Music Inside Out with Gwen Thompkins

"Music Inside Out" is a public radio broadcast-- and soon will be a book! -- featuring the standard-bearers of Louisiana music. Host Gwen Thompkins and her guests talk extensively about Louisiana's unusually varied musical landscape and its profound effect on American culture. These in-depth interviews showcase the fire, fun and sweat of the creative process and guests often perform live. "Music Inside Out" is educational programming that sounds like a rollicking good time.

We're building an archive of in-depth interviews with musicians who've been deeply influenced by Louisiana, including Allen Toussaint, Irma Thomas, Herlin Riley, Taj Mahal, Galactic, George Porter, Jr., Charles Neville, Germaine Bazzle, Ani DiFranco, OperaCréole, Big Freedia and many others. These interviews offer listeners new ways to appreciate the individuals who've deepened the musical traditions we hold most dear. In addition, our radio documentaries present a 360-degree view of treasured artists who've made vital contributions to New Orleans music as we know know it -- Louis Armstrong, Professor Longhair, Fats Domino and NEA Jazz Master Danny Barker. THIS year the big book of Music Inside Out interviews is nearing completion, which means we must fund additional research, photographs and illustrations. We've also begun producing filmed interviews and need to make them available online to anyone at any time. And lastly, we are scheduling a LIVE EVENT this year similar to our interviews at a recent New Orleans Book Festival with musical authors Big Freedia and Tarriona "Tank" Ball of Tank and the Bangas. Music is the language of our world. Let's keep talking!

Testimonials

"From my perspective, 'Thank you' is becoming Gwen's pseudonym." -- Allen Toussaint, composer, arranger, producer.

"I listened to the whole thing and love it! It was edited so well. " -- Robert Mercurio, Galactic.

"Gwen is one of the best artist interviewers ever," Grant Morris, producer, author, listener.

"I will always cherish the work and loving care that you devoted to the interview." -- Bill Malone, country music historian, "Ken Burns: Country Music."

"Beautiful storytelling!" -- Elaine Schiller, listener.

"Love, love, love Gwen Thompkins and Music Inside Out. Thank you for sharing all the voices and the music! -- Judy Elliott Lovelady, listener.