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From Nat Cole Imitator to Soul Original

Rock historian Ed Ward tells the story of how Ray Robinson--an obscure emerging R & B singer--broke away from his image as a Nat King Cole imitator, changed his name, his record label, and established his identity as Ray Charles.

06:53
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Other segments from the episode on October 24, 1989

Fresh Air with Terry Gross, October 24, 1989: Interview with Deborah Harry; Commentary on Ray Charles; Interview with John McGlinn; Review of Kazuo Ishiguro's novel "The Remains of the Day."
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21:36

Deborah Harry on Acting and Music.

Singer Deborah Harry. She was lead singer of the group "Blondie," which started out in the late '70's as a punk band and by the early '80's was topping the charts. Since the breakup of "Blondie," Harry has gone on to a solo career and several film and TV roles, most recently in "Wiseguy." Her latest album is called, "Def, Dumb and Blonde."

Interview
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11:21

Restoring the Original Arrangement of "Show Boat."

Conductor John McGlinn. He directed a new recording of the classic musical "Show Boat," first performed in 1927 with music by Jerome Kern and book and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein 2nd. McGlinn's new and controversial recording of the musical includes rejected numbers from the planning stages and items cut in the pre-Broadway tryout. (Rebroadcast. Originally broadcast on Jan. 13, 1989).

Interview

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Transcripts are created on a rush deadline, and accuracy and availability may vary. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Please be aware that the authoritative record of Fresh Air interviews and reviews are the audio recordings of each segment.

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08:07

50 Years of Ray Charles: After Atlantic.

Rock Historian Ed Ward has pt 2 of 2 in our look at Ray Charles career. This year marks his 50th year in the music business. Much of the music comes from "Ray Charles: Genius & Soul: The 50th Anniversary Collection" (Rhino)

Commentary
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08:54

50 Years of Ray Charles: The Early Years.

Rock historian Ed Ward begins a 2-part retrospective on the work of Ray Charles, who celebrates 50 years in show business this year. Much of the music comes from "Ray Charles: Genius & Soul: The 50th Anniversary Collection" (Rhino)

Commentary

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52:30

Daughter of Warhol star looks back on a bohemian childhood in the Chelsea Hotel

Alexandra Auder's mother, Viva, was one of Andy Warhol's muses. Growing up in Warhol's orbit meant Auder's childhood was an unusual one. For several years, Viva, Auder and Auder's younger half-sister, Gaby Hoffmann, lived in the Chelsea Hotel in Manhattan. It was was famous for having been home to Leonard Cohen, Dylan Thomas, Virgil Thomson, and Bob Dylan, among others.

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43:04

This fake 'Jury Duty' really put James Marsden's improv chops on trial

In the series Jury Duty, a solar contractor named Ronald Gladden has agreed to participate in what he believes is a documentary about the experience of being a juror--but what Ronald doesn't know is that the whole thing is fake.

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