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Soundcheck

Tuesday, July 03, 2007
  • Ali Farka Toure
    Ali Farka Toure

    From CEO to the Sahara

    Former Viacom chief Tom Freston’s career took him from the early days of MTV to the musical heart of West Africa. Today, the media mogul talks about traveling in a land where the electric guitar helped power democracy. And, Cuban jazz pianist Manuel Valera and his quartet perform live in our studio. Plus, we remember the late American soprano and arts administrator Beverly Sills.

Tom Freston

Former MTV Networks Chairman and former Viacom CEO Tom Freston went to West Africa to enjoy music with music industry heavyweights like Jimmy Buffett and Island Records founder Chris Blackwell. He shares his travel journal with Soundcheck.

Freston's article for Vanity Fair, "Showtime in the Sahara"

Manuel Valera

Manuel Valera is a young Cuban jazz pianist whose debut album, Vientos, combines jazz with classical and Latin music. He plays live in studio with his quartet.

Manuel Valera website

Beverly Sills

The acclaimed soprano Beverly Sills died last night at her home in Manhattan. She was 78. Known to many as the queen of American opera, the Brooklyn-born Sills became a mainstream celebrity in the television age. She also was a major force inside the fine arts world, serving as the general director of New York City Opera and as chairwoman of New York City Opera and the Metropolitan Opera. We talk with classical music writer Anne Midgette about Sills' lasting legacy.

The Ill Effects of Urban Noise

Soundcheck

Soundcheck received an overwhelming response to our segment on the effects of urban noise. So much so that Arline Bronzaft decided to address the feedback. Listen to the original segment and read Bronzaft's response.