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Peggy Lee's most memorable tune was "Fever." A biography borrows the title of the 1958 hit, which encapsulated what many remember about the singer: her playful delivery, charisma and sexuality.

A major big band leader is the subject of a new book: Tommy Dorsey: Livin' in a Great Big Way. With his brother Jimmy, Dorsey helped define American popular music from the 1920s through the mid 1950s. Peter Levinson tells Linda Wertheimer about his biography.

Singer, guitarist, and author Alex Kapranos is the frontman for the Glasgow-based indie rock quartet Franz Ferdinand. The band, best known for its single "Take Me Out," has produced two hit CDs. Kapranos has a new book about eating on tour, called Sound Bites.

Host Liane Hansen talks to author David Berger about the photography of the late jazz bassist Milt Hinton. Berger has co-authored the book Playing the Changes: Milt Hinton's Life in Stories and Photographs.

Throughout his three-decade history leading the Berlin Philharmonic, the conductor struggled to find perfection in the symphony orchestra. Karajan biographer Richard Osborne offers a list of five albums that embody the maestro's magic.

When Parton told her high-school classmates that she planned to go to Nashville and become a star, the whole class burst into laughter. In her book Dream More, Parton explains the principles behind her success and describes how she became one of the best-selling recording artists of all time.

Howlin' Wolf electrified the blues of the Mississippi Delta and laid a foundation for rock 'n' roll in the early 1950s. His lyrics, delivered in a gruff, haunting voice, evoked his hard-life experiences.

The famous Beatle was known for writing notes that often contained funny drawings and self portraits. Now, Hunter Davies has gathered those letters into a collection that tells the story of Lennon's life, from a note written to his aunt at 10, to one written minutes before his murder.

Carole King wrote songs for others before becoming a performer and writing for herself. In her new memoir, A Natural Woman, she details the stories behind some of her most famous songs and her relationships with songwriters like James Taylor, Gerry Goffin and Paul Simon.

In his new book, Sam Phillips, music writer Peter Guralnick profiles the founder of the Sun Records label. Guralnick says Phillips rejected perfection in favor of spontaneity and individuality.