Booker T. Jones - As the leader of Booker T. & the MG's, Booker T. Jones is one of the architects of the Memphis soul sound of the 1960s. The band was inducted into the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame in 1992 and charted a number of hits - including 1962's No. 3 single “Green Onions” - as well as serving as the Stax Records house band and backing a string of legendary singers including Otis Redding, Sam & Dave, Eddie Floyd and Albert King. In the late '60s, the MG's had a string of Top 40 hits that included "Hip Hug-Her," "Groovin'," "Soul-Limbo," "Hang 'em High," and "Time Is Tight." During that time, Jones was also a full-time student at Indiana University, where he studied composition and music theory while doing shows and recording sessions during weekends and vacations. Throughout his career, he has produced important releases for artists ranging from Bill Withers and John Lee Hooker to Willie Nelson, Soul Asylum and the Roots. His 2009 solo album “Potato Hole” paired him with the Drive-By Truckers with a cameo by longtime fan Neil Young. Jones supported the release with live dates in America, Europe, and the U.K. In 2011, he issued “The Road from Memphis” which paired him with Philadelphia-based hip-hop/modern soul collective the Roots.

Jill Sobule - Back in 1995, singer/songwriter Jill Sobule caused a stir in the alternative pop world -- and made headlines across the country - with her playfully ambiguous hit “ I Kissed A Girl” and “Supermodel,” a cynical take on the high-fashion world of modeling that was featured in the film “Clueless.” After spending 1999 playing guitar with Lloyd Cole's backing band the Negatives, Sobule’s career became even more diverse. She worked in off-Broadway musicals, made an appearance on NBC's “West Wing,” composed songs for the Nickelodeon series  “Unfabulous,” co-starred in the Eric Schaeffer film “Mind the Gap,” and composed the music for the off-Broadway show “Prozak and the Platypus.” Her 2009 release, “California Years,” helped pioneer the idea of fan-funded projects. Sobule raised more than $85,000 in donations from 500 fans. In the words of “New York Times” pop music critic Jon Pareles, "Jill Sobule can claim her place among the stellar New York singer-songwriters of the last decade.”

Spring Standards - This folk-pop trio formed as the Old Springs Pike in 1999 when the members were still in high school, and for two years played around the Delaware/Pennsylvania area. A few years after graduating, they found themselves all living within a few blocks of each other in New York. The music is characterized by strong harmonies and energetic, melodic tunes with all three members - James Cleare, James Smith and Heather Robb - trading instruments. The band’s full-length debut, “Would Things Be Different,” was released in 2010 and led to an appearance on “Conan O’Brien” and tours with the likes of Squeeze, The Old 97s, Marc Broussard, The Clarks, Stephen Kellogg & The Sixers, Ha Ha Tonka and Meg + Dia. In 2012, the band will simultaneously release two EPs, "Yellow" and "Gold."

Lake Street Dive - The four members of Lake Street Dive met when they were students at Boston’s New England Conservatory. Jazz-schooled and DIY-motivated, LSD takes its penchant for indie pop and stretches the boundaries with its brand of acoustic, groove-driven pop. Drummer Mike Calabrese and trumpet-wielding guitarist Mike “McDuck” Olson highlight the vocals of jazz-inspired singer Rachel Price and the songwriting chops of bassist Bridget Kearney. With members hailing from Tennessee, Iowa, Minneapolis and Philadelphia, The band’s self-titled third album - its first national release - has expanded the buzz created by LSD’s series of innovative performance videos posted on YouTube.

Kenny White - For  many  years,  White  was  a  fixture  in  the  NY  studio  scene,  writing  and  producing  hundreds of commercials for TV and radio. His  relationships  with  Marc  Cohn  and  Shawn  Colvin  led  to  his  producing  Colvin‟s  Grammy-nominated, “I Don‟t Know Why” and to his involvement in Cohn‟s eponymous platinum debut  record. White went on to produce three records for legendary J Geils Band leader, Peter Wolf.  His work in the studio enabled him to assemble an A-list team of players for his debut, 2002‟s “Uninvited Guest.”  An early copy of his follow-up, “Symphony in 16 Bars” landed in the hands of folk legend Judy Collins who  then  signed  White  to  her  own  Wildflower  Records  and  released  the  CD  in  the  winter  of 2005.  In February 2010 he released “Comfort in the Static,” a showcase of his  deft  storyteller skills and striking arrangements.

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This episode is scheduled for NPR Distribution in March 2012.

For more information, including hi-res photos, contact Adam Harris 304.556.4900