Self adhesive1 1974 USA 1552 featured copy

Christmas 1974: Santa (USPS) Brings the 1st Self-Adhesive Stamp

Those self-adhesive stamps we so love? Christmas 1974 brought the first of what were then considered experimental issues, featuring the Dove of Peace weathervane from George Washington's Mount Vernon home. Much trial-and-error ...
by David McGee
 

 
 
Do You Hear Capitol Single

A Christmas Classic For A Nuclear Armageddon

The classic DO YOU HEAR WHAT I HEAR, inspired by the Cuban Missile Crisis, was intended as 'a prayer for peace.' The story behind the story herein.
by David McGee
 

 

 
chaplin spotlight1

The Haunts of My Childhood

In 1922, fresh off the triumph of 1921's 'The Kid,' CHARLIE CHAPLIN returned to Europe for the first time in seven years. A poignant excerpt from his book MY TRIP ABROAD finds him back to the neighborhood haunts of his youth.
by David McGee
 

 
 
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‘He Brought a Certain Level of Class to the Blues’: Remembering Bobby ‘Blue’ Bland, 1930-2013

American music lost a giant with the passing of BOBBY 'BLUE' BLAND. Our tribute offers an overview of his career and a guide to his essential recordings.
by David McGee
 

 

 
black hole birth featured

Collapsing Star Gives Birth to a Black Hole

‘If future observations confirm this team’s findings, this would be the first birth of a black hole ever witnessed and the first failed supernova ever discovered’
by David McGee
 

 
 
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Listen. Remember.

Canadian-born singer-songwriter ALEJANDRA RIBERA talks about one of this year's most mesmerizing albums, her own 'LA BOCA'
by David McGee
 

 

 
Sangit Ooroo cover

Balancing Cultures & Traditions

On his third album, Israeli artist SANGRIT continues to advance his multicultural global message.
by David McGee
 

 
 
mystrelles featured

Catherine (of Aragon) and Henry (VIII) Dancing? Imagine!

The ROSE CONSORT OF VIOLS, with mezzo-soprano CLARE WILKINSON, are dazzling on a new disc of music drawn from some of the earliest manuscripts surviving from the turn of the 16th Century.
by David McGee
 

 

 
avi art of the madolin

Being About an Instrument ‘At Once Familiar and Unknown’

In ART OF THE MANDOLIN, AVI AVITAL offers a perspective on 300 years of music composed specifically for his instrument of choice. A range of perspectives--via reviews, interviews and first-person observations-help explain the a...
by David McGee
 

 
 
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Galen Clark

The Yosemite Valley's first Guardian, GALEN CLARK taught others about the mysteries of the giant sequoias and worked tirelessly to protect Yosemite. In his book THE YOSEMITE, JOHN MUIR told Clark's story.
by David McGee
 

 

 
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The Women Composers

In 'The Women Composers,' from his book Contemporary American Composers, published in 1900, RUPERT HUGHES, M.A. makes the case for women composers being the equal of male composers as the 20th century dawned. Featuring AMY BEAC...
by David McGee
 

 
 
7imp featured

Seven Questions Over Breakfast with Klaas Verplancke

JULES's latest virtual breakfast is with noted illustrator KLAAS VERPLANCKE, whose art is described by a fellow illustrator as 'strange, yet strangely comforting. Beautifully crafted, and beautifully bonkers.'
by David McGee