Minnesota has claim to a wealth of creativity; music is no exception. Almost every genre can be heard within our state’s borders. The results range from a simple act of joy, to an influence that reverberates far beyond (the “Minneapolis Sound” is a prime example). The collection below is an introduction to the diverse and talented artists who have called Minnesota home, and the art they share with all of us.
January 19, 2007 - MPR’s Dan Gunderson profiles Patty Kakac and Jodi Ritter, two musicians who make up Granary Girls. The songs written by Kakac and Ritter reflect folk traditions of activism and connections to the land.
February 2, 2007 - MPR’s Chris Roberts reports on ‘Bob Dylan's American Journey: 1956-1966’ exhibit at Weisman Art Museum. Roberts interviews curator Colleen Sheey about the collection of Dylan artifacts. Roberts also talks with longtime Dinkytown musicians “Spider” John Koerner and Tony Glover about their reflections of time with Bobby Zimmerman when he lived in Minneapolis.
February 16, 2007 - MPR’s Chris Roberts talks with members of the band Army Defense, based out of Golden Valley. Army Defense has produced 20 albums containing 492 songs, but the players design each project primarily for their own entertainment, just because they get a kick out of going to such lengths. Segment includes music clips.
March 9, 2007 - The male vocal ensemble Cantus and poet Robert Bly collaborate on a new series of poems set to music.
March 23, 2007 - MPR’s Curtis Gilbert profiles songwriter Jason Shannon, who has merged his current day job working as a maintenance man with his ambitions of being a rock star.
March 26, 2007 - The Current’s Steve Seel interviews American singer, songwriter, and musician Bobby Vee about working with a young Bob Dylan. Vee shares a story of Dylan playing in Vee’s band.
March 26, 2007 - The Current’s Steve Seel interviews American poet Anne Waldman about the writing and vocalization of Bob Dylan, and the singer’s connection to beat poetry scene. Waldman She was featured along with Allen Ginsberg in Bob Dylan's experimental film “Renaldo and Clara.”
March 27, 2007 - MPR’s Tom Crann visits the "Highway 61 Revisited -- Dylan's Road from Minnesota to the World" symposium sponsored by the Weisman Art Museum at University of Minnesota. Crann speaks with numerous Dylan scholars and other attendees about Dylan’s influence and importance.
April 13, 2007 - MPR’s Tim Post reports on The Stearns County Pachanga Society. Pachanga is a style of dance and a type of music from Cuba. Post interviews founder Mike Hasbrouck and two band members about the group.
May 3, 2007 - Morning Edition’s Cathy Wurzer gets an introduction to the music of local rapper Brother Ali from The Current’s Bill DeVille, Deville comments on the Brother Ali’s second album, The Undisputed Truth.