The New York Times bestselling author discusses his latest book, 'The Jazzmen,' revealing how Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, and Count Basie became civil rights pioneers who wrote the soundtrack for social change in twentieth-century America.
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The Spotlight shines On bestselling author and journalist Larry Tye.
Larry's latest book, The Jazzmen, tells the story of how Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, and Count Basie transformed America. But this isn't just another music biography. Larry explores nearly every aspect of the lives and music of these men and demonstrates how their artistry helped lay the groundwork for the civil rights movement.
This is Larry's ninth book, following acclaimed biographies of figures like Bobby Kennedy, Joe McCarthy, and Satchel Paige. As a former Boston Globe reporter who now runs Harvard's Health Coverage Fellowship, he's spent decades making complex stories accessible to all of us.
Larry's here to share how three jazz masters changed more than music—they changed America itself.
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[00:01:22] The genesis of "The Jazzmen" and connections to Pullman Porters and Satchel Paige
[00:04:10] The promise Tye made and why race remains America's defining story
[00:05:58] Tye's musical background (or lack thereof) and the journalist's beginner's mind
[00:08:51] The advantage of approaching subjects without expertise
[00:11:52] Knowing when you have enough research to tell someone's story
[00:13:26] The importance of confronting difficult truths in American history
[00:15:24] Breakthrough moments and transformative discoveries in research
[00:15:56] The Louis Armstrong revelation: From "Uncle Tom" to civil rights hero
[00:19:08] The improbable story of the young journalist and Armstrong's outburst
[00:20:05] Structuring "The Jazzmen": Three biographies in one book
[00:23:54] Count Basie's unique role as the premier bandleader
[00:26:15] Balancing heroes' achievements with their human flaws
[00:27:37] The Nieman Fellowship and changes in American journalism
[00:30:23] The unified theory of Larry Tye's diverse subjects
[00:33:01] From the Catskills to Edward R. Murrow: Future book ideas
[00:35:24] Choosing subjects with lasting resonance
[00:38:38] Bobby Kennedy's influence on Barack Obama and liberal politics
[00:39:15] Connections between healthcare journalism and biography writing
[00:41:01] The mission of the Health Coverage Fellowship
[00:42:31] Universal truths in journalism across different fields
[00:45:19] What students teach the teacher
[00:47:11] Favorite fictional journalist: Clark Kent as Jewish immigrant hero
[00:48:50] Closing thoughts
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Visit Larry Tye at https://larrytye.com
Purchase Larry Tye's 'The Jazzmen: How Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, and Count Basie Transformed America' from Bookshop → https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-jazzmen-how-duke-ellington-louis-armstrong-and-count-basie-transformed-america-larry-tye/20916226?ean=9780063444867&next=t&affiliate=397
or any other online book retailer → https://www.harpercollins.com/products/the-jazzmen-larry-tye?variant=43110379749410
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