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Henry Carrigan

THE READING ROOM: New Levon Helm Book Delves into The Band and Beyond

THE READING ROOM: New Levon Helm Book Delves into The Band and Beyond

Levon Helm would have turned 80 this week. It’s been just over eight years since his unmistakable voice fell silent and his steady, propulsive drumming rolled over yonder. Spending the day listening to his music — whether from his years with The Hawks or The Band or from his albums

THE READING ROOM: Buffalo Rose’s Lucy Clabby on Plays, Poetry, and Playing with Words

THE READING ROOM: Buffalo Rose’s Lucy Clabby on Plays, Poetry, and Playing with Words

Lucy Clabby grew up in Wilmette, Illinois, spending happy summer days reading at her spacious local public library. “They had a great YA section, and on beautiful sunny days, I could stay there all day reading,” she recalls fondly. Her deep love of reading has never left her, and she

THE READING ROOM: A Study of 'The Gospel According to Johnny Cash'

THE READING ROOM: A Study of 'The Gospel According to Johnny Cash'

Johnny Cash embodied the lyrics in the chorus of his friend Kris Kristofferson’s song “The Pilgrim, Chapter 33”: “He's a poet, he's a picker / He's a prophet, he's a pusher / He's a pilgrim and a preacher, and a problem

Shelby Lynne Opens Emotional Floodgates

Shelby Lynne Opens Emotional Floodgates

There’s a raw beauty, an exquisite vulnerability, and a defiant passion running through the songs on Shelby Lynne, and Lynne’s brilliant canniness in exploring the musical landscape of emotions pulls us into the songs so that we can dwell with her in their expansiveness. The album opens with

In His One-of-a-Kind Voice, John Anderson Celebrates Past and Present on ‘Years’

In His One-of-a-Kind Voice, John Anderson Celebrates Past and Present on ‘Years’

John Anderson still has one of the most recognizable voices in country music, and listening to Years is like hearing an old friend tell you stories and sing you songs about the lessons he’s learned in life. The singer who brought us “Swingin’,” “Straight Tequila Night,” “Seminole Wind,” and

THE READING ROOM: Loretta Lynn Recounts Support and Sass from Her Friend Patsy Cline

THE READING ROOM: Loretta Lynn Recounts Support and Sass from Her Friend Patsy Cline

Loretta Lynn says she feels like Patsy Cline is watching over her sometimes, especially when life gets hard or when she feels like she’s ready to give up and lose sight of the many blessings she’s been given in life. In her new memoir, Me & Patsy Kickin’

THE READING ROOM: Where Politics and Country Music Collide

THE READING ROOM: Where Politics and Country Music Collide

Some listeners these days like their concerts to be politics-free zones. They want the shows they attend to be entertaining, and they’re there for the music; they leave their political debates at the door to the venue, and they won’t hesitate to tell artists to “Shut up and