New Programs for the 2018 ‘Libraries Rock’ Theme!

2018’s national summer reading program theme for all ages is “Libraries Rock”—and if you’re looking for programming to fit it, you’ve come to the right place! Having covered the music industry as an editor for nearly 25 years—and having presented library programs for half that time—I have a broad selection of new and road-tested programs to bring in adult and teen patrons.

NEW! ROCKIN’ REELS: THE GREATEST ROCK N’ ROLL MOVIES OF ALL-TIME
Nothing rocks more than summertime, rock n’ roll and a good movie! Go behind the scenes of some of your favorite rockin’ flicks (and a few unheralded gems) to find out how they were made, ways they reflected the times they were made in and why they still resonate with us today. Along the way, there’s fun clips from classics like Grease, A Hard Day’s Night, Rock N’ Roll High School, Purple Rain, High Fidelity, The School of Rock and a dozen more.
80 minutes; Video projector required [or I can provide one].

NEW! ROCK N’ ROLL STAYCATION: COOL MUSIC LANDMARKS OF NEW YORK
Via video and Powerpoint, take a visual trip through the rich rock n’ roll history of Long Island and Manhattan. Discover the secret locations where classic album covers by Bob Dylan, Simon & Garfunkel, The Doors, The Beastie Boys, The Rolling Stones and others were shot. Where was the eatery that inspired Billy Joel’s “Scenes from an Italian Restaurant?” What Rock & Roll Hall of Fame group shot a record sleeve right on Long Island’s Meadowbrook Parkway? Where’s the bar that Kiss played its first show in makeup? Find out all this and more in this fast-moving, insightful program.
80 minutes; Video projector required [or I can provide one].

NEW! CELEBRATING LEONARD COHEN
Leonard Cohen was known for his sharp, poetic lyrics and deep, expressive voice. He died in 2016 at the age of 82, just two weeks after his final album, You Want It Darker. This program recounts his upbringing in Quebec, fifty years of creativity and performance as he roamed the world, and more, using video clips and Powerpoint to illustrate and explore his unique, poignant legacy in modern music.
60 minutes. Video projector required [or I can provide one].

And then there’s longtime favorite programs that will rock your socks off like:

THE MAKING OF SGT. PEPPER’S LONELY HEARTS CLUB BAND
Discover the true story behind the record that changed Rock n’ Roll! Arguably the most famous Beatles album, Sgt. Pepper saw the band transition from mere pop stars to revered, serious artists. How did they create their landmark album? Clive Young, Editor-In-Chief of recording industry magazine Pro Sound News, takes apart the album, track-by-track, and explores the iconic album cover to show how it all came together.
90 minutes. Video projector required [or I can provide one].

THAT’S A SMASH: GREAT PRODUCERS OF THE ’60s AND ’70s
Discover how the Baby Boomer generation’s favorite hits were made! Taking apart some of the most famous songs of all-time to see what makes them tick, you’ll hear classics by The Beatles, Billy Joel, The Beach Boys, Simon & Garfunkel and others in a whole new way, discovering what’s hidden in the tracks you thought you knew by heart! Discover the Music Producers behind the scenes like George Martin, Phil Ramone, Phil Spector and more—the kings of studio magic. Hear step-by-step how Brian Wilson built “Wouldn’t It Be Nice” with a rock band, a female bass player, accordions, and gorgeous a capella vocals by the Beach Boys. Filled with plenty of video and cool visuals, this program explores the creative decisions that influenced important artists, their incredible albums and the musical tastes of an entire generation.
80 minutes. Video projector required [or I can provide one].

CRANK IT UP: THE HISTORY OF ROCK CONCERTS
Get an insider’s view of how rock concerts grew from Elvis performing in hayfields to the spectacles that fill stadiums today. Weaving facts, humor, video and PowerPoint together, this program highlights how concerts, like rock music, have always changed to reflect the times. Best of all, this program features two exclusive short documentaries, showing life behind-the-scenes on tour with Fleetwood Mac and The Who. These films can’t be seen anywhere else!
90 Minutes. Video projector required [or I can provide one].

 For more information on these and other programs, visit my Program Summaries page or send me an email via the Contact page.