Biographer Laurence Bergreen. His new book is "As Thousands Cheer: The Life of Irving Berlin." (published by Viking Press). Bergreen is also the author of "James Agee: A Life."
Artist David Wojnarowicz (voy-nah-ro-vich). His work has twice been the cause of controversy, once, when a political essay accompanying his work caused the NEA to suspend funding to a gallery, and more recently, when a conservative organization excerpted parts of his work to dramatize what it calls pornographic art. Wojnarowicz is now suing that organization for copyright infringement and libel.
World music critic Milo Miles examines the vocal music of South Africa, and he examines the career of the country's leading vocal group, "Ladysmith Black Mambazo."
Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead looks at another British invasion, this one the current invasion of British jazz musicians. Kevin reviews singer Cleveland Watkiss, saxophonists Evan Parker, Courtney Pine, and Steve Williamson.
Actor, writer, and Monthy Python member John Cleese and therapist Robin Skynner. The pair have co-written a new book, "Families and How To Survive Them."
Novelist Reginald McKnight. His first novel,"Moustapha's Eclipse" was praised for its original voice about the struggle for black identity. It also won the 1988 Drue Heinz Literature Prize. McKnight has a new novel, "I Get On the Bus," (published by Little, Brown).
Police Chief Anthony V. Bouza. Formerly the Police Chief for the Bronx, and Minneapolis. He's just written a book, "The Police Mystique: An Insider's Look at Cops, Crime, and the Criminal Justice System," (published by Plenum).
Classical music critic Lloyd Schwartz reviews a new album of two Schubert Masses conducted by Robert Shaw (on the Telarc label). It features the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra & Choruses.
Writer and editor Corby Kummer. He's written a series of articles for the "Atlantic Magazine" on coffee, covering health effects, brewing, and decaf versus caffeine.
Rock critic Greil Marcus. Dutton books has just issued a third revised edition of Marcus' 1975 classic analysis of rock and roll in America, "Mystery Train."
Rock historian Ed Ward profiles the Gee and End record labels. They were the first to produce vocal-group records for teenagers by groups like Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers, the Cleftones, and Arlene Smith and the Chantels.
Sculptor Duane Hanson. His life-size sculptures look almost real, and are of everyday folks -- tacky tourists, cleaning ladies, blue-collar workers. His first solo-exhibition is currently running at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts.
Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead reviews "Charles Mingus Epitaph" (on the Columbia label) It's a live recording of the Mingus composition conducted by composer Gunther Schuller last year at New York's Lincoln Center.
