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Oscar Hijuelos' "Mambo Kings."

Writer Oscar Hijuelos. His new novel, The Mambo Kings Play Songs of Love, is the story of Cuban immigrant brothers who work by day at grimy, exhausting jobs in a meat-packing house, but by night, in silk suits and lace ties, play the mambo, the vibrant, footloose music of Cuba. Surrounded by musicians wearing vests decorated with sequined palm trees, the Castillo brothers try to secure their own version of the American Dream. Their lives climax when they appear on the "I Love Lucy Show,". Hijuelos' first novel, Our House In the Last World, was a largely autobiographical account of the Cuban immigrant experience.

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Other segments from the episode on August 28, 1989

Fresh Air with Terry Gross, August 28, 1989: Interview with Raul Julia; Review of Louie Bellson's album "East Side Suite"; Interview with Oscar Hijuelos; Review of the television program "FM."
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22:04

Raul Julia Discusses His Life and Career.

Actor Raul Julia. His films include "Kiss of the Spider Woman," "Moon Over Parador," "Tango Bar" and the recent "Tequila Sunrise." His latest film, "Romero," is based on the life, and assassination, of the Salvadoran Archbishop Oscar Romero.

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07:00

Louis Bellson Helps Keep Big Band Music Alive.

Jazz Critic KEVIN WHITEHEAD reviews the latest album by jazz drummer and big band leader Louie Bellson. Bellson, the husband of Pearl Bailey, has been drumming since three. When he was 17, he won a nationwide competition sponsored by Gene Kruppa that launched his career. He's played for Benny Goodman, Tommy Dorsey, Harry James and Duke Ellington.

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