Thanks to the generosity of David and Judy Frey, John Kao was in town to talk about innovation as a Frey Distinguished Visiting Professor. Before his public talk, he came to the studio to talk to me about innovation and related topics. John definitely has the big view of innovation. He has written on the [...]
November 12, 2012 – 10:16 am
In our pop and jazz musical selections, we have been talking a lot about the importance of session musicians to pop music and how they knit together pop music history. The difference between a great song and a great song that becomes a hit record has to do with execution, and getting the right session [...]
October 24, 2011 – 12:14 pm
In addition to playing one of their songs at the gala concert (see earlier post), I also had the chance to talk to Alan and Marilyn Bergman in the studio about their careers and their advice for students. They were in town for Alan to receive a Distinguished Alumnus Award at University Day. Alan talks [...]
October 19, 2011 – 8:59 am
Last week, when we honored Carolina alumnus Alan Bergman at University Day, the music department held a gala concert where the students performed Bergman’s songs. Alan’s collaborator and wife Marilyn was also there. Their lyrics still sing perfectly, and their collaborators are the best in the business – Quincy Jones, Michel Legrand, Dave Grusin, Marvin [...]
October 10, 2011 – 9:13 am
On Friday, we unveiled the portrait of Chancellor James Moeser that will hang in the lobby of Wilson Library along with portraits of his eight predecessors. The portrait is a wonderful likeness of Chancellor Moeser and the spectacular Carolina blue robe that he, Michael Hooker, Paul Hardin, Bill McCoy and I have worn since it [...]
February 14, 2011 – 9:28 am
Since the Super Bowl, there’s been a lot of talk about the national anthem. It’s not an easy song to do. The lyrics to the first two A sections are pretty similar (this is what tripped up Christina Aguilera), and you need to start pretty low if you’re going to succeed in the B section [...]
December 20, 2010 – 9:00 am
As I stated a few posts ago, I had the opportunity to sit in with a band in Malawi at the goat roast. The bandleader is named James Msalakwa and the band was named Jirere. You can see the band name on the drums. Sitting in with Jirere. The drummer was impressive. His hi-hat was [...]
December 15, 2010 – 2:56 pm
What a day in Lilongwe. We started at the Bwaila antenatal clinic. This is where UNC led a famous study called BAN, which determined the best course for treating HIV-positive mothers to prevent transmission of the virus to their children. Thanks to the work of our researchers, the rate of transmission of HIV to babies [...]
December 13, 2010 – 10:10 am
This afternoon we landed in Lilongwe, Malawi. The flight from Johannesburg was about 2 hours. After checking into Wendels Guest House, where we had a decent internet connection (and the Sunday NY Times), we went over to the UNC Project buildings to hear from the researchers working there. My cousin, John, from OB-GYN is on [...]
November 3, 2010 – 4:07 pm
I should have known something was up when I got an email that said, “Chancellor Thorp, we were hoping you could join us for a few minutes in The Pit to build awareness for the Eve Ball.” Sure, I said. Then the dancing came up. While trying to come up with a way to weasel [...]