Gail Poch: An Unexpected Sketch

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Writing Richard Hunt’s story often unexpectedly yields its own good stories. In summer 2014, I was on Cape Cod interviewing Hunt’s sister Kate when she mentioned their “phenomenal” high school music teacher: Gail Poch. At Northern Valley High School in suburban New Jersey, Poch conducted Hunt in multiple choruses, directed him in school musicals, and hung out with him and his friends as they crowded into Poch’s room during free periods, playing records and rehearsing lines and singing, always singing. Poch wasn’t much older than the students, a beatnik who laughed at their jokes as he smoked endless cigarettes and swigged from a seemingly bottomless thermos of coffee. “I wonder how he is,” Kate said wistfully.

I looked him up the next day, still on the Cape. I figured I’d find an obituary – but instead I found Poch! He lived in the Boston area, where I was already planning to stop on my way home. I dialed him right up. “I’m sorry to bother you, but is this Gail Poch, the music teacher?” It was. “I’m writing Richard Hunt’s biography, and I was wondering if you might be able to meet for an interview…” Continue reading

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Toronto Fraggle Map

latest Richard Hunt spent many enjoyable days in the 1980s in Toronto filming Fraggle Rock, a harmonious show both on and off-screen, and a lesson in collaboration for today’s fractious time. I put together a map of Hunt’s spots in Toronto. Enjoy!

Picture: Dave Goelz filming Traveling Matt outside the studio.

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The Man Behind Gordon: An Interview with Roscoe Orman

OrmanIt’s a shame Sesame Workshop may be “letting go” three beloved actors, including the multifaceted Roscoe Orman, who did this great interview with me for the book: “The Man Behind Gordon”. Enjoy!

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Happy Birthday, Jerry Nelson

 Jerry Nelson performs the Count, Sesame Street, late 1970s.

Jerry Nelson performs the Count, Sesame Street, late 1970s.

Thinking of Jerry Nelson, who would have been 82 years young today. Here’s the biographical essay I wrote about him, “The Count Writes a Haiku”. Grateful for all his work to make “millions of people happy”.

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Summer Book News

Jim Henson biographer Brian Jay Jones and I at the BIO conference in 2014.

Jim Henson biographer Brian Jay Jones and I at the BIO conference in 2014.

  • Had a great time at the Biographers International Organization conference in Richmond last month, where I was applauded as a finalist for their Hazel Rowley Prize for a first-time biographer doing particularly promising work.
  • Readers may have noticed this website has become more mobile-friendly!
  • I’ll be releasing a new excerpt from the book for Richard Hunt’s birthday in August! Stay tuned!
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Funny Boy is Rowley Prize Finalist!

I’m proud to announce that Funny Boy: The Richard Hunt Biography is one of three finalists for the Hazel Rowley prize from the Biographers International Organization. The prize helps first-time biographers find publishers for their books. Sweet email this morning with the news: “Members of the committee enjoyed getting to know Richard Hunt.”

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