SOME VIDEO COMMENTS AND A FEW ITEMS

I know that some of you are, as I am, fans of John Prine. You will, hopefully, enjoy some videos of him now available on the right of this page. You will, I hope, notice the similarity to Hays Carll in the sound and thought. You will recall that I did a bit of a contest on TRADITIONS about that and we had a few folks who picked up on it. As to the videos---check that bottom one out---very clever.

On the subject of videos on this site. There are 3 pages and on each one (which can be found by clicking on the right side of the screen) you will find videos germane to that page and ones that will make you either reminisce, discover something new, or just say--oh, s++t. In any case try them out--tell your computer savvy nerd friends to join you--have a few light hearted, serious, or nostalgic moments if you like.

This coming Sunday I believe you will find some things of interest on TRADITIONS and on SUNDAY SIMCHA.

TRADITIONS: Once again a dip into the archives of things we have not heard in a while, some new political material, and we continue a brief visit to Calypso (again my thanks to Smithsonian Folkways). Political material will not be ignored since the Democratic convention starts on Tuesday---fait accompli as opposed to how it used to be.

SUNDAY SIMCHA: It is said (does that sound biblical enough---as opposed to "they said"--who are "they" anyway?)that a picture is worth a thousand words so here is one:

You will also get to hear about how I managed, to my great chagrin miss the last concert at Tanglewood--- an event never forgotten by my companions that fateful day.

I hope that some of you were able to see the wonderful documentary about "Lenny" recently on PBS.

As to TABLETALK You may be aware that one of my recent guests was David Amram. The latest issue of the Fairleigh Dickenson Newsletter (magazine) features a quote by him about this radio station. No more little fish big pond for us---after all he does swim along with the big whales and sharks in the big ponds.

One last personal item. The other day I viewed an HBO special of Billy Crystal. It was done in 1986 and, amazingly, featured "Brother Theodore" in it. It was a joy to once again re-visit this great performance artist that I had the honor and utter delight of visiting with in his apartment for an interview for TRADITIONS back in , I believe, 1998. THEODORE passed away a few years back at the ripe old age of 94---still performing. He was in the same league as ANDY KAUFMAN (or Andy was in his league)

Some Misc. Program Notes

A number of listeners to SUNDAY SIMCHA have requested more Ladino music. Ladino music is, as many of you know, the music of the Sephardic Jews and while we have played some pieces by Robin Greenstein and Joe Elias I have been in contact with Dganit Dado who will be touring Canada and the Northeast later this year. She is an Israeli and brings a whole new sound to Ladino music---and, I suppose, a look as well:

A picture is worth a thousand words---I heard that somewhere. To get a sample of what her music sounds like just click on the right side of this page and scoot over to the PLAYLIST page where you will find some videos of her and her group in a very lively Ladino performance.





As to TRADITIONS I want to thank, once again, Smithsonian Folkways for all the wonderful Calypso material they have supplied. Smithsonian Folkways has truly kept and is keeping so many genres of music from being relegated to the dustbin of history. Reissuing, in wonderfully restored versions, so many genres---blues, traditional, calypso, folk, etc;.

I am also delighted that many of you have called in or written to request pieces for that segment Thrills of The Hills, Best in The West, and The Tops in Pops (term coined by Dave Miller of WPAT in the 1940s). While we won't do more than 10 or 15 minutes as a general rule I will try to get to as many requests as I can. A picture of Dave Miller would have been nice to put here but I suppose he had a face for radio---none available. So I guess we can just end with a picture of the WFDU transmitter located in Alpine, NJ and is quite historic in its own right---the birthplace of FM broadcasting and named after its creator---The Armstrong Tower.

Being a resident of Rockland County (near the Alpine location) I am always amazed when I realize how few people who drive down the Parkway never realize the historical significance of this structure. I had written some papers way back in school about it and FM broadcasting so perhaps my knowledge if it is expected but, still, one would think such a massive structure in that particular location would cause people to research it a bit. OK---time for all those folks to do some GOOGLING---a new verb.

Program Notes as the Title Says--And Some Other Items

First off a few updates on the up-coming programs:

TABLETALK: Since we had a nice scoop with my interview with Susan Quinn about her book FURIOUS IMPROVISATION and NPR a few weeks later raved about it as well we shall, this Sunday (8/10)have an encore presentation.

Here now are a few comments that describe the book and, frankly, our discussion of that and events occurring today might be found quite interesting---or perhaps not. Best to tune in at 8 AM Eastern Time (or on the web)---



In Furious Improvisation, Susan Quinn brings to life the challenges of this desperate era when Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Eleanor Roosevelt and the tough-talking idealist Harry Hopkins furiously improvised programs to get millions of hungry, unemployed people back to work. Quinn’s compelling story of politics and creativity reaches a dramatic climax with the entrance of Martin Dies and his newly-formed House Un-American Activities Committee, which turned the Federal Theatre Project into the first victim of a Red scare that would roil the nation for decades to come.
Furious Improvisation is a vivid and engrossing portrait of the turbulent 1930s, rich in humor and anecdotes which combine to tell not only the story of the theatre project but also of the Great Depression and government intervention in a time of national peril, a time when the still-pressing issues of discrimination, injustice and the meaning of liberty commanded center stage.



SUNDAY SIMCHA: As always a few surprises in Comedy Corner and also a visit to the dusty archives that seem to be so popular---but also the newest in what can be termed "Jewish " music---of music in a Jewish vein---not a Jewish artery since that is clogged with chicken fat.



TRADITIONS: The segment about WPAT in the 1950s---The Dave Miller Show show has proven quite popular amongst listeners so who am I to cut it short (Oh those "Thrills of the Hills, Tops in Pops, and Best in The West")---we do an extended version this Sunday---have you heard Moon Mullican combined with Jo Stafford (that was a request by the way--Temptation)? In addition Smithsonian Folkways is a true treasure trove of wonderful archival material and they have, graciously, sent over recordings that will represent some of the great Calypso material :
















We shall also commemorate the sad passing of Erik Darling. Ron Olesko will have a more full commemoration the week after given his interviews and personal contact with this wonderful artist.

For the segment about stories (novellas) in under 5 minutes or so---there is a new person you have to hear. I then await your comments as to who he reminds you of. If time allows in that segment the master story teller will once again be on the air.

As to other "items" I think it best you go to the right side of your screen and click on The Daily Rooster and find out a few other items that, perhaps , you will find of interest. This is not really the place for them--they are, however, "G" rated.

Bruce Adler---Sad News

For those of you who might follow the playlists on Sunday Simcha I am sorry to say that I was informed last evening of the demise of Bruce Adler. Too late for me to commemorate the sad event on this week's program since it was already recorded. Next week I do plan to devote the last half of the program to Bruce Adler. I do hope you tune in at 10 AM Eastern time.

Mr. Adler was a brilliant star of both the Yiddish Theater as well as Broadway (i.e. American musicals). The son of prestigious Yiddish performers and related to many legendary artists in the genre he performed since his earliest childhood years with some of the legends---Molly Picon, Irving Jacobson, etc; He was also the recipient of Drama Desk Awards for some of his work in the Broadway arena.I was delighted to have met him a number of times and amazed at his versatility. The last time I saw him perform was doing a Cole Porter Musical in New Jersey where he resided until a few years ago. He was also a guest on WFDU a number of times before I hosted the current program.

He will be sorely missed by those who appreciated his great talent and, mostly, by his family, since he recently was blessed with the birth of a child.

The clip you will see below is just what one might call the tip of the talent iceberg. It is from the Cole Porter Musical "Anything Goes" which I had the delight of seeing him in a number of years back at the Papermill Playhouse in New Jersey. That is Chita Rivera with him.

Seeing him backstage afterwards I was enthralled by the warmth and sincerity of this man. Unfortunately I do not have a video to place here showing his Yiddish talents---tune in to the program on August 3 and you will hear some of that.

Bruce Adler was 64.

CALYPSO--Not the Boat

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.

A Satirical Appearance Update

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.