Terry Gross

McInerney talks about his latest novel, "The Last of the Savages." He has also written "Brightness Falls," "Story of My Life," "Ransom," and "Bright Lights, Big City," which was made into a movie starring Michael J. Fox.

Music artist Jim Dickinson talks about his friend and legendary Memphis deejay, Dewey Philips. Philips is best known as the first person to play Elvis Presley on the air. He also pushed the racial barriers of the time by playing a mix of music by black and white artists.

With his team of neurotrauma specialists, Dr. Ghajar worked to save the life of the young piano teacher who was severely beaten in Central Park this past June. He has pioneered national guidelines in hopes of establishing national standards for the care of brain trauma patients. Ghajar is the chief neurosurgeon at Jamaica Hospital in Queens as well as the President of the Aitken Neuroscience Institute in Manhattan.

Johnston is best known for his work with the Microscopic Septet from 1980 to 1992. His latest band, Big Trouble, has just released the album, "Flood At The Ant Farm." He has a reputation as one of contemporary music's most versatile composers. In addition to playing the saxophone, Johnston has a growing interest in scoring music for film, T.V., and radio programs. He has written the theme music for "Fresh Air." He has also written music for other NPR programs, MTV, and Comedy Central.

Byatt is known by many Americans for "Possession," a Booker Prize-winning Victorian novel published here in 1990. Her most recent novel is "Babel Tower." Set in the turbulent 1960s, the book is about Frederica, a young woman involved in a divorce and custody suit, as well as the prosecution of an "obscene" book. "Babel Tower" is the third book in a planned quartet of novels set in different mid-century time frames. (Originally aired 6/6/96)

Bandleader and pianist Eddie Palmieri. Through his first band, La Perfecta, labeled "the band with the crazy roaring elephants," Palmieri was credited with originating Latin jazz's trombone sound in New York during the sixties. He has a new CD "Vortex" by RMM Records. (Originally aired 6/20/94)

Philadelphia Inquirer investigative reporters Donald Barlett and James Steele. The two talk with Terry Gross about why campaign promises related to taxes should be carefully scrutinized. They say if you want to know how a 15 percent tax cut would help you, you need to look at how it would impact all of the taxes you pay. They say that often the highest tax rates are found at the state or local level.

Deneuve talks about her new movie "Les Voleures" (Thieves). Some of her best known films include "Belle De Jour," "Repulsion," "Indochine," and "The Umbrellas of Cherbourg." She was born in Paris in 1943.

Wattleton headed the organization from 1978 to 1992. She was raised in a fundamentalist Christian family (her mother was a minister), and later studied to be a nurse. Her work as a public-health nurse exposed her to the hardship of women who tried to terminate their pregnancies in the days before legal abortion. Wattleton went on to be executive director of the local Planned Parenthood, and then president of Planned Parenthood nationally. Her new memoir is called "Life on the Line"

Tucci has appeared in the films "Kiss of Death" and "The Pelican Brief." On television he was nominated for an Emmy for his portrayal of the slimy billionaire on "Murder One." His latest project is the film "Big Night," a homage to Italian food and family, which he co-wrote, co-directed, and co-stars in.