On The Record

When Wé McDonald’s dad Mac got her a try out for "The Voice", he surprised her with the news the day before the audition. She aced the audition with a rendition of Beyonce’s “Listen. and proceeded to blaze through the competitive rounds of the show's 2016 season. She made it all the way to the finals, where she finished third. Hear the inside story of how she got that far in Episode Three of our podcast "Head Held High – the Wé McDonald story." Photo by Tyler Golden/NBC

Wé McDonald discovered her amazing singing voice at age 12 But she also had been harboring a painful childhood secret. She had been bullied during her middle school years Kids made fun of her name and her “squeaky” little girl normal speaking voice. The experience would later become part of her first children's book, "The Little Girl with the Big Voice." Learn more in Episode 2 of our podcast "Head Held High - The Wé McDonald Story" Record photo by Kevin Wexler

Did you know there was a 1902 Broadway production of "The Wizard of Oz." It was a smash hit and contributed to the 1939 classic movie. But as Record entertainment writer Jim Beckerman explains - the show had very little resemblance to the movie. In this episode of On the Record, Jim plays some of the songs from the musical, which had its roots in vaudeville.

Montclair author and journalist Jonathan Alter talks about the new HBO documentary he and two other film makers made on the life and careers of New York City columnist Pete Hamill and Jimmy Breslin. The film, "Breslin and Hamill - Deadline Artists" debuts on Jan. 28. Photo by Brian Hamill/Courtesy HBO.

Former New York Yankees closer Mariano Rivera has been elected unanimously to the Baseball Hall of Fame. He is the first player to be chosen unanimously in 75 years of balloting. In this episode of On the Record, Pete Caldera, who covers the Yankees for The Record, talks about why voting for Mariano was an easy choice. Record file photo by Tyson Trish.

Record entertainment reporter Jim Beckerman discusses this year's Oscar nominations in this episode of On the Record. Jim notes that the nominations present a mixed picture for women in film. The two films that scored the most nominations - The Favourite and Roma - both feature strong roles for women. But women directors did not fare as well. AP Photo.

In honor of Martin Luther King Day, we replay this episode of On the Record that first aired in March 2018. King made his last public appearance in New Jersey when he gave a speech on March 27, 1968 at the Community Baptist Church in Paterson just days before he was assassinated in Memphis. In this episode, Record photojournalist Kevin R. Wexler talks with several Paterson residents who were there that day.

The Miracle on the Hudson, a 1963 Paterson school shooting and efforts to revive New Jersey's hard cider industry are all part of this week's "The Best of On the Record." The episodes includes conversations with Record reporters Ricardo Kaulessar, Catherine Carrera and Chris Maag plus an excerpt from New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy's State of the State speech.

This week marked five years since the death of Bergen County track star Madison Holleran. This seemed an appropriate time to re-issue an On the Record episode from January 2018 when ESPN writer Kate Fagan spoke to more than 500 people at the Ramsey High School auditorium. Fagan talked about her book "What Made Maddie Run". and the topic of teen anxiety. We also hear from Record sports columnist Darren Cooper. Record photo by Mitsu Yasukawa.

Record columnist Chris Maag talks about a May 1963 shooting at a Paterson School playground that drew a very different reaction that it would have today.

Record reporter Catherine Carrera talks about how a Rutgers University researcher is helping grow the apples needs for orchards to produce hard cider. In this episode of On the Record, we also talk with John Melick, one of the largest apple growers in New Jersey, whose family has been farming here for 300 years. Record photo by Chris Pedota.

Gov. Phil Murphy used his first State of the State speech to talk about a recent report that found problems with an economic development tax incentive program. In this episode of On the Record, political columnist Charles Stile offers his analysis of the speech. Record photo by Chris Pedota.

There are plenty of family run restaurants. But how often do a mother and son run separate restaurants on the same block? That's what Sheree Sarabhaya and Luck Sarabhayavinija do on Bloomfield Avenue in Montclair. Her Thai food restaurant Kai Yang is down the block from his Ramen house, Ani Ramen. Record food writer Rebecca King interviews both of them in this episode of On the Record. Photo by Anne-Marie Caruso.

Tuesday marks the 10th anniversary of "The Miracle on the Hudson" the emergency landing of U.S. Airways Flight 1549 on the Hudson River and the subsequent rescue of the passengers and crew. In this episode of On the Record, reporter Ricardo Kaulessar talks about the dramatic water landing and rescue.

This week the "Best of On the Record" includes a harrowing 911 call from a Paterson man, the battle over a plastic ban and the 20th anniversary of The Sopranos. We also hear about CBD-infused drinks and visit with an Irish barber who offers haircuts and memories to men with dementia.

On the 20th anniversary of the premiere of The Sopranos we look back at the cultural impact this ground-breaking HBO series had on television drama. Record entertainment writer Jim Beckerman talks about the show's legacy in this episode of On the Record.

Record environmental reporter Scott Fallon discusses the battle brewing between plastic bag manufacturers and environmentalists over a bill that would ban certain types of plastic bags, straws and containers. Record photo by Anne-Marie Caruso.

Paterson Press Editor Joe Malinconico discusses the 911 tapes released by Paterson Police. The tapes were release in response to a public records request by The Record and northjersey.com. Lowery's death is under investigation. He made a frantic Facebook Live video at Police Headquarters before being hospitalized. He died on Monday. Residents have rallied seeking answers to why the 27-year-old Lowery died. Record photo by Danielle Parhizkaran.

Record Food Editor Esther Davidowitz talks about some of the top dining and drinking trends for 2019 as described to her by North Jersey chefs and restaurant owners in this episode of On the Record. Record photo by Mitsu Yasukawa.

John Yank Jr. has spent a lifetime building everything from tug boats and ferries to lobster boats and oyster trawlers. He built them with aluminum, steel and fiberglass. But as he tells Record columnist Chris Maag, Yank never lost his love of building wooden boats. Record photo by Michael Karas.