Greg Kot (born March 3, 1957) is an American music journalist and author. From 1990 until 2020, Kot was the rock music critic at the Chicago Tribune,[1] where he covered popular music and reported on music-related social, political and business issues. Kot co-hosts the radio program Sound Opinions, which introduces itself as "the world's only rock 'n' roll talk show", nationally syndicated through Chicago Public Radio, WBEZ.[2]
Greg Kot | |
|---|---|
_(cropped).jpg) Kot in 2009 | |
| Born | March 3, 1957 |
| Occupation | Journalist, author |
| Language | English |
| Genre | music journalism |
A native of Syracuse, New York, Kot graduated from Marquette University.[3] Kot started his career at the Quad City Times in Davenport, Iowa in June 1978[4] and then joined the Chicago Tribune in 1980.[3] He was named the paper's rock music critic in 1990, and held that job until taking a buyout from the Tribune in early 2020.[3]
Kot has co-hosted the radio show Sound Opinions since its 1993 launch.[5] The show is syndicated to about 150 radio stations nationwide and also exists as a weekly podcast.[5] In 2020, Chicago's WBEZ terminated its production agreement with Sound Opinions, although the show will continue to be produced independently.[5]
Kot's books include Wilco: Learning How to Die, Ripped: How the Wired Generation Revolutionized Music, and I'll Take You There: Mavis Staples, the Staple Singers and the March up Freedom's Highway.[6] He co-authored The Beatles vs. The Rolling Stones: Sound Opinions on the Great Rock 'n' Roll Rivalry (Voyageur Press) with his Sound Opinions co-host Jim DeRogatis.[7] His music criticism and journalism has appeared in Encyclopædia Britannica,[6] Cash: By the Editors of Rolling Stone, Harrison: A Rolling Stone tribute to George Harrison, The Trouser Press Guide to '90s Rock, The Rolling Stone Album Guide and MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide.[8] A longtime contributor to Rolling Stone, Kot has written for a dozen national publications,[9] including Details, Blender, Entertainment Weekly, Men's Journal, Guitar World, Vibe and Request.[6]
Kot lives on Chicago's Northwest Side and is a longtime youth basketball coach.[10]
Bibliography
edit- Wilco: Learning How to Die, Broadway Books (June 15, 2004)
- Ripped: How the Wired Generation Revolutionized Music, Scribner (May 19, 2009)
- I’ll Take You There: Mavis Staples, the Staple Singers and the March up Freedom’s Highway, Scribner (January 21, 2014)[11]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Greg Kot Biography". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on August 27, 2011. Retrieved August 29, 2011.
- ^ "The Sound Opinions Station List". WBEZ. Archived from the original on August 25, 2011. Retrieved August 30, 2011.
- ^ a b c Feder, Robert (February 5, 2020). "Music critic Greg Kot leaving Chicago Tribune". www.robertfeder.com.
- ^ Schechter, Dave (September 23, 2009). ""The Boss" is 60". ac360.blogs.cnn.com. Archived from the original on March 23, 2021. Retrieved July 2, 2020.
- ^ a b c Feder, Robert (June 16, 2020). "WBEZ cuts 12 jobs, ends production deal with 'Sound Opinions' (but the show will go on)". www.robertfeder.com.
- ^ a b c "Greg Kot – Host of Sound Opinions". Biography. WBEZ. Archived from the original on August 7, 2007. Retrieved August 29, 2011.
- ^ Reid, Graham (August 8, 2011). "The Beatles vs. The Rolling Stones by Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot". Review. Elsewhere. Retrieved August 29, 2011.
- ^ Gary Graff & Daniel Durchholz (eds), MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide, Visible Ink Press (Farmington Hills, MI, 1999; ISBN 1-57859-061-2), p. xix.
- ^ "Greg Kot". Host, Sound Opinions. Chicago Public Media. Archived from the original on March 29, 2012. Retrieved August 29, 2011.
- ^ "Greg Kot". WBEZ Chicago.
- ^ Kot, Greg (January 21, 2014). I'll Take You There: Mavis Staples, the Staple Singers, and the March up Freedom's Highway. Simon and Schuster. ISBN 978-1451647853.
External links
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