Episode 327: The Music of John Williams (Extended Edition)

When Sergio Mims asked me to program his classical music show for WHPK Radio dedicated to composer John Williams, I knew it was a daunting assignment. How can you sum up the career of a legend in three hours? How can one convey what his compositions have meant to not only me but countless moviegoers (and even TV viewers) over the years? What follows is the journey that I went on highlighting many of the classics but also the range that followed beyond his collaboration with Steven Spielberg. It still only scratches the surface, but what I could not fit into the radio timeslot at the University of Chicago is expanded upon with 36 additional minutes of music and commentary. I hope you enjoy.