Terry Gross

Performances continue and we hear from Tom Riis who compiled and edited a book containing the complete score of “In Dahomey.” Riis directs the American Music Research Center at the University of Colorado and is the author of “Just Before Jazz.”

Forensic entomologist M. Lee Goff is the author of the new book “A Fly for the Prosecution: How Insect Evidence Helps Solve Crimes” (Harvard University Press). Goff examines the insect life that inhabits a decomposing corpse, to understand when a person died and other circumstances of death. (THIS INTERVIEW CONTINUES THRU THE END OF THE SHOW).

Our guest pianist tomorrow will be Dick Hyman. One of our guest singers will be Vernel Bagneris who has explored this period in his own musical revues. To give you a preview, we asked him to sing a sing that he's performed on stage, which was originated by Bert Williams. It's called "Somebody Lied."

Writer Michael Ondaatje. His new novel is “Anil’s Ghost” (Knopf), set in Sri Lanka, where Ondaatje was born. The story is about a forensic anthropologist who is working in Sri Lanka during the ethnic wars of the late 1980s and early 90s. This is his first novel since “The English Patient,” which won the Booker Prize. Ondaatje is also a poet. His books of poetry include “The Cinnamon Peeler” and “Handwriting.” He lives in Canada.

Filmmaker Mike Hodges. He directed “Croupier.” Hodges’ debut work, the 1971 “Get Carter,” was hailed as the greatest British thriller ever. It starred Michael Caine. “Croupier” revisits some of the same themes as “Get Carter.” The new film has been getting rave reviews in the UK. Hodges’ film career has been spotty. Some of his other films include “Flash Gordon,” “Terminal Man,” and “Morons from Outer Space.”

Screenwriter Paul Mayersberg (MY-urz-burg). He penned the film “Croupier,” directed by Mike Hodges, whom we’ll hear from later in the show. “Croupier” is a thriller about a novelist who moonlights at a London casino, although he doesn’t gamble himself. He lives to watch others’ defeat. Mayersberg wrote the 1976 classic “The Man who Fell to Earth,” starring David Bowie. In addition to writing, he’s also directed several films, including “The Last Samurai.”

Writer Keith Fleming talks about his first book, a memoir, The Boy with the Thorn in His Side (William Morrow.) When Fleming was a teenager, he was living in Chicago, depressed, and was committed to a string of mental institutions. Then his mother sent him to New York to live with his young, gay uncle, the critically acclaimed novelist and biographer Edmund White. The move and his uncle’s influence transformed his life. Keith Fleming is a freelance editor and writer living in Providence, RI (THIS INTERVIEW CONTINUES INTO THE SECOND HALF OF THE SHOW).

Rudy Behlmer (BELL-mur) is the editor of “Memo from David O. Selznick,” (Modern Library) a new collection of the producer’s private letters, telegrams and memos. The making of “Gone With the Wind” and other film classics are documented in this revealing look at the movie business in its early years. This book is part of a series of film books being reprinted by Martin Scorsese. Also in the “Modern Library: The Movies” series are “The Making of 2001: A Space Odyssey,” “Agee on Film” by James Agee, and “The Art of the Moving Picture,” by Vachel Lindsay.

This week marks Fresh Air’s 13th year as a national show. We celebrate by featuring an in-studio interview and concert with composer and musician Joel Forrester. Forrester composed Fresh Air’s theme music, as well as other music we use on the show. He is also co-founder of the Microscopic Septet. (Rebroadcast of May 3, 1990)

Country music singer Ray Price. He was a close friend and protege of Hank Williams. Price's hits include "Talk to Your Heart," "Don't Let the Stars Get in Your Eyes," "I'll be There," "Crazy Arms," "For the Good Times," and more. In 1996 he was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. Price’s new CD called Prisoner of Love (Justice Records) will be released next week. (REBROADCAST FROM 1/19/99)