Literature & Music

Literature & Music

Library on Martinique. Photo: Tonya Fitzpatrick

“The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page.”

St. Augustine

Learning about the places that shaped and inspired writers and musicians can add deeper understanding to a work of literature or a song.  Because of the significance these works have in our lives, traveling to explore the life of a famous writer or see the creative communities that produced music that defined a generation can touch and enrich travelers in profound ways.

Explore the historical and cultural impact on literature and music as you travel the globe.  Literature and music go hand in hand, the beautiful verses when played with tunes bring out the most enjoyable renditions.

  • cherry blossom

    Today we’ll go on some remarkable adventures and we’ll review the history of friendship between the United States and Japan. Mary Anne Potts has worked in the adventure travel editorial space for more than eleven years. She started on the editorial staff of National Geographic Adventure magazine in 2001 and has moved up the ranks from there.  She has run the magazine’s website and also launched its social media presence. Mary Anne continues to run Adventure as a standalone digital brand for National Geographic and includes her National Geographic Adventure blog which Outdoor Magazine recognized as No. 3 within its Top 10 List of Adventure blogs. Richard Wiese has been called the modern day Indiana Jones.  He is a world-class explorer and host of ABC’s new program, Born to Explore.  As an explorer and field scientist Richard has traveled to all seven continents.  From tagging jaguars in the Yucatan jungles [...]

  • MA Song Photo

    In one of her last interviews, the late Dr. Maya Angelou spent time with us to share her early life, lessons learned along her adult journey and golden nuggets of wisdom.

  • corvette

    For over a century Detroit, Michigan has hosted an auto show.  The show's start in 1907 had a regional focus and continued that way for several decades.  

  • FQF 2013 crowd

    In the second hour of our French Quarter Festival 2012 broadcast we will keep the good times rolling, Mark Romig, President of New Orleans Tourism and Marketing Corp (and a member of the famous Romig family) along with Zack Rosenburg, a Washington, DC transplant and very first CNN Hero. Zack will discuss the St. Bernard Project (SBP), a non-profit organization that aims to rebuild one of the most devastated parishes hit by Hurricane Katrina. SBP is also working in others areas around the United States that are in need.

  • Natchez ferry in NOLA

    World Footprints continues with its special broadcast from New Orleans during French Quarter Festival 2010. Stevie McKee will talk about the 7th Ward and Faubourg Treme, an historic neighborhood recently made famous by HBO. Then we’ll be rockin’ with the “Mick Jagger of the Marsh” and Rockin’ Dopsie, Jr. Plus Patty Gay from the New Orleans Preservation Resource Center and jazz great Jeremy Davenport.

  • Ashford Castle in Ireland. Photo by Tonya Fitzpatrick

    World Footprints will travel parts of Ireland with tour guide Will Collins who will take us on a well-rounded journey through the Emerald Isle.  Will shares some of Ireland's culinary and sporting traditions as well as the country's interesting festivals, including a match-makers weekend, Ireland's history and historical figures.

  • New Orleans Jackson Square

    Enjoy travel melodies with three extraordinary musicians as we hear about their personal and cultural journeys.  Also learn what Rio de Janeiro is doing to prepare for the Summer Olympics. First, singer/actress/author Gloria Loring joins World Footprints to talk about her music collaboration with son, R&B artist Robin Thicke, travel and her book, "Coincidence is God's Way of Remaining Anonymous".  Gloria also dishes on her life past life as Liz Chandler on daytime's Days of our Lives. Jazz artist Rene Marie credits many women, including Eartha Kitt, for her life's direction and musical influences.  After her abusive husband of 23 years gave her an ultimatum to quit singing or leave--she chose to leave and begin her professional music career at the age of 42.  Rene reflects on her own life journey and how travel; in particular a trip to Germany, helped her acknowledge humanity's common bonds. According to Rockin' Dopsie, [...]

  • FQF 2011 Broadcast Booth

    World Footprints returns to New Orleans for our signature broadcast from Jackson Square for French Quarter Festival! During this broadcast we'll introduce you to All-Star musicians, Trumpeter Connie Jones and Clarinet player Tim Laughlin. Connie & Tim grace the cover of this year's French Quarter Festival poster.  We’ll also hear from French Quarter Festival Executive Director, Marci Schramm, about the newest attractions that visitors will experience this year.

  • Looking at the Eiffel Tower from the bottom up

    The best way to experience a city is through the eyes of a local.   We'll travel to New Orleans and walk along Paris’s rue des Martyrs with the people who know them best. Democratic consultant James Carville says that New Orleans is defined by its culture and way of life and that distinguishes the city from other places.  We'll talk to him to learn what he means by this. The beheading of Saint Denis, now the patron saint of France, was one of many events that occurred on the rue des Martyrs in Paris.  Accoring to author and New York Times writer, Elaine Sciolino, the rue des Martyrs was a cultural enclave where Degas and Renoir painted, Puccini replicated in his La Boheme opera and Edith Piaf would sing for a few francs.  Yet, this charming half-mile long street that is steeped in history has been overlooked in Paris guidebooks.  [...]

  • Amazon River

    Actress/singer Gloria Loring. Fans of the daytime drama "Days of Our Lives" (DOOL) will enjoy another one of our conversations with actress, singer and author Gloria Loring who played Liz Chandler for seven years on the soap opera.  Gloria spends some time today talking about her spiritual autobiography "Coincidence is God's Way of Remaining Anonymous", and her life since DOOL including working with her son R&B singer Robin Thicke. With eloquence and humor, Loring takes readers on a quest for a deeper understanding of life's journey and the role coincidence plays in all of our lives, revealing that even the most difficult circumstances can be beneficial. Her experiences may be just the evidence readers need to begin watching more closely what they are attracting and what they are running from in their own lives. While coincidences may appear to come out of the blue, Loring suggests that we can all [...]

  • detroit's iconic building, the Renaissance Center

    In what would become one of her final interviews, World Footprints enjoyed a intimate chat with "Global Renaissance Woman" Dr. Maya Angelou. 

  • grand piano pixabay

    World Footprints is pleased to introduce our partner, Pack for a Purpose.  Did you know that just by setting aside a small space in your suitcase—5 lbs worth of space—that you could supply crucial education materials or simple medical supplies to children around the world?  Our friend, Rebecca Rothney founded “Pack for a Purpose” on the belief that every traveler could have a positive and big impact on a community by donating just a little of their luggage space.