Re:sound #181 The Texas State Pen Show
This hour: we present two very different stories about the Texas State Penitentiary. Both are about soul — the kind you dance to, and the kind you pray for.
2013 / TCF / WBEZ 91.5, USA
This hour: we present two very different stories about the Texas State Penitentiary. Both are about soul — the kind you dance to, and the kind you pray for.
Prisoner Soul
[NOTE: Due to limited rights from the BBC this story is no longer available online.]
by Vivienne Perry, presented by Gary Younge (BBC Radio 4, 2013)
In the late 60s and early 70s, the Texas prison system chose to put a little more cash and a lot more creativity into its effort to stave off prisoner violence, boredom and recidivism by allowing prisoners to form bands and record music.
Ministry of Presence
by Matt Holzman (Unfictional, KCRW, 2013)
The very same Texas State Penitentiary in Huntsville featured in Prisoner Soul currently houses the busiest death chamber in the country. Meet Carroll Pickett, who has spent many agonizing years on death row, but not as a prisoner.
This episode of Re:sound was produced by Katie Mingle.
produced by
Vivienne Perry is an Emmy nominated producer who has created pieces across a range of genres - from specialist factual features to observational documentaries. She has produced features for both Channel 4 and the BBC as well as working on complex multiplatform projects for both. Before working in TV, she worked in New York as a radio producer.
Matt Holzman is a veteran public radio producer and reporter. He currently works on KCRW's news/talker Press Play, which seriously cuts into his time to produce the kind of long-form radio that really trips his trigger. He is ready to sell out and is waiting for reasonable offers.
Katie Mingle (@katiemingle) is the senior editor and a producer for 99% Invisible.