Pop

Exiled South African trumpeter Hugh Masekela. In the 60's, Masekela was probably best known for his instrumental hit, "Grazing In The Grass." More recently, Masekela performed with Paul Simon during his the Graceland tour.

Classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz pays tribute to Irving Berlin, arguably the greatest American song writer, on the occasion of his 100th birthday. Schwartz will review a new recording of Berlin songs performed by Elizabeth Welch.

Singer Susannah McCorkle performs a tribute to composer Irving Berlin, who turns 100 on May 11. McCorkle will perform tributes to Berlin each week at this time throughout the month.

Rock Critic Ken Tucker reviews the debut album of singer-songwriter Tracy Chapman.

Cabaret singer Wesla [sometimes Weslia] Whitfield. Ten years ago, she was paralyzed after she was shot in the back during a hold-up. She has since established herself as one of San Francisco's most popular cabaret singers.

Rock historian Ed Ward profiles the work of TK Productions, the Miami recording company that in the mid-70s brought out acts like K.C. and the Sunshine Band ("That's the Way I Like it" and "Get Down Tonight"), George McRae ("Rock Your Baby") and Betty Wright ("Where is the Love"), musicians who combined classic southern rhythm and blues with the up-tempo beat of disco.

Rock Critic Ken Tucker reviews "I'm Your Man," the new Leonard Cohen album.

Film critic Stephen Schiff reviews "The Manchurian Candidate," starring Frank Sinatra, Laurence Harvey and Janet Leigh. The film was originally produced in 1962 but was never distributed because of a squabble between Sinatra, who owned the rights to the film, and the producers.

Jazz singer Chris Connor. She was best known for the work she did during a brief stint with the Stan Kenton band. Connor recorded sparingly throughout the 70s and for many jazz fans it was as though she ended her career. She's now performing again and has just completed work on a new album.

Rock Critic Ken Tucker reviews three albums by older black male vocalists who are trying their hand at new genres, or trying to extend the traditions they first performed in. The albums are "Forever and Ever," the second solo album by Howard Hewett, a former singer with the black rhythm and blues group Shalamar, "On the Strength," by the rap group Grandmaster Flash, and "I Need Money Bad," by John Whitehead.

Rock Critic Ken Tucker reviews two albums by Nick Lowe and Elvis Costello featuring previously unreleased material. The two have been longtime colleagues and collaborators. Lowe has been the producer of many of Costello's albums.

Rock historian Ed Ward gets a jump on April Fool's Day by sharing what he classifies as "the worst music ever recorded."

Rock Critic Ken Tucker reviews "Chalk Mark in a Rainstorm," the new album from Joni Mitchell.

Pianist and bandleader Paul Weston and singer Jo Stafford. They're better known as Jonathan and Darlene Edwards, satirists of inept musicianship.

Rock Critic Ken Tucker reviews "Naked," the long-awaited album from The Talking Heads. The album experiments with a variety of genres, including Funk, African Pop and Salsa.

Ian Whitcomb, an Englishman in love with American music. Since first coming to the United States in the early 60s, he has devoted his career to promoting and keeping alive the tradition of American popular song, particularly those from the Tin Pan Alley era.. His new book, Irving Berlin and Ragtime America, salutes the music of Irving Berlin, who will celebrate his 100th birthday this year.

Rap star Kool Moe Dee. When he first started rapping on park benches in the lat 70s, rap was a fad few believed would stick. Now rap has gone mainstream. Kool Moe Dee is considered the dean of the old school.

Classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz reviews a recording featuring famed Italian tenor Placido Domingo singing pop songs like "Yesterday" and "Maria."

Rock critic Ken Tucker reviews "Rock of Life," by Rick Springfield and "Til My Heart Stops," by Lisa Hartman, two TV stars trying to make the rock charts. Springfield plays a doctor on the daytime soap "General Hospital;" Hartman is a cast member of the evening soap "Knot's Landing."

Rock critic Ken Tucker reviews "Globe of Frogs," the latest album from Robyn Hitchcock and the Egyptians. The group's enigmatic lyrics and strong pop melodies are a big hit on college radio stations. Ken says this English band's strongest moment comes when the listener figures out what the singers are trying to say.