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Great Musicians' Lives
Great Musicians' Lives
Oct 10, 2024 8:20 AM

Author:Joan Bakewell,Humphrey Carpenter,Francine Stock,Matthew Parris,Matthew Parris,Phill Jupitus,Hanif Kureishi,Simon Armitage,Michael Morpurgo,Stuart Maconie,Joan Bakewell,Francine Stock,Humphrey Carpenter

Great Musicians' Lives

Distinguished guests nominate a great musician for BBC Radio 4's Great Lives

For 20 years, Great Lives has been a linchpin of Radio 4, presented by Joan Bakewell, Humphrey Carpenter, Francine Stock and Matthew Parris. In it, a household name is invited to choose one of their heroes to discuss with the presenter and a guest expert. But will their chosen person live up to intensive scrutiny, and merit the description of having led a great life?

In this special collection, celebrating the programme's 20th anniversary, the very best episodes featuring musicians' lives are collected together. From Marvin Gaye to Lonnie Donegan, here are examples both classical and contemporary. Simon Armitage expresses his admiration for on Ian Curtis, Phill Jupitus nominates Joe Strummer, pianist Joanna MacGregor selects Nina Simone, and former Children's Laureate Michael Morpurgo champions Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Whether it's Hanif Kureishi on David Bowie or Stuart Maconie on Ralph Vaughan Williams or the lives of the proponents are every bit as interesting as those of their nominees.

Fascinating and engaging, these captivating episodes follow the ups and downs of some of the most iconic musicians of all time, separating the truth from the myths to reveal just what made them so great, and why they continue to influence and inspire us today.

List of episodes and date of first broadcast on BBC Radio 4:

Louis Armstrong 12.7.02

Sergei Rachmaninoff 11.4.03

Pyotr Tchaikovsky 16.4.04

Marvin Gaye 5.11.04

Sir Edward Elgar 19.11.04

Mozart 19.4.05

Samuel Coleridge-Taylor 21.10.05

Ella Fitzgerald 2.5.06

Nina Simone 19.9.06

Joe Strummer 3.4.07

Billie Holiday 1.5.07

John Cage 04.09.07

Paul Robeson 29.4.08

Ian Curtis 6.5.08

Alan Freed 26.8.08

Pavarotti 9.12.08

Thomas Beecham 21.04.09

John Coltrane 12.05.09

Miriam Makeba 15.09.09

Agustin Barrios Mangore 26.1.10

Malcolm McLaren 07.12.10

Kathleen Ferrier 26.04.11

Kirtsy McColl 09.08.11

Lonnie Donegan 03.1.12

Ralph Vaughan Williams 25.12.12

Fela Kuti 13.8.13

Jacqueline Du Pre 1.04.14

Dinu Lipatti 20.12.16

Captain Beefheart 03.04.18

Miles Davis 17.04.18

David Bowie 31.07.18

Ferruccio Busoni 30.04.19

Brian Epstein 14.5.19

Herbert Howells 06.08.19

Copyright © 2021 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2021 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Presented by Humphrey Carpenter, Matthew Parris and Francine Stock

Produced by Mark Smalley, Miles Warde, Perminder Khatkar, Peter Everett, Isobel Eaton, Jolyon Jenkins, John Byrne, Maggie Ayre, Christine Hall, Julia Johnson, Mark Smalley, Chris Ledgard, Beth O'Dea, Lucy Lunt, Eliza Lomas, Melvin Rickarby

Reviews

It's no mystery or secret how much I enjoy Lawrence Chaney.

—— RuPaul

Lawrence Chaney is queen of the one-liner and the funniest queen by a country mile. She has delivered the laughs a locked down nation needed in abundance. But there's much more to Chaney than her quick wit. Her vulnerability is also part of her natural gift.

—— Vogue

Gorgeous, hugely talented, funny, charismatic, adorable, Chaney is a goddess and brings us joy.

—— Lorraine Kelly

If you were obsessed with Lawrence when they were competing on Drag Race (and who wasn't?), you'll want to get yourself a copy asap

—— Cosmopolitan

Hilarious... gives a fresh perspective on the autobiographical drag queen format. Lawrence shares some of her most intricate and personal stories, as well as her extremely professional opinion on various subjects such as concocting a drag name, mental health and dating.

—— Gay Times

Our fabulous queen has arrived. Go Lawrence!

—— Douglas Scott, author of Shuggie Bain

A candid look back at Lawrence's journey so far - their difficult childhood, marred by bullying; their painfully relatable coming out story; their journey towards better mental health. It's not all serious - there are hilarious, NSFW sex stories, insights into the Drag Race UK werk room, and a practical guide on how to become - as the title suggests - a drag superstar.

—— Pink News

Tackles everything from gender identity, the thrill of a wig and why Scottish talent is often overlooked.

—— i News

Fantastic... feisty, opinionated and honest.

—— Daily Record

Full of one-liners and charm, this cheery memoir comes complete with valuable life lessons and tricks of the trade. Absolutely fabulous fun.

—— Best Magazine

With sky-high wigs and pin-sharp wit, Lawrence is one of the UK's most loved drag acts. Here the season two winner of RuPaul's Drag Race UK explains how humour is a lifesaver.

—— Daily Express

A beautifully touching and thought provoking novel interspersed with Jenkins Reid's trademark wit and humour.

—— Essential Marbella Magazine

Malibu Rising is as much an impressionistic whirl of neon sunsets, acid-wash denim and high-cut bikinis as it is a grand set piece about a glamorous party ... Jenkins Reid has an easy, breezy style that serves melodrama on a daring scale . . . Never has so much sex, tragedy, celebrity and tanned skin been crammed into one thinking person's beach read. It's 365 pages of pure exhilaration.

—— The Times

Perfect for whatever holiday you hopefully get to take this summer.

—— Irish Independent

A riveting, propulsive bookwith characters that stayed with me, not because they are complicated but because they are so vivid ... Full of warmth and tenderness ... Deliciously escapist, conjuring the sun and the sand.

—— i paper

A gorgeous, sun-soaked novel that delves into the glamour and desperate hope of 1980s Malibu.

—— The Skinny

Fast-paced and addictive, Reid's vivid world-building provides the ultimate in summer escapism. With touches of 1980s glamour and scandal, Malibu Rising is another thrilling read from a talented writer, sure to delight old fans, as well as winning her new ones.

—— Independent

Perfectly evoking the sun-drenched and debauched backdrop that made Daisy Jones and The Six so immersive ... Addictive and fun, it's an essential addition to your summer reading list.

—— Stylist

Hot off the success of the immensely enjoyable 1970s band story Daisy Jones & The Six comes Taylor Jenkins Reid's latest, a superfun foray into the 1980s ... Delicious.

—— Sunday Telegraph, Novel of the Week

Simmering with sexual tension, this hugely enjoyable ensemble narrative turns on a raucous party.

—— Mail on Sunday

Malibu Rising is finely crafted commercial fiction, escapism in high definition, a quintessential beach read... If Nina Riva's party is the hottest ticket of the summer, then Malibu Rising is a front-row seat at the main event.

—— Irish Times

A gorgeous, sun-soaked novel that delves into the glamour and desperate hope of 1980s Malibu, and the saga of a family that will never be the same again.

—— The Skinny

The perfect summer novel, a vibrant story filled with sun, surfing, and flawed but lovable characters.

—— Daily Beast

After a year where most people stayed home, it's a great time to escape to the beach, even if only through Reid's writing.

—— Independent

This glamourous, compulsive novel is best enjoyed from your sun lounger with a cocktail in hand.

—— Good Housekeeping

A deliciously decadent tale of sex, tragedy, celebrity, surfboards and tanned skin in 1980s Malibu.

—— The Times

I absolutely loved her book.... It's an absolute blast to read

—— Alice- Azania Jarvis

JACKIE COLLINS, BUT BETTER Sacrilege to say "better", I know, but there we are. Set in the 1980s, Taylor Jenkins Reid's Malibu Rising is wonderfully written, intensely evocative and concerns the model/ surfer children of a rock star. Tons of glamour, tons of sharply observed insights about sibling relationships, plus a massive party. Beach read par excellence. See also her brilliant Daisy Jones & the Six, which is heaven (more rock stars).

—— Anonymous

When we picked up Malibu Rising, the new novel by Taylor Jenkins Reid, we could barely put it down

—— That's Life

You'll never want this book to end, it will suck you in and spit you out!

—— Muddy Stilettos
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