Reverbiage: Stories from NPR tagged 'icon'

Undecided We Stand: Debating Bush's Legacy

Wed, 07 Jan 2009 00:19:00 EST

President Bush leaves office as one of the least popular presidents ever, but he says it's up to history to judge him. Bush likes to recall that Harry Truman was widely reviled when he left the White House 56 years ago but decades later became an icon of strength in adversity.

Iconic Journalist Nat Hentoff Is Laid Off

Sat, 03 Jan 2009 05:03:00 EST

An 83-year-old icon of American journalism, Hentoff lost his job last Tuesday. Since 1958, he'd been a well-known fixture in New York City's Village Voice, writing about jazz and politics, among other topics.

Wait, Keith Richards Is 65...

Fri, 19 Dec 2008 17:55:00 EST

Defying all medical science, the guitarist behind so many iconic Rolling Stones riffs has crested the halfway point of his seventh decade. NPR's music librarian Robert Goldstein wishes him a happy birthday.

For The Love Of Bettie Page

Wed, 17 Dec 2008 12:00:00 EST

Cultural icon and former pinup queen Bettie Page died last week at the age of 85. Page rocked cultural norms between 1949 and 1957 with her suggestive poses. Sadie Stein, of the blog Jezebel, offers a remembrance of Page and why, for many, she is a heroine.

Richie Havens: A Folk Icon, Still Strumming

Sat, 13 Dec 2008 06:19:00 EST

Richie Havens is the man who opened Woodstock, and he hasn't stopped performing or inspiring ever since. Here, the legendary folk singer and guitarist discusses his new album, Nobody Left to Crown.

Post-Bankruptcy Twinkies Face Uncertain Future

Thu, 11 Dec 2008 00:01:00 EST

Interstate Bakeries, the maker of the iconic snack cake, declared bankruptcy four years ago, but a judge approved a reorganization plan last week. Now it's trying to figure out how to market its product for a more health-conscious generation.

Mos Def: From Hip-Hop Star To Chuck Berry

Tue, 09 Dec 2008 16:35:00 EST

Rapper Mos Def is not known for taking the artistically easy road. His film roles in Monster's Ball, Be Kind Rewind and Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy are as distinctive as the records that have made him a hip-hop icon. He talks about his latest film role, playing Chuck Berry in Cadillac Records.

Bloody Mary Cocktail Turns 75

Tue, 02 Dec 2008 06:00:00 EST

New York City honored the iconic cocktail with a Times Square celebration Monday that included the granddaughter of the bartender who invented it. The Bloody Mary turned 75.

Anthropologist Claude Levi-Strauss Turns 100

Sun, 23 Nov 2008 16:00:00 EST

This week in Paris, one of the last icons of 20th century French intellectual life turns 100. Claude Levi-Strauss, a painter's son, not only reshaped the nature of how anthropologists do their work: He changed the world's perception of so-called "primitive" tribes in Asia, Africa and America.

Domingo And Bocelli: Keeping Opera Relevant

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 18:23:00 EST

Placido Domingo is the most durable, thoughtful opera singer in recent history. Andrea Bocelli has sold more than 60 million albums. The two icons discuss their first performance together and describe what makes opera relevant today.

John Mellencamp: Heartland Rocker Goes Folk

Tue, 11 Nov 2008 13:16:00 EST

On Life, Death, Love and Freedom, the iconic heartland rocker John Mellencamp distances himself from his musical brand and makes a turn toward rumbling folk and blues. With the help of producer T-Bone Burnett, they created a whole new textured, acoustic sound.

Nurse From WW II Victory Day Photo To Be Honored

Mon, 10 Nov 2008 06:00:00 EST

Remember that iconic World War II photo of the sailor kissing the nurse in Times Square on Victory Day? The nurse returns to the spotlight Tuesday. Edith Shain, now 90, will be honored at New York's Veteran's Day parade. She's pretty sure she's the nurse in the photo. The image doesn't show their faces. And the photographer never got their names. Shain says she didn't know the sailor's name either. He just grabbed her and kissed her.

Q-Tip Talks Politics and Longevity

Mon, 03 Nov 2008 12:00:00 EST

Hip-hop icon and former A Tribe Called Quest frontman Q-Tip returns to the music scene with his new studio album, The Renaissance. Q-Tip talks about his longevity in the rap business, his new CD, and why getting involved in politics is important for the hip-hop community.

Parting Words: Studs Terkel

Sat, 01 Nov 2008 16:00:00 EDT

Andrea Seabrook quotes a legendary writer and radio icon.

'Legends en Espanol' Depicts Latino Icons

Wed, 15 Oct 2008 12:00:00 EDT

People en EspaÃ±ol magazine's new book titled Legends en Espanol is a carefully crafted collection showcasing 100 superstars of the 20th century from film and theater to dance and music. They have influenced both Latino culture and mainstream America. Those recognized include Jennifer Lopez, Celia Cruz, Desi Arnaz, and Shakira.

Race Issue Flares Again In Presidential Campaign

Mon, 13 Oct 2008 12:08:00 EDT

The issue of race that has been simmering throughout the presidential campaign. It came up again over the weekend as civil rights icon and Democractic Congressman John Lewis issued a statement decrying what he called the negative tone of the McCain-Palin campaign.

Watermen Forced To Adjust To Blue Crab Rules

Wed, 08 Oct 2008 08:58:00 EDT

Pollution in the Chesapeake Bay is putting the iconic blue crab in danger. To keep the crab population from shrinking further, Maryland and Virginia have limited their harvests. Already hurting watermen have to deal with new regulations.

The Cocktail Party Guide To John Coltrane

Mon, 22 Sep 2008 13:22:00 EDT

Sooner or later, a dinner function might come up out of nowhere and catch you sleeping on the iconic saxophonist's discography. So here's a five-song primer to one of the greatest performers of the 20th century.

Economy Forces GM To Slow Corvette Production

Tue, 16 Sep 2008 08:38:00 EDT

General Motors has announced that it is slowing production of its iconic sports car. It cites the bad economy for the move. GM will shut down for a week, the factory in Bowling Green, Ky., where the Corvette is made. When it reopens, workers will turn out only 15 Corvettes and hour. That's down about three cars from the current production schedule.

Prefab: From Utilitarian Home To Design Icon

Mon, 15 Sep 2008 00:17:00 EDT

Architects' answer to efficient design is the prefab home, which has been both a design sensation and a cookie-cutter bore over the years. A current MoMA exhibit explores the history of that house and shows how technology could make innovative design more affordable.

Breena Clarke Stitches A Slavery-Era Saga

Tue, 09 Sep 2008 20:51:00 EDT

In her second novel, Stand the Storm, Breena Clarke provides a glimpse into a little-known side of the nation's capital and one of its most iconic enclaves.

Paul Wellers Counts Off His '22 Dreams'

Thu, 04 Sep 2008 14:28:00 EDT

British pop icon Paul Weller has described his new double-disc album, 22 Dreams, as "a year in my life." It tracks Weller's course through the changing seasons. The former frontman of The Jam performs his kaleidoscopic pop music in a session on World Cafe.

The Long Historic Tale Of Aug. 28

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 22:15:00 EDT

When Barack Obama accepts the Democratic nomination in his bid to become the first African-American president, he'll join icons who made history on Aug. 28, including the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., Emmett Till and even John Hinckley Jr.

Beck: Rambling Grandfathers And 'Modern Guilt'

Tue, 26 Aug 2008 05:52:00 EDT

The rock icon's early work was liberally infused with humor, but his new album is perhaps his darkest yet. He explains how he writes lyrics off the top of his head — and what that has to do with his jive-talking grandfather.

Iconic Noodle Celebrates 50th Anniversary

Mon, 25 Aug 2008 16:26:00 EDT

On Aug. 25, 1958, the first package of Chicken Ramen was sold in Japan, making today the 50th anniversary of the iconic instant meal. Momofuku Ando was much more than just a noodle inventor — he was a philosopher, too.