A Musician's Life

Series produced by WXPN

Caption: PRX default Series image
PRX default Series image 

A grab bag of musicians muse about the creative and mundane aspecs of their lives. WXPN's Tracey Tanenbaum hosts this ongoing five minute weekly series

In the series A Musician?s Life listeners learn about musicians? lives first-hand. We?ll hear from performers at various stages of their career?those on the rise; those who have ?made it? and those who may be struggling for some recognition. They?ll describe both the creative and mundane sides of what they do, including:

? The biggest sacrifice they ever made for their art
? How they work with the music industry
? How they feel about critics and fans
? The realities of touring
? The stories behind specific songs
? Fall-out from writing about people in their personal lives
? Any toll their work takes on their personal lives
? Dealing with writer?s block
? Growing up wanting to be an artist
? Taking care of the voice
? Taking care of one?s health

This is a five-minute weekly series hosted by WXPN's Tracey Tanenbaum. She created the feature in 2006 and won the 2007 ACE award (Award for Creative Excellence in the Triple A category) for her efforts. Even though Tracey hosts and interviews the artists, she makes sure they take center stage, adding her voice or question only when appropriate. So AML has a first person feel. The program features a hefty-dose of each artist's music. The 5 minute length provides an option for stations looking for other content to replace NPR newscasts.

Performers include Sheryl Crow, Nick Lowe, Bob Mould, Mary Gauthier, Tegan and Sara, John Doe, Jim White, Vusi Mahlasela, Michael Penn, Kristin Hersh, Jill Sobule, Colin Hay, Tift Merritt, Jason Isbell, Francis Dunnery and more, more, more... Hide full description

In the series A Musician?s Life listeners learn about musicians? lives first-hand. We?ll hear from performers at various stages of their career?those on the rise; those who have ?made it? and those who may be struggling for some recognition. They?ll describe both the creative and mundane sides of what they do, including:

? The biggest sacrifice they ever made for their art
? How they work with the music industry
? How they feel about critics and fans
? The realities of touring
? The stories behind specific songs
? Fall-out from writing about people in their personal lives
? Any toll their work takes on their personal lives
? Dealing with writer?s block
? Growing up wanting to be an artist
? Taking care of the voice
? Taking care of one?s health

This is a five-minute weekly series... Show full description


67 Pieces

Order by: Newest First | Oldest First
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Austin based musician Marcia Ball is best known for her infectious brand of Louisiana Swamp rock and two-fisted piano playing. And even though she...

Bought by KUFM - Montana Public Radio and KUFM - Montana Public Radio


  • Added: Jul 02, 2010
  • Length: 05:00
  • Purchases: 2
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Veteran songwriter Graham Parker joins Tracey Tanenbaum on this edition of "A Musician's Life". Early in his career, critics in his native Britain...

Bought by KUFM - Montana Public Radio


  • Added: Jun 30, 2010
  • Length: 05:00
  • Purchases: 1
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As one of the leaders of the seminal LA band X, Exene Cervenka is punk rock royalty. On this edition of "A Musician's Life" Exene takes us through ...

Bought by KUFM - Montana Public Radio


  • Added: May 28, 2010
  • Length: 05:00
  • Purchases: 1
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The Holmes Brothers have been entertaining audiences with their uplifting blend of gospel, blues and R&B for three decades. Their latest album "Fe...

Bought by KUFM - Montana Public Radio


  • Added: May 27, 2010
  • Length: 05:00
  • Purchases: 1
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On this edition of "A Musician's Life" Tracey Tanenbaum speaks with Shelby Lynne. In 2001 she won a Grammy for best new artist. At the time, Lynne...

Bought by KUFM - Montana Public Radio and KUFM - Montana Public Radio


  • Added: May 19, 2010
  • Length: 05:00
  • Purchases: 2
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The son of a minister, Gordon Gano hardly seemed like an obvious candidate to front the 1980's post-punk band, The Violent Femmes. But his smart ly...

Bought by New Hampshire Public Radio


  • Added: May 18, 2010
  • Length: 05:01
  • Purchases: 1
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On this edition of "A Musician's Life" Tracey Tanenbaum speaks with Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova of The Swell Season. Most people will remembe...

Bought by KUFM - Montana Public Radio and KUFM - Montana Public Radio


  • Added: May 17, 2010
  • Length: 05:00
  • Purchases: 2
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When Phish formed in the early '80's they played to audiences in their college town of Burlington, Vermont. By the mid 1990's, they were performin...

Bought by KUFM - Montana Public Radio and Vermont Public


  • Added: May 14, 2010
  • Length: 05:00
  • Purchases: 2
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In 2006 Paste magazine named Josh Ritter one of the top 100 living songwriters. But shortly after completing his 2008 album, "Historical Conquests...

Bought by KUFM - Montana Public Radio


  • Added: May 13, 2010
  • Length: 05:00
  • Purchases: 1
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You may not know his name but if you're a fan of HBO's "True Blood" you know Jace Everett's baritone. Each week Jace's song "Bad Things" accompanie...

Bought by KUFM - Montana Public Radio


  • Added: Oct 22, 2009
  • Length: 05:00
  • Purchases: 1
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To his fans his story is legendary. Ireland's Barry Moore began playing music with his older brother Christy when he was a young teenager. He rei...

Bought by KUFM - Montana Public Radio


  • Added: Oct 09, 2009
  • Length: 05:00
  • Purchases: 1
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Steve Earle had a lot in common with his songwriting hero the late Townes Van Zandt. Both spent time in Houston, both played guitar and both had h...

Bought by KUFM - Montana Public Radio


  • Added: Oct 08, 2009
  • Length: 05:00
  • Purchases: 1
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Singer-songwriter Tim Easton doesn't drink much anymore but he still writes about people who do. His latest album called "Porcupine" is a raucous ...

Bought by KUFM - Montana Public Radio


  • Added: Oct 08, 2009
  • Length: 05:01
  • Purchases: 1
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Neko Case's torch-like voice has won her fans. But her genre-defying style--as well as her take on love and nature--set her apart from her contemp...

Bought by KUFM - Montana Public Radio and KUOW


  • Added: Oct 08, 2009
  • Length: 05:00
  • Purchases: 2
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On this edition of "A Musician's Life" Tracey Tanenbaum speaks with Kevin Hearn. The Canadian Multi-instrumentalist and songwriter makes crowd-ple...

Bought by KUFM - Montana Public Radio


  • Added: Sep 15, 2009
  • Length: 05:01
  • Purchases: 1
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Australia native Ben Lee formed his band Noise Addict when he was just 13. Within a couple of years the group counted Thurston Moore of Sonic Yout...

Bought by KUFM - Montana Public Radio and Remix Radio


  • Added: Sep 14, 2009
  • Length: 05:00
  • Purchases: 2
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On this edition of A Musician’s Life, Tracey Tanenbaum speaks with Moby. Some hail the electronic artist as an innovative genius while others call...

Bought by KUFM - Montana Public Radio and Remix Radio


  • Added: Sep 14, 2009
  • Length: 05:00
  • Purchases: 2
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Texas native Rhett Miller threw away a full scholarship to Sarah Lawrence College to pursue music full-time. His gamble paid off. Miller's band O...

Bought by KUFM - Montana Public Radio


  • Added: Jul 01, 2009
  • Length: 05:00
  • Purchases: 1
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When Steve Forbert began making records in the late 1970's he was dubbed "the new Dylan". No doubt, critics and audiences responded to his intelli...

Bought by KSVR Studios: Skagit Valley Radio and KUFM - Montana Public Radio


  • Added: Jul 01, 2009
  • Length: 05:00
  • Purchases: 2
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On this edition of "A Musician's Life" Tracey Tanenbaum speaks with The Bacon Brothers. The Bacon Brothers are screen actor Kevin Bacon and his br...

Bought by KUFM - Montana Public Radio and KSVR Studios: Skagit Valley Radio


  • Added: May 07, 2009
  • Length: 05:00
  • Purchases: 2