Kurt Vonnegut at 100
Sean MurphySo It Goes: Reflections on Kurt Vonnegut (written after his death in 2007 and included in my first collection of non-fiction, Murphy's Law Vol. One). Kurt Vonnegut would say in…
Original Poem: RICHARD PRYOR ON THE SUNSET STRIP, 1982: AN EXEGESIS
I consider Richard Pryor's Live in Concert ('79) the single best stand up special in history. But Live on the Sunset Strip is possibly more important (maybe even better, if…
Sy Johnson: RIP
Let's face it. There were few human beings who could give Charles Mingus what he needed (what he wanted? the universe can't contain such multitudes and appetites); there were a…
The American Cauldron
America has always been a cauldron of inconsistencies; so often in our history we’ve ended up with brilliance, tolerance, and progress only after every other option has been exhausted. We’re…
Original Poem: Howlin’ Wolf’s Harp
It was a huge thrill to have my poem "Billie Holiday's Deathbed" published (and nominated for a Pushcart Prize) by Decolonial Passage and I'm equally happy to see my new…
Original Poem: Hagler vs. Hearns, 1985
My thanks to the excellent journal 805 Lit + Art for publishing my poem Hagler and Hearns, 1985. I'm especially grateful because, let's face it, arguably the only thing more…
The Centennial of Charles Mingus
Charles Mingus had many things to say, and he used his mouth, his pen, his fists, and mostly his music to say them. Of the myriad words that describe Mingus, passionate would…
The Blackened Blues LIVE: Poetry and Music with Sean Murphy and Quentin Walston
The Barns of Rose Hill partnered with 1455 Literary Arts for a special reading with Sean Murphy, who read from his new collection The Blackened Blues, accompanied by pianist Quentin…
Original Poem: Ornette Coleman’s Question
"Ornette Coleman" by Warren Goodson It's such a blessing for a writer to find publications that "get" them and I continue to enjoy the support from Jerry Jazz Musician. This…
WordShedNYC Presents: THE BLACKENED BLUES
Huge gratitude to Leah Elimeliah, the mastermind of WordShedNYC, for curating this reading and Q&A, 1455’s last official event of 2021! (Leah also participated in the 2021 Summer Fest and her poetry appears in…