The site is for information and comments about the artists, authors, and persons of interest that I have had the honor and privilege of welcoming to the 3 radio programs I host or have hosted on WFDU--TRADITIONS, SUNDAY SIMCHA, TABLETALK.
There is commentary on a weekly or bi-weekly basis on other topics that are, hopefully, of interest.
In addition you will find playlists on a seperate page---link is just below. In additon I have hosted a guest version of TRADITIONs on XM Radio.
It has been sometime since THE ALMOST DAILY ROOSTER has made some comments. If you check there I think that you will find some interesting material, enjoyable music, and some comments about separating talent from politics.
NOW: A few program updates----
TRADITIONS: On July 13 I am delighted to welcome into the studio HUNGRYTOWN. Their sound is truly a think of joy and my comments are on their site--along with where you can see them and listen to some samples.
TABLETALK: July 13 brings us the quarterly review aired exclusively in the NY NJ Metro area of THE CAPITOL STEPS. Good thing to start your day with a great laugh and some wonderful political humor. July 20 SUSAN GROSS the author of a most readable book about the Federal Theatre Project and the WPA joins me for an in depth interview about her work and this amazing book that brings Harry Hopkins, Halley Flanagan, FDR and a myriad assortment of characters to wonderful life again in this insightful work. The book---FURIOUS IMPROVISATIONS--will bring all those people to life for you along with Orson Welles, John Houseman, and ever so much more.
Tabletalk airs at 8 AM ---you can always go to NPR after those 30 minutes are over and you will not miss their puzzle. Promise. This is an interview not to be missed---and a book that must be read.
SUNDAY SIMCHA: Besides a few more surprises comedy-wise we are anticipating the airing of some of the material from the original cast recording of SHLOMO. The show resumes in August and I suggest you check with the Museum of The Jewish Heritage for ticket availability prior to its move to Broadway.
Let us leave the world of music for a moment and recall the brilliant wit and wisdom of George Carlin. Like Richard Pryor, Lenny Bruce, and other such artists he advanced comedy to a whole new level. There are those, and I know a few, who could only see the obscenity that he used and hated his work. The same, they say, about Richard Pryor (and Lenny Bruce). The point they all miss is that none of them used obscenity for a shock effect as so many of the alleged "liberated" comics of today do. They made points with it. When it was not called for they did not use it. An example will be below.
Jerry Seinfeld had a piece in today's New York Times which you may have seen. I think it truly encapsulates Richard Pryor. Only one problem with it---the ending--I bet he did not want to beat Jerry Seinfeld to it.
Carlin knew the language and he could make great points---"...cops are crime fighters, firemen are firefighters, what the hell are freedom fighters". "..two planes don't collide---a near miss. Hell no, a collision is a near miss".
The days of the Catskill Shtick have been so wonderfully advanced by a master of the universal humor and he will be sorely missed.
Amazing piece of work---like a musician going through some fast "riffs".
As to the program notes:
SUNDAY SIMCHA: In August "SHLOMO' the musical will once again be appearing at the Museum of The Jewish Heritage in lower Manhattan--prior to its Bway. incarnation. In July it is anticipated that the original cast musical will be finished and you will certainly hear it on the program. Not all of it--can't give away the store you know. Where did you hear that before?
JACKIE MORRIS is a singer and songwriter who you will be hearing on TRADITIONS but there is one piece you will hear from her on SUNDAY SIMCHA. A beautiful piece she has composed about her father and his escape from the Holocaust.
TABLETALK: I don't know how many of you have tuned in to TABLETALK over the years. It airs at 8 A M Eastern Time. I have to say that some of my guests have been outstanding writers, artists, and world renowned filmmakers. I am honored.
Let me tell you what is on tap for July:
July 6: The quarterly exclusive airing of The Capitol Steps political musical punditry.
July 13: The author, Susan Quinn, joins me for a talk about her brilliant history of the WPA and WTA. The book--FURIOUS REVOLUTION.
I can tell you that many books come in and many get skimmed---not this one. It is a grabber. If you were around then--you will be happy to recall the times that this book brings to life---FDR, Harry Hopkins, Hallie Flanagan, Orson Welles, John Houseman, and so many more. If you were not around then you will be amazed by how this history is brought to life---better than a TV soap--by this author.
TRADITIONS: This week we will once again visit some of our features--you know if you listen---the novellas under 5 minutes, the tribute to WPAT in the years of Dave Miller, some good ole gospel, and also a few surprises. As always. On JULY 13 I will be joined in the studio by two artists who's latest (and earlier CDs) have really blown me away. Recovering from that incident I returned and they will be joining me. That is HUNGRYTOWN.
Quite a number of years ago NINA GERBER released her first solo CD, "Not Before Noon".
Those of you who have been long time listeners to TRADITIONS when I am hosting know that one of the artists I admire and play quite frequently---and have had many requests for--is KATE WOLF. This brings me to the reason for this little commentary and also what jumped out at me in Nina's first CD. In it there is a song---sung by GREG BROWN
--"Kate's Guitar".
If you go to Nina's website (linked above) you will find her bio., but, briefly, Nina, as many of you know who listen to TRADITIONS was a student of Kate's, then later performed with her, and the friendship and bonds became stronger. Upon Kate's untimely passing and at such a young age she willed her guitar to Nina.
Some years later Nina was instrumental in the founding of the Kate Wolf Memorial Festival held each year in the beautiful countryside of Sebastapool, California. Some of our listeners have attended and have raved about it to me.
Recently I have been in touch with Nina and, if you have checked my playlists, you will find works from her on both TRADITIONS and SUNDAY SIMCHA.. She has 2 CDs she kindly sent me.
"Sweet Dreams" , a beautiful album of lullabies for guitar and lovely Jewish ones along with music in the American and World Tradition. The other album, "Nina Gerber Live" , is an album of music recorded live at the Kate Wolf Memorial Festival and features some wonderful artists.
Nina is one of those people you don't know much of because she has been a back-up musician for so many people. People we all know ---Laurie Lewis, Nanci Griffith, Bob Franke, Kristina Olsen, and of course Kate Wolf. To name just a few.
Please click on the right side of the screen under Memorable Moving Moments and enjoy a few minutes with her and Kate Wolf from some videos from an Austin City Limits show so many years back.
Since the site is about "Program Notes" let me tell you about a few of the things coming up on the various programs I host and feel you will be truly interesting to you if you tune in to WFDU for any or all of them.
Let us start with SUNDAY SIMCHA: This coming Sunday you will, once again, be regaled by some Allan Sherman material you probably have not heard before. In addition there will be some rarities as always. The week after, on June 8, a treat is in store.
A new CD just released by The Jewish Music Groupwhich features some of the all time favorite musical pieces as performed by current artists that you might not expect to be doing them. There will be a question for a randomly selected CD ---can you name the artist you are hearing? The first 2 correct e mail responses will receive the CDs. You will be surprised by some of the artists---and you will recognize some of the voices. You will be quite surprised who they are.
Moving on now. TABLETALK. A well in advance heads up now. On Sunday, June 15 the writer, creator, and narrator of a truly interesting film--HOME will be my guest and we shall talk of how this film came to be and how he was able to get the interesting people he did to talk of their love for New York--people like Liam Neeson, Frank McCourt, David Amram (you will recall he was my guest a while back) and so many more people of lesser fame--the New Yorkers so to speak.
If you want a copy of this film prior to its major release you can write to:
The Home Film Company, Inc. PMB # 140 3602 Quentin Road Brooklyn, NY 11234 or you can e mail:
I do hope you will be tuning in for this conversation and some insights into what makes a film like this come into being, how all the people in it agreed to appear--from celebs to "us folks", and also about the brilliant cinematography you will see in this film. I am not a reviewer but can tell you from a personal note---it blows the mind. It is not a travelogue with a helicopter over New York. It is the "on the ground" filming of faces, places, and scenes.
Looks like we are finally up to TRADITIONS.
I had hoped to be able to bring HUNGRYTOWN to you and talk of their brilliant new CD but scheduling and some technical issues will preclude that. Their work will, however, be featured in the next few weeks.
Father's Day will, as always, not be forgotten here---and Groucho will once again make his annual appearance. Along with some other pieces of interest. I am sure one of those will be a Harry Chapin thought on that.
If you have any music that you think appropriate for Father's Day and you find meaningful to you---please e mail me the request and also any personal story you would like told with it. Please send it to wfdutraditions@yahoo.com I must have those prior to June 3---you have to prepare you know.
One last thought--as always---stay in touch and stay well.
It is always such a thrill to know that some of the people that have graced TRADITIONS over the years and, sometimes, were just starting when they came on the program. People like MARY GAUTHIER, PAT WICTOR, RED MOLLY,MODERN MAN,and a bevy more.
A short while back those of you who had tuned in will recall that my guests were a new group :
They are now, I am delighted to say, progressing and garnering many appearances in the area. Shortly they will be opening for AZTEC TWO STEP at The Minstrel Coffee House in Morristown, The date is June 20.
Rather than put a video of them right here in the dead center as I have done with Kate Wolf I thought it better to give a sample of their work that gives a few samples. If you click on the right side of the screen---they will have replaced the brilliant group The Foremen for a while in the hopes that you will get more familiar with their wonderful harmonies and material. It has to be said that the sound quality may not be the best due to technical recording reasons but, surely, worth a view.
Those of you who know my proclivities on TRADITIONS over the years in presenting artists know full well that there are some wonderful new artists that we are priviliged to present. CHeck the right side of the screen to see an example.
You also know that this page was intended for thoughts on programming, items of interest in the radio programs I host, and some personal things that you might find interesting. I hope you find KATE WOLF as meaningful and as interesting as I do. You will recall that a number of years back I had the delight of having her children as my guests on the program to talk of her life and her work. You will further recall my sentimental attachment to NINA GERBER and her music about Kate's Guitar (Song Title).
Let us now enjoy a few musical moments with the wonderful and sentimental voice of KATE WOLF and Nina Gerber thanks to the wonderful age we now live in---that, sadly, she is no longer a part of. I also know that she is one of the most requested artists on the TRADITIONS program.
This is from a 1985 Austin City Limits Program and posted on You Tube by another caring person for the late great Kate Wolf.
Emigrating from Austria in the late 1930s and arriving in the U S via U K (and Blitzkrieg) we settled in NY.
A lifelong love of "folk music" evolved after discovering The Weavers and later the politics, music, and thoughts of Phil Ochs.
Further bonding happened when the Sloop Singers appeared at one of my birthday fests. At this point I must make mention of my wife and her arranging that. Also changing my life and focus. After that I produced 5 yrs of benefit concerts featuring Tom Chapin.
A relationship with Ron Olesko ( of WFDU) came from that and years later I also came aboard the station and the program.
Some 20 yrs (at this writing) have elapsed and I now host 2 programs there--Sunday Simcha--Jewish Programming,and Traditions (with Ron Olesko).
So--we all come down in the place just right(as the Shaker Hymn tells us)--in this case WFDU-=-The right place on the left side of the dial.
Follow the links below by clicking on the name to listen to archived interviews from TABLETALK / TRADITIONS/ SUNDAY SIMCHA--New ones added from time to time:
HAVE A FEW MORE SHOTS--NOT ALCOHOLIC JUST PHOTOGENIC
Just go to www.flickr.com/photos/billhahnprogramnotes and see another bunch of the family pictures. Who knows you might be in them. Just scroll past the ones you have seen---as Jolie said---Ah Got A Milllion of 'Em
