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Podcasts Off-Ramp
Juan Gabriel, mom, and me
Off-Ramp with John Rabe Hero Image
(
Dan Carino
)
Episode 14206
Listen • 47:32
Juan Gabriel, mom, and me

When Adolfo Guzman Lopez hears the late Juan Gabriel’s music, he remembers the 1970s, listening to Gabriel’s songs on the radio as he and his mom rode in taxis and buses in Tijuana ... Why do waves happen, and why are they shaped like waves? Brains On brings in an expert to explain ... One of the founding fathers of LA punk, John Doe, joins us to talk about his memoir and sing new songs from his latest album ... Film score composer John Williams is at the Hollywood Bowl all weekend, leading the LA Phil in some of his best-known works. We talk with music writer Alex Ross about how Williams pretty much saved the classical music film score.

Crowds watch on as a float of female garment workers representing the United Garment Workers of America travels down Spring Street. The Los Angeles Times Building is present in the background, at Spring and First Street. Photo dated: September 7, 1936.
Crowds watch on as a float of female garment workers representing the United Garment Workers of America travels down Spring Street. The Los Angeles Times Building is present in the background, at Spring and First Street. Photo dated: September 7, 1936.
(
LAPL/Harry Quillen Collection
)

When Adolfo Guzman Lopez hears the late Juan Gabriel’s music, he remembers the 1970s, listening to Gabriel’s songs on the radio as he and his mom rode in taxis and buses in Tijuana ... Why do waves happen, and why are they shaped like waves? Brains On brings in an expert to explain ... One of the founding fathers of LA punk, John Doe, joins us to talk about his memoir and sing new songs from his latest album ... Film score composer John Williams is at the Hollywood Bowl all weekend, leading the LA Phil in some of his best-known works. We talk with music writer Alex Ross about how Williams pretty much saved the classical music film score.

Commentary: Rest In Peace Juan Gabriel, the greatest songwriter of his generation
Listen • 5:35
Gabriel was 66 when he died at home this past Sunday. KPCC's education correspondent remembers the star for who he was: the greatest songwriter of his generation.
Song of the Week: Azteca's "Whatcha Gonna Do," from early Pete Escovedo
If you couldn't make it to see Pete Escovedo play at the DNC, he's live and free at Levitt Pavilion Pasadena Sunday evening. We dig deep into his catalog for a Latin Jazz big band tune for our Song of the Week.
Composer John Williams, savior of classical film scores, conducts at the Hollwood Bowl all Labor Day weekend
Listen • 10:03
Steven Spielberg urged "Star Wars" director George Lucas to hire John Williams for the score, and thousands of studio musicians were employed for decades more, one critic says.
Punk icon John Doe has a book about the old days and an album of new music
Listen • 15:39
In "Under the Big Black Sun," John Doe and other seminal voices tell stories about LA's punk scene. Doe joined us to talk about the book, and play tunes from his new album, "The Westerner."