Country

Rock historian Ed Ward remembers Charlie Feathers, who tried everything from country music, rockabilly to protest folk. He had such hits as "Tongue-Tied Jill," and "One Hand Loose., which is considered one of the perfect rockabilly songs.

Rock historian Ed Ward remembers country music pioneers the Delmore Brothers.

Music critic Ken Tucker reviews the new album of songs about infidelity by a group called "The Wandering Eyes." It's titled "The Wandering Eyes Sing Songs of Forbidden Love."

Born in 1937 in Littlefield, Texas, Jennings was a disc jockey at 14, and had already formed his own band at the age of 12, making guest appearances on local station KDAV's "Sunday Party," where he met Buddy Holly in 1955. Jennings became Holly's bass player. It was Jennings who gave his seat up to the Big Bopper on the plane which crashed later killing Buddy Holly.

Rock historian Ed Ward tells us the tale of Joe Tex, a black man who longed to be a country singer, a preacher who renounced Christianity, and a life-long teetotaler who died of drug and alcohol abuse.

Honky-tonk singer Johnny Bush. He hails from Texas and began his career in the 1950s. Later he went on to such best-selling singles as "Sound of a Heartache," "You Ought to Hear Me Cry," "What a Way to Live" and "You Gave Me a Mountain." He wrote the song ""Whiskey River" for his friend Willie Nelson, and later had a hit with that too. This singer with the melancoly songs never became a household name, and in the late 70s an voice ailment curtailed his career.

Critic Ken Tucker reviews "A Long Way Home" (Reprise), the new release by Dwight Yoakam.

Rock critic Ken Tucker reviews a new Lucinda Williams' CD "Car Wheels On A Gravel Road." (Mercury Records)

Bill Ivey is the new Chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts. He won Senate confirmation last month. He last served as the director of the Country Music Foundation. There he co-produced a new 3 CD set called "From Where I Stand: The Black Experience in Country Music." (Warner Bros) The collection traces the contributions African-Americans have had in country music. (stations: This was recorded before his confirmation hearings. He declined to talk about the NEA at that time.)

Journalist Bruce Feiler. His new book is a history of country music: "Dreaming out Loud: Garth Brooks, Wynonna Judd, Wade Hayes, and the Changing Face of Nashville (Avon Books). Feiler writes regularly about American music for The New York Times, The New Yorker, and other publications. He's also a frequent contributor to "All Things Considered."

Rock historian Ed Ward on Moran Lee Boggs, otherwise known as Dock Boggs, who played banjo like a blues guitar in the 1920s. Boggs died in 1971. His recordings have been collected on a new CD "Dock Boggs: Country Blues" (Reventant label)

Rock critic Ken Tucker reviews "The Northeast Kingdome" (E-Squared/Warner) by Cheri Knight.

Rock Critic Ken Tucker reviews two recent releases: Jim Lauderdale's "Whisper," and Buddy Miller's "Poison Love". Both albums have been categorized as "alternative country" and Tucker says in a time of "overblown big stars" that label may be a marketing enhancement.

Rock critic Ken Tucker reviews "Musings of a Creek Dipper" (Atlantic) the new release of singer Victoria Williams, who was part of this summer's Lilith Tour.

Langford, who co-founded the British punk band, now lives in the US. He's plays in the country-inspired band the Waco Brothers. Langford is also a visual artist. and, under the pen name Chuck Death and draws the comic Great Pop Things, which is published in the LA Weekly, and collected in the new book. "Great Pop Things: The Real History of Rock n Roll from Elvis to Oasis" (Verse Chorus Press) Langford has just released his first solo CD called: "Skull Orchard."

Rock critic Ken Tucker reviews Garth Brooks new recording, "Sevens"

Rock critic Ken Tucker talks with Terry Gross about the albums he liked best in 1997.

Music Critic Ken Tucker reviews Shania Twain’s newest CD Come On Over. (Mercury Records)

Actress Cybill Shepherd. Her TV sitcom, "Cybill," continues in its fourth season on CBS. She also has a CD : Talk Memphis to Me. Shepherd is known for her roles in the films The Last Picture Show,Taxi Driver, and Married To It, as well as her starring role opposite Bruce Willis in the TV series Moonlighting.