Archives for August 2013

Max Roach (Sunday 8.11.13)

A pioneer of the drums, Max Roach revolutionized the concept of musical time. Max’s playing and interpretation of time inspired generations of jazz musicians and drummers.

Big Broadcast: Pirate Radio

For much of the 20th century, radio was the voice of the establishment, selling not just detergent, but a whitewashed, idealized vision of America. But that wasn’t entirely true. From the early 30’s until the early 70’s, late at night, strange sounds would skip across the stratosphere, filling the air over America with the howls of wild animals, the promises of faith healers, the voices of Spanish speakers, and–heaven-forbid–that devil rhythm and blues music. On this week’s Texas Music Matters, we’re celebrating the outlaw spirit of the airwaves, which has deep roots in Texas, or, to be precise, the Texas border. Hear it Friday at noon and again Friday night at 11 on KUTX 98.9.

 

Herb Ellis (Sunday 8.4.13)

Herb Ellis gave us a different way of looking at the different ways of coping with the events of the 1950s and 1960s. He incorporated the blues and twang into a bee bop sound with his jazz guitar playing. He’s most well-known for joining the Oscar Peterson Trio in the 1950s.

Big Broadcast: How Long Must I Dream

Of the many Texas music musicians who’ve made a major impact on the American songbook, one of the most often overlooked is Roy Orbison. Born in Wink, Texas, Orbison started his career in rockabilly music and was warned by his producers not to waste his talent on ballads. Yet he would go on to global fame and influence a generation of followers with dramatic love songs such as “In Dreams” and “Only the Lonely.” Join us as we explore the life and music of a Texas iconoclast: Roy Orbison. That’s on the next edition of Texas Music Matters, Friday at noon and again Friday night at 11 on KUTX 98.9