Speak Easy

Joe Cerutti, the artistic director of the world famous barbershop chorus The Alexandria Harmonizers, stopped by this month to discuss the lasting appeal of a cappella music, performing for the Obamas, his musical upbringing and how his 100-person chorus has adapted during the pandemic.

Brandon Byrd, owner of the renowned local frozen custard shop Goodies, stopped by this month to talk about how he went from studying kinesiology to selling custard, the lasting appeal of soul music and Goodies' first brick and mortar location at the old Alexandria ice house.

Alexandria Commonwealth's Attorney Bryan Porter stopped by Speak Easy to talk about the infamous Charles Severance case, the psychological hazards of his job, his formative experiences in the Alexandria Police Department and the changing culture of law enforcement in Northern Virginia.

Emmy-award winning journalist and documentary filmmaker Robin Hamilton stopped by Speak Easy to chat about her latest film, Our Alexandria, which tells the story of two residents who have captured the city's segregated past through their detailed dollhouses. Hamilton detailed the story behind the documentary, her filmmaking process, how memory and nostalgia played a role in the film and the value of local stories.

Speak Easy kicks of 2021 with special guest Jarreau Williams, the singer and frontman for the Jarreau Williams Experience. Williams spoke about his musical influences, approach to songwriting how he was affected and inspired by the Black Lives Matter protests and what it's been like as a musician during the pandemic.

Music:

"Flash Mob," Jarreau Williams

"Shoulda Known Better," Jarreau Williams and Mas

The Times looks back on a year's worth of conversations with the people who make Alexandria tick by connecting all those conversations in one special year-end episode.

George Mason Elementary School music teacher Heather Rosner has made it her life's work to ensure all students have access to the world of music. Alexandria Times intern Lindsey Sullivan sat down with Rosner to hear about some of the challenges she has faced as a teacher in the age of virtual learning and how she is adapting and continuing to provide students access to music during the pandemic.

In honor of Halloween, Wellington Watts, president of Alexandria Colonial Tours, stopped by for a special episode of Speak Easy. Watts talks about the lasting appeal of ghost stories and shares a few of the city's most infamous spooky tales. 

"Ghost Story" by Kevin MacLeod

Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/3805-ghost-story

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Reporter and author Michael Pope stops by to talk about how he got into journalism, his stint leading ghost tours, reporting during the pandemic and the quirky side of Virginia politics and history.

Stephanie Landrum, CEO and president of the Alexandria Economic Development Partnership, has been involved in some of Alexandria's most significant developmental efforts over the past few years. Landrum stops by the virtual Speak Easy studio to talk about securing Amazon's HQ2 in the region and AEDP's work supporting the local economy during COVID-19.