Feb 25th, 2010 · Melding jazz with electronica may be a dicey proposition, but when the combination is executed as deftly as it is on James' "Detroit Loveletter," the result can be smart and sexy. The song's producer, Moodymann, is based in the titular city, and he's long had a knack for incorporating that town's multifaceted musical legacy into soul-stirring deep house.
Feb 8th, 2010 · Rep. John Murtha (D-PA) died Monday of complications from surgery at the age of 77. Murtha was a retired Marine Corps Officer, a Vietnam veteran, one of the most outspoken critics of the U.S. war in Iraq and a strong defender of Congressional deal-making. NPR’s Senior Washington Editor Ron Elving remembers Murtha and his legacy.
Feb 2nd, 2010 · In 1951, Henrietta Lacks died after a long battle with cervical cancer. Doctors cultured her cells, leading to huge advances in medicine — without asking permission from her family. Rebecca Skloot's book, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, examines what Lacks' medical contributions meant for both her family and the field of bioethics.
Jan 28th, 2010 · J.D. Salinger may have left the public arena after achieving literary fame, but his influence is palpable in all walks of life: From books to television, his legacy is alive. Even his years of an "almost perfect" public silence are an inspiration, says Rick Moody, author of The Ice Storm.
Jan 28th, 2010 · Howard Zinn's iconic book, A People's History of the United States, transformed the way many Americans view history by focusing on the voices that other historians had long ignored. Social historian Joseph Boskin, a long-time friend and colleague of Zinn's, reflects on Howard Zinn's work, life and legacy.
Jan 22nd, 2010 · Canadian singer-songwriter Kate McGarrigle died Monday at age 63 after a lifetime of making music with her family and friends. She grew up singing old French and Irish tunes with her parents, and went on to perform in a duo with her sister Anna. McGarrigle's children, singers Martha and Rufus Wainwright, now carry on her musical legacy.
Jan 17th, 2010 · The national narrative about Barack Obama's rise to the presidency often takes root in Martin Luther King Jr.'s legacy. But one author says not enough attention is being paid to the other main line of succession in African-American leadership — the one that stems from Malcolm X, Stokely Carmichael and the black power movement.
Jan 17th, 2010 · The national narrative about Barack Obama's rise to the presidency often takes root in Martin Luther King Jr.'s legacy. But one author says not enough attention is being paid to the other main line of succession in African-American leadership — the one that stems from Malcolm X, Stokely Carmichael and the black power movement.