The State of Sound Podcast

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Diving deep into the history of Illinois music with artists, experts and historians. A companion series to the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum's special exhibit "The State of Sound: A World of Music from Illinois."

Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum


    • Sep 4, 2023 LATEST EPISODE
    • monthly NEW EPISODES
    • 47m AVG DURATION
    • 32 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from The State of Sound Podcast

    Prine Family History part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 4, 2023 47:41


    Author and State of Sound writer, Dave Hoekstra sits down with Dave Prine (John Prine's brother) for an intimate conversation about the Prine family and their Illinois roots. (Part 2 of 2)

    Prine Family History Part 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 29, 2023 56:35


    Author and State of Sound writer, Dave Hoekstra sits down with Dave Prine (John Prine's brother) for an intimate conversation about the Prine family and their Illinois roots. (Part 1 of 2)

    Recording Studio Executive, Reid Hyams

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 21, 2023 62:54


    State of Sound curator, Lance Tawzer interview Chicago Trax Recording President Reid Hyams on his amazing career operating an influential recording studio on the cutting edge of new music.

    Martin Atkins

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 15, 2023 45:05


    State of Sound creator, Lance Tawzer interviews Martin Atkins, musician with PIL, NIN, Killing Joke and Pigface is also an author, educator, entrepreneur, and now runs a museum as well.

    Maxx Traxx / Third Rail

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 7, 2023 45:48


    Writer and State of Sound Podcast Host Dave Hoekstra interviews Maxx Traxx / Third Rail manager Murray Weiner, guitarist/singer Stevie Robinson and guitarist Richie Davis about the highs and lows of the groundbreaking Chicago band.

    Angelo Varias, John Prine's drummer

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 10, 2023 47:51


    Writer and State of Sound Podcast Host Dave Hoekstra interviews drummer Angelo Varias about his experiences playing with John Prine and many others.

    Navy Pier CEO Marilynn Gardner

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 5, 2023 40:52


    Writer and State of Sound Podcast Host Dave Hoekstra interviews Navy Pier CEO Marilynn Gardner about her history, the Pier's history and future.

    Folk Musician and Historian Bucky Halker

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 16, 2023 63:09


    Writer and State of Sound Podcast Host Dave Hoekstra interviews Illinois folk musician and historian Bucky Halker about labor music and other topics.

    Melody Spann Cooper

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 13, 2023 46:32


    Writer and State of Sound Podcast Host Dave Hoekstra interviews Melody Spann Cooper, Chairman of Midway Broadcasting Corporation and talks about her family legacy of historic Black-owned radio in Chicago.

    The Story of ChicagoFest Part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 8, 2023 43:01


    State of Sound writer, Dave Hoekstra interviews Angelo Varias (Drummer for John Prine), Music photographer Paul Natkin and revisits with WRXT's Norm Winer about the history of the ChicagoFest music festival.

    The Story of ChicagoFest Part 1

    Play Episode Listen Later May 30, 2023 54:02


    State of Sound writer, Dave Hoekstra interviews Kathy Byrne (Mayor Bryne's daughter) Marilynn Gardner (CEO of Navy Pier) Norm Winer (Former WXRT Radio Executive) and members from Chicago's Maxx Traxx (Third Rail) to talk about the history and importance of the ChicagoFest Music festivals of the late 1970s and early 1980s.

    Music Historian Bob Beatty

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 20, 2022 55:12


    Award winning Music Historian and Author Bob Beatty sits down with State of Sound Curator Lance Tawzer in the gallery studio to talk about the State of Sound exhibit and Bob's career and music inspirations. Theme song by Thrift Store Halo Produced by Lance Tawzer Engineered by Garrett West

    Music Photographer Paul Natkin

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 18, 2022 55:54


    State of Sound writer, Dave Hoekstra sits down with his long-time friend and collaborator, Paul Natkin, in the State of Sound Studio. Paul is a legendary photographer of music and he shares some amazing stories in his career. Theme music by Thrift Store Halo Produced by Lance Tawzer Engineered by Garrett West

    Maggie Brown, singer & daughter of Oscar Brown, Jr.

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 14, 2022 39:51


    Recorded live in the State of Sound Studio, singer Maggie Brown talks and sings during a wide-ranging interview about her father, Oscar Brown, Jr. and her own career as a singer and educator. Interviewed by State of Sound Curator, Lance Tawzer. Theme song by Thrift Store Halo

    interview state daughter singer sound studio maggie brown oscar brown jr oscar brown
    Mark Kessler of Recycled Records in Springfield, Illinois

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 17, 2021 36:09


    Long-time record store owner, Mark Kessler sits down with State of Sound writer Dave Hoekstra. Theme music by Thrift Store Halo

    Jeff Murphy of Shoes

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 8, 2021 81:45


    ALPLM's Lance Tawzer interviews Jeff Murphy, guitarist and singer for the legendary Power Pop band Shoes live in the State of Sound Studio. Theme song by Thrift Store Halo

    Jeff Tweedy of Wilco

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 28, 2021 26:24


    The State of Sound creator, Lance Tawzer interviews Jeff Tweedy, the leader of the Alt-Country band Wilco about his career and Illinois upbringing. Theme song by Thrift Store Halo

    Radio Legend Terri Hemmert

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 5, 2021 61:15


    The State of Sound exhibit writer, Dave Hoekstra, interviews Radio Hall of Famer, Terri Hemmert, live in the State of Sound Studio with special guest Alt-Country legend, Jon Langford in a wide-ranging conversation. Theme song by Thrift Store Halo

    state sound alt country sound studio jon langford terri hemmert
    Jimmy Chamberlin of Smashing Pumpkins

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 31, 2021 75:41


    ALPLM's Director of Exhibits and Shows, Lance Tawzer, interviews Jimmy Chamberlin, the drummer of Smashing Pumpkins about his musical career and struggle and recovery from addiction. Theme song by Thrift Store Halo

    Alt-Country Legend Jon Langford

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 17, 2021 51:28


    State of Sound writer Dave Hoekstra interviews Alt-Country legend Jon Lanford along with his collaborator, John Szymanski. Theme music by Thrift Store Halo

    state sound alt country country legend jon langford
    Alex Dixon the grandson of Blues legend Willie Dixon

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 3, 2021 56:34


    State of Sound exhibit writer, Dave Hoekstra, interviews Willie Dixon's grandson about his grandfather's career and growing up in his house. Theme song by Thrift Store Halo

    History of Shure with Michael Pettersen

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 19, 2021 46:01


    ALPLM's Joe Crain interviews Shure, Inc. Corporation Historian, Michael Pettersen about the history of Shure Microphones and other products. Theme music by Thrift Store Halo

    history shure pettersen shure microphones
    House Music Pioneer Steve "Silk" Hurley

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 5, 2021 41:12


    ALPLM's Reggie Guyton interviews House Music artist, producer, remixer, and DJ Steve "Silk" Hurley. Producer is Randy Erwin. Theme music by Thrift Store Halo

    Herbie Hancock

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 22, 2021 44:20


    ALPLM's Lance Tawzer interviews Jazz legend Herbie Hancock. Theme music by Thrift Store Halo

    James "JY" Young guitarist from Styx

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 8, 2021 38:08


    ALPLM's Joe Crain interviews Styx founding member and lead guitarist James "JY" Young. Theme music by Thrift Store Halo

    Punks in Peoria authors Jonathan Wright and Dawson Barrett

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 24, 2021 49:46


    State of Sound Exhibit Writer Dave Hoekstra interviews Jonathan Wright and Dawson Barrett, authors of the new book, "Punks in Peoria: Making a Scene in the American Heartland" Theme song by Thrift Store Halo

    House Music Legend Derrick Carter

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 11, 2021 50:52


    ALPLM's Lance Tawzer is joined by UK Contributor Gordon Lee to interview House Music Legend Derrick Carter to chronicle his origins through his rise to international fame.

    Cheaa Mayfield, Curtis Mayfield's son

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 25, 2021 36:09


    State of Sound Exhibit writer Dave Hoekstra interviews Curtis Mayfield's son, Cheaa on his dad's life, career and legacy. Theme music by Thrift Store Halo

    Gospel Historian and Journalist Bob Marovich

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 11, 2021 25:20


    ALPLM's Reggie Guyton interviews Gospel historian, author and journalist Bob Marovich on the importance of Gospel Music from Illinois. Episode produced by ALPLM's Randy Erwin The State of Sound Podcast theme by Thrift Store Halo

    Rosanna Goodman (Steve Goodman's daughter)

    Play Episode Listen Later May 30, 2021 41:14


    State of Sound exhibit writer Dave Hoekstra sits down with Rosanna Goodman, the youngest daughter of folk legend Steve Goodman. State of Sound theme music by Thrift Store Halo

    Kevin Cronin from REO Speedwagon

    Play Episode Listen Later May 20, 2021 30:45


    ALPLM's Joe Crain interviews Kevin Cronin, the front man of REO Speedwagon about the band's Illinois roots. Theme song by Thrift Store Halo

    Tim McIlrath from Rise Against

    Play Episode Listen Later May 20, 2021 37:14


    ALPLM State of Sound Exhibit Curator Lance Tawzer interviews Tim McIlrath, the front man of the punk band Rise Against who shares insight to his Chicago suburban origin and the underground punk culture. Theme song by Thrift Store Halo

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