So many key contributors to contemporary music's canon hang out at the local Coffee Bean or have their kids in your preschool. Count Wendy Melvoin and Lisa Coleman among my favorites -- goddesses with no pretense and unflagging energy.
Best known for their early work with Prince, Wendy and Lisa have forged a career well worth emulating since departing his Revolution more than two decades ago. As composers, they've written for such films as Dangerous Minds and such television shows as Crossing Jordan and Heroes. As producers, they've helped realize projects with everyone from Seal to Eric Clapton to k.d. lang. They've also made some great pop music under their own names -- most recently the lush, complex 2009 album White Flags of Winter Chimneys, self-released and available on the duo's website.
At 7 tonight, Wendy and Lisa will join me in a public conversation at USC's Annenberg School for Communication. The event is free. The duo answered a few questions via email as a preview for our talk.
