Mark Ribowsky

Soundcheck takes a look back 50 years, to the summer of 1964 -- a year also known as "The Freedom Summer."

First: For a time, the most successful American performers of the 1960s, The Supremes rivaled even The Beatles in terms of red-hot commercial appeal. Biographer Mark Ribowsky shares some stories behind classics like “Where Did Our Love Go” -- and shows how the concept of “blacks singing white” was essential to the evolution of modern music.

Then: Writer Mark Kurlansky delves into Martha and the Vandellas' hit song “Dancing in the Street,” and the new meaning it took on during the Civil Rights movement.

The Supremes were the biggest girl-group of all time. But behind the chart-topping hits were bruised egos, betrayals and scandalous affairs. Today, we ask Mark Ribowsky, the author of a new book on The Supremes about their tumultuous career through Motown. Also: Hasidic reggae pioneer Matisyahu joins us and performs ...