Art and Culture

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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The slow and bluesy "Little Too Close to be Afraid" features the Angelic Choir of the First Baptist Church of Nutley, NJ at their most compelling.

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From free vaccination clinics to lots of fun stuff, you can get out and Act Locally Waco.

Some of the fun stuff includes comedy at the Brazos, a back to school dance competition and party, Pura Vida Paddle participating in a benefit at Brazos Park East, the annual McLennan County Mud Fest, Lemonade Day and more.  

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

William Shakespeare is surely one of the greatest talents of all time.  His works are witty, explosive, endearing, and charming admired and loved across the globe.  Maggie O’Farrell has written a novel that captures the essence of Shakespeare himself.  Maggie wrote eight novels, including her latest, Hamnet.  She was born in Northern Ireland in 1972, and now lives in Edinburgh. 

In listening to the radio, you sometimes encounter art without even realizing it.

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The Bright Stars were a pioneering gospel quartet, combining doo-wop harmonies with the punch of a full band. 

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

I rarely bother with nonfiction, but Here We Are by Aarti Namdev Shahani is a well-written story of her family's move from Casablanca to Pakistan to the USA.  The initial parts of the story detail the hardships the family had escaping from the terrors following the breakup between India and Pakistan. 

Taking great works of art to new audiences requires only that we see the common humanity in all of us.

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Legendary gospel story-teller Dorothy Norward is at her very best on the compelling story-song, “Walk Through the Valley.” 

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