Hazel Scott was a Black pianist who was classically trained at Juilliard at the age of 8 and started making a name for herself as a performer in New York in the 1930s while she was still in high school. She went on to play big concert halls and notable nightclubs. As stated in a biography about her by actor and author Karen Chilton, “She was the first black woman to host her own television show and one of the first to refuse to perform before segregated audiences. She negotiated lucrative contracts with Hollywood studios, becoming one of the highest-paid performers of her era.” Chilton speaks with Emily Fox about Hazel’s life and career and why she might not be a household name today despite her extraordinary career.

Hazel Scott was a Black pianist who was classically trained at Juilliard at the age of 8 and started making a name for herself as a performer in New York in the 1930s while she was still in high school. She went on to play big concert halls and notable nightclubs. As stated in a biography about her by actor and author Karen Chilton, “She was the first black woman to host her own television show and one of the first to refuse to perform before segregated audiences. She negotiated lucrative contracts with Hollywood studios, becoming one of the highest-paid performers of her era.” Chilton speaks with Emily Fox about Hazel’s life and career and why she might not be a household name today despite her extraordinary career.

On A Deeper Listen, host Emily Fox and other storytellers from KEXP talk with artists about the stories behind their songs and the experiences that inform their work. Through each conversation, we uncover the humanity behind the music, allowing us to hear it in a whole new way.

On A Deeper Listen, host Emily Fox and other storytellers from KEXP talk with artists about the stories behind their songs and the experiences that inform their work. Through each conversation, we uncover the humanity behind the music, allowing us to hear it in a whole new way.

A Deeper Listen

Hazel Scott's Extraordinary Career

This is the final episode of A Deeper Listen. After seven years on air as the Sound & Vision radio show and more than 500 episodes in this podcast feed, Emily Fox and contributors share their favorite moments from a story or interview they’ve done for this show.

This is the final episode of A Deeper Listen. After seven years on air as the Sound &amp; Vision radio show and more than 500 episodes in this podcast feed, Emily Fox and contributors share their favorite moments from a story or interview they&rsquo;ve done for this show.

Signing Off 

Electronic artist SHIMA fuses dance beats with Japanese sounds on her debut album, Welcome to SHIMAJIMA. She talks with Emily Fox about how the history of Kamikaze pilots, and how a dancing hallucinogenic mushroom trip centuries ago inspired some tracks on her record. She also talks about creating an album for the culturally homeless and shares her journey from being a J-pop star, to a computer engineer to an indie DJ/producer. 

Photo credit: Maxine Bowen

Electronic artist SHIMA fuses dance beats with Japanese sounds on her debut album, Welcome to SHIMAJIMA. She talks with Emily Fox about how the history of Kamikaze pilots, and how a dancing hallucinogenic mushroom trip centuries ago inspired some tracks on her record. She also talks about creating an album for the culturally homeless and shares her journey from being a J-pop star, to a computer engineer to an indie DJ/producer.&nbsp;
Photo credit: Maxine Bowen

SHIMA: From J-pop Star to Indie DJ/Producer

For decades, Beverly Glenn-Copeland’s music went virtually unnoticed. Beginning in 1970, he released records that crossed folk, R&B, electronic music, and other genres, always seeking new territory. That changed in 2017, when his 1986 album Keyboard Fantasies was rediscovered, ushering in renewed interest in his work.

Since then, Glenn—who came out as a trans man in 2002—has toured and released new music for a growing, devoted audience. In 2024, however, he was diagnosed with dementia. While at first they thought this would be the end of his performing career, Glenn and his wife, Elizabeth Copeland, are returning to play a short run of Canadian dates and releasing a new album, Laughter in Summer, on Feb. 6 via Transgressive Records.

KEXP’s Dusty Henry speaks with the couple about returning to music in the face of Glenn’s diagnosis, the purpose and power of their work, and the love that binds them together.

“I always considered that the music that I ‘wrote’ was sent to me from a higher source,” Glenn says. “You can't do that if you don't work at your craft, whatever it is. But if you do, and there's something special about what you're doing, then you're going to get sent some amazing stuff.”

Photo credit: Wade Muir

For decades, Beverly Glenn-Copeland&rsquo;s music went virtually unnoticed. Beginning in 1970, he released records that crossed folk, R&amp;B, electronic music, and other genres, always seeking new territory. That changed in 2017, when his 1986 album&nbsp;Keyboard Fantasies was rediscovered, ushering in renewed interest in his work.
Since then, Glenn&mdash;who came out as a trans man in 2002&mdash;has toured and released new music for a growing, devoted audience. In 2024, however, he was diagnosed with dementia. While at first they thought this would be the end of his performing career, Glenn and his wife, Elizabeth Copeland, are returning to play a short run of Canadian dates and releasing a new album,&nbsp;Laughter in Summer, on Feb. 6 via Transgressive Records.
KEXP&rsquo;s Dusty Henry speaks with the couple about returning to music in the face of Glenn&rsquo;s diagnosis, the purpose and power of their work, and the love that binds them together.
&ldquo;I always considered that the music that I &lsquo;wrote&rsquo; was sent to me from a higher source,&rdquo; Glenn says. &ldquo;You can't do that if you don't work at your craft, whatever it is. But if you do, and there's something special about what you're doing, then you're going to get sent some amazing stuff.&rdquo;
Photo credit: Wade Muir

Hazel Scott's Extraordinary Career

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