Terry Gross

Songwriter and poet Leonard Cohen. His latest volume of poetry is called “Book of Longing.” He’s also working on an upcoming album. Cohen’s poetry career began 50 years ago with the 1956 publication of “Let Us Compare Mythologies.” Cohen is also known for his deep voice and slow phrasing of songs that straddle the folk-rock fence. He’s made 17 albums. The latest is “Dear Heather” (2004). He also appeared in the 2005 feature length documentary, “Leonard Cohen: I’m Your Man,” which is now out on DVD.

Born James Jewell Osterburg, Jr., he took the name Iggy while in a high school band. His career began in the late 1960s with the band The Stooges who put out two influential albums that were not great sellers. The band eventually broke up, and Pop went solo. His albums include Fun House, Raw Power, Sister Midnight and Avenue B. Pop has influenced countless rock, pop, heavy metal and garage bands, and his work was collected in last year's album, A Million in Prizes: The Iggy Pop Anthology. This interview originally aired on Jul. 14, 2006.

Thom Yorke is the lead singer and songwriter of the band Radiohead which has released six critically acclaimed records and explored the boundaries between rock and electronic music. Spin magazine named Radiohead's OK Computer the number one album of the past twenty years. Thom Yorke's new solo CD The Eraser is his first release without the band. This interview originally aired on Jul. 12, 2006.

Singer and songwriter Stuart Murdoch is the front man of the indie pop band from Scotland, Belle & Sebastian. The seven-member band includes a guitarist, bassist, keyboardist, violinist, cellist, drummer and trumpeter. This year they completed their seventh album, The Life Pursuit. When they began a decade ago the band released only singles, refused to speak to the press, or to appear in press photos. This interview originally aired on Mar. 6, 2006.

Lead singer and songwriter, Ray Davies started The Kinks in 1964 with his brother, Dave. His latest album is the solo effort, Other People's Lives. Said to be the pioneers of the rowdy garage band genre of rock music, The Kinks had many hits including "You Really Got Me," "Lola," "All Day and All of the Night" and "Tired of Waiting for You." This interview originally aired on Apr. 3, 2006.

It's been thirty years since the Heartbreakers debuted with their album Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers. Petty's most recent album, and his first solo album in 12 years, is Highway Companion. It has been four years since he's released an album with the Heartbreakers. This interview originally aired on Jul. 27, 2006.

We hear once more from the soul legend.

The ghostwriter for James Brown's autobiography, The Godfather of Soul, Tucker is a contributing editor for The Black Music Research Journal.

Saxophonist Maceo Parker began playing with James Brown in 1964. Parker has released several albums of his own as well as collaborations with others. His latest album is Schools In!, from 2005. This interview originally aired on Oct. 2, 1990.