Is your station doing special programming for Inauguration Day and for MLK Day?
WDAV — with General Manager Ben Roe and Program Director Frank Dominguez out there leading the pack, as usual — is adding some live national coverage of inauguration events to its normal streaming programming:
“When Barack Obama becomes the 44th President of the United States on January 20th, it will be to the accompaniment of a „rainbow coalition‟ of classical musicians,” explains WDAV General Manager Benjamin K. Roe. “Cellist Yo-Yo Ma, born in Paris to Chinese-American parents, will be joined by Israeli-American violinist Itzhak Perlman, a young African-American clarinetist named Anthony McGill, and Brazilian pianist Gabriela Montero. Isn‟t this exactly the kind of event Dr. King envisioned? It‟s thrilling to think about the juxtaposition of these two events – King Day and the Obama Inauguration – and the integral role music plays in both men’s ideals of America. We are pleased to offer this Inauguration Week commemorative programming and, indeed, we feel we have a responsibility to bring it to our listeners.”
Inauguration Week commemorative programming on 89.9 FM and www.wdav.org includes: We Are One: The Obama Inaugural Celebration at the Lincoln Memorial – Sunday, January 18 at 2 p.m.
Available online only, www.wdav.org presents the Opening Celebration for the Presidential Inaugural. We Are One is directed by George Stevens, Jr. (The Kennedy Center Honors) and produced by Don Mischer (Olympic Ceremonies) and includes musical performances by Renee Fleming, Josh Groban, Mary J. Blige, Herbie Hancock, Bono, James Taylor, Sheryl Crow, Bruce Springsteen and many more. “Our intention is to root the event in history, celebrating the moments when our nation has united to face great challenges and prevailed,” observes Director George Stevens, Jr. “We will combine historical readings by prominent actors with music from an array of today‟s greatest stars.” National Public Radio‟s Lisa Simeone hosts.
The whole week is filled with special programming at WDAV. You can see the schedule here.
I’d love to hear what other stations are doing this week.
I’m sure by now you’ve seen this exciting news release from Americans for the Arts:
… the House Appropriations Committee released an $825 billion economic recovery package. Included in the proposed bill is an infusion of $50 million for the National Endowment for the Arts (in addition to its annual appropriations) to specifically preserve jobs in the nonprofit arts sector threatened by declines in philanthropic and other support. The House plan proposes additional opportunities throughout other parts of the federal government that could also help the nonprofit arts sector and individual artists. Many of these other opportunities correspond closely with our Recommendations for Economic Recovery & the Arts.
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Echoes, not usually a politically oriented show, will be playing a special Inaugural Soundscape that evening.
Tuesday 01/20/09
INAUGURAL ECHOES
Music of hope, promise and new days
It’s an inaugural Echoes when we celebrate the installation of the 44th President of the United States. We send off President Barack Obama with music of hope, dreams, new beginnings and global understanding. Expect lots of songs with “hope,” “beginnings,” and “sunrise” in the titles
On my show on WPFW in Washington, D.C., I’ll be playing some special tunes for the new President:
“The Star-Spangled Banner,” Jimi Hendrix
“Obama,” Extra Golden — a Kenyan band paid tribute to Obama when he helped them get a visa to visit the U.S.
“What’s Going On,” Marvin Gaye — Obama has said this is one of his favorite songs
“Get Up, Get Into It, Get Involved,” James Brown — a reminder that we all have to keep working for a better world
“Someday My Prince Will Come,” Dave Brubeck — Intended with a dash of irony.