Singer Harry Belafonte discusses Black music including spirituals and jazz and how it has contributed to American culture.

Studs interviews Harriet Choice, Jazz critic for the Chicago Tribune. They reflect on the music, talent and career of Duke Ellington. Choice describes several Ellington songs and the history behind them. She shares how Duke created music and wrote specifically for individual people. Studs reads what Ellington wrote about his song “Harlem Airshaft.” Choice and Terkel reflect on Ellington’s music and those who made music with him. Choice shares how a Duke Ellington performance at the Newport Jazz Festival rejuvenated Ellington’s career.

Chicago Tribune jazz critic Harriet Choice plays and discusses some favorite records from her own personal collection with Studs Terkel.

Harold Prince discusses his direction of Madame Butterfly while also discussing operas, musicals, and theater in general.

Haig Allahverdian discusses Armenian music and culture as well as the Armenian massacre and its effects on the Armenian people on the whole. Copyrighted material has been removed from this program.

Dr. Guy Duckworth and his students sing and play, "America." Duckworth talks about the importance of knowing how to learn to play the piano. The 11-year-old students first play a plain or harmonic version of "America', followed by other versions with more chords that add variety to "America."

Musician, pianist, and educator Guy Duckworth and three of his young students at Northwestern--Darrah Cloud, David Greenberg, and Scott MacMillan--discuss teaching and learning piano. Part 1 of 2.

Interviewing activist and musician Guy Carawan and his son, musician Evan Carawan. They discuss the impact of the Highlander Folk School during the Civil Rights Movement and their relationship with folk music. Includes a test tone that lasts 20 seconds. Content Warning: This conversation has the presence of outdated, biased, offensive language. Rather than remove this content, we present it in the context of twentieth-century social history to acknowledge and learn from its impact and to inspire awareness and discussion.

Greta Keller, cabaret singer and actress, discusses her life and singing career. Keller also explains technique and thoughts behind her singing. At the end of the interview, Keller describes her work on Cabaret and singing "Heiraten."

Interviewing Giora Feidman, an Argentinian clarinetist who specializes in the klezmer musical tradition.

Gian Carlo Menotti discusses his career, his operas, and his colleagues. Menotti's operas they discuss are "Amelia goes to the Ball", "The Consul", and "The Medium".

Studs interviews George Shearing about his career and performances at Rick's Cafe in Chicago. Shearing shares the events and people who influenced his Jazz music. He describes European audiences and studio musicians. Studs quotes Leonard Feather, music critic, on Shearing's take on the song "San Jose." The musical pieces are removed from this edited version of the original recording.