Loudon Wainwright III wrote his first song in 1968, “Edgar” (about a lobsterman in Rhode Island) and was soon signed to Atlantic Records by Nesuhi Ertegun. Clive Davis lured him to Columbia Records -- which released "Dead Skunk.” His recording career now consists of 25 albums, also including last year's five-disc retrospective 40 Odd Years and his most recent studio album 10 Songs For The New Depression (2010).

Wainwright's songs have been recorded by Johnny Cash, Earl Scruggs, Kate & Anna McGarrigle, Rufus Wainwright, and Mose Allison, among others. He has collaborated with songwriter/producer Joe Henry on the music for Judd Apatow’s hit movie Knocked Up, written music for the British theatrical adaptation of the Carl Hiaasen novel Lucky You, and composed topical songs for NPR’s Morning Edition and All Things Considered and ABC’s Nightline.

Also an accomplished actor, Wainwright has appeared in films directed by Martin Scorsese, Hal Ashby, Christopher Guest, Tim Burton, Cameron Crowe, and Judd Apatow. He has also starred on TV in M.A.S.H. and Undeclared, and on Broadway in Pump Boys and Dinettes.

On his latest release, Older Than My Old Man Now, no less than 5 generations of Wainwrights make contributions--it contains duets with Rufus, Martha, Lucy Wainwright Roche, Lexie Kelly Wainwright, Suzzy Roche, along with other esteemed guests John Scofield, Ramblin’ Jack Elliott and Dame Edna Everage.

As his new album's title relates, Loudon Wainwright III is Older Than My Old Man Now -- his old man being the late Loudon Wainwright, Jr., the esteemed Life Magazine columnist and senior editor.

"Singer-songwriter contemporaries of mine have recently taken to writing memoirs and autobiographies," notes Wainwright. "I decided I would try to tell the story of my swinging life in a three and one-half minute song."

Dash Rip Rock

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Julie Christensen -photo by Diego Uchitel 1. What is your best childhood memory? Singing at the top of my lungs up the hill at my gradeschool playground, and watching storms come in from there... 2. If you could have a room full of any one thing, what would it be? Memory-foam pillows covered in cool linen of many earthy colors, scented with myrrh and neroli oils. 3. What is your favorite flavor of ice cream? Butter Pecan 4. If you could be any fictional character, whom would you be? "Frenchy", the singing saloon-gal with a heart of gold, from "Destry Rides Again". She's tough as nails, but takes a bullet for the bighearted man of principles and integrity whom she loves. I'm not sure why that one came up, but Dietrich played her... Maybe I just want to be Marlene Dietrich, whose persona itself is probably fictional. 5. What's the one thing you own that you know you should get rid of but never will? My early-1960's gold lame' sheath dress. 6. What book are you currently reading (or the last one you read)? "On the Road" by Jack Kerouac, again. Been savoring it over a long time... 7. What is your favorite word, phrase, quote or lyric? "There is a crack, a crack in everything. That's how the light gets in." -- from "Anthem" by Leonard Cohen. 8. What is the most inspiring concert or performance you have ever seen? Etta James and her young band in the fall of 1981 at Club Lingerie in Los Angeles. I'd left my first husband behind in Austin, and he was taking his sweet time following me out there, because he hated the idea. Etta sang Kiki Dee's "Sugar On The Floor" and I was weeping. 9. Name something you love that no one else seems to like. (Or name something that everyone seems to love except you.) Call me crazy, but I sometimes crave peanut butter and mayonnaise sandwiches on soft "whole wheat" bread with crisp lettuce. It has everything! And it's a great taste to acquire if you're always broke. Actually, my current husband of 20+ years also likes them. Maybe that's why we found each other! Download Julie's new release, Weeds Like Us, in her online store!