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What is a Steve’s Folk Radio Show & why should I listen?
First, what it ISN’T: it’s not “folk music,” nor is it ‘hit songs.’ It also isn’t for everyone. But if you love that off-the-beaten-track music that you just can’t find anywhere else – that concert track, those deep album cuts, that bootleg, those festival recordings – well, then, we might just be what you’ve been looking for. It’s music for folks – like you.
In short, SFRS offers a highly-curated set of playlists that feature live recordings, obscure recordings of popular songs, alternate tracks, covers, originals, deep album tracks and bootlegs that might appeal to anyone with a ’60s or ’70s music sensibility. But the music isn’t limited to those decades – songs can and do come from any time between 1940 and yesterday. Stan Jones’s Ghost Riders from the ’40s to Leonard Cohen’s debut album to Aimee Mann or Mark Knopfler, Pink Floyd, or Richard Thompson.
But wait…there’s more. Much more.
Steve is an author and music historian who cherishes the backstories of songs, albums, artists, labels, festivals, clubs and time periods and provides you – the listener – with highly-researched and interesting tidbits about all of these topics. Every show is themed, and the music of each show is dedicated to that theme. Recently we aired a show featuring the music of founding Byrd/Burrito Brother/solo artist Gene Clark. We also featured a show spotlighting album releases from January 1968. Another show featured 12-string guitar players.
You get the idea. It’s more fun to listen to your fave music with friends. That’s Steve’s Folk.
SFRS is the kind of FM radio show you might have heard late at night on your homemade Heathkit radio while hiding under your bed covers back in the day, flashlight in hand, wonder and awe in mind.
Steve grew up in the ’50s and ’60s and was influenced by the early FM radio jocks, especially the late night ones, who curated their own playlists and might pepper in Procol Harum with a deep track from a Turtles album. Or a Janis Ian track and something from Cream’s Wheels of Fire album.
Oh yeah – no commercials! WRUW is a live, local, noncommercial, nonprofit terrestrial station that is 100% funded by listener donations during our annual Telethon each spring.
You might be surprised at how much the backstories enhance your listening pleasure. It’s fun to know that Felix Pappalardi produced folk albums as well as the hard-rock band Mountain, or that Led Zeppelin opened for Spirit instead of the other way around during their 1st American tour.
SFRS also places your fave songs in their historical perspective. Large events such as the Vietnam War, Civil Rights marches, assassinations and other noteworthy events are cooked into the music so a larger appreciation of the lyrics is gained.
So, why should you listen? Because it’s fun! It’s memories. It’s music! Check out the playlists, then tune in. And although SFRS has aired live from Cleveland since 2001, we now also stream live on the web Mondays from Noon til 2pm, AND the show is archived for two weeks at a time at wruw.org.
HERE’S a SHOW PREMIUM!
Be a Radio Star – co-host an edition of SFRS – date mutually agreed upon – $100 donation. Includes keepsake photos of the event. C’mon, you know you wanna do it. It’ll be fun. I’ll be your assistant gopher.
Thank you so much for your kind and generous donations! You’ve fired me up for another great year behind the mic, platters in hand. You can always go to the Donate page at wruw.org, tap “Support your favorite show” and scroll down to Steve’s Folk Radio Show and follow the prompts if there’s an extra buck in your pocket sometime! In the meantime, buckle up for some great music and musings!
