We remember composer and classical music satirist Peter Schickele, whose alter ego was "P.D.Q. Bach." His comic music arrangements were funny, but the level of musicianship was no joke. He spoke with Terry Gross in 1985. Also, we remember Mary Weiss, lead singer of the Shangri-Las, the girl group whose biggest hit was "Leader of the Pack." From working-class Queens, they acquired a tough girl image, in contrast to the glamor girl groups of the era. Weiss was on Fresh Air in 2007 when she released a solo album. Also, TV critic David Bianculli reviews Masters of the Air, the new World War II series from Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks on Apple TV+. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy
On the Ted Radio hour, linguist Ann Curzan says she gets a lot of complaints about people using the pronoun they to refer to one person.
I sometimes get into arguments with people where they will say to me, but it can't be singular.
And I will say, but it is.
The history behind words causing a lot of debate.
That's on the Ted radio hour from NPR.
This is fresh air.
I'm David B.
And Cooley.
Well, hello there, everybody.
This is your friendly professor Peter Shickalee.
The composer, musician, author and comedian Peter Shickeley died last week.
He was 88 years old.
Shickalee had a serious background in classical music.
He played the bassoon and got a master's degree in music from the Juilliard school and even taught there.
Over his long career, he composed more than 100 serious musical symphonies, choral and chamber works, and solo instrumentals.
He also wrote for film in the theater.
He supplied songs for the infamous Broadway musical O Calcutta and wrote the music for the cult science fiction movie silent running, which included songs sung by Joan.
Baez, hills of children running wild.
In.
The sun like a forest is your child.