July 2010 Guide: Music Central

A reporter once asked Ringo Starr the secret of his masterful drumming. “My heartbeat keeps the tempo,” he replied. “I have a great time when I’m performing. It’s the rhythm of my heart and soul.”

Starr demonstrates plenty of heart and soul in the season premiere of the contemporary music series Live From the Artists Den (Fri 9^th, 9:30 p.m. on WNET; Sat 10^th, 10 p.m. on WLIW21). Folk-funk star Ben Harper and Relentless7 join the former Beatle for this intimate concert at The Metropolitan Museum of Art with special guest Joan Osborne.

The series will also feature Tori Amos (Fri 16^th, 9:30 p.m. on WNET; Sat 17^th, 10 p.m. on WLIW21) and Corinne Bailey Rae (Fri 30^th, 9:30 p.m. on WNET; Sat 31^st, 10 p.m. on WLIW21).

American Masters gets up close and personal with country legend Merle Haggard in Learning to Live With Myself (Wed 21st, 9 p.m.), while President Obama welcomes Paul McCartney to In Performance at The White House (Wed 28^th, 8 p.m.). Norah Jones performs her greatest hits on Soundstage (Fri 2^nd, 9:30 p.m.), and Jimmy Smits hosts A Capitol Fourth (Sun 4^th, 8 p.m.).

And opera fans won’t want to miss Great Performances at The Met’s presentation of Hamlet (Thu 15^th, 9 p.m.), starring Simon Keenlyside and Marlis Petersen.

So sit back and enjoy these lively music programs – all made possible by your support!