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They're Creepy and They're Kooky
Themes from classic television shows are among the most memorable songs ever recorded, yet few modern shows open with one. Today on Soundcheck: Find out what happened to the TV theme song. Also: keyboardist Marco Benevento of the indie instrumental Benevento Russo duo talks about his new solo album and performs live in our studio.
Just Sit Right Back, and You'll Hear a Tale...
Most people can sing at least a few lines from the songs that opened television shows like "Gilligan's Island," "The Brady Bunch," or "The Jeffersons." Yet few programs today kick off with a musical explanation of the series' premise. We ask Eric Deggans, media critic at the St. Petersburg Times, why the TV theme song is an endangered species. And longtime songwriters Marilyn and Alan Bergman talk about creating themes for "Good Times," "Alice," and other hit shows.
Weigh in: What's your favorite TV show theme song? Do you miss them?
Eric Deggans' story in the St. Petersburg Times
Alan and Marilyn Bergman's website
Duo Guy Goes Solo
Keyboardist Marco Benevento earned his chops as one half of the hard-touring, jammy Benevento-Russo Duo. In 2007, he drew praise for his three-CD set of live performances recorded at the now-shuttered nightclub Tonic. On the eve of his first solo studio album, Benevento joins us for a live performance and preview of "Invisible Baby."
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Sound Off
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Throughout May, Soundcheck presents “Sound Off” a Friday series on the many aspects of noise in music and our lives. The series -- which coincides with “Better Hearing and Speech Month” -- looks at issues like New York’s noisiest neighborhoods, the latest research on iPods and hearing loss, and what happens when noise becomes a musical ingredient.
