(Weekend Edition)
NPR Music should no longer conjure up the image of a well dressed couple sipping white wine, nibbling on camembert and lounging on a blanket on Central Park's great lawn. If classical music was all NPR played, they'd rather drive a truck. That pigeon hole was filled in at the last Vivaldi Festival. NPR Music is now the home of - yes classical, but also rock/pop/folk, jazz & blues, world and hip hop/R&B. Those are genres of music listed in the header of NPR Music's home page. NPR Music's entire artist directory includes 5,000 bands, musicians and singers. And now NPR Music will offer their entire roster of bands, musicians and singers on mobile devices....
NPR's new iPhone app will give users podcasts, videos, live concerts and signature programs. It also features live music streams from more than 75 public radio stations. The 3-year old NPR Music was created to bring together all the various music-based content generated by NPR and its member stations. "The NPR Music App is an amazing way to experience our music coverage wherever you are" says executive producer Anya Grundmann who adds "Every day, we've got new surprises - special concerts, sessions and interviews you can't get anywhere else; dozens of continuous music streams from our member stations, and chances to hear entire albums before they're released. It's an incredible resource for people who care about music and much as we do." ...
It's not your grandfather's NPR...
10 Timeline Memories:
1.1959] And the winner and new champ: Ingemar Johansson of Sweden knocks down heavyweight champ Floyd Patterson 7 times in the 3rd round to win the title on a TKO. One year later, Patterson becomes the 1st heavyweight to regain the title when he beats Johansson (6/26)…
2.1963] JFK goes to the Wall: The President visits the Berlin Wall and gives his famous “Ich bin ein Berliner” speech (6/26)…
3.1970] Beep It!: The FCC makes it illegal for radio stations to put telephone callers on the air without the permission of the person being called. A beep was then installed on the phone for that purpose (6/25)…
4.1977] Curtains: Elvis Presley plays his final concert at the Market Square Arena in Indianapolis (6/26). 51-days later, Elvis would be dead…
5. 1988] A time for joy, a time for tears: Proving it's never too late to get your diploma, Cyndi Lauper (Richmond Hills High) and Debbie Gibson (Merrick High) receive their high school diplomas (6/27)...
6.1993] TV curtains: The last original “Late Night With David Letterman” airs on NBC-TV with guest Tom Hanks. Re-runs will follow until September. On August 30th, Letterman takes his show to CBS-TV where it still resides (6/25)…
7.1995] Busted: Hugh Grant is arrested in L.A. for engaging in "lewd behavior" with a prostitute (Divine Brown) in a rented BMW (6/27)...
8.2001] 'Happy Trails': Legendary actor Jack Lemmon dies from cancer at 76 (6/27)...2002] The Who's John Entwistle dies from a cocaine-induced heart attack at 57 (6/27)...
9.2005] Gotcha: BTK serial killer Dennis Rader pleads guilty to 10 murders that spread fear across Wichita, Kansas beginning in the late 70s. Rader will receive multiple life sentences (6/27)...
10.2009] The King of Pop: Attempts to resuscitate Michael Jackson fail after he is found unconscious in bed. Jackson was 50 at the time of his death (6/25)...2009] Farrah Fawcett dies at 62 with former husband Ryan O'Neal & long-time friend Alana Stewart at her side (6/25)...
Music Memories:
•1961] #1 on this date: "Quarter to Three" - Gary U.S. Bonds (6/26)...1964] "A World Without Love" - Peter & Gordon (6/27) (the first McCartney-Lennon song that tops the charts for a group or singer other than the Beatles)...1965] "Mr. Tambourine Man" - Byrds (6/26)...1966] "Strangers in the Night" - Frank Sinatra (6/27)...1966] "Paperback Writer" - The Beatles (6/25)...1981] "Bette Davis Eyes" - Kim Carnes (6/27)...
•1969] Recorded on this date: "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother" - The Hollies (6/25) (Elton John played piano)...
"Happy Birthday...happy birthday": (6/25) Daniel Bard (25), George Michael (47), Jimmie ("J.J.") Walker (63), Carly Simon (65), Willis Reed (68), Eddie Floyd (75), June Lockhart (85) and Sidney Lumet (86)...(6/26) Derek Jeter (36), Gretchen Wilson (37), Sean Hayes (40), Terri Nunn (49), Patty Smyth (53), Chris Isaak (54), Mick Jones of the Clash (55), Georgie Fame (67), Billy Davis Jr. (70) and Eleanor Parker (88)...(6/27) Tobey Maguire (35), Julia Duffy ("Newhart") (59), Vera Wang (61), Rico Petrocelli (67), Bruce Johnston (68) and Ross Perot (80)...
Timeline Countdown: 9 days until July 4th and 18 days until the MLB All-Star game & 30 days until NFL training camps begin to open...
