Performing Arts
Benny Goodman's Clarinet
Late in his career, jazz musician Benny Goodman favored a Parisian “licorice stick” as his instrument of choice
April 2009 |
By Owen Edwards
"Blues Music is Truth" - A Farewell Tribute to John Cephas
Born in 1930, John Cephas grew up with the blues. At age 9, his aunt sat him down and taught him how to play the guitar. And before Cephas was a teenager, he had his own guitar, which he used to entertain weekend guests at his family’s home in the Foggy Bottom area of Washington, D.C. The tradition...
March 27, 2009 |
By Joseph Caputo
The Importance of Irish Pirates
Without pirates, there may not have been a St. Patrick. According to historians, 1,500-year-old lore states that St. Patrick was born in Banwen, Wales, kidnapped by pirates at the age of 16, and made a slave in Ireland for 6 years. During that period, St. Patrick turned to religion and came up wit...
March 17, 2009 |
By Joseph Caputo
A Jazzed-Up Langston Hughes
A long-forgotten poem about the African-American experience is given new life in a multimedia performance
March 13, 2009 |
By Laban Carrick Hill
Costume’s Cultural Reveal
The Los Angeles County Museum aims to draw new visitors and historic insights with a landmark costume acquisition
March 06, 2009 |
By Jeanne Maglaty
The White House Revealed on the Smithsonian Channel
In 1962, viewers the nation over (and later the world) marveled at Jackie Kennedy's tour of the freshly revamped White House in an extensive one-hour televised tour of the executive mansion. But the film, with it's camera trained on First Lady was missing something: all the people who work behind t...
March 05, 2009 |
By Jesse Rhodes
Women of Science on the Smithsonian Channel
Let's take a moment to think about notable women of the past decade or so. How many entertainers can you rattle off the top of your head? Sports stars? How about scientists?I'm guessing you choked a little on that last one. Let's rectify the situation, shall we?March is Women's History Month and th...
March 03, 2009 |
By Jesse Rhodes
Dr. John's Prognosis
The blues and rock musician shares stories of his wild past and his concerns for the future.
March 01, 2009 |
By Kenneth R. Fletcher
Can't Be in New Orleans? Listen to Mardi Gras Music at Your Desk
In honor of today's Mardi Gras festivities happening down in New Orleans, we thought we'd treat our cabin ever with a little bit of Louisiana jazz and zydeco courtesy of Smithsonian Folkways.There is Blowout at Mardi Gras, a collection of Dixieland jazz recorded in 1955 featuring clarinetist Sid Da...
February 24, 2009 |
By Beth Py-Lieberman
Five Films that Redefined Hollywood
Author Mark Harris discusses his book about the five movies nominated for Best Picture at the 1967 Academy Awards
February 19, 2009 |
By Brian Wolly
Smithsonian Events Week of 2/17-20: Lady Day and Civil Rights Heroes
Tuesday, February 17: Reel Portraits: Billie Holiday and Lady Sings the BluesAfter leaving the Supremes, Diana Ross not only launched a solo career, but she also tried her hand as an actress. Lady Sings the Blues, a slightly true biopic about jazz legend Billie Holiday, featured Ross and Billy Dee ...
February 16, 2009 |
By Jesse Rhodes
Root for Smithsonian Folkways at the Grammy Awards
Beyonce, Adele and Chris Brown aren't the only stars we're rooting for at the 51st Annual Grammy Awards tonight. Three Smithsonian Folkways artists/groups are also in the running for the gilded gramophone.Fiddler and songwriter Michael Doucet, who produced the album From Now On, will be competing a...
February 08, 2009 |
By Joseph Caputo
Weekend Events: Celebrate Black History Month
Saturday, February 7: Reading: Nobody Owns the SkyCelebrate Black History Month at the National Air and Space Museum by listening to Nobody Owns the Sky which relates the story of Bessie Coleman, the first African American to become an airplane pilot. Following the reading there will be an art acti...
February 06, 2009 |
By Jesse Rhodes
Orchids Show their Stuff on the Smithsonian Channel
You can learn a lot of things from the flowers. Perhaps the girls from Sex and the City should have ditched the daily macchiatos and decked out to the local botanical garden to take a few pointers from the orchids. That's right kids, orchids are total pros when it comes to sex, and it has served th...
February 04, 2009 |
By Jesse Rhodes
Smithsonian Events, 2/2-6: Buddy Holly and Black History Month
Monday, February 2: Nothing SpecialThere's nothing special planned for you today, so come on out and enjoy the collections at any of the museums. Just please, keep off the grass and don't feed the volunteers working the Information Desk.Tuesday, February 3: Buddy Holly: The Day the Music DiedBuddy ...
February 02, 2009 |
By Jesse Rhodes
Hey, hey it's the Monkees on the Smithsonian Channel
Hey hey it's the Monkees, and they're back on TV! The Smithsonian Channel's new documentary "Making the Monkees" takes a look into one of the biggest musical sensations of the 1960s.In November 1965, Davy Jones, Mickey Dolenz, Peter Tork and Michael Nesmith were brought together by central casting ...
January 09, 2009 |
By Jesse Rhodes
Smithsonian Events Week of 1/5-1/11: Bette Davis and George W. Bush
Monday, January 5: Portrait of George W. BushAfter eight years in office, President Bush is now a museum piece. Come see the newest addition to the National Portrait Gallery's Hall of Presidents, which marks the first time the gallery has exhibited the official portrait of a sitting president. Free...
January 04, 2009 |
By Jesse Rhodes
Frost, Nixon and Me
Author James Reston Jr. discovers firsthand what is gained and lost when history is turned into entertainment
January 2009 |
By James Reston Jr.
