And the TRADITIONS Playlist for September 6, 2015

Glancing at the calendar on my phone just a few minutes after the “On Air” light flicked on, I came to the realization that this week marks the 40th anniversary of my involvement with WFDU-FM. In September 1975, on my first day as a freshman at Fairleigh Dickinson University in Teaneck, New Jersey, I marched up the steps of WFDU-FM and asked if I could volunteer. I was told to come back later in the week for what I thought would be an chance to observe, but before I knew it I was sitting in a studio reading the news to the listening audience in the Northern New Jersey/New York City area. Of course I had no idea I would still be behind a mic 40 years later.  I’ve enjoyed every minute, especially when I’m hosting and producing WFDU-FMs Traditions, a show that I created and began hosting 35 years ago.

After this week’s show ended, I took some time to reflect back on the past 40 years and all the changes in both radio and folk music.

My first few years at WFDU were spent primarily working with the news department.  I covered local news, New Jersey elections, Cosmos soccer games and also the 1976 Democratic Convention in New York City. On the side, I hosted a progressive rock show, an overnight shift where I could play anything including folk music. I graduated from the University in 1979, but a new station director had just been hired and he asked me if I was interested in continuing my volunteer work as he had a plan for altering the station format and it would involve my interest in folk music.

Ron Olesko on the air at WFDU-FM in Teaneck, NJ

In 1980, WFDU began broadcasting roots oriented music under the umbrella of “Music America.”  There were shows featuring blues, bluegrass, country, jazz and also folk music.  As part of the format, I created a Sunday afternoon show called Traditions.  It has become the longest running show on WFDU-FM, now co-hosted by Bill Hahn, and the show is my proudest contribution to the folk community.

I am at my happiest when I am sitting behind the mic and hosting Traditions. If a guest joins me in the studio to share their music, it is is frosting on the cake. The experience I’ve gained from hosting this show has opened doors for my involvement with the Hurdy Gurdy Folk Music Club, writing for Sing Out! and the creation of this blog. The folk community has become my extended family, and I cherish each moment. This year, there are some big and exciting changes taking place at WFDU-FM, and the future holds much promise.

Over the past 40 years, radio has taken a few “hits”, pardon the pun. Where once radio was the proving ground for new artists, it has faced increasing competition over the years from emerging technologies as well as a new philosophy among radio programmers as to how and what kinds of music should be broadcast. I keep hearing questions, just how relevant is “folk radio” in 2015? Have we lost our place?

The changes in both radio and folk music over the past 40 years can be exemplified by a song from David Rovics I aired on this week’s show. “Topical” music has always been a part of folk music. Songs of social significance were used to document and spread news in addition to sharing opinions on issues that impacted the community. Last week, the world was shocked by photographs of the body of 3 year old Syrian refugee Aylan Kurdi, who washed up on a beach in Turkey after the boat his family was using capsized during their attempt to escape from the civil war in their homeland. A prolific songwriter, David’s songs focus on progressive causes and social issues. (My article about David appeared in Sing Out! magazine v.55 #4) David channeled the anger that everyone was feeling into a song called “Upon Our Shores” that he subsequently posted on his webpage for others to hear and download. I was moved by the song as he draws together our own comfortable lives in America and the lives of those who are suffering in another country far away. The juxtaposition of these situations was something I needed to share with my audience.

When I first started WFDU-FM’s Traditions in 1980, songs like this would have been difficult to air – not for political reasons, but for technical ones. Most of the so-called “topical” songs I played back then were vinyl recordings of topics that were already old news by the time it went through the recording process and reached our studio. Now, the path from the songwriter’s initial creation to the airing of the song can be matter of hours, or less.

David’s song is not the first instance of quick turnarounds. For years, Tom Paxton has shared what he calls “short-shelf life” songs through his website. Shortly after 9/11, he wrote a song called “The Bravest” and a rough recording was issued to radio within a few weeks after the attack. Tom Chapin, John McCutcheon and Michael Mark also created a moving song called “Follow the Light” in the days following the tragedy.

Like the purest forms of folk music, these type of songs were NOT written for commercial intent. Throughout history, topical songs were honest expressions of what a community was feeling and dealing with in troubled times. They encouraged discussion and hashing out of opposite points of view. Over the past few years, I have received and shared similar new songs including John Flynn’s powerful “You Can’t Tell” about the Newton, Connecticut school shootings.

Most commercial, and many non-commercial radio stations, do not like to make waves. They aim for the middle of the road and shy away from songs that might express a view that others will disagree with.  It wasn’t always like this.

Sharing such timely songs is an example of an important offering that radio CAN provide. I encourage other songwriters to get in touch with me when they come up with such timely pieces to share. More importantly, I urge other terrestrial radio hosts to look at the headlines and find songs like these to share with their listeners. The timely use of such songs is just one way that we can use traditional broadcasting to our advantage. Many of the streaming services just aren’t equipped to utilize such songs with their software that uses algorithms to determine their playlists.

Using those songs alongside traditional songs of similar themes also shows our connection with folk music. Radio can serve as an important link in perpetuating folk songs and the living traditions. Our listeners become a community, each person sharing in the theme of song being played.

Continue to page 2>>>