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Soundcheck

Monday, October 08, 2007
  • (<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/dnhoshor/124038032/" target="_blank">dnhoshor</a>/flickr)
    Statue of Gene Autry in the courtyard of the Autry Museum. (dnhoshor/flickr)

    A Singing Cowboy and a British Bard

    Gene Autry is the granddaddy of all cowboys and inspired the likes of Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson and Ringo Star. We talk to the author of a new biography of the Hollywood legend. Also: Donovan, the British bard who wrote such psychedelic era classics as "Mellow Yellow" and "Sunshine Superman" is back on the scene, groovy as ever. He joins us. And finally: Glen Hansard of the Irish rock band The Frames. This is a repeat edition of Soundcheck.

Back in the Saddle

Gene Autry was more than just America's favorite singing cowboy. He invested early in real estate and broadcast media, owned the California Angels baseball team, and was listed in the Fortune 400 in the 1990s. We talk about Autry with Holly George-Warren, author of Public Cowboy No. 1: The Life and Times of Gene Autry.

Gene Autry's Web site

They Call him Mellow Yellow

Folk-pop icon Donovan gave us a batch of unforgettable, undeniably "Sixties" hit singles. But he deserves credit for more than just "Mellow Yellow." We talk with the Scottish-born songwriter about his famous rock friendships, pop history, and his new musical ideas. He performs tomorrow night at the Tribeca Film Festival.

Donovan's web site

Glen Hansard

The frontman of the popular Irish band The Frames is no stranger to the camera. Glen Hansard played a guitarist in a hard-scrabble working band in 1991's The Commitments. This year he's reached new fans by co-starring in "Once," a film about two musicians who write music that becomes the soundtrack to their love story.

Once web site

Best Live Performances of 2008

Soundcheck

We revisit memorable in-studio performances from Toumani Diabaté, Cat Power, Regina Spektor, and others.

The Year in Music and Branding

Soundcheck

Pop music and advertising go together like peanut butter and jelly. Grey Group music director Josh Rabinowitz shares his picks for the best song picks and ad campaigns of 2008.

Critics Week

Soundcheck

Music writers look back at the year's best pop, rock, hip hop, classical, jazz, Latin and world albums. Plus: the worst music of the year and the best online music. Read our critics' lists here. And don't forget to cast your vote in our best-albums poll.

Noteworthy New York

Soundcheck

We have invited musicians and artists to help us select their favorite cultural destination in the neighborhood where they live. From parks and coffee shops to bowling alleys and museums, the options are as diverse as our group of contributors.