BBC Sounds Music Radio Podcasts

Lauren LeVernier, we're taking our Easter breaks so until we're back on air we're showcasing

a few programs from our archive as usual the music's been shortened for rights reasons.

This week's guest is the writer Maya Angelou, Michael Parkinson Casturaway in 1988.

Autobiography can be stranger than fiction, indeed it would take a novelist of exceptionally

imagination to invent the story as extraordinary as our castaways. I didn't even if he came close

the chances are he wouldn't be believed. A castaways to first volume of autobiography called

I Know Why The Cage's Bird Things was a best seller both here and in her native America.

Her fifth volume called All God's Children Need Traveling Shoes has just been published.

The books begin with a child growing up with prejudice and abuse in the American South

and ending Ghana where the adult seeks a homecoming in what she imagines to be the promised land.

In between times she's been a writer, stripper, political activist, waitress, editor, singer, actress,

and a dancer and a few more things besides she is Maya Angelou. Maya we're going to put you

on this desert island with these eight records. Now I assume coming from where you did

to the deep South of America that music in fact has played a very significant part in your life.

Very yes. When you first remember it's influence how old would you be?

Oh probably about four or five. My grandmother had a wonderful voice and she sang in church

and she'd sing around the house unless she was asked to sing. If I'd ask her mama would you please

sing she'd sing that gold girl you know mama can sing. But if you'd leave her alone she'd open

this magnificent voice up and put it out in the air like hot gold you know like melting gold

it seemed to me and the only voice similar to hers that I can remember I mean as I remember her

voice is mahalia Jackson. The first choice never to be there has got to be mahalia Jackson.

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