Howzabout folk music on the radio?

Subject: RE: Howzabout folk music on the radio?
From: GUEST
Date: 11 Dec 02 - 06:39 PM

"In my opinion, top ten lists are fun to read and fun to discuss, but they are meaningless."

You are so right Ron! Must mean it is time for the annualizing of our 2002 opinions. I'm off to start the thread straight away!

Subject: RE: Howzabout folk music on the radio?
From: Ron Olesko
Date: 11 Dec 02 - 05:03 PM

No Patty, I don't think it is a dumb idea - your explanation makes sense. Credibility to MAJOR broadcasters and advertisers is certainly something that would be of value. I often wonder how big of an industry "folk" music really is. I just think it is a tough number to figure out for the reasons I mentioned early.

The biggest question is - what is folk?   Would Bob Dylan's latest CD be included in the numbers? Willie Nelson? Ralph Stanley? Emmy Lou Harris? I've seen these artists included in "folk" catagories. Just as the FOLK-DJ list opened up questions as to the appropriateness of the selections, I think any list would have the same issues. No group would every completely agree with the criteria.

Every few years I notice one of the New York papers or magazines doing a story on the "new" folk revival.   It seems like there is always one around the corner, or we are in the middle of one. Frankly I've been listening and playing the same kinds of music for over 23 years. It changes - new names and styles evolve into the scene.

A number of radio programs were mentioned here but we are all different. In my opinion, top ten lists are fun to read and fun to discuss, but they are meaningless. If you have to listen to an opinion, it might as well be your own.

There are some great ways to promote folk music to new audiences, but personally I don't think a top ten list is one of them.

Ron

Subject: RE: Howzabout folk music on the radio?
From: pattyClink
Date: 11 Dec 02 - 04:38 PM

Ron, I don't think anybody wants a top-list for its own sake. It would just be a way to give more credibility to the idea that people do listen to and buy this stuff, a tool advertisers and broadcasters could understand.

Seems like it could be done once a year on a volunteer 'email us your top 10 sellers/top 10 requested'. Anybody who sells CDs could contribute numbers, including the bands themselves, festivals, resellers. A press release goes out, a few newspapers pick it up, use it to build a feature about 'the changing face of folk music'. Whatever.

Sorry you think it's a dumb idea, but I think preaching to our own choir isn't bringing too many new listeners into the flock.

Subject: RE: Howzabout folk music on the radio?
From: GUEST
Date: 11 Dec 02 - 04:07 PM

OK--for the record, I didn't post the "Top Songs" list to be definitive of anything. It was merely to spark some conversation on the idea of "are we ourselves getting quality music on the air waves". Certainly Ron is, as are a number of other stations and djs.

Subject: RE: Howzabout folk music on the radio?
From: denise:^)
Date: 11 Dec 02 - 04:01 PM

We're allowed our weekly three hours on Saturdays, from noon-3:00. WDET-FM (Detroit) has Matt Watroba hosting the "Folks Like Us" program; I think he does a really good job of presenting a variety of music, a multitude of artists, and usually AT LEAST one "live in the studio" guest per week...

Subject: RE: Howzabout folk music on the radio?
From: beadie
Date: 11 Dec 02 - 03:09 PM

Wisconsin Public Radio runs a three-hour program called "Simply Folk" on Sunday evenings from 5-8 PM (Central). Pretty much the entire WPR network carries the show, and it is also available (I think) on the network's website at WPR.ORG.

The host, Judy Rose, puts on a wide variety of stuff, including theme segments (Irish music in mid-March, etc) and a monthly request show.

Subject: RE: Howzabout folk music on the radio?
From: Ron Olesko
Date: 11 Dec 02 - 02:53 PM

Patty,

It is a nice idea, but who is actually selling the CD's?   MP3.com and efolkmusic.com have their own lists of who is downloading music. Dick Greenhouse, Elderly, Folk Legacy, Folk Era and others have their own markets, but many of the recordings being made are sold by the artists themselves.   How can you collate?

There is no one definitive organization that would (or should) gather this information.

Again, whose definition of folk do we use?

Most importantly, why is it so important to have a "top" list for this kind of music?   

Ron

Subject: RE: Howzabout folk music on the radio?
From: pattyClink
Date: 11 Dec 02 - 02:42 PM

Wonder if there is any way to create a real 'top __' list that would actually promote airplay of new folk recordings? Seems like in the Internet Age there should finally be a way to bypass the Major Labels and let people pool their enthusiasm and info about what's new and much liked by audiences and being bought and downloaded. You could have some input from the folk-show djs, but more importantly from the people who are selling CDs.

I realize there are good playlists out there on public broadcasting, and on a college, local-market or 'this dj loves this' basis, but I don't think such individualized stuff has been enough to overcome the inertia out there in radioland. Gotta be a way to link it all.

Subject: RE: Howzabout folk music on the radio?
From: WFDU - Ron Olesko
Date: 10 Dec 02 - 06:55 PM

There are so many definitions of folk music - Lomax had one as did Cecil Sharp, Francis Child and so many others. I'm amazed that it is still an issue. Live and let live.   I'm a huge proponent for perpetuating and keeping folk music alive as a living tradition, but all this "folkier than thou" attitude really defeats the purpose.   Dick Spottswood does an excellent show, the music is out there - find it and enjoy!

Ron

Subject: RE: Howzabout folk music on the radio?
From: Bill D
Date: 10 Dec 02 - 06:43 PM

"according to the late Alan Lomax, who I think is a bigger authority than even Guest Bill Kennedy,..."

well, Lomax must have been an authority. He sure said so often enough.

Calling Alan Lomax an 'authority' is very much like calling that LONG list posted up there ^ the 'authoritative' list of best folk songs.

You wanta hear more traditional folk music on the radio, listen to Dick Spottswood on WAMU.org. His 'obsolete music hour' is a treasure! Each program is archived for a week.

Subject: RE: Howzabout folk music on the radio?
From: Ron Olesko
Date: 10 Dec 02 - 05:43 PM

Maybe this discussion should step outside to the schoolyard.

Subject: RE: Howzabout folk music on the radio?
From: Reynolds
Date: 10 Dec 02 - 05:36 PM

According to Guest Bill Kennedy: "I'll Fly Away and Amazing Grace, and even Down in the Valley to Pray are, actually, if you care to know the truth, Hymns, not folk songs."

Guest Bill Kennedy may think he knows what a folk song is, but according to the late Alan Lomax, who I think is a bigger authority than even Guest Bill Kennedy, traditional hymns are but one of many different forms of folk songs.

Subject: RE: Howzabout folk music on the radio?
From: GUEST,Bill Kennedy
Date: 10 Dec 02 - 04:07 PM

Gee, thanks, Reynolds, for 'enlightening' me. A rather lawyerly way of reading things and stating things you have, but I'll not question your credentials or your opinions, they are your opinions.

Mine are as stated, though I'll eschew hyperbole in future.

All of the songs you mention I address as being, IN MY OPINION, pseudo-traditional, in that they are from the 'O Brother' soundtrack, when original recordings of the songs could have been used by the Coen Bros. but were not. Or are by Dolly, whom I enjoy, but who, no matter how deep her roots show, is still a country singer, and can't hold a candle to the earlier traditional singers and interpreters of folksong. The only one I missed, because it's a long list and my point was quickly stated, not because I don't know the music (no claim ever that I know everything about Folk Music) was the 'Boy Who Wouldn't Hoe Corn', largely because I am not a great fan of Allison Krause and I overlooked it. That's one oversight. I'll Fly Away and Amazing Grace, and even Down in the Valley to Pray are, actually, if you care to know the truth, Hymns, not folk songs. Big Rock Candy Mountain & Turn Your Radio On are great songs, but not folk songs to many, depends on your definition, which has been hashed over to death in the Mudcat threads.

My statements about folk radio were specifically about the station I broadcast on, not all folk programs in the universe, though my statement about 'push box' programming is echoed and explained a bit by Ron. You don't know if I am full of myself or not, having never met me or talked to me, just having MISREAD my words. Some might question your knowledge or ignorance by making such a remark.

finally, feel free to ignore any and all of my future postings, if there are any, as being the rantings of an ingnorant person, but this and other forums like it are for all to post to as they will, mistakes, omissions, wild exagerations, innocent error, egregious overstatements and all, but personal attacks are to me the sign of a weak mind and a weaker argument. I've had my share of attacks against me here, and Mudcat feels less like a place I need to be every time. Have fun talking to yourself.

Subject: RE: Howzabout folk music on the radio?
From: Reynolds
Date: 10 Dec 02 - 03:12 PM

Sorry, I meant to turn off the italics after "other than changing it from valley to river." I'll get it right next time.

Subject: RE: Howzabout folk music on the radio?
From: Reynolds
Date: 10 Dec 02 - 03:10 PM

Guest Bill Kennedy sez: "interesting to me that there is not a single folk song on the list, with the exception of Man of Constant Sorrow."

Interesting to me is the fact that, with that statement, Guest Bill Kennedy betrays his ignorance.

Now, I assume that Guest Bill Kennedy is speaking specifically about traditional folk songs. If that's the case, why wouldn't Guest Bill Kennedy recognize "Down to the River to Pray" as a folk song? Other than changing it from valley to river (the folk process allows such changes), the song is the traditional folk song, "Down in the Valley to Pray."

Why wouldn't Guest Bill Kennedy recognize "Little Sparrow," as a variant of the traditional folk song that begins "Come all you fair and tender maidens"?

Why wouldn't Guest Bill Kennedy recognize "In the Jailhouse Now" as already having been an anonymous folk song before Jimmie Rodgers recorded it circa 1927?

Although we know that "Turn Your Radio On" was written by Alfred Brumley in the 1930s, it, IMSHO, has entered the tradition.

Surely, "Amazing Grace,' which has been sung by folks for hundreds of years is a folk song.

"The Boy Who Wouldn't Hoe Corn," according to all three of my recordings of it, is traditional.

"Big Rock Candy Mountain," first recorded in 1928 by Haywire Mac McClintock is certainly, by now, a folk song.

"I'll Fly Away" is a traditional folk song.

Guest Bill Kennedy would have us believe that he's the only authentic FOLK radio host. He's as full of himself as he's ignorant.

I've listened to a lot of folk radio (hip hip hooray) for the Internet. There are some great ones: Rich Warren, Gene Shay, Mike Regenstreif, Bob Blackman, Roz & Howard Larmon, Pablo Meshugi, Matt Watroba, Ron Olesko, Dick Pleasants, etc.

None of them, and many more, have anything to learn from Guest Bill Kennedy.

Subject: RE: Howzabout folk music on the radio?
From: Ron Olesko
Date: 10 Dec 02 - 01:48 PM

Ooops.. the links I posted were not complete. Here they are -

Folk DJ website - www.folkradio.org

WFDU-FM - www.wfdu.fm

Subject: RE: Howzabout folk music on the radio?
From: Ron Olesko
Date: 10 Dec 02 - 12:20 PM

Uggh! The list!! Using that list to describe folk radio is like using the McDonalds menu to describe American cuisine!

First off, I am not a fan of "top", "best of" or "most played".   In my opinion, that list is not very scientific and it gives the wrong impression of what the individual shows are doing.

There is an electronic forum called FOLK-DJ where radio hosts post their playlists and discuss topics of interest to the radio community. Like Mudcat, it often veers off track.

The list in question is compiled by Richard Gillman. He compiles a montly list and then an annual list of "most played" recordings.

A few things to consider -

The albums that make that list are "new" recordings. Anytime a new recording comes to our attention we give it a listen and share what we feel will be appropriate to our show. New recordings will always receive more airplay WHEN TOTALED ACROSS ALL SHOWS.

If you read that list, you will notice an overwhelming majority of MAJOR record labels as well as MAJOR independent labels. Individual artists and small record labels do not distribute their recordings to all shows. They have to be selective as to where they are sent. I have hosted a radio program for 23 years and while I have built up something of a reputation I do not receive EVERY recording that is out there.

Not every "folk" show submits to that list.   I do, and I will explain why later.   What you are getting is a cross-section of folk program hosts, but not the whole picture.

As exists everywhere, there is a question about "what is considered folk music".   I had a discussion with a host at another radio station about a traditional folk musician. This person actually said to me "she isn't singing her own songs". I thought he was joking but he was serious - he felt that only singer-songwriters deserve to be played on his show.   Without getting into an arguement, I wished him luck.   To each their own.

It is dangerous to look at a list like that and make blanket statments on folk music.   Speaking for my own show, I tend to be very eclectic.   Based on the INDIVIDUAL playlists that I see posted, I feel that I play more what would be considered TRADITIONAL folk music than other shows. Again, I have not heard or read playlists from all the shows that are out there and I'm not trying to "sell" my program here. I am simply pointing out that if I am playing a traditional artist, my one or two spins will not show up on that folk-dj radar. That list is flawed by definition.

I submit my playlist to the group for a number of reasons. First of all, a number of artists read those lists and when they see I play recordings similar to what they are doing, they will send me their recordings to share.   While I don't agree with lists in principle, I do see where it helps an artist. If they can crack the list, especially the monthly list, it helps them with their publicity. To say that their recording appeared on the Folk-DJ list helps them get bookings.   For that alone, I ignore my own feelings about lists and submit my playlists.

So what is my point in all these ramblings? Well, to get back to the food analogy, everyone has their favorite restaurant. Some people love going to the McDonalds in every major city and suburban hamlet. Others have their favorite neighborhood spot where they will get a satisfying meal in a comfortable environment.

Pick and choose with folk radio programs. Check your local stations and find out what is available.   Read the playlists on FOLK-DJ (you can read them by going to the website - www.folkradio.org ) and you might find a show that interests you. Many stations STILL broadcast on the internet and you can tune in.

Speaking for myself (isnt' that what we all do?) I host a program called TRADITIONS that airs on WFDU-FM in Teaneck, NJ. I began the show in 1980 and about 10 years ago I took on a co-host, Bill Hahn, who also posts here at Mudcat.   We offer a diverse variety of music. I feel that I play more traditional music, but I also play a number of singer-songwriters (as opposed to singer-songwhiners) who write songs that I FEEL are in the folk tradition. You may not agree with all my choices, but I think you will enjoy the program. I am very proud of the guests that we've presented over the years - Pete Seeger, Cyril Tawney, Tommy Makem, Dave Van Ronk and many, many others. We've produced specials on the music of Rev.Gary Davis, Josh White, and Lead Belly to name a few. We've produced documentaries on Joe Heaney and Marais and Miranda, and I'm currently working on one about Bob Gibson. We've introduced acts to our audience such as Rod MacDonald, Suzanne Vega, John Gorka, and others (I'm not claiming to be the first to play them!). We continue to introduce new artists as well as present the NEW artists who are perpetuating traditional folk music.   I'm very proud and honored to bring this program to our audience. You can listen to Bill and myself every Sunday afternoon from 3 to 6pm on 89.1 in the NYC area, or listen via the internet at
www.wfdu.fm

Whew, enough of my soapbox! Send the slings and arrows!!   :)

Ron Olesko

Subject: RE: Howzabout folk music on the radio?
From: GUEST
Date: 10 Dec 02 - 11:18 AM

refresh

Subject: RE: Howzabout folk music on the radio?
From: GUEST
Date: 07 Dec 02 - 10:03 AM

That is interesting Bill. I had the same reaction to the list. I figured too that Hartford being in the most played list was because of his death, O Brother because of it's popularity among the general non-folk music audience, and the Dolly Parton albums because she is currently a cause celebre in the folk world because of her recent "back to her roots" efforts.

Outside of those three, there wasn't much of anything at all receiving a lot of airplay on folk radio in 2001, was there? And we wonder why things are SOOOO bad for folk music?

But, I also believe that most of the airplay for folk/traditional music has moved away from the Anglo/Celtic, and into what is often referred to as roots and world music traditions. Which can mean anything from disco music from Japan to (yawn) another round of gamelan.

Subject: RE: Howzabout folk music on the radio?
From: GUEST,Bill Kennedy
Date: 06 Dec 02 - 01:00 PM

interesting to me that there is not a single folk song on the list, with the exception of Man of Constant Sorrow, also interesting is that NONE of the John Hartford selections would be on this list if he hadn't died this year. He hardly ever got airplay anymore, which is one of the problems I have with 'Folk' shows on the radio. It's almost all (I know not to generalise, my own show is at least one exception!) 'push box' produced, meaning that whatever new relelase a lable calls 'folk' gets sent to stations who play it, so they can get more new releases by reporting they played it. I am the only programmer at my station that by design consistently goes back into our extensive record library to play 'folk music' by authentic folks, as well as early interpreters of 'folk' songs. Almost everyone on this list is a singer/songwriter, often with some close connection to
contemporary country, and it's sad to me that everyone says what a good thing 'O Brother' was for folk (read traditional) music. BS, it will mean others will try to duplicate the pseudo traditional and non traditional interpretations offered in that film.

I'm all for more folk music on the radio, but it's not on this list!

Subject: RE: Howzabout folk music on the radio?
From: GUEST
Date: 06 Dec 02 - 12:19 PM

Hi John from Hull, thanks for refreshing it.

Subject: RE: Howzabout folk music on the radio?
From: Rt Revd Sir jOhn from Hull
Date: 06 Dec 02 - 12:07 PM

Hi Guest, there is already a thread about this, amazingly it's called Folk Music on the Radio!
Jim Dixon posted a really good list of american folk stations to it.

Subject: RE: Howzabout folk music on the radio?
From: GUEST
Date: 06 Dec 02 - 11:54 AM

OK. Let's try this to see if it stimulates any discussion. Below is the Top Songs 2001 compiled by Richard Gilman of the FolkDJ list. These were the most played "folk" songs on radio last year.

So, how much of this music is getting discussed here at Mudcat? Are Mudcat Folk in tune with what sort of "folk" music people are listening to? I notice there isn't much in the alt-country or roots rock (for younger listeners, especially the 20 somethings) on the list, which I think shows that the FolkDJ list is pretty out of tune to where young people are at these days (and no, it ain't listening to Nashville pop!) It will be interesting to see what makes the 2002 list (no Oh Brother soundtrack, though we do have a new Dolly Parton release).

1. "I Am A Man Of Constant Sorrow" (198)
       by Soggy Bottom Boys
       from "O Brother, Where Art Thou? Soundtrack"
       also "Prime Cuts of Bluegrass 48"
2. "Gentle Arms Of Eden" (105)
       by Dave Carter And Tracy Grammer
       from "Drum Hat Buddha"
3. "Down To The River To Pray" (98)
       by Alison Krauss
       from "O Brother, Where Art Thou? Soundtrack"
4. "Seven Bridges Road" (92)
       by Dolly Parton
       from "Little Sparrow"
5. "Little Sparrow" (86)
       by Dolly Parton
       from "Little Sparrow"
6. "Ordinary Town" (83)
       by Dave Carter And Tracy Grammer
       from "Drum Hat Buddha"
7. "1952 Vincent Black Lightning" (75)
       by Del McCoury Band
       from "Del And The Boys"
7. "I'll Fly Away" (75)
       by Alison Krauss And Gillian Welch
       from "O Brother, Where Art Thou? Soundtrack"
9. "Man On The Side Of The Road" (66)
       by Chris Jones
       from "Just A Drifter"
10. "I Want To Sing That Rock And Roll" (65)
       by Gillian Welch
       from "Time (The Revelator)"
       also "Down From The Mountain"
11. "In The Jailhouse Now" (64)
       by Soggy Bottom Boys
       from "O Brother, Where Art Thou? Soundtrack"
11. "What Was That" (64)
       by John Gorka
       from "The Company You Keep"
13. "Lucky One" (63)
       by Alison Krauss And Union Station
       from "New Favorite"
13. "Tide And The River Rising" (63)
       by Steve Gillette And Cindy Mangsen
       from "Sense Of Place"
15. "Marry Me" (62)
       by Dolly Parton
       from "Little Sparrow"
16. "I Go Like The Raven" (61)
       by Dave Carter And Tracy Grammer
       from "Drum Hat Buddha"
17. "Turn Your Radio On" (60)
       by John Hartford
       from "Aereo-Plain"
18. "Touch Of Evil" (58)
       by Tom Russell
       from "Borderland"
19. "Gentle On My Mind" (57)
       by John Hartford
       from "Live From Mountain Stage"
19. "Love Minus Zero/No Limit" (57)
       by Eliza Gilkyson
       from "A Nod To Bob"
19. "The Other Side" (57)
       by Don Conoscenti
       from "Paradox Of Grace"
22. "Is The Grass Any Bluer" (56)
       by Rhonda Vincent
       from "The Storm Still Rages"
23. "Shine" (54)
       by Dolly Parton
       from "Little Sparrow"
24. "Red Clay Halo" (51)
       by Gillian Welch
       from "Time (The Revelator)"
24. "Tanglewood Tree" (51)
       by Dave Carter And Tracy Grammer
       from "Tanglewood Tree"
26. "Amazing Grace" (50)
       by Larry Pattis
       from "Random Chance"
26. "There Are No Words" (50)
       by Kitty Donohoe
       from "There Are No Words" (single)
26. "When I Go" (50)
       by Dave Carter With Tracy Grammer
       from "When I Go"
29. "Bluer Pastures" (49)
       by Dolly Parton
       from "Little Sparrow"
30. "Highway 80" (48)
       by Dave Carter And Tracy Grammer
       from "Drum Hat Buddha"
31. "In Tall Buildings" (47)
       by Gillian Welch
       from "Tribute To John Hartford: Live From Mountain Stage"
31. "It Ain't Me Babe" (47)
       by Lucy Kaplansky
       from "A Nod To Bob"
31. "Rise From The Ruins" (47)
       by Pierce Pettis
       from "State Of Grace"
34. "Empty Old Mailbox" (46)
       by Don Rigsby
       from "Empty Old Mailbox"
34. "The Mountain" (46)
       by Dave Carter And Tracy Grammer
       from "Tanglewood Tree"
36. "Down The Rio Grande" (45)
       by Tom Russell
       from "Borderland"
36. "Pearl" (45)
       by Emmylou Harris
       from "Concerts For A Landmine Free World"
       also "Red Dirt Girl"
36. "Virginia Man" (45)
       by Pam Gadd
       from "Time Of Our Lives"
39. "The Boy Who Wouldn't Hoe Corn" (44)
       by Alison Krauss And Union Station
       from "New Favorite"
39. "Galway Girl" (44)
       by Sharon Shannon
       from "Diamond Mountain Sessions"
39. "State Of Grace" (44)
       by Pierce Pettis
       from "State Of Grace"
42. "Crossing Muddy Waters" (43)
       by John Hiatt
       from "Crossing Muddy Waters"
42. "Fields Of Gold" (43)
       by Eva Cassidy
       from "Songbird (Eva)"
       also "Live At Blues Alley"
42. "Oh Abraham" (43)
       by John Gorka
       from "The Company You Keep"
42. "Tillman Co" (43)
       by Dave Carter And Tracy Grammer
       from "Drum Hat Buddha"
42. "When Sinatra Played Juarez" (43)
       by Tom Russell
       from "Borderland"
47. "Give Yourself To Love" (42)
       by Kate Wolf
       from "Weaver Of Visions"
       also "Give Yourself To Love"
47. "Big Rock Candy Mountain" (42)
       by John Hartford
       from "Down From The Mountain"
       also "Prime Cuts of Bluegrass 52"
47. "Elvis Presley Blues" (42)
       by Gillian Welch
       from "Time (The Revelator)"
47. "Forever Has Come To An End" (42)
       by Buddy And Julie Miller
       from "Buddy And Julie Miller"
47. "Gonna Paint The Town" (42)
       by Charles Sawtelle
       from "Music From Rancho Deville"
47. "I Walk The Line" (42)
       by Rodney Crowell
       from "Houston Kid"
47. "I'll Fly Away" (42)
       by Gillian Welch And Alison Krauss
       from "Down From The Mountain"
       also "O Brother, Where Art Thou? Soundtrack"
47. "King's Shilling" (42)
       by Karan Casey
       from "Winds Begin To Sing"
47. "Waltz Of The Wallflowers" (42)
       by Small Potatoes
       from "Waltz Of The Wallflowers"

Subject: Howzabout folk music on the radio?
From: GUEST
Date: 06 Dec 02 - 10:44 AM

The folk music on tv threads got me thinking that while we don't get much of a regular diet of folk and traditional music on tv in most places in the US, we do get a good amount of radio programming. As I was commenting on the Chicago music scene, I was thinking that we never hear much in Mudcat about WFMT's 50 years of folk music programming, or college stations like WLUW (Loyola), WNUR (Northwestern), WDCB (College of DuPage), all of which support and sometimes co-produce live music programming and events. In fact, I saw the original Loggins and Messina tour at a WDCB event (along with many great local music acts over the years) many years back. And these aren't the "major" public radio stations. They are all small outfits, thankfully not gobbled up by Clear Channel or the NPR network yet. Independence in radio does still exist, just like it does on local cable. So maybe the problem is WE aren't out there sharing with the world what we know and love?

So how about a thread about folk and traditional music on the radio folks, since at least a couple of posts in the TV thread started drifting to what was carried on radio. Ron Olesko?