The Los Angeles that Shaped Tom Waits
David A. Taylor Alex Harvey’s Song Noir has a nicely contained thesis — that Los Angeles and its varied character shaped Tom Waits’ creative development.… Read More »The Los Angeles that Shaped Tom Waits
music
Electronic Music’s First Century and the Theremin
The theremin kicked off the first century of electronic music. The story twists from radio engineers in World War I Russia to Jazz Age New York and the stage of Carnegie Hall.
Largehearted Boy Playlist for Cork Wars
Largehearted Boy, a music and literature website, highlighted a musical pathway into Cork Wars.
Amadou and Mariam: Storytellers for Change 3
The other week I had the great opportunity to speak with the Malian duo Amadou and Mariam as they headed to China on their concert… Read More »Amadou and Mariam: Storytellers for Change 3
Music Against Malaria: Storytellers for Change 2
For World Malaria Day, here’s my conversation with Yacine Djibo, country director for Malaria No More, from my recent trip to Senegal. There as… Read More »Music Against Malaria: Storytellers for Change 2
Storytellers as Change Agents in West Africa?
In Bamako on Sunday, I got to a wedding event (they spread through the weekend) where the families gathered and griots sang their praises. Griot… Read More »Storytellers as Change Agents in West Africa?
Iconoclast Rode the Rails for the WPA Guides
A number of hoboes made their way from freight cars to the federal payroll of the WPA Writers’ Project. The Soul of a People book… Read More »Iconoclast Rode the Rails for the WPA Guides