Baritone Thomas Hampson

A Tour of American Popular Song

Soundcheck | May 3, 2010
Soundcheck's portion of the WNYC American Music Festival concludes with the prominent American baritone Thomas Hampson. He has spent his career trying to get Americans to explore their song traditions and all this season he has been on a tour jointly organized with the Library of Congress. It features performances of great American songs and a traveling collection of music manuscripts by everyone from Aaron Copland to Steven Foster. Also: Wall Street Journal music writer Joe Goldberg tells us why he believes Frank Sinatra's 1955 album, "In the Wee Small Hours," is "the finest vocal album of American popular songs ever recorded." Finally, Salman Ahmad, former lead guitarist of the Junoon, the international Pakistani band (dubbed the U2 of Asia) performs live in the studio.

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