Laura Joplin is the younger sister of the rock legend Janis Joplin. Her new book, "Love XX Janis," was inspired by a bundle of letters Laura found of her sister's. This is the first time the letters are published. Laura is six years younger than Janis, and was 21 when Janis died. There's a new episode of the VH1 documentary series "Legends" about Janis Joplin, in which Laura reads some of the letters of her sister.
Since 1979, Gray has been performing monologues about his life and anxieties before audiences. "Swimming to Cambodia" was about the Vietnam war and his acting part in the film "The Killing Fields," "Monster in a Box" was about writing/vacation and Hollywood, and "Gray's Anatomy" was about an eye ailment. His latest is considered his most confessional, "It's a Slippery Slope" about marriage and learning to ski.
Rowlands won acclaim for her performance in "A Woman Under the Influence" and "Gloria." She collaborated with her late husband actor/screenwriter/and director John Cassavetes for thirty years. Rowlands is starring in the new film "Unhook the Stars" in which she plays Mildred, a middle-aged woman who finds herself at a crucial turning point in her life. The film was written and directed by Rowland's son, Nick Cassavetes.
Tenor saxophonist and composer, Ellery Eskelin. He's been called the most inventive American tenor player in creative music. His father, Rodd Keith, (also known as Rod Rodgers) was killed when he was struck by cars on the Hollywood Freeway after leaping or falling from the Santa Monica Boulevard overpass. Eskelin only knew his father for the first eighteen months of his life. As he grew up, Eskelin was inspired and intrigued by the continuous stories he heard about his father and his musical talent.
Ellroy was born in Los Angeles in 1948. After his mother was mysteriously strangled to death when he was ten, he grew up obsessed with crime. His life spun towards booze, drugs, theft, and jail. He eventually cleaned up his life and began writing. He has written several novels, many of which were international best-sellers, including "American Tabloid," "The Black Dahlia," and his most recent book, "My Dark Places," in which he tells the story of his mother's murder.
Classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz reviews "Chant d'amour," the new CD by mezzo-soprano Cecilia Bartoli. She's accompained by pianist Myung-Whun Chung.
In the 1950's, Louvin and his brother Ira were were regulars at the Grand Olde Opry. Ira was later killed in a car accident. Charlie has recently re-recorded many of their hits, which are featured on his new CD "The Longest Train."
Close currently stars in Disney's "101 Dalmatians" as Cruella De Vil. Before taking up this role, she appeared on Broadway in "Sunset Strip." Close has appeared in a number of films including: "Fatal Attraction," "The Big Chill," "The Natural," and "Dangerous Liaisons."
America's pre-eminent writer has written forty-seven books, including 17 novels. The Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist, poet, and essayist has now turned his attention to his other passion. "Golf Dreams: Writings on Golf" is published by Knopf.
This past spring in Philadelphia, in a well publicized match, Kasparov beat IBM's Deep Blue, which was considered the most competitive chess computer to date. Kasparov recently has been promoting chess as a learning tool in schools. He made a new chess computer game called "Talking Coach Kasparov" by Saitek. It has the unique feature of having an electronic chess tutor talk to you when you're in trouble. Kasparov was born in Moscow and was an outspoken critic of communism during the Cold War.
Since leaving the White House, Carter has become one of America's leading elder statesmen. He has led numerous peace delegations to many war stricken countries through the Carter Center which he founded in 1982. Carter has written eleven books, including the national bestseller, "Always a Reckoning." In his most recent book, "Living Faith," he shares personal experiences about how his religious faith has helped him through the most challenging times of his life. He demonstrates how people of all faiths can find common ground in serving God and one another.
We'll hear an excerpt from the new NPR radio show, "This American Life," produced at WBEZ in Chicago. Contributor Julie Showalter talks about growing up on a turkey farm in Missouri.
We'll hear from Norma Storch and June Cross, who are featured in this week's Frontline program entitled "Secret Daughter." Storch, who is white, gave up her half black child to a black couple. We'll hear from both mother and daughter as they reflect back. Norma Storch (mother) is married to actor Larry Storh who starred in the TV comedy F-Troop in the mid 1960's. June Cross (daughter) is a television producer for the PBS series "Frontline."
