Search results for

He used to be known as Cat Stevens — and his recordings from the 1970's are being rereleased on CD to mark the 30th anniversary of his 1st American hits. In 1977, he embraced the Islamic faith and turned his back on the music industry. He was denounced for his reported support of the Ayatollah Khomeni's death decree against novelist Salman Rushdie, and just this month, he was not allowed to enter Israel for his reported support of Hamas. Yusuf Islam tells Liane his side of the story, and about his life and faith.

We feature a performance by humorist and NPR commentator David Sedaris. He charms us with the complete "Santaland Diaries." This piece first ran on NPR's Morning Edition a few days before Christmas 1992. Even though Sedaris has achieved national fame and movie contracts for his humor writing, he still cleans apartments during the day, because, he says, he can only write at night.

With his first hit, Berry began a career that would reinvent rock 'n' roll with each new song.

NPR's Noah Adams travels to Chantilly, Va., for a conversation with Tom DeBaggio, his wife Joyce and son Francesco. Tom DeBaggio was diagnosed in the spring of 1999 with early-onset Alzheimer's disease. This is the fourth in a series of interviews with the DeBaggio family. In today's conversation, Tom describes his loss of familiarity with most of the material in his new book about the growing and the use of herbs, his willingness to give up driving when the time comes, and his acceptance of the need for an identification bracelet. He also tells of a harrowing experience one night when he accidentally took an overdose medication used in his Alzheimer's treatment. Book referenced is The Big Book of Herbs: a Comprehensive Illustrated Reference to Herbs of Flavor and Fragrance, by Arthur Tucker and Thomas DeBaggio Interweave Press, Loveland, Colo. ISBN 1-883010-86-1.

In the first of a five-part series on immigration in Western Europe, NPR's Sylvia Poggioli reports that Italy has become a final destination for illegal immigrants from Eastern Europe, Asia, and North Africa, as well as a port of entry. Thousands of illegal immigrants -- many Albanians, Kurds, and North Africans -- are smuggled by sea into Italy each year, trying to make their way to a better life in Europe. In the past, Italy was just a way station on the route to Germany or Switzerland. Now immigrants are staying.

NPR's Susan Stamberg visits Seattle's Pike Place Market and shares her legendary recipe for Mama Stamberg's Cranberry Relish with some of the market vendors. Some of them aren't so sure about it...

Liane speaks with film legend Clint Eastwood, one of this year's recipients of the Kennedy Center Honors. Eastwood talks about his multi-faceted career as an actor, director and producer; his love of music; the challenges of aging in Hollywood; the influence of Dirty Harry director Don Siegel; and some of the roles that have defined the public's perception of him.

Writer Tom Nord of Louisville, Ky., has a Web site in which he invites submissions of haiku tributes to each of the U.S. presidents. Haiku is the minimalist Japanese form of poetry that traditionally describes nature. So far he has 37 presidents covered. We hear him read from his collection.

Tejano singer Selena died in 1995. NPR's A Martinez talks to Maria Garcia, creator and host of the podcast Anything for Selena, about projects that will keep Selena's music alive for new generations.

A government report finds that efforts to limit human exposure to toxins aren't helping kids as much as they are helping adults. The report, issued today by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, found that children between the ages of 6-11 are sponging up the chemicals found in cigarette smoke and soft plastic toys. It also found that Mexican-Americans have abnormal levels of the pesticide DDT in their bodies and that pregnant women carry more mercury than expected. NPR's John Nielsen reports that federal officials say they are concerned but not alarmed by the findings.