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Paul Sinha looks at how music came to be where it is, pondering Dolly Parton’s popularity along the way. From 2014.

Paul Sinha looks through all of human history and examines how we came to be where we are.

In this edition, he takes as his starting point Dolly Parton's standout performance at the 2014 Glastonbury Festival.

How did 120,000 people in a Somerset field, plus many millions more at home, come to be watching a 68-year-old woman from Tennessee on a Sunday afternoon?

The story inevitably takes in a Haitian rebellion, Slovenian hunting, Scottish whisky, Italian electronics and the American son of a Russian farmer who didn't like music.

Because nothing and no-one exists in a vacuum.

Written and performed by Paul Sinha.

Producer: Ed Morrish

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in December 2014.

30 minutes

Last on

Thu 29 May 202522:30
BBC Radio 4 Extra

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Credits

WriterPaul Sinha
PerformerPaul Sinha
ProducerEd Morrish

Broadcasts

  • Wed 10 Dec 201418:30
    BBC Radio 4
  • Wed 17 Dec 201407:30
    BBC Radio 4 Extra
  • Wed 17 Dec 201422:00
    BBC Radio 4 Extra
  • Sat 10 Nov 201822:00
    BBC Radio 4 Extra
  • Sun 13 Dec 202012:30
    BBC Radio 4 Extra
  • Sun 13 Dec 202017:30
    BBC Radio 4 Extra
  • Sun 13 Dec 202022:00
    BBC Radio 4 Extra
  • Mon 14 Dec 202005:30
    BBC Radio 4 Extra
  • Thu 16 Mar 202322:30
    BBC Radio 4 Extra
  • Thu 29 May 202522:30
    BBC Radio 4 Extra

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