Showing results by author "Terry Gross" in All Categories

Journalist Steven Weisman and writer Sarah Vowell on this edition of Fresh Air. Steven Weisman has covered politics, economics and international affairs for The New York Times for over 30 years. He now writes editorials for the paper. In his new book, The Great Tax Wars: Lincoln to Wilson - The Fierce Battles over Money and Power That Transformed the Nation he looks at the battles over "wealth, power and fairness" that led to the establishment of the income tax.

Musician Bootsy Collins and author Linday Gray Sexton, on this archive edition of Fresh Air. Bootsy Collins got his start with James Brown, where he "defined the finger-popping funk bass style" (Rolling Stone). He went on to work with George Clinton as part of the Parliment-Funkadelic tribe, before forming Bootsy's Rubber Band. On stage, he created alter egos, including Bootzilla, Boot-Tron, and King of the Geepies.

Hear singer Frankie Valli and comedian and actor Patton Oswalt on this edition of Fresh Air. There's a new four-CD box set of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons called Jersey Boys. Valli helped bridge 50s doo-wop and 60s rock-and-roll with two dozen top 40 hits, including "Big Girls Don't Cry", "Sherry", and "Walk Like a Man". Jersey Boys is also the name of a Tony award winning Broadway musical based on the lives of the Four Seasons.

On this edition, Fresh Air pays tribute to Sam Phillips, the founder of Sun Records who died Wednesday at the age of 80. Terry Gross speaks with music writer Peter Guralnick and songwriter and singers Carl Perkins and Johnny Cash. Peter Guralnick is the author of a two volume biography of Elvis Presley: Last Train to Memphis and Careless Love.

Actor Jared Harris and writer James Sallis on this edition of Fresh Air. The son of actor Richard Harris, Jared has acted in theater and on the big screen. He's appeared in movies like I Shot Andy Warhol, Happiness, Sunday, Smoke, and VH1's Two of Us in which he plays Beatle John Lennon. He talks to us today about his newest movie called Shadow Magic, which is set in China. Harris plays the man that brought the motion picture projector to China.

Because Audible was not granted digital audio rights to today's issue of Fresh Air, we have selected a great interview with British comedian, stand-up performer, and actor Eddie Izzard from the Fresh Air archive.

Hear investigative reporter for The New York Times Philip Shenon and the first director of the White House Office of Faith Based and Community Initiatives, John DiIulio, Jr. In his new book, Philip Shenon looks into the missed evidence and the ignored clues as well as the political considerations that interfered with the 9/11 Commission's work. His book is The Commission: The Uncensored History of the 9/11 Investigation.

Hear actor and director Denzel Washington and book critic Maureen Corrigan on this edition of Fresh Air. Denzel Washington directs and acts in the new film The Great Debaters, inspired by the true story of Wiley College's winning debate team of the early 1930s.

Equestrians David and Karen O'Connor and pianist Bill Charlap on this Fresh Air. Only the second husband and wife team to share a medal in Olympic history, the O'Connors helped win the U.S. a bronze medal and a gold (David O'Connor in the individual event) in the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney. Internationally recognized equestrians, they won a silver medal for the U.S. in the 1996 Olympics. In 2000, the U.S. won the bronze in the Team Three Day Event Dressage.

Novelists Paul Auster and Michael Cunningham on this edition of Fresh Air. New York based writer Paul Auster is the author of ten novels. His latest is The Book of Illusions. For a year beginning October 1999, Auster gathered stories sent to him by men and women across the United States. The stories were all true, short, and personal. As part of NPR's "National Story Project" Auster read them over the air. Those stories were collected in the book, I Thought My Father Was God.

Hall of Fame jockey Gary Stevens and remembering dancer and actor Gregory Hines on this edition of Fresh Air. Gary Stevens has won three Kentucky Derbys, two Preakness Stakes and three Belmont Stakes. Now 40 years old, he's been riding professionally since he was sixteen years old.

Actress and model Isabella Rossellini on this archive edition of Fresh Air. Rosellini talks about her famous parents, actress Ingrid Bergman and filmmaker Roberto Rossellini, and her own career. She stars in the new film Left Luggage with Maximillian Schell. It opens this weekend. She has acted in numerous T-V shows, and her film credits include Blue Velvet, The Impostors, and Big Night. She is also the spokesmodel for Lancome cosmetics.

Hear actor Steve Carell and music critic Milo Miles on this edition of Fresh Air. Steve Carell is starring in the new comedy film Dan in Real Life. Carell is best known for his role as Michael Scott in NBC's The Office. His other film roles include The 40 Year Old Virgin and Little Miss Sunshine. He rose to fame as a correspondent on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, where he was part of the team from 1999 to 2004.

On this edition of Fresh Air, host Terry Gross speaks with Michael Pollan. To learn more about the meat industry in the US he bought a calf, and then followed the process from fattening it to slaughter. He wrote about it in the Sunday, March 31st issue of The New York Times Magazine. The article "Power Steer" is the cover story. Pollan is also the author of the book, The Botany of Desire: A Plant's-Eye View of the World.

Actor Michael Caine on this edition of Fresh Air. Caine has made over 70 films, from Alfie to Sleuth to Dirty Rotten Scoundrels and Hannah and Her Sisters. He has worked with such esteemed directors as Brian DePalma, John Huston, and Woody Allen.

Actress Sarah Jessica Parker on this edition of Fresh Air.

Fresh Air guest host Barbara Bogaev talks with actor Michael C. Hall from HBO's Six Feet Under. He plays David Fisher, the gay brother who co-runs a funeral home on the show. He's currently starring as Billy Flynn, an oily attorney in the Broadway revival of Chicago. James Earl Jones, of the astounding voice, talks about his memoir. And you'll hear a review of the foreign film Mostly Martha.

The Cuban Missile Crisis took place 40 years ago this week. Fresh Air talks with historian and former Kennedy aide Arthur Schlesinger, Jr. and Peter Kornbluh who directs the National Security Archive's Cuba Project. The organization obtained newly declassified documents about the Crisis. They've published the information in the new book The Cuban Missile Crisis, 1962. The National Security Archive also helped organize the historic 40th anniversary conference held in Cuba last week.

We celebrate the centennial of Bing Crosby's birth with jazz critic and writer Gary Giddins. His biography of Bing Crosby is called, Bing Crosby: A Pocketful of Dreams - the Early Years, 1903-1940. From 1930s to the 50s, Crosby was a pop culture icon, dominating American entertainment with his hit records and movies.

Actor Dennis Hopper and actress and painter Mary Woronov on this rebroadcast edition of Fresh Air. Some of Hopper's films include Easy Rider, Apocalypse Now, Blue Velvet, Speed, Carried Away, Hoosiers, and Basquiat. He made his feature film debut in Rebel Without a Cause in 1955. In addition to acting, Hopper has directed films and written screenplays. He is also a photographer and an art collector.