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The Leonard Lopate Show
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Playing Pianos and Politicians
On today's show: We celebrate the 50th anniversary of Thelonious Monk's Town Hall concert. Plus, a discussion with a top political consultant about the leadership styles of Presidents and Prime Ministers from around the world.
Thelonious Monk
Pianist/composer Jason Moran joins us along with trumpet wizard and virtuoso arranger Charles Tolliver to mark the 50th anniversary of Thelonious Monk’s Town Hall concert, the first time his music was performed by a big band. Jason Moran will be performing in studio along with his band.
Events:
The Charles Tolliver Tentet performs The Thelonious Monk Orchestra at Town Hall, 1959: Reviving a Landmark
Thursday, February 26, at 8:00 pm
Town Hall
123 West 43rd Street
For more information and tickets, visit the Monk at Town Hall website or call the Town Hall box office: 212-307-4100.
The Jason Moran Tentet performs In My Mind: Monk at Town Hall 1959
Friday, February 27, at 8:00 pm
Town Hall
123 West 43rd Street
For more information and tickets, visit the Monk at Town Hall website or call the Town Hall box office: 212-307-4100.

Dispatches from the War Room
Pollster and political strategist Stanley Greenberg has worked with and advised President Bill Clinton, British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak, Bolivian President Gonzalo Sanchez de Lozada and South African President Nelson Mandela. In his memoir, Dispatches from the War Room, he offers an examination of leadership styles and political battlegrounds each of those international leaders faced.
Event: Stanley Greenberg will be reading and signing books
Wednesday, February 25, at 7:00 pm
Barnes & Noble, Upper West Side
2289 Broadway, at 82nd Street
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Patrick Swayze
The Leonard Lopate Show
Patrick Swayze mixed grace with athleticism in his movies – and rose to stardom with roles in “Dirty Dancing” and “Ghost.” He died just recently after a battle with pancreatic cancer. And you can hear his interview with Leonard Lopate from July 16, 2002, when he came by to discuss appearing in the film, “Green Dragon.”
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The Silver Anniversary of the Silver Palate
The Leonard Lopate Show
Sheila Lukins was one half of a partnership that helped popularize gourmet cooking throughout America – first, through their gourmet food shop in New York City and then with the cookbook, The Silver Palate, which remains one of the top-selling cookbooks of all time. She collaborated on 2 other cookbooks that simplified gourmet cooking for the home cook. She died recently from brain cancer at the age of 66, and you can listen to her 2007 conversation with Leonard Lopate and her business partner Julee Rosso about the 25th Anniversary of the publication of The Silver Palate.
Dominick Dunne
The Leonard Lopate Show
Dominick Dunne was a famous novelist and Hollywood producer. But he may be best remembered for covering trials of the rich and famous – from Claus von Bulow to O. J. Simpson. He died just recently at the age of 83. But you can still hear his interview with Leonard from November 23, 2001, when he was discussing crimes, trials, and punishments.
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The Leonard Lopate Show
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Frank McCourt
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Frank McCourt has been a guest many times on this show over the years, starting in 1996 for the memoir, Angela’s Ashes, that would earn him a Pulitzer Prize. Fame came to him late in life, after he’d retired at the age of 65 from teaching English and creative writing at public schools here in New York. He was a sweet, eloquent man who spoke with grace and humility; he just died at the age of 78 after a battle with cancer. You can hear him speaking with Leonard Lopate for his Survival Kit in 2000, and in 2005, for his memoir, Teacher Man.
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Science and Faith
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Our 3-ingredient Challenge wins a James Beard Award
The Leonard Lopate Show
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Listen to President-Elect Barack Obama on the Leonard Lopate Show in November 2004. He had recently won a seat in the U.S. Senate, and only a few months before, his rousing speech during the 2004 Democratic National Convention catapulted him into the national spotlight.
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Guest Picks
The Leonard Lopate Show
Find out surprising facts about some recent guests on the Leonard Lopate Show. Check out our Guest Picks section! Did you know that football star Herschel Walker loves Judge Judy, Laurie Anderson is a big fan of agility training for dogs, and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi likes Johnny Depp?