Showing results by narrator "Terry Gross" in All Categories

Singer Brenda Lee and authors Jane Farrell-Beck and Colleen Gau on this edition of Fresh Air. Brenda Lee is one of the early rock 'n' roll singers, with hits such as "I'm Sorry", "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree", and "Break It To Me Gently." She's just been inducted into the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame, class of 2002. She's also in the Country Music Hall of Fame. Lee was born Brenda Mae Tarpley in Atlanta. At the age of 13, in 1957, she made her debut at the Grand Ole Opry.

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.

Hear all about actor John Cusack's prolific acting career on this edition of Fresh Air.

Book critic James Wood and former Harvard president Derek Bok on this edition of Fresh Air for June 30, 2003. James Wood is book critic for The New Republic. He's making his own literary debut with the new novel The Book Against God about a young man, the son of a priest who becomes an atheist.

British journalist Peter Stothard and fashion journalists Trinny Woodall and Susannah Constantine on this edition of Fresh Air. Peter Stothard is the author of the new book, Thirty Days: Tony Blair and the Test of History. Stothard chronicles the thirty days between March 10 to April 10, 2003, in the days leading up to the Iraq war and the early days of the war.

Film critic and historian David Thomson and sleight of hand expert and actor Ricky Jay on this edition of Fresh Air. David Thomson's latest book is The New Biographical Dictionary of Film. It is an updated version of his Biographical Dictionary of Film, which was first published in 1975. Some of the entries from the Dictionary have been revised and new entries have been added.

Author Jonathan Lethem and actress Maggie Gyllenhaal on this edition of Fresh Air. Jonathan Letham's new semi-autobiographical novel, The Fortress of Solitude tells the story of Dylan Ebdus, a white kid growing up in an African-American and Latino neighborhood in New York.

Historian and civil rights activist Roger Wilkins and writer Vernor Vinge on this edition of Fresh Air. Wilkins has written a new book Jefferson's Pillow. He considers our founding fathers and their conflicting attitudes toward race and how it affects his own sense of patriotism. Wilkins is a professor of history at George Mason University, a Pulitzer-prize winner, and former Assistant Attorney General under President Johnson.

Writer and economist Denise Chong and actress Sarah Jessica Parker on this archival edition of Fresh Air. Chong is the author of The Concubine's Children. The book is a history of her family, beginning with her grandmother, May-Ying, a concubine brought to Canada by Chong's wealthy grandfather. May-Ying had two daughters in China, and Chong's mother in Canada.

Actress Sarah Jessica Parker on this archive edition of Fresh Air. She's been acting for most of her life, including playing Annie on Broadway, the young bimbo in L.A. Story, and a fed-up fiancée in Honeymoon in Vegas. This is her fourth season starring in the HBO hit series Sex and the City, as Carrie, a columnist who writes about the sexual mores of New Yorkers. Terry Gross recorded this interview with Parker live before an audience at Martha's Vineyard in July.

Historian and journalist Hampton Sides on this edition of Fresh Air. Sides is reporting from Centcom in Qatar. Last week he wrote a piece in the New Yorker about his decision not to become "imbedded" with troops.

Actress Cherry Jones and hip hop forefather Grand Master Flash on this edition of Fresh Air. Cherry Jones is currently appearing in Lysistrata at the Prince Music Theater in Philadelphia. Jones is a founding member of the American Repertory Theatre and has appeared in 23 A.R.T. productions. She's won Tony, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle and Drama League awards. Jones has starred or appeared in many Broadway and Off-Broadway productions.

Near Easter Studies professor Bernard Lewis and Robert Jay Lifton on this edition of Fresh Air. Bernard Lewis, Ph.D is a Professor Emeritus of Near Eastern Studies at Princeton University.

Irish writer Nuala O'Faolain and music legend Johnny Cash on this edition of Fresh Air. Her first novel, My Dream of You.

Voice and acting coach Patsy Rodenburg and New York City Police Detective Dave Fitzpatrick on this edition of Fresh Air. Patsy Rodenburg's worked with some of the world's leading English-speaking actors, including Judi Dench, Daniel Day-Lewis, Maggie Smith and Nicole Kidman. Rodenburg is the Director of Voice at London's National Theatre and the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.

Writer Stephen King on this edition of Fresh Air. King has just received the Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters at this year's National Book Award ceremony. Author of several best sellers, he is credited with ushering in a whole new era of horror with his first novel, Carrie, published in 1974.

Actress, writer, comedians Ellen Degeneres and Andy Richter on this edition of Fresh Air. Ellen Degeneres will soon begin a comedy tour. Her five-year sit-com Ellen won an Emmy for her much anticipated coming-out episode. She and her character came out at the same time. This was followed by a very public relationship with actress Anne Heche, which eventually ended.

Singapore's first Prime Minister and its current Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew and journalist Stan Sesser on this edition of Fresh Air. A very controversial figure, Lee Kuan Yew formed the People's Action Party and won the first Singapore general election in 1959. Since it was granted independence in 1965, Singapore has gone from British colony to Asian economic powerhouse.

Writers Manil Suri and Peter Hessler on this edition of Fresh Air. Manil Suri's just published his first novel The Death of Vishnu.

Screen writer and director Christopher Nolan and writer James Sallis. Christopher Nolan's new film Memento, is about a man who is unable to make new memories since the violent murder of his wife.