Ashley Kahn on “Days of Miracle and Wonder: Paul Simon and the Trials and Triumphs of Graceland”

Ashley Kahn is a Grammy-winning music historian, author, professor and producer. He joins me to discuss his wonderful new book, Days of Miracle and Wonder: Paul Simon and the Trials and Triumphs of Graceland. You’ll hear about Joseph Shabalala and Ladysmith Black Mambazo, with whom Ashley toured, and many of the musicians who helped define the Graceland sound, including Bakithi Kumalo, Ray Phiri, producer Ray Halee and insights into Paul Simon’s songwriting process. You’ll hear Ashley read several excerpts from the book and reflect on how Graceland the album and later as a touring project affected the musicians living under Apartheid, and also those in exile like Hugh Masekela. He also speaks about several of his other projects including his books about the music of Thelonious Monk and John Coltrane and as co-writer of Carlos Santana’s award-winning autobiography “The Universal Tone: Bringing My Story to Light “. A recipient of many awards and honours, Ashley has a broad and fascinating career in the music industry and is a professor at the Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music at NYU TISCH. In the show notes, there’s a gallery of photos, so you may want to check those out. All the links in the show notes! You can also watch the video on my YouTube, the show notes also linked several suggested episodes. (00:00) Intro (03:17) Paul Simon, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Joseph Shabalala (11:37) Ashley reading from “Days of Miracle and Wonder” about Paul Simon’s songwriting process (13:56) Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Isicathamiya, Apartheid (20:01) defining sounds of Graceland, Bakithi Kumalo fretless bass, Isaac Mtshali, Vusi Khumalo, Ray Phiri (24:34) Ashley reading from “Days of Miracle and Wonder” about what makes an album a classic (26:42) Paul Simon’s lyrics (33:14) Ashley reading from “Days of Miracle and Wonder” about Paul Simon (34:00) Verna Gillis (37:11) Lorne Michaels, Ladysmith Black Mambazo on Saturday Night Live, Ray Halee (47:54) suggested episodes and ways to support and follow this podcast (49:11) cultural boycott, anti-Apartheid movement and Graceland (58:40) Ashley’s career as a music historian and author, Miles Davis, John Coltrane (01:05:50) Carlos Santana with Ashley reading from “The Universal Tone” (01:14:13) professor at NYU, advice for his students and young musicians