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Soul Music Songwriter Dan Penn Steps Forward to "Do Right'

Penn has written classics like "Do Right Woman," "Cry Like a Baby," "Sweet Inspiration," and "I'm Your Puppet." His compositions have been made famous by the likes of Aretha Franklin, James Carr, Percy Sledge, Solomon Burke and Otis Redding. Penn left his tiny hometown of Vernon, Alabama when he was sixteen -- a white kid, singing like Ray Charles and in love with black music. Now, 36 years later, Penn performed his own songs on his album released last year, "Do Right Man." (Rebroadcast)

10:43

Other segments from the episode on February 10, 1995

Fresh Air with Terry Gross, February 10, 1995: Interview with Dan Penn; Interview with Jerry Wexler; Interview with Steve Cropper; Review of the film "The Secret of Roan Inish."

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