Terry Gross

Comedian Drew Carey is the star of the ABC hit sitcom The Drew Carey Show. Carey's 1997 book, "Dirty Jokes and Beer: Stories of the Unrefined" has just come out on paperback. It's his autobiography as well as a joke book.

In the 1950's, Louvin and his brother Ira Louvin were regulars at the Grand Olde Opry. Ira was later killed in a car accident. This interview was originally aired 11/27/96.

INT. 2: Singer Betty Johnson. She was a member of "The Johnson Family," which sang gospel and country music for two decades. President Franklin D. Roosevelt was a fan, and the group was invited to sing at his memorial service. Johnson went solo in the late 1950s and was a regular on Don McNeil's "Breakfast Club," and Jack Parr's TV show. This interview was originally aired 2/1/95.

Haden formed his quartet to play the music of the 1940s and early 50s. He's worked such well known musicians as Art Pepper, Paul Bley, Ornette Coleman. This interview was originally aired 5/29/96.

Jones is widely acclaimed as one of the greatest country singers, but his 40-year career has also been marked by alcohol and drug abuse. He wrote about his experiences in his autobiography "I Lived to Tell it All" which was published two years ago. (Villard, New York). This originally aired 5/8/96.

Born in 1937 in Littlefield, Texas, Jennings was a disc jockey at 14, and had already formed his own band at the age of 12, making guest appearances on local station KDAV's "Sunday Party," where he met Buddy Holly in 1955. Jennings became Holly's bass player. It was Jennings who gave his seat up to the Big Bopper on the plane which crashed later killing Buddy Holly.

Shaver grew up in Corsicana, Texas. Billy Joe Shaver wrote 10 of the 11 songs on Waylon Jennings breakthrough album, Honky Tonk Heroes. His songs have been recorded by a veritable who's who of artists of every genre: Bob Dylan, Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson, the Allman Brothers, David Allan Coe, Tom T.Hall, Trisha Yearwood and many more. Four artists have gone to No. 1 on the country charts with Billy Joe's songs.

Nelson was born in the central Texas town of Abbott. He has become an icon of country music. In his more than 35 year career, he has recorded on more than 100 albums.

Walser has released the new album "Down At The Sky-Vue Drive-In" on Sire Records. He didn't pursue a career in music until he was in his 60s as a retiree. He has developed a "punk" like following attracting fans of all different ages. This originally aired. 12/13/94.

Before he became a musician, Haggard lived the kind of life that's often mythologized in song: hopping freight trains, and doing time prison. In 1994, he was conducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. Through his career, Haggard has released over 65 albums, most of which have been charted in the major trades. He landed a Grammy Award in 1984 for Best Male Country Vocal Performance for "That's The Way Love Goes." His most recent album was "1996" released years ago. This originally aired 8/14/95.