In 1964, America was on the brink of a cultural revolution. The civil rights movement, portable music, the Vietnam War, the rise of black power and the lead-up to a dramatic election all foretold great changes here. In a new book, the writer Mark Kurlansky says that one song in particular emerged as an anthem for the country’s brand new beat: “Dancing in the Street,” by Martha and the Vandellas. Kurlansky joins us Monday to examine how that tune—and popular music more generally—has influenced social change.
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Mark Kurlansky is the New York Times-bestselling author of dozens of books, including Cod, Salt, and his newest, Ready for a Brand New Beat: How "Dancing in the Street" Became the Anthem for a Changing America [Amazon|Indiebound].