All week we're revisiting archival interviews with key figures in early rock and roll, rockabilly and R&B. Soul singer Ben E. King began his career in the ‘50s with The Drifters but it was the '61 hit "Stand by Me" that sealed his musical legacy. He spoke to Fresh Air in 1988. We also listen back to a 1991 interview with lyricist Jerry Leiber and composer Mike Stoller, who wrote and produced music for King. Plus, we'll revisit Terry Gross' 1993 interview with Jerry Wexler, the hitmaker who coined the term "rhythm and blues."Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy
All week we're revisiting archival interviews with key figures in early rock and roll, rockabilly and R&B. Singer, songwriter, producer and talent scout Johnny Otis got his start leading a big band that had the 1945 hit “Harlem Nocturne.” Later, as a talent scout, he discovered such performers as Big Mama Thornton, Esther Phillips and Etta James. James' career took off in the '60s with hits including “At Last," “A Sunday Kind of Love” and “I’d Rather Go Blind."Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy
All week we're revisiting archival interviews with key figures in early rock and roll, rockabilly and R&B. Sam Phillips discovered Elvis Presley and produced his first records, which many consider Elvis’ best. He also founded Sun Records and launched the careers of Jerry Lee Lewis, Roy Orbison, Charlie Rich and Johnny Cash. Cash is one of the most influential figures in country music. His collaboration with producer Rick Rubin, starting in the late 1990s, transformed Cash’s image and gained him a new, young audience. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy
All week we're revisiting archival interviews with key figures in early rock and roll, rockabilly and R&B. We're kicking it off with Terry Gross's interviews with Elvis Presley's guitarist Scotty Moore, who tells stories about playing with the King and recording "Blue Suede Shoes." That song was written by rockabilly musician Carl Perkins, who also spoke with Terry about his career. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy
Those plants that surround us inside and out of our homes? They’re doing a lot more than just soaking up the sun. In this archive interview, climate journalist Zoë Schlanger told Tonya Mosley how plants can communicate, recognize other plants, store memories, and even learn—a perspective that challenges our very idea of what a plant is. | Listen to 40+ years of Fresh Air's archives at https://FreshAirArchive.org. | To access bonus episodes, sponsor-free listening and support public radio, become a Fresh Air+ supporter at https://plus.npr.org/freshair.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy
We remember British actor Terence Stamp, who died last week at age 87. He starred in the film The Limey, as an ex-con out for revenge, and in The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert as a transgender performer on the road with a lip-synch club act. Stamp got his start in the ’60s, starring in the films Billy Budd, Far From the Madding Crowd and The Collector. Stamp grew up in a working class cockney neighborhood and as a teenager, when he let it be known he wanted to be an actor, his father told him, "People like us don't do things like that." He spoke with Terry Gross in 2002.Also, film critic Justin Chang reviews the new hit horror film Weapons.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy
Former Secretary of Labor Robert Reich served under President Clinton from 1993 to 1997. He opens his new memoir, Coming Up Short, with an apology on behalf of the Baby Boom generation for failing to build a more just society. Also, Maureen Corrigan reviews the books Pariah and The Dancing Face.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy
The New Yorker’s Ruth Marcus says Bondi has presided over the DOJ's most convulsive transition of power since Watergate, aggressively reversing policies, investigating Trump’s foes and firing staff.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy
Spike Lee's new film, Highest 2 Lowest, centers on a music mogul (Denzel Washington) who faces a moral dilemma when kidnappers mistakenly hold his friend's son ransom instead of his own: Will he risk it all to save a child who isn't his? The Oscar-winning filmmaker spoke with Tonya Mosley about his decades-long partnership with Denzel, an upcoming docuseries about Hurricane Katrina, and Do The Right Thing, 35+ years later. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy
The Emmy-nominated Saturday Night Live cast member talks with Terry Gross about his favorite pop culture in the aughts, his SNL audition, and his recent trip to China. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy
This year’s coveted Vogue September issue came out this week, featuring cover star Emma Stone. So in this bonus episode, we’re looking back at Terry Gross’s 2012 interview with Grace Coddington. Coddington served as Vogue’s fashion editor, then creative director, from 1988 to 2016—and was a trusted advisor to editor in chief Anna Wintour, who recently announced she’s stepping down this year. In this interview, Coddington spoke about how the magazine’s biggest issue is put together and how she orchestrated the flashy Vogue photo shoots that she became known for.Listen to 40+ years of Fresh Air's archives at FreshAirArchive.org. To access bonus episodes, sponsor-free listening and to support public radio, become a Fresh Air+ supporter at plus.npr.org/freshairLearn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy
Writer Thomas Mallon looks back on the early years of the AIDS epidemic, when he was in his 30s, living in Manhattan. His friends were sick or dead, and he was terrified that he’d die, too. Excerpts of his journals from those years are collected in The Very Heart of It. He'll also talk about his latest novel, Up with the Sun, based on the life and murder of a little-known gay actor from the 1950s and '60s.Also, we remember jazz singer Sheila Jordan, who died Monday at age 96. And Justin Chang reviews Spike Lee's new film, Highest 2 Lowest.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy
After writing chapters of her new book about how tech companies help and exploit us, tech journalist and novelist Vauhini Vara fed those chapters to ChatGPT. She told the AI chatbot she needed help with her writing. But her real goal was to analyze and critique the chatbot’s advice. Her book is Searches. Also, before social media, before influencers, the magazines Vanity Fair, Vogue, GQ, and Architectural Digest were among the most significant tastemakers, informing readers what clothes, celebrities, and trends were hot. We’ll talk with Michael Grynbaum about how Condé Nast cultivated a mystique that captivated subscribers. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy
Chilean-born actor Pedro Pascal has faced countless on-screen challenges, including cosmic battles and cartel kingpins. He's nominated for an Emmy for his role on the HBO series, The Last of Us. He spoke with Tonya Mosley about getting fired from restaurant jobs, his dance training, and his parents' exile from Chile. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy
Crockett grew up poor and got his start in music busking for tips on the street and in the subway. He's since played the Hollywood Bowl and been nominated for a Grammy. The country/roots musician talks with Terry Gross and plays songs from his new album, Dollar a Day. John Powers reviews The Diary of Lies, a new mystery novel about a reporter. TV critic David Bianculli reviews the new series Alien: Earth, a TV prequel to the film Alien.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy
Hiller spent years scraping by in Hollywood by taking on various small roles and commercials. Then he landed the role of Joel on HBO's Somebody Somewhere and everything changed. His new memoir is Actress of a Certain Age. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy
Daniel Dae Kim became the first actor of Asian descent to be nominated for a Tony, for his performance in Yellow Face, in the role of a playwright trying to deal with Asian American representation. His new Amazon Prime Video spy series Butterfly premieres today. Kim spoke with Ann Marie Baldonado about his career, his big break with Lost, and filming his new series in his hometown in Korea. Book critic Maureen Corrigan reflects on Gentlemen Prefer Blondes for its 100th anniversary. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy
Michael McDonald's voice is unmistakable, and so is his life and career. The Grammy-winning singer, songwriter, and keyboardist who's known for his solo work as well as having been in Steely Dan and the Doobie Brothers talked about it all with Tonya Mosley on Fresh Air in 2023 when he was promoting his memoir, "What a Fool Believes." | Listen to 40+ years of Fresh Air's archives at https://FreshAirArchive.org. | To access bonus episodes, sponsor-free listening and support public radio, become a Fresh Air+ supporter at https://plus.npr.org/freshair.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy
This month marks the 50th anniversary of Bruce Springsteen's album Born to Run. We'll talk with Peter Ames Carlin, author of a Tonight in Jungleland, about the making of this now classic album.Also, we'll talk with Jennifer Senior about her Atlantic article "Why Can't Americans Sleep?" And, David Bianculli reviews season two of Wednesday, starring Jenna Ortega.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy
We remember Eddie Palmieri, the pianist, bandleader and composer whose contributions to Afro-Caribbean music shaped the genre for decades. He died Wednesday at the age of 88. Also, Parliament's now classic funk album Mothership Connection turned 50 this year. We listen back to Terry Gross's 1989 interview with funkmaster George Clinton. David Bianculli reviews the new season of Wednesday and film critic Justin Chang reviews two comedy remakes: The Naked Gun and Freakier Friday.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy