Five Spots in Langston Hughes’ Harlem

This legendary writer from the twenties loved Harlem. Here are five spots associated with him and his era.

by Rich Watson 

The Harlem Renaissance of the twenties was a time of growth for black artisans of many stripes. Langston Hughes was one of the biggest. The writer connected with various like-minded intellectuals to share their views on African-American culture and the future of black society in general.

Harlem was ground zero for this movement.

Ray Stevens and His “Streak” of Success

Boogity boogity! The tale of the bizarre college fad that went mainstream and the singer who rode it to the top of the charts.

by Rich Watson 

Ray Stevens is a country singer who has a history of novelty songs in addition to more straightforward material. He worked with and wrote for some of the top names in country music, and won Grammys. For a brief time, he even had a TV show.

During the height of his fame, he had an improbable number-one hit song about an even more improbable fad: streaking.

Tom Lehrer Set the Periodic Table of Elements to Music—and It Worked

This musical Ivy Leaguer made a song out of a scientific building block.

by Rich Watson 

Last July, Tom Lehrer died at the age of 97. For much of his life, he was a teacher, of math and musical theater, but people knew him best for his satirical music, often about current events but mainly about things one first learns in the classroom. 

Who would imagine, for example, that someone, anyone, would take the periodic table of elements and put it to the music from a world-renowned opera?