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Story Songs (My Music) | Thursday, June 6 at 8
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Premieres June 6, 2019 at 8:00 p.m. on WOUB
– From “American Pie” to “Coal Miner’s Daughter,”
Shared Experiences Reflected In Popular Music –
Throughout the 1950s, 60s and 70s, “Story Songs” weren’t just great music — they helped unite us through our shared culture, history and personal experiences. From country pop favorites to folk-rock epics, “Story Songs” relate to all of our lives. Don McLean’s anthem “American Pie” (the number one hit for a full month in 1972), Bobbie Gentry’s iconic 1967 musical monologue “Ode to Billie Joe” (one of Rolling Stone’s Greatest Songs of All Time) and Harry Chapin’s poignant “Cat’s In The Cradle” are musical tales we all know and love. Hosted by five time Grammy Award-winning singer B.J. Thomas, STORY SONGS (MY MUSIC), is part of special programming premiering on PBS stations in June 2019.
STORY SONGS (MY MUSIC) includes vintage footage of these classic performances by the original artists:
- “American Pie” – Don McLean
- “Tom Dooley” – The Kingston Trio
- “Big Bad John” – Jimmy Dean
- “Sixteen Tons” – Tennessee Ernie Ford
- “Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald” – Gordon Lightfoot
- “Cat’s in the Cradle” – Harry Chapin
- “Ode to Billie Joe” – Bobbie Gentry
- “Bad, Bad Leroy Brown” – Jim Croce
- “Coal Miner’s Daughter” – Loretta Lynn
- “Wichita Lineman” – Glen Campbell
- “Harper Valley PTA” – Jeannie C. Riley
- “El Paso” – Marty Robbins
- “Honey” – Bobby Goldsboro
- “The Gambler” – Kenny Rogers
- “Rock and Roll Lullaby” – B.J. Thomas
PBS special programming invites viewers to experience the worlds of science, history, nature and public affairs; hear diverse viewpoints; and take front-row seats to world-class drama and performances. Viewer contributions are an important source of funding, making PBS programs possible. PBS and public television stations offer all Americans from every walk of life the opportunity to explore new ideas and new worlds through television and online content.