Terry Gross

Rapper and actor Ice-T...one of the most popular of the "gangsta" rappers. Although he does not often get his songs played on the radio, all five of his albums have gone gold. Greg Knot of The Chicago Tribune has written that "Ice-T. is that rare gangster rapper who leads with his brain instead of his gun or his crotch." IIce-T.'s 1992 song "Cop Killer," landed him at the center of a controversy about gangsta rap--is it a legitimate form of expression or is it incendiary hate-mongering. Ice-T.

Dr. Sherwin Nuland is a surgeon, and he teaches surgery and the history of medicine at Yale. In his new book, "How We Die: Reflections on Life's Final Chapter," (Knopf), he writes that few of us have an understanding of the way people die because 80 percent of Americans die in the hospital, and, for the most part their deaths are concealed. Nuland's new book is an attempt to "demythologize" the process of dying and he presents death in its biological and clinical reality.

Singer, actress, dancer, Ann-Margret (no last name necessary) has written her autobiography, "Ann-Margret: My Story," (with Todd Gold, Putnam). In the book she writes about her relationship with Elvis Presley, her battle with alcohol abuse, and the stage accident that almost ended her career. Ann-Margret has appeared in the movies, "Bye Bye Birdie," "Carnal Knowledge," "Tommy," and others.

Songwriter and Producer, Ellie Greenwich. She co-wrote some of the most popular songs of the early 1960's, for the girl groups produced by Phil Spector: songs like "Leader of the Pack" and "River Deep, Mountain High". She got her start out of the Brill Building with the songwriting team of Lieber and Stoller. In the 1980's, when she was writing songs for Cyndi Lauper and Irene Cara, she performed some of her hits in a Broadway Review called "Leader of the Pack". (Rebroadcast from 03/19/1986).

Ronnie Spector, who in the 1960s was a member of the girl group The Ronettes. She left the music business for several years, but the late Eighties, recorded a new album. Here she talks about her hit song, "Be My Baby". (Rebroadcast from August 31. 1987).

Rock and roll songwriting team Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller. They're responsible for many of the greatest hits in rock history, among them "Hound Dog," "Yakity Yak," and "Stand By Me." Rhino records has a collection of their songs, called "There's A Riot Goin' On." And their songs have been published in the "Lieber & Stoller Songbook" (Warner Books). (Rebroadcast from December 19, 1991).

Singer and songwriter Carole King. In the 1960s, she wrote hit songs like "Up on the Roof" and "Will you still love me tomorrow?" But in the 70s, she achieved lasting fame with songs like "Natural Woman" and her album "Tapestry," which was the best-selling album of the decade. Carole King's latest album is titled "Color of Your Dreams" (Rebroadcast from June 19, 1989.)

Shanghai-born author, Anchee Min. She grew up in China during the last years of Mao's Cultural Revolution. In her memoir, "Red Azalea" (Pantheon), Min recounts her experiences as an 11-year old leader in her school's Little Red Guard, then as a laborer at a work camp where she became the secret lover of her female commander. When Madam Mao began her reform of China's film industry, Min was chosen from 20,000 candidates to become a screen actress because she had a face that was thought to represent the working class.

Charles Kupchan, Senior Fellow for Europe at the Council on Foreign Relations and former Director of European Affairs on the National Security Council in the Clinton White House. He'll discuss the political motivations of the European players in NATO's ultimatum to Bosnian Serb forces. The Bosnian Serbs must withdraw artillery and mortars from their stranglehold positions on Sarajevo by February 21st or face NATO air strikes.

Emmy-Award winning documentary filmmaker and producer, Thomas Lennon. His newest documentary examines the interaction between the tabloid press and the mainstream media: "Tabloid Truth: the Michael Jackson Scandal" (which airs on PBS stations February 15th). By watching the story of alleged sexual abuse swell from verifiable news to national spectacle, Lennon questions the state of American journalism, as CNN fights for the same stories once relegated to the National Inquirer.