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THE BEATS GO ON

Program 07-09-09-A

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It's been fifty years since Jack Kerouac's groundbreaking novel, "On The Road" was published. But there's still a lot we can learn from the book. In this hour of To the Best of Our Knowledge, John Leland on the lessons of "On The Road" and why Kerouac still matters. Also, Joyce Johnson shares her memories of her time with Kerouac. And film-maker Jerry Aronson talks about his documentary, "The Life and Times of Allen Ginsberg."

SEGMENT 1:

John Leland is the author of "Why Kerouac Matters: The Lessons of On the Road (They're Not What You Think)" He tells Steve Paulson that "On the Road" is still exciting and that it holds many lessons about friendship and growing up. Also, Joyce Johnson won a National Book Critics Circle Award for her book, "Minor Characters: A Beat Memoir." She talks with Anne Strainchamps about her book and her relationship with Jack Kerouac.

SEGMENT 2:

Jerry Aronson spent a dozen years filming the great Beat poet Allen Ginsberg and produced a documentary called "The Life and Times of "Allen Ginsberg." Released in 1994, the film is out now as a two-DVD set with newly updated and unseen footage. Aronson tells Steve Paulson how he met Ginsberg, and what he thought of the finished product. We also hear Ginsberg performing on The Dick Cavett Show.

SEGMENT 3:

Merge is a quartet that combines poetry with jazz music. Cassandra Cleghorn (poet) and Erik Lawrence (saxophone and flutes) comprise half of Merge. They talk with Jim Fleming about their art and how much they have in common with the Beats. And we hear lots of music.

CD copies are available at 1-800-747-7444. Ask for program number 07-09-09-A.

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Books:

John Leland, Why Kerouac Matters: The Lessons of On the Road (They're Not What You Think) (Viking)
Joyce Johnson, Minor Characters: A Beat Memoir (Penguin)
Merge (CD)
The Life and Times of Allen Ginsberg (DVD)

Websites:

• -- John Leland/ "Why Kerouac Matters: The Lessons of On the Road
  (They're Not What You Think)"
  http://tinyurl.com/2cwggw
  
• -- Joyce Johnson/"Minor Characters: A Beat Memoir"
  http://tinyurl.com/yw4me5
  
• -- Jerry Aronson/"The Life and Times of Allen Ginsberg"
  http://www.allenginsbergmovie.com/
  
• -- Merge
  http://www.mergepoetrymusic.com/
  http://www.myspace.com/mergepoetrymusic

Clips:

• -- Excerpt from "Readings from 'On the Road' and 'Visions of Cody'"/Jack Kerouac
  (Piano accompaniment by Steve Allen)
  (From "The Steve Allen Plymouth Show, NBC Broadcast, November 16th, 1959)
  from the CD box set, "The Jack Kerouac Collection" (Rhino/Wordbeat
  http://www.rhino.com/store/ProductDetail.lasso?Number=70939
  
• -- "I'd Rather Be Thin Than Famous"/Jack Kerouac
  (Piano accompaniment by Steve Allen)
  from the CD box set, "The Jack Kerouac Collection" (Rhino/Wordbeat)
  http://www.rhino.com/store/ProductDetail.lasso?Number=70939
  
• -- Clips from Jerry Aronson's documentary, "The Life and Times of Allen Ginsberg"
  Director's Cut with Newly-Updated and Unseen Footage, Deluxe Two-Disc Set
  (New Yorker Video)
  http://www.allenginsbergmovie.com/
  http://www.newyorkerfilms.com/
  

Music:

• -- "On the Road"/Tom Waits
  from the CD box set, "Orphans: Brawlers, Bawlers & Bastards" (Anti-)
  http://www.anti.com/catalog.php?id=69
  http://www.tomwaits.com/
  
• -- "Cosmic Rays"/Charlie Parker Quartet
  from the CD box set, "The Beat Generation" (Rhino/Wordbeat)
  
• -- "Swinghouse"/Gerry Mulligan Quartet
  from the CD box set, "The Beat Generation" (Rhino/Wordbeat)
  
• -- MUSIC USED IN MERGE MIX:
  
• -- "Plan/Tearwater Tea"/Merge
  from the CD, "Merge" (Art of Hearing)
  http://www.mergepoetrymusic.com/tracks.html
  
• -- "The Murder of Two Men by A Young Kid Wearing Lemon Colored Gloves"/
  Kenneth Patchen, with The Chamber Jazz Sextet
  from the CD box set, "The Beat Generation" (Rhino/Wordbeat)
  
• -- "The Fiddle Man"/Merge
  from the forthcoming CD, "Mystery Loves Company"
  
• -- "We Stopped in the Unimaginable Darkness"/Merge
  from the forthcoming CD, "Mystery Loves Company"
  
• -- "Whistle Stop"/Merge
  from the CD, "Merge" (Art of Hearing)
  http://www.mergepoetrymusic.com/tracks.html
  
• -- "Unearthed"/Merge
  from the forthcoming CD, "Mystery Loves Company"
  ***
  
• -- "Matter of Time"/Merge
  from the CD, "Merge" (Art of Hearing)
  http://www.mergepoetrymusic.com/
  http://www.myspace.com/mergepoetrymusic
  

Distribution dates: week of 09/09/2007 - hour 1

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