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.
TRADITIONS is, as you know, a "folk" music show. Folk encompasses so many genres and is not relegated to just our nation---or our singer/songwriters.
Reggae is an off-spring of Calypso, as you may well know. You may also know that Calypso had a large political content---Harry Belafonte not withstanding. Each year in Trinidad (the home of Calypso) there is a wonderful contest of Calypso music performers during Carnival. There are performers with amazing talent and names---some long gone now---Lord Invader, Lord Kitchener, The Mighty Sparrow, and so many more.
If you check the videos on the right and also on THE ALMOST DAILY ROOSTER you can see more samples of their work.
Now---your input is needed. On TRADITIONS --do you think a segment of Calypso to add to the other features---you know, The Dave Miller segment (Thrills of The Hills, Tops in Pops, etc;), Novellas in song in about 5 minutes, this would be something you would like to hear---some great rare recordings that preceded our current political songs?
Please e mail me at wfdutraditions@yahoo.com if you have a thought on this. You can also leave a comment here.
Check out some of the videos and enjoy some of the music and also do not forget to join me this coming Sunday when Roy Zimmerman joins me--Roy Zimmerman---a great satirist and raconteur.
Having just received an e mail from Roy Zimmerman I felt it incumbent upon me to let you know that he will be appearing at The Becton Theatre (on the grounds of Farleigh Dickinson Univ.--right next to our studios) on July 27 at 7 PM. I anticipate that he will also be my guest on TRADITIONS that day.
Roy, at another point in time, organized a group known as THE FOREMEN. Those of you who have been TRADITIONS listeners know that I have played muc of their great satirical pieces. Here you will find one of them from You Tube and that also has been aired on my program.
Roy will be featured on SUNDAY SIMCHA and, hopefully, will be with me on TRADITIONS on July 27 before his appearance at Becton Theatre. As to Sunday Simcha--hey---Yiddishkeit comes in all shapes, sizes and colors---which is why you will also be hearing Paul Robeson and Nina Simone.
Tough choice to make. Place this brilliant parody here or hope you will click over to THE ALMOST DAILY ROOSTER. I made an executive decision after consulting with myself--nice chat I had there.
This is a great parody of a Dylan piece that Jib Jab has created and I guarantee you will laugh with this. You may want to share it with friends so you can either go to the Jib Jab page or send the link to mine to your ---as Hank Williams used to say---"....friends and neighbors".
Forgetting Program Notes and Folk Music--heaven forefend but there is more---I suggest a slip slide over to The Almost Daily Rooster (link on the right--or just click on the link before this).
I think you will find the video and the comments appropriate to the times we have evolved into.
Enough said---hope to have you join me this Sunday on TRADITIONS when my guests will be HUNGRYTOWN and also on TABLETALK when we exclusively air the CAPITOL STEPS quarterly topical revue.
On July 20 I am delighted to welcome Susan Quinn to TABLETALK. We talk about her wonderful work on the book Furious Improvisation---a history of the WPA and the Federal Theater Project. Ever so readable and educational. The website for FURIOUS IMPROVISATION
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.
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
