Janis Joplin died 50 years ago today. When I was in high school, I took a train to New York City with a friend to see Janis in concert at Madison Square Garden. The Paul Butterfield Blues Band opened the… Read More ›
Richard Lee
A debate playlist for two men singing different tunes
By Richard Lee By the time Joe Biden and Donald Trump take the stage tonight for the first debate of the 2020 campaign, most voters will already have made up their minds about how they will cast their ballots. In… Read More ›
Is it still the economy, stupid?
By Richard Lee “It’s the economy, stupid,” the phrase that James Carville coined when he was a strategist for Bill Clinton’s 1992 presidential campaign, has always been sound advice for those running for office. Voters tend to vote on pocketbook… Read More ›
The journalism lessons of ‘Almost Famous’
By Richard Lee Almost Famous, which was released 20 years ago this month, is more than an entertaining tale of rock’n’roll as told through the lens of a character based on Cameron Crowe and the work he did as a… Read More ›
Greg Mitchell book on Hiroshima arrives today
Greg Mitchell’s new book marking the 75th anniversary of the dropping of the Atomic bomb on Hiroshima arrives today. The book, The Beginning or the End: How Hollywood–and America–Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb, is published by The… Read More ›
An interview, a clarification and a question
By Richard Lee At Monday’s White House press briefing, Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, reacted angrily to a question from CBS reporter Paula Reid. Fauci had just clarified remarks he made a… Read More ›
Poll shows New Yorkers support keeping COVID-19 restrictions in place until May 15
By Richard Lee Opinions among New Yorkers who live in the New York City area often are at odds with those who live in other parts of the state, but a new Siena College Research Institute poll shows voters little… Read More ›
John Prine’s ode to journalism
By Richard Lee If I had to find one thing in common about the musical body of work John Prine gave us, it would be the way each one of his songs evoked an emotion. He made us laugh; he… Read More ›
Andrew Cuomo may have a place in Washington, but it is not the Oval Office
By Richard Lee Andrew Cuomo’s leadership throughout the coronavirus crisis has earned the New York governor a place in the national spotlight. At one time, #PresidentCuomo was trending on Twitter. He has been mentioned as a possible running mate — and… Read More ›
‘This ain’t no party, this ain’t no disco…’
By Richard Lee The future David Byrne envisioned in the Talking Heads’ 1979 song “Life During Wartime” seems very real today amid the coronavirus pandemic. As Jim Beviglia wrote in American Songwriter: “The urgency and immediacy of the band’s performance… Read More ›
Jandoli Institute 