Sep 10, 2026 · 52 min · 11 segments
In this episode of the **Bookum Author Talks Podcast**, we talk with author and journalist **Colin Asher** about his book **The Midnight Special: The Secret Prison History of American Music**. Colin…
Colin AsherGuestKyle ColleyHostAnd it's just interesting because you talk about Rikers Island and obviously, you know, more modern day people might think of Lil Wayne when he went to Rikers Island.
But that was a, there was a lot of talent that was continuing to be, that made music in Rikers Island.
And I think it's just an interesting point of view where it's like music plays such a big part in keeping people optimistic in jail.
So I'm curious, especially when you think about someone like Ike White as one of those people that I look at when you talk about music really
So Ike, just for your listeners, he was incarcerated for one very serious crime.
It feels weird to say what I'm about to say, but he was sort of fortunate to end up in prison when he did.
He ends up in California prisons in a time when people were really legitimately wrestling with, like, what role should prisons play in society? If we're going to lock people up, what are we going to do with them? And because of that.
He went in being able to play a little piano and guitar, but by the time he gets out about 14 and a half years later, he can play a dozen instruments, he's written hundreds of songs, he's formed and played with a ton of bands.
And, you know, prisons at the time, not all of them, not all the time, but many of them were interested in this sort of experimentation.
Like, if we allow people to express themselves, if we allow people this outlet to cling to their humanity, is this going to be a benefit for everybody? And, you know, Ike understood what music did for him inside.
And I think that that's one of the reasons I chose him is that I wanted one section of the book that mostly took place in a prison.
Everybody else, mostly it's their career and how it's affected by policing and incarceration.
And it's just interesting because you talk about Rikers Island and obviously, you know, more modern day people might think of Lil Wayne when he went to Rikers Island.
But that was a, there was a lot of talent that was continuing to be, that made music in Rikers Island.
And I think it's just an interesting point of view where it's like music plays such a big part in keeping people optimistic in jail.
So I'm curious, especially when you think about someone like Ike White as one of those people that I look at when you talk about music really
So Ike, just for your listeners, he was incarcerated for one very serious crime.
It feels weird to say what I'm about to say, but he was sort of fortunate to end up in prison when he did.
He ends up in California prisons in a time when people were really legitimately wrestling with, like, what role should prisons play in society? If we're going to lock people up, what are we going to do with them? And because of that.
He went in being able to play a little piano and guitar, but by the time he gets out about 14 and a half years later, he can play a dozen instruments, he's written hundreds of songs, he's formed and played with a ton of bands.
And, you know, prisons at the time, not all of them, not all the time, but many of them were interested in this sort of experimentation.
Like, if we allow people to express themselves, if we allow people this outlet to cling to their humanity, is this going to be a benefit for everybody? And, you know, Ike understood what music did for him inside.
And I think that that's one of the reasons I chose him is that I wanted one section of the book that mostly took place in a prison.
Everybody else, mostly it's their career and how it's affected by policing and incarceration.
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