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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In the early 1960's Leslie Gore's songs spoke to adolescents. With the British invasion, Gore lost her appeal to the teen set but she continued m...

Bought by KMXT


  • Added: Aug 19, 2008
  • Length: 05:00
  • Purchases: 1
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The performer known for her 1995 hit "One of Us" is back with a new album. Joan recorded "Little Wild One" as a love letter to her adoped home of ...

Bought by KUFM - Montana Public Radio, WGDR, and KMXT


  • Added: Aug 22, 2008
  • Length: 05:01
  • Purchases: 3
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Chip Taylor has been a professional golfer, gambler and hit-making songwriter. He says some of his obsessions have served him well.

Bought by WGDR and KSVR Studios: Skagit Valley Radio


  • Added: Sep 11, 2008
  • Length: 05:00
  • Purchases: 2
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Carrie Rodriguez thought she'd spend her career backing other musicians. Now the fiddler and singer songwriter has folks who back her plus a new a...

Bought by KUFM - Montana Public Radio, Northern Community Radio - KAXE & KBXE, Minnesota, WGDR, KSVR Studios: Skagit Valley Radio, and KMXT


  • Added: Sep 12, 2008
  • Length: 05:00
  • Purchases: 5
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Musician Martin Sexton is a pretty happy guy. After years of struggling, he seems to have it all.

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


  • Added: Sep 16, 2008
  • Length: 05:00
  • Purchases: 3
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In New Zealand Liam Finn's dad Neil Finn (of Split Enz and Crowded House) is royalty. Both in the U.S. and at home Liam is trying to establish him...

Bought by KSVR Studios: Skagit Valley Radio and KMXT


  • Added: Sep 22, 2008
  • Length: 05:01
  • Purchases: 2
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Chris Walla doesn't take anything for granted. As producer and guitarist for one of today's most popular bands, Chris is happy his old audience re...

Bought by WGDR and KMXT


  • Added: Sep 23, 2008
  • Length: 05:00
  • Purchases: 2
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Justin Townes Earle talks about his childhood as the son of songwriter Steve Earle, his teenage infatuation with drugs and alcohol and why he prefe...

Bought by WGDR and New Hampshire Public Radio


  • Added: Sep 29, 2008
  • Length: 05:01
  • Purchases: 2
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Meet Garrett Dutton III, AKA G. Love. He was 19 and busking on the streets of Philadelphia when he hit on his signature style--what he's termed "T...

Bought by WGDR and KSVR Studios: Skagit Valley Radio


  • Added: Oct 13, 2008
  • Length: 05:00
  • Purchases: 2
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Ben Taylor resisted becoming a musician for a lot of reasons, beginning with the pressure of his lineage. Taylor is the son of James Taylor and Ca...

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


  • Added: Nov 03, 2008
  • Length: 05:00
  • Purchases: 4
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Singer songwriter Duncan Sheik feels much more at ease watching other people perform his work. He likes writing and recording his own albums but h...

Bought by WGDR, KUFM - Montana Public Radio, KSVR Studios: Skagit Valley Radio, and Mississippi Public Broadcasting


  • Added: Nov 10, 2008
  • Length: 05:00
  • Purchases: 4
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As a young sax player, C.J. Chenier planned to pursue a career in jazz. Then his father Zydeco great Clifton Chenier, recruited his son to play in...

Bought by WGDR


  • Added: Nov 20, 2008
  • Length: 05:00
  • Purchases: 1
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Ralph Covert doesn't see much difference between the music he made with his Chicago indie-rock band The Bad Examples and the songs he churns out fo...

Bought by WGDR and KSVR Studios: Skagit Valley Radio


  • Added: Nov 21, 2008
  • Length: 05:00
  • Purchases: 2
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The singer-songwriter best known for her indie-rock band "Throwing Muses" talks about her unorthodox, and involuntary approach to making music.

Bought by KSVR Studios: Skagit Valley Radio


  • Added: Dec 02, 2008
  • Length: 05:00
  • Purchases: 1
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The Proclaimers are Scotland's Charlie and Craig Reid. Here in the States they're best known for the tune "I'm Gonna be (500 miles) popularized in ...

Bought by KSVR Studios: Skagit Valley Radio


  • Added: Dec 05, 2008
  • Length: 05:00
  • Purchases: 1
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In the early 1990's critics hailed Matthew Sweet a leader in the world of power pop. His 1991 album "Girlfriend" melded raw guitar sounds with cat...

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


  • Added: Dec 15, 2008
  • Length: 05:00
  • Purchases: 2
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Michael Hill says he doesn't judge people but he does judge actions. His music addresses the injustices he sees in the neighborhoods of New York a...

Bought by KUFM - Montana Public Radio and Mississippi Public Broadcasting


  • Added: Dec 23, 2008
  • Length: 05:01
  • Purchases: 2
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Neil Halstead has gotten plenty of comparisons to his fellow countryman the legendary Nick Drake. In fact, Time Out magazine has called Halstead o...

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


  • Added: Jan 06, 2009
  • Length: 05:01
  • Purchases: 3
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At 29 Derek Trucks is a veteran of the music business. The slide guitarist founded the Derek Trucks band at 14. By the time he was a teenager he ...

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


  • Added: Jan 16, 2009
  • Length: 05:01
  • Purchases: 2
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Warren Zanes has taught about contemporary music at the University level. He's also championed the educational program at the Rock 'n Roll Hall of...

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


  • Added: Jan 26, 2009
  • Length: 05:00
  • Purchases: 2