Ari Shapiro's Och & Oy! / Indiana's LGBTQ+ music pioneer Bruz Fletcher

January 31, 2024

This week on Cultural Manifesto, listen to an interview with NPR’s Ari Shapiro. He’ll discuss his cabaret act Och & Oy!, a collaboration with the Scottish actor Alan Cumming. The pair will perform Och & Oy! in Indiana this February.

We’ll also discuss the life and music of the Indiana songwriter Bruz Fletcher, a pioneer of LGBTQ+ music during the 1930s. Born into one of the wealthiest families in Indiana, Bruz was raised in Laurel Hall, an extravagant mansion located in northeast Indianapolis. His life was filled with both luxury and tragedy. The singer-songwriter took his own life in 1941 at the age of 34.

Author Tyler Alpern talks with host Kyle Long about the music of Bruz Fletcher. Alpern is the author of the 2010 biography "Bruz Fletcher: Camped, Tramped and A Riotous Vamp.”

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