Art and Culture

A jazz age dancer and singer will soon be in the company of famous French philosophers and novelists.

One of the most famous sites in Paris is a Roman style temple called the Pantheon.  When construction on it began in the mid-1700s it was intended to be a church. But, by the time it was finished, the French Revolution was going, so it was repurposed as a final resting place for French luminaries from the worlds of politics, science, and the arts.

The philosophers Voltaire and Rousseau are there; novelists like Victor Hugo and Emile Zola; key politicians like Leon Gambetta and Jean Jaures; scientists like Marie Curie.  On November 30 they 

I’m Jim McKeown, welcome to Likely Stories, a weekly review of fiction, non-fiction, and poetry.

Nick McDonell is the author of Twelve, The Third Brother, and An Expensive Education, as well as a number of books on political theory and reportage.  His latest book is, The Council of Animals. 

Introducing younger people to classical music is a way to build future audiences.

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The Greater Bright Morning Star Baptist Church is still making great gospel music in New Orleans after more than 60 years.

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Newly appointed CEO of Art Center of Waco, Doug McDurham is the guest on this September 2021 edition of the Central Texas Leadership Series.  Nan Holmes leads the conversation where we learn more about Doug and what led him to this position and what's to come for Art Center of Waco.  

COVID-19 cases remain high in the Waco area.  On this edition of Act Locally Waco you'll hear about where you can go to get vaccinated in addition to some local happenings.  If you do get out and about, we encourage you to practice social distancing and to wear a mask.  

There is a September 11th remembrance scheduled for Saturday morning, the Waco Civic Theatre run of Outside Mullingar begins, Pints and Paws, the Luck of the Draw Scholarship Fundraiser and the Act Locally Waco Book Club events are all included in this episode.

I’m Jim McKeown, welcome to Likely Stories, a weekly review of fiction, non-fiction, and poetry.

Few things excite me more than a new author with an inspiring novel.  Wayétu Moore is the founder of One Moore Book and is a graduate of Howard University, Columbia University, and the University of Southern California.  She teaches at the City University of New York’s John Jay College and lives in Brooklyn.  She Would Be King is her first novel.

As orchestras prepare for a new season, the audiences of the future are somewhere out there too.

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Gospel choir innovator Charles Fold, recorded several memorable songs with the Gospel Messengers, including "He'll Fight Your Battles". 

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I’m Jim McKeown, welcome to Likely Stories, a weekly review of fiction, non-fiction, and poetry.

I recently had a happy discovery.  A volume, which had fallen from a shelf, led me to a book I had forgotten.  Richard Ford was the author; the book was Women with Men.  These three stories are marvelous!

The little-known Philippian Gospel Singers are going to church on "Great Camp Meeting".

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I’m Jim McKeown, welcome to Likely Stories, a weekly review of fiction, non-fiction, and poetry.

If you enjoy twisty plots, building and breaking, secrets, love and forgiveness, Bill Clegg’s emotional novel, The End of the Day is captivating. 

With a shimmering voice and a sharp eye, Nanci Griffith captured life in her songs.

I don’t remember how or where I first heard of her. I don’t remember what spurred me to buy one of her CDs but I did.  Somewhere.  In 1989.  And so, I started listening to a singer-songwriter Nanci Griffith. 

I think it was probably something in her voice that caught my attention.  Even now so many years later I still have trouble putting my finger exactly on what it is in her voice that I respond 

The little-known Philippian Gospel Singers are going to church on "Great Camp Meeting".

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Click the title above to read along.

Listen to the featured song: