a beloved native of the city of chicago, american folk singer and songwriter, steve goodman, was born on july 25, 1948, on chicago's north side. mr. goodman graduated from maine east high school in park ridge, illinois, in 1965 and enrolled at the university of illinois. after one year, mr. goodman left the university of illinois in order to pursue a musical career in 1968. he began performing at the famed earl of old town folk club in chicago's old town neighborhood, where he first attracted a large popular following and soon became a regular performer throughout the city. mr. goodman's subsequent and distinguished musical career evidenced his dual mastery, as well as his devotion to his hometown, and left a mark on folk music and the city of chicago. as noted by "the chicago tribune" earlier this month, his songs told wondrous stories and if you are a fan and lived in chicago and he was alive you certainly help but feel he was a pleasure, end quote. notably, mr. goodman released 10 folk music albums during his life. including modge his most enduring song was "the city of new orleans

i am going to forget the people, but john goodman, steve zaqhn, -- zahn.are blessed with an incredible cast, and if the show falls down, it will not be their fault. tavis: it seems to me that this is a story that is ripe for cameos. >> that is exactly right. we need to honor the real new orleans, and we have to use professional actors to convey our story, but one of the things that we did with "the wire" that we delighted in is that we used a real police, we'll politicians, wheel st. folk from west baltimore -- we used a real police -- we used real police, real politicians, real street folk. who are you going to cast as the great chef from new orleans than the great chef? tavis: i know you said earlier that this is not a series about crime, light -- like "the wire" was, but we read the paper every day that new orleans has a crime rate that they are not happy about. it celebrates the culture but does not cover rover the ugliness. >> right, we are going to have to -- does not cover over the ugliness. >> right, this is one of the most dysfunctionate cities. i