Larry Tye: The Jazzmen Who Changed American History

Today, the Spotlight shines On bestselling author and journalist Larry Tye.

Larry's latest book, The Jazzmen, tells the story of how Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, and Count Basie transformed America. But this isn't just another music biography. Larry explores nearly every aspect of the lives and music of these men and demonstrates how their artistry helped lay the groundwork for the civil rights movement.

This is Larry's ninth book, following acclaimed biographies of figures like Bobby Kennedy, Joe McCarthy, and Satchel Paige. As a former Boston Globe reporter who now runs Harvard's Health Coverage Fellowship, he's spent decades making complex stories accessible to all of us.

Larry's here to share how three jazz masters changed more than music—they changed America itself.

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Dig Deeper

Author and Book:

• Visit Larry Tye at larrytye.com
• Purchase Larry Tye's The Jazzmen: How Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, and Count Basie Transformed America from Bookshopor other online retailers
• Larry Tye author page at HarperCollins

Featured Musicians:

• Duke Ellington - Official website and musical legacy
• Louis Armstrong - Louis Armstrong House Museum
• Count Basie - Count Basie Theatre and legacy resources

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• Dig into this episode's complete show notes at spotlightonpodcast.com

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