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Scott Simon talks with Mickey Rapkin about his new book, "Pitch Perfect: The Quest for Collegiate A Cappella Glory," which weaves together the drama of three groups trying to claim glory without instruments.

A new book, Lost Sounds, profiles a man named George W. Johnson, a former slave and New York City street performer who became the very first African-American recording artist — singing some very racist tunes.

Impulse Records was launched during a golden age of jazz and it featured a variety of legendary artists — from John Coltrane to Ray Charles. Its edgy sound reflected the turbulent politics of the 1960s, the author of a new book about the label says.

Leonard Cohen's poetry career began 50 years ago with the 1956 publication of Let Us Compare Mythologies. His new volume of poetry is called Book of Longing. Cohen, known better as the deep-voiced writer of songs that straddle the folk-rock fence, is also working on an upcoming album to be released later this year.

Biographer Peter Guralnick's new book is Dream Boogie: The Triumph of Sam Cooke. Guralnick follows the life of rhythm and blues legend Sam Cooke from his roots in gospel music through his legendary career as a singer and songwriter whose hits include "You Send Me," "Only Sixteen" and many others.

Music critic Michelle Mercer spent nearly three years working on a biography of jazz legend Wayne Shorter. In the process, she learned a lot about Shorter, his music — and the importance of the silence between sounds.

The founders of Fania Records didn't set out to change the course of Latin music, but that's just what they did. The label went out of business in the late 1970s, and the records have since become hard-to-find collector's items. Now, a Miami-based record label is reissuing that music.

Rock historian Ed Ward reviews a new history of gospel music, People Get Ready! by Robert Darden.

The roots of gospel music are not well-documented. Early recordings were lost. Stories behind the songs weren't written down. A new book recounts the history of the beloved American art form. NPR's Michele Norris talks with Robert Darden, author of People Get Ready!.

In his new book So You Wanna Be a Rock & Roll Star, Jacob Slichter, the drummer for the band Semisonic, peels away the glamour that gives the world of rock its sheen of cool. He speaks with NPR's Steve Inskeep.