Conversations with Voice of the Arts

The Voice of the Arts and rotating cast of hosts welcome guests from all over the arts community to talk about their latest work, discuss their latest tour, or just come by to chat. Former guests have included William Shatner, lethargic comedian Steven Wright, Country Legend Charlie Louvin and too many more to mention

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    Tom Junod – The Falling Man

    The following is a reading by local author Tom Junod from his Esquire article entitled, The Falling Man. Written in 2003 and appearing in the September 2003 issue of Esquire, the article would later be celebrated as one of 7 best feature articles ever written for the magazine. The article explores the still unknown identity of the “fallen man” who was captured on film as the towers fell, himself falling almost perfectly vertically as if swan diving from the 80th floor. Many people have tried to guess who this falling man may be, but no one has made a certain identification.

    Tom Junod - The Falling Man - Part 1
    Tom Junod - The Falling Man - Part 2


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    Pam Grier

    Max Arbes speaks with Queen of Blaxploitation Pam Grier. Her new memoir is called FOXY: My Life in 3 Acts. Foxy is Pam’s testimony of her life, past and present. In it, she reveals her relationships with Richard Pryor, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Freddie Prinze Sr., among others. She unveils her experiences as a backup singer and a blaxploitation star. In particularly candid and shocking chapters, she shares-for the first time-her view of those films and the persecution that blacks, especially women, needed to endure to make a name for themselves . . . including how it felt to be labeled one of the most beautiful women alive, yet not be permitted to try on clothes in a department store because of the color of her skin.

    Ray Charles Jr.

    Eldest son and namesake of legendary performer/musician Ray Charles joins Max Arbes to talk about his latest book, You Don’t Know Me: Reflections of My Father, a memoir about his father. This book reflects on Ray Charles Jr’s life with his famous father musician and how the two used music as a bonding technique.

    Gabriel Roth – Daptone Records

    In the early part of the 21st century, Gabriel Roth founded Daptone Records in Brooklyn, New York with friend Neal Sugarman. Roth speaks with Neal Cohen about the label and its sound, defined by its use of vintage equipment and analog tape. Roth also talks about the band’s spotlight artist Sharon Jones, who records and tours with Daptone’s own house band The Dap Kings and how they relate to other classic house bands like Booker T. & the MGs and The Funk Brothers.

    Trombone Shorty

    Troy “Trombone Shorty” Andrews, a trombone and trumpet player from New Orleans, has become the pride of New Orleans. By melding Funk, Rock and Hip-Hop into his traditional New Orleans 2nd Line and Jazz music, Andrews has produced a sound that is truly his own. Super Funk Rock…a musical gumbo is his exact phrasing for this type of sound. Our own Neal Cohen had the pleasure of speaking with “Trombone Shorty” about his sound, how New Orleans has influenced him, and his latest album Backatown



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