The novelist has been described by Kirkus Reviews as "The British master of social satire." He's written nine novels, short stories, and written for radio, television, and the stage. His newest novel is "Footsucker," whose narrator is a serious man with a full life and a foot fetish.
O'Brien took over David Letterman's spot in 1993, and his "Late Night with Conan O'Brien" has just celebrated it's third birthday. Previous to that, he was a writer for Saturday Night Live and The Simpsons.
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. Carl Perkins has also written the songs, "Matchbox," "Honey Don't," and "Everybody's Trying to Be My Baby" which have been recorded by the Beatles. Born in Tennessee, he's a pioneer of rockabilly music. His new memoir and CD are both called "Go Cat Go!"
Kingsley is the British actor who won an Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance in the film, "Ghandi." He's also known for his roles in "Bugsy," Schindler's List," "Sneakers," and "Species," and many more movies and plays. Kingsley was a member of the Royal Shakespeare Company, the Royal Court in London and the National Theatre. His new film is "Twelfth Night."
Documentary film producer Paul Stekler. He co-produced the new film series, "Vote for Me - Politics in America," a look at how American culture is reflected in local politics. This PBS series examines the various things candidates will do in their campaigns to be elected. Also interviewed was Maggie Lauterer, the subject of one "Vote for Me" episode. She's a former journalist and first-time candidate who ran for Congress in North Carolina, and lost.
Music critic Ken Tucker reviews the CD "Love Grows (where My Rosemary Goes): The Voice of Tony Burrows." Burrows rode up the charts during the British invasion. The CD is a collection of hits by Burrow's who was known for spinning out hit after hit in the late 1960s and early 70s under a different name or bands.
Rock historian Ed Ward has part four of our five part series on the evolution of blues music in America. He talks about how the regional nature of the blues kept it flourishing during the dawn of rock and roll.
Pacino talks with Terry Gross about his new movie "Looking for Richard." He directed, produced and stars in this experimental film. It takes us behind the scenes of a production of Shakespeare's Richard the Third, and features Winona Ryder, Alec Baldwin, Vanessa Redgrave and Kenneth Branagh. Pacino currently stars in the Broadway production "Hughie" by Eugene O'Neil.
The sixty-year-old writer talks with Terry Gross about his new book "Angela's Ashes." The memoir recounts his childhood experience growing up in the slums of Ireland. McCourt lives in New York.
We continue our conversation with Rabbi Burton Visotzky. He talks about being an academic rabbi, whose role is to teach rather than lead a congregation.
Rabbi Burton Visotzky teaches at the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York City. Since 1987 he's been leading seminars on the Book of Genesis. The seminars gained a following among novelists, poets, editors, filmmakers, CEOs, and attorneys. The New York Times described the them as "the best conversations in New York City." His new book is called The Genesis of Ethics: How the Tormented Family of Genesis Leads Us to Moral Development.
He's known as the King of the Blues. King was born on a cotton plantation in Mississippi before moving to Memphis where he began his career. Since then, among numerous other awards, he's received seven Grammies, an MTV award, and a Presidential Medal of the Arts. He is also a member of the Rock-and-Roll Hall of Fame. In his biography, entitled "Blues All Around Me" he recounts his life from his early days in Mississippi, to breaking into the music business in Memphis, to his career today. He has over 74 albums to his credit.
Music critic Ed Ward has part two in our week long series tracing the evolution of blues music in America. Today, Ed focuses on the growth of the genre after The Depression.
Part 2 of Terry's interview with the influential blues guitarists and singers. In this segment, he talks about making it to Memphis, a city that expanded his musical horizons.
