Terry Gross

Burton invented a four-mallet grip for the instrument that is used by many contemporary players. He left Stan Getz's quartet in the mid 60's at the age of 24 to form his own combo; a few years later he hired a young guitarist named Pat Metheny, giving Metheny his first taste of big time jazz. Burton has been teaching percussion and improvisation classes at the Berklee School of Music in Boston; in 1985 he was named Dean of Curriculum there. (Rebroadcast)

We speak with two guests about the practice of religion vis-a-vis the Constitution: Keith Fournier, Head of the American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ). The ACLJ helped draft the Christian Coalition's Contract with the American Family, which calls on Congress to allow prayer in public places, curb pornography, and restrict abortion. On the other side of the debate, activist and preacher Jim Wallis, editor of Sojourners magazine, has started a new coalition called "Cry for Renewal." It's his alternative to the conservative agenda of the Christian Coalition.

The Philadelphia native is the son of early kiddy show star, Uncle Pete. Boyle has made a name for himself in both the TV and film industry. He has been featured in films such as Mel Brooks' "Young Frankenstein," "Taxi Driver," "The Dream Team," and more. Boyle recently played a regular character in the TV show "NYPD Blue." He is currently featured in the movie "While You Were Sleeping."

Member of the Exile Tibetans' Parliament, the Assembly of the Tibetan People's Deputies, Tendzin Choegyal. He is the youngest brother of the His Holiness the Dalai Lama. He talks about the selection of the Panchen lama -- the second highest leader in Buddhism -- and China's efforts to interfere with the process.

Journalist Osha Gray Davidson. His book Under Fire: The NRA and The Battle For Gun Control is now available in paperback. He talks about the recent NRA convention and what it says about the direction of the group.

Executive Director of the Institute for Legislative Action, the NRA's Lobbying Arm, Tanya Metaksa. She responds to criticism of the letter sent to NRA members calling federal agents "jackbooted Government thugs." Metaksa denies that the group has any association with paramilitary groups. The organization has suffered image problems since the Oklahoma City Bombing. The group recently ended their national convention.

This nationally acclaimed comedian has recently released his book Pryor Convictions and Other Life Sentences. Pryor's memoir takes readers on a journey through his successful yet struggle-filled life. A strong man who has overcome such ordeals as a drug addiction, self immolation, and six marriages, Pryor is determined to overcome his most recent battle with multiple sclerosis.

Dickey is the author of the report What Every Policy Maker Should Know About Imprisonment and the Crime Rate. Professor Dickey of the University of Wisconsin Law School, has a new way of viewing crime in our society. Based on his recent report issued by the Campaign for an Effective Crime Policy, he and officials have concluded that incarceration has little effect on crime rates. They believe that there are number of factors which limit the impact of prison on crime.

This year, The U.S. Library Congress named Hass has the American Poet Laureate. Two collections of his work were published last year, Selected Poems 1954-1986, and Provinces 1987-1991. He translated, with poet Robert Pinsky, Czeslaw Milosz's The Separate Notebooks. We replay part of Terry's conversation with him from 1989 (Rebroadcast).

Olds writes passionately about her childhood with abusive and alcoholic parents, and her own experiences as a mother and a wife. Suicide attempts in New York, and encounters on the subway also provide inspiration for her work. Sharon Olds is the recipient of the 1985 National Book Critics Circle Award for her collection titled The Dead and the Living. (Rebroadcast)