Music

Classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz reviews a new release of music by the little-known American pianist George Copeland. It's a 2-CD set of his complete Victor recordings from the 1930s on the Pearl label. They are the first of his work to be back in print.

Singer, songwriter and guitarist Carl Perkins died yesterday at the age of 65. He died of complications from a series of strokes. Perkins is the pioneer of a style of music called Rockabilly, which is described as "a country man's song with a black man's rhythm." He's the man who wrote "Blue Suede Shoes," the hit song sung by Elvis Presley which became the first Sun label record to sell over a million copies.

Classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz reviews "At First Light" (Archetype Records), a new recording of music by composer John Harbison with singers Lorraine Hunt, Dawn Upshaw, and oboist Peggy Pearson.

Langford, who co-founded the British punk band, now lives in the US. He's plays in the country-inspired band the Waco Brothers. Langford is also a visual artist. and, under the pen name Chuck Death and draws the comic Great Pop Things, which is published in the LA Weekly, and collected in the new book. "Great Pop Things: The Real History of Rock n Roll from Elvis to Oasis" (Verse Chorus Press) Langford has just released his first solo CD called: "Skull Orchard."

Rock critic Ken Tucker reviews Garth Brooks new recording, "Sevens"

Record producer Nick Venet. He has produced more than 300 albums in his career and has collected numerous Grammy nominations and awards. He is co-producer of a new Bobby Darin box set (Rhino). Venet was also Darin's producer and friend. Venet died last week. (Rebroadcast of 3/19/1996)

Gwendolin Sims Warren has performed with the Metropolitan Opera and the Boston Symphony and has sung in opera houses in Europe, but she's most at home singing in church. She's the daughter and granddaughter of ministers. Now she's the minister of music and choir director at the Allen AME Church in Queens, New York. She's compiled 101 best-loved Psalms, Gospel hymns and spirituals of the African American church in her new book "Ev'ry Time I Feel The Spirit." We invited her to talk about and sing some of those songs.

Drummer Elvin Jones recently celebrated his 70th birthday. His most influential work was with John Coltrane from 1960 to '66. Their Village Vanguard sessions were recently re-released in a CD box set.

Today, we remember Sonny Bono. He died yesterday afternoon in a skiing accident. He was 62. Bono was completing his second term in the U.S. Congress. He was the second most-requested speaker at House members events during the 1996 campaign season. Although he ended up in politics, many of his know him best for his work in music and show business. Terry Gross spoke with him in 1991, three years before he was elected to Congress. (Rebroadcast of 7/17 and 7/18 1991).

Critic Milo Miles reviews reissues of ska albums.

Rock critic Ken Tucker talks with Terry Gross about the albums he liked best in 1997.

Writer Gay Talese reads from "Sinatra Has a Cold" an article he first published in Esquire Magazine in 1966. The reading aired on public radio's This American Life last February. Talese's books include, "Unto The Sons," the story of the immigrant experience in America, and also the chronicle of Talese's own Italian ancestors coming to this country. Also the best-sellers "The Kingdom and the Power," "Honor Thy Father," and "Thy Neighbor's Wife."

Classical Music Critic Lloyd Schwartz reviews the latest CD from Leon Fleisher.

Commentator Milo Miles recommends three music books that might make suitable last minute gifts. “The Rough Guide to World Music,” (Penguin) “The Rough Guide to Reggae,” (Penguin) and “Portrait of The Blues.” (DaCapo Press). Miles is former music editor of The Boston Phoenix. He writes about music for The Village Voice and The New York Times.

Jazz Critic Kevin Whitehead reviews some CD re-issues by Blue Note Records. He recommends “Complete Quartets of Grant Green with Sonny Clark,” “The Complete Roost Recordings,” and “The Complete Herbie Nichols”.

Rhythm and Blues singer Ruth Brown. She got her start in the 1940s, and influenced a whole generation of singers including Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, Little Richard and Bonnie Raitt. Her hits include "Mama, He Treats Your Daughter Mean" and "Teardrops From My Eyes." Later she appeared in John Water's film "Hairspray" and in the Broadway hit "Black and Blue." In 1996 her autobiography was published, "Miss Rhythm"(Donald Fine Books) and this year she has a new CD, "R + B = Ruth Brown"

Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead reviews "Charles Mingus, Passions of a Man: The Complete Atlantic Recordings 1956-1961" (Rhino)

Michael Barson is the author of the new book "Teenage Confidential: An Illustrated History of the American Teen (Chronicle Books, illustrated by Steven Heller). The book traces the evolution of the "teen" and the concept of the "teenager" which didn't exist before World War 2. The book also collects teenage artifacts, like movie posters, magazine covers, and advertisements.

Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead reviews John Coltrane's CD box set of his recordings in 1961 at the Village Vanguard.

Jazz Critic Kevin Whitehead reviews the CD “A Prescription for the Blues” (Impulse) by jazz pianist Horace Silver.