After almost three months of struggling with a global pandemic, protests over the death of George Floyd during a confrontation with Minneapolis police spread across the world. Our WAIF colleague Senovia Byndon, host of “I Hear U,” joins Bill to offer the perspective of an African-American woman.
It was Bob’s Birthday Week show, but the call-in connection failed again so Bill saluted him in absentia. Turns out the final week in May is chock full of birthdays, however, with famous artists and friends alike.
There would be no rock ‘n’ roll without Little Richard, the flamboyant singer of hits such as “Tutti Frutti” and “Long Tall Sally,” who died this week at 87.
Two days after the 50th anniversary of the shootings that killed four people at Kent State, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young kicked off the show with “Ohio,” the anthem that rallied Vietnam War protesters at the time.
Bill jumped the gun with about 20 minutes of bonus coverage before officially signing on. Bob called in to remind folks that he was safe in the Mansion on the Hill in Clifton, but the studio rookie couldn’t mash the buttons properly to make a good connection. We’ll fix that glitch, so until then, enjoy the week’s Spotlight Artist, Joni Mitchell.
John Prine recorded his first album in 1971, which made it a herculean task to choose the songs for a two-hour program. Listen to see if your favorite tune made the cut.
Bill went all in with 20 songs, each of which began with the word “All,” an idea plucked from his latest obsession: Listening to the iPod alphabetically. Loyal listener Tom Borgman identified the gimmick first, and won a valuable prize.
After the governor declared radio an essential service, Bill spent time alone in the studio, kicked it off early with R.E.M.’s apocalyptic tale and introduced three promos from Channel 5’s John London.
Bill took every safety precaution – thanks to Lola, who keeps the studio clean and sanitary – to do a live show for fans who found themselves at home during the coronavirus crisis. Since concerts are postponed for the foreseeable future, BS&B is the best destination in town to keep up with schedule announcements, plus music from people who will eventually come to town.
While Bill was feelin’ alright at the Dave Mason show, Bob paid musical tribute to California (his recent home away from home), wished happy birthday to the late greats Bobby Womack and Willie Johnson (Howlin’ Wolf’s first guitar player, BEFORE Hubert Sumlin), and recounted John Lennon’s “The Beatles are more popular than Jesus Christ.” Between recent cuts from Allison Moorer and Eilen Jewell and a literal out-of-this-world classic from Lightnin Hopkins, friends and guests of the show Farmer and Adele got their shout out for winning this year’s Ameripolitan award for Best Western Swing Band. Congratulations Keenan and Grace!
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