Sharing Steinbeck and Pizza Secrets
Corny O'Connell and his son (photo by Amy Chen O'Connell)
In this weekly WFUV feature, our staffers pick a trio of their current personal faves that we think you might want to check out too. For his "Three From Me," morning host Corny O'Connell travels with his family from Mississippi to New Haven to shared memories of great literature.
George Jackson
My latest musical obsession is a songwriter and recording artist from Mississippi named George Jackson. My wife turned me on to him after hearing "Walking the City Streets" on Spotify. I can't count how many times I listened to that on repeat. You may know Jackson as the co-writer of "Old Time Rock and Roll" (a hit for Bob Seger) or "Aretha, Sing One for Me," which was covered by Cat Power. Check out some of the other material he left behind. His discography ranges from the mid-Sixties to about 2005 (not counting posthumous collections).
Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana
If you're ever in the vicinity of New Haven, Connecticut, be sure to visit Pepe's Pizza. This is the best pizza I've ever eaten (better than New York or Rome). Pepe's has been a family-run business since 1925. They use coal-fired brick ovens that measure 14 feet deep. It's quite a sight to see them pulling the pizzas out on peels long enough to reach the back. Come hungry and come early. The line can be long, but it's worth it.
Sharing Classics
I have a son in middle school. I like to read what he is reading and share recommendations with him. Recently, I've been rereading books from my own school days, such as Ernest Hemingway's The Old Man and the Sea, John Steinbeck's The Pearl, and George Orwell's Animal Farm. I have to admit, I was a reluctant reader back then. So it's much more enjoyable now that I can share the experience with my son, and I don't have to write a book report! (And the New York Public Library has launched a library card sign-up campaign all this month.)
Listen to Corny O'Connell weekday mornings on 90.7 WFUV and WFUV.org from 6-10 a.m., and participate in his "Question of the Day" feature at 9. On the move as you head for work? Find Corny via the FUV app too.
