Radio Waves - April, 2003
by Rob Payer
Greetings, music lovers! By the time this month's issue of Rhythm City Magazine goes to print, the WBRH/KBRH spring fund drive will be ending (Sunday, April 6th is the final day). The purpose of these fundraisers is to keep the stations on the air. Plain and simple. When you listeners call in to make a pledge, it lets us know that we have your support and that you enjoy the stations and want to help us stay strong. The students enrolled in the program benefit, you benefit...everybody wins! It's still not too late to make your pledge, so call if you can.
The big news this month is the addition to our Sunday lineup on AM 1260, KBRH; the Cajun & Zydeco Show. Host Clarence Moritz, Jr., who has hosted a similar show in Atlanta for 8 years, recently moved back to his home state of Louisiana and, wouldn't you know it, the radio bug bit again. Clarence is quite the authority on Cajun and zydeco music and has a monster collection he enjoys sharing with Baton Rouge listeners. Tune in to KBRH Sunday's from 1-2pm and be sure to pick up next month's Rhythm City for a complete schedule of shows on AM 1260.
This month, we take a look at our Classic Jazz Sunday line up on FM 90.3, WBRH. This is definitely a day for jazz lovers.
6am-7am Jazz Profiles
Grammy and Emmy award winner Nancy Wilson shines the spotlight on the legends and the up'n'comers. Live performances and great studio moments mix for a perfect eye-opener.
7am-8am NPR's Piano Jazz
Hosted by the delightful Marion McPartland. She's a jazz legend. Prove it? Ok, this lady appeared in the famous photo "A Great Day in Harlem" alongside Count Basie, Thelonious Monk and many others. An intimate interview/performance hour not to be missed.
8am-11am Music On The Sunny Side Of The Street
Any Big Band and swing fans out there? Dr. Fritz McCameron revisits popular music from the golden age, featuring classics common to juke boxes of the 40's and 50's. Throw in some show tunes, contemporary artists doing old standards, and a lot of fun, and you have three hours of blissful nostalgia.
11am-12noon Jazz Brunch
The newest addition to our Sunday format, hosted by a familiar voice to local public radio listeners, Shirley Sands. This hour flies by and your hostess brings sweet sounds to the table every Sunday. Pure heaven.
12pm-1pm Classic Jazz
Host Dr. Bill Pryor has been an integral part of our Sunday line-up for years. An expert on Count Basie, Wes Montgomery, Woody Herman (and ALL of his Thundering Herds) and a big fan of vocal groups (the Four Lads, anyone?).
Does he know jazz? Does he exude jazz? Yes. Yes he does. A real class act.
1pm-2pm Jazz From Lincoln Center
Do you watch "60 Minutes"? You might not know it, but regular Jazz-Fest attendant and Louisiana music lover Ed Bradley is a HUGE jazz fan. Live performance is the thing in this terrific radio program.
2pm-3pm Jazz Set
Hosted by highly acclaimed musician and human rights advocate (especially for the battle against world hunger) Dee Dee Bridgewater. Special tributes, live features, and exclusive interviews are the ingredients to a perfect afternoon jazz snack.
3pm-7pm Jazz on the Half Shell
Possibly the greatest four hours of jazz programming on planet Earth today. For more than 25 years, Zia (the Cat) Tammami has brought smooth, swingin' jazz music to a grateful Baton Rouge, and he's not through with you yet. Latin, Sinatra, Bop, and more all mix seamlessly till 6pm, then it's "Dinner Jazz". You must hear this final hour to believe it.
Yep, we take you from sun up to sun down with a perfectly sassy Sunday soundtrack. Please call us with your comments and suggestions.
For the month of April, the following legends will be celebrating birthdays, and I'll be featuring their music on the Rhythm Review:
April 5, Arthur Conley (b. 4/1/46), Amos Milburn (b. 4/1/27), Marvin Gaye (b. 4/3/39), Jimmy McGriff (b. 4/3/36), Major Lance (b. 4/4/42), Muddy Waters (b. 4/4/15)
April 12, J.J. Jackson (b. 4/8/41)
April 19, Al Green (b. 4/13/46), Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown (b. 4/18/24 in Vinton, La.)
April 26, Albert King (b. 4/25/23)
Make sure to tune in this month for exclusive interviews with Blues Week performers Marcia Ball, Tony Joe White, Tab Benoit, and the Flett Brothers of A-Train and the Bluebirds fame.