he signed on some of the big pop and rock voices of the era like Bob Dylan, Judy Collins, Carly Simon, Jackson Browne, and the Doors. He talks with Terry Gross about working with the Doors. Holman headed Elektra Records for 23 years. He has a new book, "Follow the Music: The Life and High Times of Elektra Records in the Great Years of American Pop Culture" (FirstMedia Books)

Interview
42:26

Doors Keyboardist Ray Manzarek

Manzarek has written the new autobiography called "Light My Fire: My Life with The Doors."He talks about his experience playing in one of the 1960's most influential bands. The Doors disbanded after its lead singer Jim Morrison died in 1971. Since The Doors, Manazarek has produced four albums for the punk rock band X and recorded several solo albums. He also performs with Beat poet Michael McClure at nightclubs and on college campuses.

Interview
21:09

Kevin Whitehead on "New Dutch Swing."

A conversation with our jazz critic, Kevin Whitehead. Kevin's just published a new book, called "New Dutch Swing." (Billboard Books) It's "an in-depth examination of Amsterdam's vital and distinctive jazz scene." Kevin brings along some recordings of his favorite players.

Interview
34:05

Nick Lowe Returns to the Fresh Air Studio.

A concert and interview with Nick Lowe. The British singer-songwriter and producer has had a long and varied career. In the late sixties, he played bass and sang for the pop band Kippington Lodge. In the seventies, he produced albums for Graham Parker and the Rumour, The Damned, Dave Edmunds and Elvis Costello. Lowe co-founded Stiff Records, one of the premier labels for punk rock. Then, his own solo career took off with the release of the single "I Love the Sound of Breaking Glass." He has continued to both produce and sing.

Interview
05:37

Don't Count Out the "King."

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

Review
07:57

The Picasso of Opera.

Classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz profiles opera singer Maria Callas. It's the 20th anniversary of her death. There's a been re-issue of her work. Live performances, home videos and a CD-ROM of her Tosca performance are now available. We will hear selections from "Bizet: Carmen," "Bellini: Norma" and "Verdi: Arias II." (EMI Classics)

Commentary
05:02

Romantic Realism Makes a Special Album.

Rock Critic Ken Tucker reviews the new album from Garbage, entitled "Version 2.0." (Almo Sounds) Garbage's debut album, released in 1995, has sold over 4 million copies.

Review
06:37

New Recordings of the Budapest String Quartet.

Classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz reviews the latest releases of the Budapest String Quartet. The group was the quartet in residence at the Library of Congress for 25 years, beginning in the late 1930s. Bridge Records is issuing a series of classic live performances from that period.

Review
27:45

The 50th Anniversary of Folkways 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.

05:32

Olu Dara's Album Illuminates the Origins of Jazz.

Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead reviews the CD "In the World From Natchez to New York" by Olu Dara from Atlantic Records. Dara who plays coronet, has been a fixture in the New York jazz scene since the 1970's. He performed with drummer Art Blakey, Julius Hemphill, David Murray and Henry Threadgill. This is his first CD of his own.

Review
27:16

"The Black Experience in Country Music."

Bill Ivey is the new Chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts. He won Senate confirmation last month. He last served as the director of the Country Music Foundation. There he co-produced a new 3 CD set called "From Where I Stand: The Black Experience in Country Music." (Warner Bros) The collection traces the contributions African-Americans have had in country music. (stations: This was recorded before his confirmation hearings. He declined to talk about the NEA at that time.)

Interview

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