Showing results by author "Terry Gross" in All Categories

Nigerian-born journalist Ken Wiwa on this edition of Fresh Air. He writes for the Toronto Globe and Mail. He's the son of the late Ken Saro-Wiwa, one of Nigeria's best-loved writers and vocal critics of the military rule. Saro-Wiwa was executed by the Nigerian military regime in 1995. Ken Wiwa has written the new memoir, In the Shadow of a Saint: A Son's Journey to Understand His Father's Legacy.

Lead singer Big Sandy, author Dr. Esther Sternberg, and classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz on this edition of Fresh Air. Big Sandy is the lead singer of the Fly Rite Boys, a band that combines rockabilly, western swing, and hillbilly boogie sounds. They are currently on tour and have a new album, Night Tide.

Soul week continues on Fresh Air. Two former members of the vocal group The Impressions - Jerry Butler and Curtis Mayfield on this edition of Fresh Air. Singer Jerry Butler, aka The Iceman. His 1969 hit, "Only the Strong Survive," is a rhythm and blues classic, and also the title of his autobiography: Only the Strong Survive: Memoirs of a Soul Survivor. Butler founded The Impressions.

Hip hop artists De La Soul on this archive edition of Fresh Air. Formed in 1985, De La Soul released their latest record, Art Official Intelligence. Dubbed "the hippies of hip hop," De La Soul continue to pen songs without gangsta rap influence, focusing instead on the use of samples, jazz vamps, and wordplay. Consisting of Posdnuos, Trugouy the Dove, and Pasemaster Mace, the male trio began recording at the same time as Queen Latifah, Monie Love, and A Tribe Called Quest.

Author Elizabeth Gitter and dancer and actress Marge Champion on this edition of Fresh Air. Elizabeth Gitter's book is The Imprisoned Guest: Samuel Howe and Laura Bridgman, the Original Deaf-Blind Girl. Gitter came upon the story of Laura Bridgman and was fascinated by this forgotten chapter of history. Bridgman learned to read and write, but her fame was eclipsed by the more charming and attractive Helen Keller.

Prenatal care and premature babies with guests Dana Wechsler Linden, Mia Weschler Doron and Dr. Peter Nathanielsz on this edition of Fresh Air. Linden and Doron are the authors of the book, Preemies: the Essential Guide for Parents of Premature Babies. Linden and Doron are sisters, both personally interested in providing information to the public about premature babies. Ms. Linden gave birth to premature twins, and is a journalist.

Building demolition experts Stacey and Doug Loizeaux and remembering newspaper editor and anti-apartheid activist Donald Woods on this edition of Fresh Air. Stacey and Doug Loizeaux are niece and uncle and are part of the family-owned demolition company, Controlled Demolition, of Maryland.

Writer and producer Chris Albertson and performance artist and writer Rhodessa Jones on this edition of Fresh Air. Chris Albertson is considered an authority on blues singer Bessie Smith. His 1971 biography of Smith has been reissued in a new revised and expanded edition. It's called Bessie and it contains new details on Smith's early years, new interview material, and a chapter devoted to responses to the original publication.

Writer Jon Krakauer talks about his new book about Mormon Fundamentalism, Mormon practitioner Richard Turley and Nigerian-born actor Chiwetel Ejiofor on this edition of Fresh Air. Jon Krakauer is the author of the book Into Thin Air about the disastrous Mt Everest Climb in 1996 in which eight climbers were killed.

Journalist Eric Boehlert and Clear Channel CEO John Hogan on this edition of Fresh Air. Eric Boehlert writes for the online magazine Salon. He's been covering the story surrounding Clear Channel Communications Inc., a media conglomerate that owns 1,200 radio stations nationwide.

Writers Nick Hornby and David Hajdu on this archive edition of Fresh Air. Hornby's most recent book was called How to Be Good, a novel about a bitter and sarcastic man who becomes a "do-gooder." He's also the author of the best seller High Fidelity, which was made into a film starring John Cusack, Fever Pitch, and About a Boy.

Country and bluegrass musician Ricky Skaggs and Khmer Rouge survivor Arn Chorn-Pond on this edition of Fresh Air. Ricky Skaggs has a new album out called The Three Pickers, and it features Skaggs playing along with Earl Scruggs and Doc Watson.

Rockabilly singer Wanda Jackson and actor Robert Forster on this edition of Fresh Air. Wanda Jackson had several hits in the late 50s and early 60s, including "Mean Mean Man". "Let's Have a Party" and "Fujiyama Mama".

Writer Leslie Esptein on this edition of Fresh Air. His father and uncle were the scriptwriting team responsible for Arsenic and Old Lace, Casablanca, and many other Hollywood classics. Epstein grew up in a glamorous and troubled household.

Journalist Edmund Andrews and Gary Louris, lead singer of the Jayhawks, on this edition of Fresh Air. Edmund Andrews covers the economy for The New York Times. He recently returned from Iraq where he wrote about a number of things including the economy there.

War photographer Christopher Morris and musician Salman Ahmad on this edition of Fresh Air. Christopher Morris' work is part of the new Time Magazine book, 21 Days to Baghdad: The Inside Story of How America Won the War Against Iraq. Morris is a contract photographer for Time, and has documented over 18 foreign conflicts.

Film director and writer Todd Solondz, film critic David Edelstein and music journalist and film maker Robert Gordon on this edition of Fresh Air. Todd Solonz's recent film Storytelling, inflamed some critics more than his previous two features, Welcome to the Dollhouse and Happiness.

Writer Michael Lewis illustrator and author James Warhola on this edition of Fresh Air. Michael Lewis' recent book is Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game. It's the story of how the Oakland A's turned their team around and made history, winning 20 games in a row to set a new American League record. Lewis goes behind the scenes and finds a new kind of baseball knowledge.

P.W. (Peter) Singer, security analyst at The Brookings Institution and writer and physician John Murray on this edition of Fresh Air. P.W. Singer is an Olin Fellow in the Foreign Policy Studies Program at the Brookings Institution and Coordinator of the Brookings Project on U.S. Policy towards the Islamic World. He is also the author of the new book, Corporate Warriors: The Rise of the Privatized Military Industry.

Writer John Ridley on this archive edition of Fresh Air. He wrote the screenplay for the film Undercover Brother, which began life as a web site animation. The film is an action comedy replete with seventies fashions. Concurrently, Ridley has just published a novel, A Conversation with the Mann, about a black comic in the civil rights era of the early sixties.