Episode 294: Andrea Avery - Author of 'Sonata: A Memoir of Pain and the Piano'
At the age of 12, Andrea Avery, a promising young pianist, was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. In her debut, Sonata, Andrea tells the story of her struggle to hold on to music in general, and to a piano sonata by Schubert in particular, even as the disease catches up with her. Andrea’s memoir meditates on the lives of great composers as she tries to make sense of what it means to lose the ability to perform music. As it happens, Andrea and Eduardo went to high school together, so they sat down to catch up and talk about her book, classical music, disease, and of course, cats.
Episode 293: Adiós - Glen Campbell
Besides playing a part in crafting what we know as popular music during his stint with the famed Wrecking Crew, Glen Campbell, with his over 80 singles placed on the charts, is one of the biggest country stars of all time. In 2011, Campbell was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, and a farewell tour, documented in the film I'll Be Me, quickly followed. Since then the rhinestone cowboy has released a handful of heartfelt LP's, EP's, and live sessions, but on Adiós, his latest and last, it's time to finally say goodbye.
Marcus Dowling and Michael Kentoff (The Caribbean) join Kevin in the basement to consider the this legend's career, his final statement as an artist, and what we can all learn by knowing our history.