Sound Opinions Presents: Civil Rights and the Sounds of Memphis

Join music critics Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot for a live event celebrating the music which influenced The Two Lives of Sara. They’ll delve into music of the Civil Rights Movement and how the music of Memphis communicated the struggles, joys and hopes of the black community at this critical time in American history.

DeRogatis and Kot are the hosts of Sound Opinions, which is distributed nationally by PRX. Sound Opinions can be heard on stations across the country and online at SoundOpinions.org.

About the hosts

Born in Jersey City, New Jersey, the year the Beatles arrived in America, Jim DeRogatis began voicing his opinions about rock ‘n’ roll shortly thereafter. He is a full-time lecturer in the Professional Writing Program of the English Department at Columbia College Chicago and continues to write about popular music for WBEZ Chicago. DeRogatis spent fifteen years as the rock critic at the Chicago Sun-Times and continues to cover news and culture as a freelance writer, including via contributions to the New Yorker. He is the author of ten books, among them: Let It Blurt: The Life and Times of Lester Bangs, America’s Greatest Rock Critic, and the critically-acclaimed Soulless: The Case Against R. Kelly. DeRogatis has played in punk-rock bands since age thirteen but jokes that he is a drummer, not a musician. He lives on the North Side of Chicago with his wife, while his daughter pursues musical theater.

Greg Kot cohosts "Sound Opinions” and has authored six books, including acclaimed biographies of Mavis Staples (“I’ll Take You There”) and Wilco (“Learning How to Die”) and a history of the digital music revolution (“Ripped”). He was the music critic at the Chicago Tribune for 30 years, and has written extensively for Rolling Stone, BBC Culture, Encylopaedia Britannica and numerous other publications. He lives on Chicago's Northwest Side with his wife and far too many records.

Together, Jim and Greg issued The Beatles vs. the Rolling Stones: Sound Opinions on the Great Rock ‘n’ Roll Rivalry (2010), written in the fun but combative style of the radio show. 

This program is presented as part of One Book, One Village. 

We strive to host inclusive, accessible events that enable all individuals, including individuals with disabilities, to engage fully. To request an accommodation, please call 847.392.0100, text 847.665.1491 or email us at accessibility@ahml.info   

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