CBS Sunday Morning for February 8

COVER STORY:

David Axelrod

As a senior advisor to President Barack Obama, David Axelrod was right in the thick of some of the thorniest, most important, and most controversial events of the past several years.

He's written a book detailing his rise to the top of the political food chain, as well as the personal struggles he encountered along the way, including trying to be a good husband and a father to a daughter suffering from epilepsy.

Jim Axelrod (no relation!) sits down with the political insider for the inside scoop on what goes on inside the Oval Office.

For more info:

• "Believer: My Forty Years in Politics" by David Axelrod (Penguin); Also available in eBook, Unabridged Audio Download and Unabridged Audio CDformats

ALMANAC: The creator of the Xerox machine
February 8, 1906, was the birthday of Chester Carlson, who would invent a process dubbed "electrophotography" to copy documents. Charles Osgood reports.

For more info:

• Chester Carlson and Xerography (Xerox.com)
• "Copies in Seconds: How a Lone Inventor and an Unknown Company Created the Biggest Communication Breakthrough Since Gutenberg - Chester Carlson and the Birth of Xerox" by David Owen (Simon & Schuster); Also available in eBook format

BODY ART: Tattoos
When it comes to body art, beauty really IS skin deep. More than 45 million Americans have gone under the gun for a tattoo, with many putting themselves in the hands of classically-trained artists. Faith Salie reports.

For more info:

• fridayjones.net
• tattoohistorian.com (Anna Felicity Friedman)
• Follow @tattoohistorian on Twitter
• "Tattoo Nation" (Official site)
• lyletuttle.com

SUNDAY PROFILE: LL Cool J
Music lovers across the country will take note this Sunday, for that's when the 57th Annual Grammy Awards will be handed out in Los Angeles. It's a show not to be missed, with many of the biggest stars in the music business -- and there to make sure a good time is had by all will be the host, rapper and actor LL Cool J.

From his humble childhood to his starring role in the hit CBS drama, "NCIS: Los Angeles," LL Cool J has always found a way to come out on top, all the while keeping his sense of humor intact.

Michelle Miller gets a backstage pass for her captivating interview.

For more info:

• llcoolj.com
• Follow @llcoolj on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube
• "NCIS: Los Angeles" (cbs.com)
• 57th Annual Grammy Awards (grammy.com)
• List of Grammy nominees
• Watch a live stream of the Grammys on cbs.com - Including the complete Grammy Premiere Ceremony and red carpet arrivals, backstage access, and in-audience correspondents

THE GRAMMYS: Now Hear This

THE ENVELOPE, PLEASE...: JK Simmons
During the past 30 years actor J.K. Simmons has quietly carved out a very remarkable career. With TV roles on "Law and Order" and the groundbreaking HBO prison series, "Oz," as well as in such films as "Juno" and the Spider-Man franchise, Simmons has proved to be a versatile, dependable professional.

But in the new film "Whiplash," Simmons may have found the role of a lifetime as an intimidating, fearsome music professor. He's already won numerous awards for the role, and may just take home an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.

John Blackstone pays a visit with Simmons to talk about his long and winding road ... to the Oscars!

For more info:

• "Whiplash" (Sony Pictures Classics)

HARTMAN: Reunion

FOR THE RECORD: Weil and Mann
If the names Barry Mann & Cynthia Weil don't ring a bell, the names of some of their songs certainly will. Mann & Weil are the husband-and-wife songwriting team behind such classics as "You've Got That Lovin' Feelin'," "On Broadway," "He's So Shy" and countless others.

Rita Braver talks to one of the greatest songwriting teams of the past 50 years, and hears stories from their days with Phil Spector, to the new Broadway show "Beautiful," which recounts their friendship and competitive relationship wth Carole King & Gerry Goffin. We're sure you'll be singing along!

For more info:

• mann-weil.com (Official website)
• Follow @MannWeil on Twitter
• "I'm Glad I Did" by Cynthia Weil (Soho Teen); Also available in eBook format
• "Beautiful: The Carol King Musical" at the Stephen Sondheim Theatre, New York City | Tickets available via Telecharge | North American Tour schedule(Beginning September 2015)
• "Beautiful" original cast recording (Ghostlight); available via Amazon andiTunes

MUSIC: Images from Laurel Canyon
Anthony Mason takes us on a picturesque tour of L.A.'s iconic Laurel Canyon, home to rock and roll royalty, with photographer Henry Diltz.

For more info:

• henrydiltz.com
• Henry Diltz at Morrison Hotel Gallery - Fine Art Music Photography
• The Grammy Museum at L.A. Live, Los Angeles
• Follow the @TheGrammyMuseum on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram andYouTube

CALENDAR: Week of February 9
"Sunday Morning" takes a look at some notable events of the week ahead. Charles Osgood reports.

OPINION: Valentine's Day
Comedian Jim Gaffigan looks forward to the big day.

For more info:

• jimgaffigan.com
• Follow Jim Gaffigan on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram

NATURE: Damselflies
We leave you this Sunday before Valentine's Day at Pinnacles National Park in California . . . where damselflies in courtship look very much like a heart.