Jan 11th, 2005 · Before he played guitar for Led Zeppelin, Jimmy Page was a session musician in London studios. Rock historian Ed Ward looks back at Page's early career. Led Zeppelin will be honored with a Lifetime Achievement Grammy next month.
Dec 31st, 2004 · We rebroadcast a tribute to the great vocalist and composer Thomas "Fats" Waller from May 19, 2004. Guitarist and singer Marty Grosz and cornet player Randy Reinhart join us for a special in-studio performance in honor of Waller's 100th birthday. Waller wrote many hit songs, appeared in films in the 1930s and '40s, and wrote Broadway musicals.
Dec 17th, 2004 · Commentator John Ridley talks about why December is one of Hollywood's busiest months. Ridley says in addition to the holiday blockbusters, the big movie studios are rushing to get their smaller, more artistic films into theaters, just under the wire for Academy Award consideration. Hear Ridley and NPR's Renee Montagne.
Dec 12th, 2004 · The Hollywood Foreign Press Association, which runs the annual Golden Globe awards, is a small group with substantial clout. Long criticized for its cozy relationship with the major studios and its propensity for junkets and parties, the association claims to have cleaned up its act. The Golden Globe nominations are announced Monday. Gloria Hillard reports.
Dec 5th, 2004 · The executive director and CEO of the Screen Actors Guild, Robert Pisano, has been sued by some members of the union because Pisano is also on the board of directors of the DVD rental company Netflix. Some wonder how he can accurately represent actors who are trying to negotiate DVD residuals when Netflix is so cozy with the studios. Iris Mann reports (6:15)
Dec 1st, 2004 · Two weeks ago, Hollywood studios filed their first lawsuits against people accused of illegally downloading movies from the Internet. The music industry has plenty of experience fighting online file sharers in the courts. Commentator Paul Ford says that he's happy the television industry hasn't sent its lawyers after downloaders -- yet.
Nov 21st, 2004 · NPR's Liane Hansen speaks with acoustic guitarist Kaki King, who performs selections for us in our studio. The 25-year-old guitar whiz honed her unusual fingerstyle technique playing in New York City subway stations. Her new CD is Legs to Make Us Longer.
Nov 5th, 2004 · The Incredibles, about a family of suburban superheroes, is the sixth feature from Pixar, the computer animation studio that created Toy Story and Finding Nemo. NPR's Bob Mondello says it matches cleverness with emotional resonance, and may just be the best Pixar film yet.