The Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist and editor of The New Yorker reflects on a half century of American music.

Over the past three decades, David Remnick has profiled some of the greatest creative minds of our time. In his new book, he gathers in one place intimate portraits of some of the most celebrated musicians, songwriters, and performers of the past fifty years including Buddy Guy, Mavis Staples, Paul McCartney, Bruce Springsteen, and Patti Smith. Mixing interviews, biography, and analysis, Remnick carefully considers their life and work through the lens of time, memory, and place.

Remnick speaks with New Yorker staff writer Kelefa Sanneh about these legendary figures, writing on music, and how the greatest popular songs have a way of embedding themselves in our memories.

To join the event in-person | Doors will open 30 minutes before the program begins. For free events, we generally overbook to ensure a full house. Priority will be given to those who have registered in advance, but registration does not guarantee admission. All registered seats are released shortly before start time, and seats may become available at that time. A standby line will form 30 minutes before the program.

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ABOUT THE SPEAKERS

David Remnick has been the editor of The New Yorker since 1998 and before that was a staff writer for the magazine for six years. He was previously The Washington Post’s correspondent in the Soviet Union. He is the author of several books, including King of the World, a biography of Muhammad Ali, named the top nonfiction book of the year by Time magazine in 1998, and Lenin’s Tomb, winner of the Pulitzer Prize.

Kelefa Sanneh is the author of Major Labels: A History of Popular Music in Seven Genres. He has been a staff writer at The New Yorker since 2008; he is also a contributor to “CBS Sunday Morning.” He came to The New Yorker from The New York Times, where he had been the pop-music critic since 2002. Previously, he was the deputy editor of Transition, a journal of race and culture based at the W. E. B. Du Bois Research Institute at Harvard University. He lives in New York City with his family.

READ THE BOOK:

• Borrow: NYPL Catalog


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ACCESSIBILITY

In-Person | Assistive listening devices and/or hearing loops are available at the venue. You can request a free ASL (American Sign Language) interpretation or CART (Communication Access Real-Time Translation) captioning service by emailing your request at least two weeks in advance of the event: email accessibility@nypl.org or use this Gmail template. This venue is fully accessible to wheelchairs. 

Livestream | Captions and a transcript will be provided. Media used over the course of the conversation will be accompanied by alt text and/or audio description. You can request a free ASL (American Sign Language) interpretation by emailing your request at least two weeks in advance of the event: email accessibility@nypl.org or use this Gmail template.

CONNECT

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David Remnick © Brigitte Lacombe
Kelefa Sanneh © Jason Nocito