Terry Gross

Commentator Dagoberto Gilb talks about his brush with literary celebrity during his recent book tour.

Professor of English and Director of African and Afro-American Studies at Washington University, Gerald Early. He reflects on the meaning of Motown music to whites and blacks.

Terry shares her favorite New Year's song, called "What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?" It was written by Frank Loesser.

Humorist and NPR commentator David Sedaris charms us with "Santaland Diaries." The piece comes from Sedaris' book "Barrel Fever," and first ran on NPR's Morning Edition a few days before Christmas 1992. Even though Sedaris has achieved national fame and movie contracts for his humor writing, he still cleans apartments during the day, because, he says, he can only write at night.

Dagoberto Gilb with a commentary on fatherhood in light of his newfound literary fame.

Block reads from from his new novel, "A Long Line of Dead Men" It's the newest in his series about his detective hero, Matthew Scudder.

Boogie-woogie pianist Marcia Ball performs. Ball lives in Austin, Texas, where she is known as the Queen of the Keyboards, and a pioneer of the vibrant rhythm and blues scene there. (Rebroadcast)

Commentator Dagoberto Gilb reflects on how poverty in his Spanish-speaking community and a string unreliable coaches affected the morale and success of his son's Little League team.

We pay tribute to singer Dorothy Collins, who died yesterday at the age of 67. Collins was the star of the 1950's TV show "Your Hit Parade," and received a Tony nomination in1971 for her role in Stephen Sondheim's Broadway show "Follies." We will play "Losing My Mind," from that show.

Commentator Jim Northrup looks at computers on Native American Reservations.