Dutch traders built a town at the end of Manhattan Island. Itbecame a rich trading center. But the British questioned the rightof the Dutch to control the area. The two nations went to war insixteen-fifty-two.
The governor of New Amsterdam was Peter Stuyvesant. He worriedthat British settlers in New England would attack his town. Heordered that a protective wall be built at the north edge ofManhattan. The wall was more than seven-hundred meters long. Itextended from the Hudson River to the East River.
The British never attacked New Amsterdam. So the wall was nevertested in war. But the path beside it became known as Wall Street.Later, Wall Street became a street of banks and businesses.
Today, other streets in New York are known for one product orindustry. Madison Avenue is the advertising center. Eighth Avenuebusinesses make clothing. Fifth Avenue stores sell costly clothesand jewelry. And Broadway is the street of famous theaters.
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
HOST:
Several famous recording artists were named to the Rock and RollHall of Fame last week during a ceremony in New York City. The Hallof Fame honors recording artists for their importance and influencein rock and roll. Musicians can become members twenty-five yearsafter their first recordings. Shep O’Neal tells us about the newmembers.
ANNOUNCER:
A group called ZZ Top became amember of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame last week. ZZ Top has beenperforming blues and rock music for more than thirty years. Here isone of its songs, “Tube Snake Boogie.”
(MUSIC)
Two other groups were chosen for the Rock and Roll Hall of Famethis year. One is Traffic. The other is the Dells. This group hasperformed and recorded for more than fifty years. It is well knownfor its smooth soul music. Here is an example, the Dells’ hit song,”Oh What a Night.”
(MUSIC)
Singers Jackson Browne, Bob Seger and the late George Harrisonalso became members of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. And Jann(Yahn) Wenner received the Lifetime Achievement Award for helpingstart the magazine “Rolling Stone.”
We leave you now with a song from Prince, another new member ofthe Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. It is one of his biggest hits,”Purple Rain.”
(MUSIC)
HOST:
This is Doug Johnson.
Send us your questions about American life! Be sure to includeyour name and postal address. We will send you a gift if we use yourquestion.
Send e-mail to mosaic@voanews.com. Or write to American Mosaic,VOA Special English, Washington, D.C., two-zero-two-three-seven,USA.
Our program was written by Nancy Steinbach. Caty Weaver was ourproducer.
I hope you enjoyed AMERICAN MOSAIC. Join us again next week forVOA’s radio magazine in Special English.