Metro Puts A Six-Hour Spotlight on Great Songwriters With ‘In Their Own Words’ – Friday, January 26 at 7 PM

New York, N.Y. – Way before MTV “unplugged,” New York’s Bottom Line was giving legendary songwriters the chance to play and discuss the inspiration behind their greatest works with “In Their Own Words.” Now, for the first time ever, this popular concert series is coming to television in the form of three, two-hour specials airing back-to-back on Metro (Time Warner – Channel 70; Cablevision – Channel 16) Friday, January 26, beginning at 7 PM.


The three specials each feature four of America’s greatest living contemporary songwriters playing and discussing their own works, and those of the songwriters that inspired them, sometimes their counterparts on the stage. The special concerts, which are hosted by WFUV’s Rita Houston, were culled from shows taped at NY’s legendary venue, The Bottom Line, throughout 2000. Metro’s coverage is hosted and produced by Maria Marino, one of the roving reporters from the channel’s Rhythm & Dues.


The “In Their Own Words” series debuted at The Bottom Line in 1990. Since that time over 200 luminaries, from Lou Reed to Lucinda Williams, have graced the stage, performing and addressing in moderated discussions, the mysteries of their art and hits. “We’re really pleased that Metro has given us the opportunity to share these intimate events with such a large audience, ” comments Allan Pepper, co-owner of this Big Apple showcase.


Following is a run-down of each of the shows:

  • 7 PM – In Their Own Words I – This evening’s kick-off show gathers together some of the greatest writers in pop, funk and folk including former Brand New Heavies’ singer N’Dea Davenport and Cindy Bullens, a former backup singer for Elton John whose performing credits include the soundtrack for “Grease.” Power pop/punk pioneer Marshall Crenshaw plays some of his greatest hits, including “Someday, Someway,” while Beth Nielsen Chapman performs songs she has written for the likes of Willie Nelson and Faith Hill.

  • 9 PM – In Their Own Words II – The second two-hour special has a decidedly folk and country slant evidenced by lead off acts Patty Larkinand Nashville great Rodney Crowell, the writer of a bevy of hits for stars like Emmylou Harris and his former wife, Roseanne Cash. Critically acclaimed LA singer/songwriter of the ’70s, Karla Bonoff, performs a handful of tunes from her albums, and those covered by West Coast counterparts like Linda Ronstadt. Raul Malo, the Grammy-winning singer/songwriter behind the red-hot, cross-over act, The Mavericks, gives a rocking performance of the hit “What a Crying Shame”.

  • 11 PM – In Their Own Words III – Two of the greatest living songwriters of the ’60s share their insights in the final show of the six-hour marathon. The single most successful American tunesmith of the ’60s, Jimmy Webb, discusses his unending list of million sellers, including “MacArthur’s Park,” and “Wichita Lineman” while Janis Ian, who shook the world as the 14-year-old writer/performer discusses how she survived the hotbed of controversy caused by pop’s first-ever inter-racial love song. Susan Werner discusses how she made the dramatic shift from folk to pop while Jules Shear shares some of his chart-topping ’80s anthems, including “All Through the Night,” a big hit for NYC’s own Cyndi Lauper.


    Rainbow Media’s MetroChannels are the first and only suite of television networks devoted entirely to the experience of living in the New York Metropolitan area. MetroChannels consist of Metro, MetroLearning, and MetroTraffic&Weather. Metro showcases what New Yorkers are passionate about by providing regularly scheduled original programs focusing on everything from fine dining to live music and sports, classic New York TV series and documentaries about the people, places and history of New York. MetroLearning provides unfiltered coverage of events unfolding in the many diverse communities throughout this metropolis. MetroTraffic&Weather is the tri-state’s first and only 24-hour local traffic, transit, and weather channel. Since its 1998 launch, MetroChannels has received numerous accolades for its programming — the 1999 & 2000 Community Spirit Award, New York Festivals Awards, Omni Awards and the Communicator Awards. In addition, MetroChannels was among the top 10 networks nominated for the 1999 local New York Emmy Awards.

    Contact:

    Lisa Rogen/MetroChannels
    212-324-8552

    Carrie Nork & Sal Cataldi – Cataldi PR
    212-244-9797