This week on "Sunday Morning" (January 26)
GUEST HOST: Lee Cowan
WATCH THE FULL JANUARY 26 EPISODE!
COVER STORY: Is there a science behind creating pop hits? | Watch Video
What goes into creating a hit song? Are there formulas or tricks that will help you craft the next #1 smash? David Pogue talks with Neil Sedaka, Ashford & Simpson's Valerie Simpson, and author John Seabrook ("The Song Machine") about the genius of pop songs, and then collaborates with producer Oak Felder on a song that undoubtedly will be the next big hit.
For more info:
- neilsedaka.com
- valeriesimpson.net
- Follow Oak Felder (@Oakwud) on Twitter
- johnseabrook.com
- "The Song Machine: Inside the Hit Factory" by John Seabrook (W.W. Norton), in Hardcover, eBook and Audio formats, available via Amazon
GRAMMY AWARDS: Landmarks of the music industry awards | Watch Video
"Sunday Morning" looks back at the Recording Academy's annual honors.
For more info:
MUSIC: Raffi, the children's troubadour | Watch Video
For more than 40 years the folk singer-turned-rock star to kids has been singing songs to delight the young at heart. Serena Altschul sits down with Raffi Cavoukian, whose hits like "Baby Beluga" and "Bananaphone" have appealed to multiple generations of fans.
You can stream Raffi's album "Dog on the Floor" by clicking on the embed below (Free Spotify registration required to hear the tracks in full):
For more info:
- raffinews.com (Official site)
- Follow @Raffi_RC on Twitter and Facebook
- "Dog on the Floor" by Raffi (Rounder Records), available in CD (Amazon, Barnes & Noble), Digital Download (Google Play, iTunes) and Streaming (Spotify) formats
- Raffi Foundation for Child Honouring
- Follow the foundation on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube
MUSIC: Conductor Gustavo Dudamel: It's necessary "to have art as part of your life" | Watch Video
Conductor Gustavo Dudamel, music director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, is a rock star of the classical world, and he brings that star power when he leads young musicians in schools and colleges across the country. An ambassador of the sublime, he talks with John Dickerson about the transformative power of music, and shares his infectious excitement in performances that transmit the necessity of making art a part of your life.
For more info:
HARTMAN: Strike up the band! (Video)
Third grader Henry Boyer, of Howell, Michigan, was so blown away by the University of Michigan marching band that he wrote a letter to them saying how he'd love to sign up someday – approximately in 2029. Their response struck a major chord in this young man's life. Steve Hartman reports.
MUSIC: From the slums of Madagascar arise young boys' songs of joy | Watch Video
In the capital of Madagascar, an island nation where nearly 80 percent of people eke out a living on less than $2 a day, an unexpected sound emerges from the slums of the capital, Antananarivo: Zaza Kanto, an a capella group of boys, ages 11 to 16, whose joyful sounds and viral videos have elevated them to national fame. They've also earned praise from Fredo Austin, of the band Freedom's Boombox, who mentored the young men as part of an exchange program called American Music Abroad. Seth Doane reports.
For more info:
- zazakanto.com
- Donate to the Zaza Kanto Fund
- Zaza Kanto - Underground Boys of Tana (YouTube Channel)
- Freedom's Boombox
- American Music Abroad
MUSIC: Huey Lewis on his hearing loss | Watch Video
Huey Lewis and the News are in the mood to celebrate, joking about their age as they prepare for the release of what is almost certainly their last album, titled "Weather." At 69, Lewis, who has performed in bands for most of his life, had no intention of slowing down, but his diagnosis of Meniere's Disease – a hearing disorder which has affected his voice – has made the decision for him. John Blackstone reports.
For more info:
- hueylewisandthenews.com
- "Weather" by Huey Lewis and the News (BMG), to be released February 14; pre-order at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Google Play and iTunes
MUSIC: The multi-talented and persuasively confident DJ Khaled | Watch Video
DJ Khaled has worked with some of the biggest artists in music (Rihanna, Justin Bieber, Drake), and he went on tour as Beyoncé's opening act twice. His songs are all-star collaborations, and he's been making hits for more than a decade. The son of Palestinian immigrants, he's a radio DJ, producer and New York Times bestselling author who is nominated for a Grammy for the song "Higher," a partnership with John Legend and rapper Nipsey Hussle. Kelefa Sanneh sits down with the man who calls himself the "Quincy Jones of hip hop."
For more info:
- Follow @DJKhaled on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube
PASSAGE: They made music | Watch Video
"Sunday Morning" remembers just some of the talented musicians we've lost since last year's Grammy Awards ceremony.
MUSIC: Remembering songwriter Allee Willis | Watch Video
Allee Willis grew up in Detroit and was raised on the sounds of Motown, though she never learned to play music. After recording an album in 1974, Willis turned her focus to songwriting, creating hits for such artists as Bonnie Raitt, Ray Charles, Sister Sledge, Cyndi Lauper, Earth, Wind & Fire, and Patti LaBelle (which won her a Grammy). She also earned a second Grammy, and a Tony Award nomination, for the Broadway musical "The Color Purple." Nancy Giles talked last year with Willis, who died last month at age 72.
For more info:
NATURE: Songbirds in Texas (Extended Video)
"Sunday Morning" attends a concert by migratory songbirds in High Island, Texas, on the Gulf Coast. Videographer: Judith Lehmberg.
WEB EXCLUSIVES:
CALENDAR: Week of January 27 | Watch Video
"Sunday Morning" takes a look at some notable events of the week ahead. Lee Cowan reports.
NATURE UP CLOSE: Are humans really the smartest species?
Attributing human actions and thoughts to non-human animals that appear to mimic our behavior may be fanciful, but we may be getting it backwards.
TAKE FIVE: Arts & events around the U.S. (January 24)
Check out the "Sunday Morning" listings of events this coming week.
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