© 2024 Blue Ridge Public Radio
Blue Ridge Mountains banner background
Your source for information and inspiration in Western North Carolina.
Donate
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
103.1 FM (BPR Classic) in Hendersonville is currently down. Our team is investigating the outages.

‘ROW’: A Musical Odyssey Of One Woman’s Solo Boat Trip Across The Atlantic

WUNC | By Frank Stasio,
Kaia Findlay
Published October 2, 2020 at 12:14 PM EDT
Tori Murden McClure, the first woman to row solo across the Atlantic Ocean, and singer-songwriter Dawn Landes
Tori Murden McClure, the first woman to row solo across the Atlantic Ocean, and singer-songwriter Dawn Landes

In 1998, Tori Murden McClure set off in a boat she made herself to become the first woman to row solo across the Atlantic Ocean. She did not make it. Eighty-five days into her journey, Hurricane Danielle capsized her boat more times than she could count. 

Host Frank Stasio talks with singer-songwriter Dawn Landes about her newly released album, ROW.McClure returned to her home in Louisville, rebuilt her boat and tried again in 1999. This time, she achieved her goal and became the first woman and first American to row solo across the Atlantic Ocean. McClure’s story of determination and perseverance is the subject of the new musical “Row.” Louisville native and North Carolina-based singer-songwriter Dawn Landes wrote the music and lyrics for the musical. The music and the script, written by playwright Daniel Goldstein, are based on McClure’s memoir, “A Pearl in the Storm.” While the musical’s debut was interrupted by the coronavirus, Landes’ album “Row” was released Oct. 2.

Host Frank Stasio talks with Landes about the music that documents McClure’s adventure and the parallels between their lives that drew Landes to McClure’s story.

Copyright 2020 North Carolina Public Radio
Frank Stasio
Longtime NPR correspondent Frank Stasio was named permanent host of The State of Things in June 2006. A native of Buffalo, Frank has been in radio since the age of 19. He began his public radio career at WOI in Ames, Iowa, where he was a magazine show anchor and the station's News Director.
See stories by Frank Stasio
Kaia Findlay
Kaia Findlay is a producer for The State of Things, WUNC's daily, live talk show. Kaia grew up in Minneapolis, Minnesota, in a household filled with teachers and storytellers. In elementary school, she usually fell asleep listening to recordings of 1950s radio comedy programs. After a semester of writing for her high school newspaper, she decided she hated journalism. While pursuing her bachelor’s in environmental studies at UNC-Chapel Hill, she got talked back into it. Kaia received a master’s degree from the UNC Hussman School of Journalism, where she focused on reporting and science communication. She has published stories with Our State Magazine, Indy Week, and HuffPost. She most recently worked as the manager for a podcast on environmental sustainability and higher education. Her reporting passions include climate and the environment, health and science, food and women’s issues. When not working at WUNC, Kaia goes pebble-wrestling, takes long bike rides, and reads while hammocking.
See stories by Kaia Findlay