Terry Gross

Guitarist Les Paul. He's often been called the “Thomas Edison of music.” PAUL invented the solid body electric guitar, overdubbing, reverb, and multi-tracking inventions that helped make rock n roll possible. He himself has stuck to jazz, and a more middle of the road pop.

Sun Studios founder Sam Phillips. He is revered as one of the leading catalysts in post WW II American music. As a record producer in the 1950s and 60s his recordings launched the careers of Elvis Presley, Carl Perkins, and Jerry Lee Lewis and that’s just to name a few. Phillips is now in his 70s. (REBROADCAST from 9/15/97)

Singer Tony Bennett. His newest CD is "Tony Bennett Sings Ellington Hot & Cool" (RPM Records/Columbia). Last year he published his autobiography "The Good Life: The Autobiography of Tony Bennett". A grocer's son, Anthony Dominick Benedetto was born in Astoria Queens in 1926. After working as a singing waiter in his teens and then following service in the U.S.

Journalist Bill Minutaglio writes for The Dallas Morning News. He's also just written a biography of presidential hopeful and Texas Governor George W. Bush. It's called "First Son: George W. Bush and the Bush Family Dynasty" (Times Books).

Journalist Allan Nairn has covered U.S. foreign policy since 1980. In September after most journalists, UN officials, and independent observers were forced out of East Timor, Nairn stayed to report on events there. He witnessed the destruction and violence in Dili by the militia following the vote for independence by East Timorese. He was then arrested, detained, and deported. Nairn writes for "The Nation", Pacifica Radio and The New Yorker.

Writer Rick Whitaker has written a new memoir about the two years he spent as a male prostitute in New York City: "Assuming the Position: A Memoir of Hustling" (Four Walls Eight Windows). At that time Whitaker also was writing a novel, addicted to drugs, and indulging in his love of highbrow culture. Whitaker is a graduate of Hunter College, with a degree in philosophy.

Robert McCrum suffered a stroke in 1995 at the young age of 42. He has written in detail about his experience and his recovery. Terry Gross talks with McCrum and his wife Sarah Lyall who was key in his recovery. His memoir "My Year Off: Recovering Life After a Stroke" is now in paperback. (REBROADCAST. ORIGINALLY AIRED 10/12/98.)

Jazz bassist Charlie Haden. His newest release with his Quartet West is "The Art of The Song" (Verve). Haden formed the quartet to play the music of the 1940s and early 50s. He's worked with jazz musicians Art Pepper, Paul Bley, Ornette Coleman. And he's recorded with many artists including Abbey Lincoln, Bill Frisell, Joshua Redman, Rick Lee Jones, and others.

Bassist and singer Josh Haden is Charlie's son. After years of playing punk, he founded the trio "Spain" and their 1995 debut album "Blue Moods of Spain" was critically acclaimed. Their new album is "She Haunts My Dreams" (Restless Records). The music on their new CD has been described as "languid," "melancholy" and "cabaret-ready country music."