In the studio is journalist David Menconi, former music critic for the Raleigh News & Observer and the 2019 North Carolina Piedmont Laureate. The Texas born writer who's written features and profiles for the New York Times, Salon and SXSW World, discusses his new book "Step It Up and G0: The Story of North Carolina Popular Music, from Blind Boy Fuller and Doc Watson to Nina Simone and Superchunk" (winner of the 2021 North Caroliniana Society Book Award); his impressive CD collection (over 6,000) and vinyl collection (3,000); plus the backstory about writing with Ray Benson (Asleep at the Wheel) called "Comin' Right at Ya: How a Jewish Yankee Hippie Went Country, or, the Often Outrageous History of Asleep at the Wheel". (With his penchant for long book titles, I did ask David if he ever worked as a headline editor somewhere during his journalism career!) We also talk about his popular blog post "Secret to a long life is knowing when it's time to go"; why he's still a fan of college radio, stories of Americana music, and plans for his next book. Bring along your love of music and listen in!