WRVU IN THE NEWS
This site will be a repository for articles published about WRVU. Check
here to see how Nashville's Only Alternative is mentioned in the news...
Click on one of the following to read more:
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VU Radio Station Changes Format -- Jay Orr,
The Tennesseean, 12/94
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91 Namaste chosen for "Best of Nashville"
-- Nashville Scene, 3/30/95
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It Ain't Just Rock And Roll Any More -- Rebecca
Schmidt, Versus Magazine,
March 1995
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Turned On and Tuned In by Jim Ridley and Michael McCall
of Nashville Scene, April 10, 1997
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WRVU --
Versus Magazine,
October 1997
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Cross Country --Jim Ridley, Music Notes,
Nashville Scene, October 16, 1997
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91 Dance --Jim Ridley, Music Notes,
Nashville Scene, November 21, 1997
(all rights reserved by respective publishers)
VU Radio Station Changes Format
Vanderbilt University's student-run radio station undergoes a programming
overhaul next month that could give it the most interesting sound it has
had in years.
On Jan. 1, Stacy Hand becomes music director and Sherry (sic)
Scott becomes general manager at WRVU-FM (91.1). Both juniors, the
women are implementing new ideas aimed at lifting the station out of its
alternative music rut.
"We feel like we're getting too repetitive on the air," Hand admits.
"We have a lot of DJs playing nothing but alternative (music), and they
play their same, favorite bands every week. We don't need to be playing
as much commercial alternative now because 94 (WRLG-FM) is doing that (in
the Nashville market)."
The changes won't be radical -- alternative music remains in the mix
-- but the plan is to "open up the format," Hand says.
That means encouraging DJs, who program their own shows at the station,
to experiment with jazz, world music, blues, acid jazz, folk and classical
music, for instance, and to incorporate those styles into the shows they're
doing now.
Last weekend Scott, Hand and some of the other 'RVU staffers went shopping
for records, beefing up the station's collection with new jazz and world
music titles.
Anthropology professors and folks from VU's Blair School of Music are
being consulted for their input on the new programming initiatives, "People
who actually know about the music," Scott says, "as opposed to people who
play what the labels say is cool."
Hnd has started an aggressive campaign to recruit producers/announcers
with new ideas and with backgrounds in other kinds of music. VU graduate
and undergraduate students are the primary talent pool.
"You're basically supposed to be affiliated with Vanderbilt to be on
the air," Hand explains.
Among the intriguing proposals she has seen is one for a radio drama
show, already in the early stages of planning and production.
"It's a radical experiment," says Hand of the revamping. "We're not
heading toward block programming, we're aiming for something where the
music is intermixed in an attractive way. We're hoping to get a lot more
diversity on the air. That way we'll serve a lot more of the Nashville
public."
Now, Hand feels, the station's primary listening audience is local
high school-age kids eager to hear alternative music. The youngsters probably
outnumber university-based listeners.
"We're hoping, by intermixing the music, we won't be turning off our
high school audience. We're still going to providing what they want, and
we feel it's important to provide something for them."
Established and successful shows focusing on bluegrass, blues, rap
and dance music will remain in the new format.
College radio, by its very nature, draws from a community whose members
are still learning about the universe of music. Education frequently takes
place on the air. Wisely, Hand and the 'RVU administration have plans to
accelerate the process.
"We're going to hold seminars for our DJs," she says, "to teach them
how to do interviews and how to incorporate all these different kinds of
music into their shows and make them sound good."
WRVU's 14,500-watt signal reaches the entire Nashville area. Because
students run the station, it sometimes goes off the air between semesters
and around holidays and exams.
Listeners should begin to hear results from the new programming initiative
around mid-January, Hand says, soon after students return to campus Jan.
11.
The station is scheduled to get new equipment, including a new studio
board, over the holidays. The new setup should allow for live, on-air performances
by visiting artists.
"We felt like we weren't doing what we had set out to do originally,"
Hand says. "We weren't providing something for the Nashville audience that
they couldn't get elsewhere."
As she plans for the new year, Hand is listening to progrmming ideas
form anyone interested in helping the station improve its offerings. She
can be reached at 322-3691.
- The Tennessean, 12/94
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Best Adventurous Local Radio Broadcast: 91 Namaste,
WRVU-91 Rock
91 Namaste serves up a bracing blast of audio curry
Too often, 91 Rock gets written of as a college station run by Vandy brats
Granted, there have been rough moments in the station's history, but there
have been shining ones as well -- the most recent and consistent of which
is 91 Namaste, which airs Sunday from noon to 2 PM. Judging from
the number of requests and special announcements every week, this show
has helped bring together the city's Indian community -- and, like the
proliferation of ethnic restaurants and other small businesses across Nashville,
it exemplifies our city's growing cultural diversity. 91 Namaste
plays filmi, Indian pop music that blends traditional instruments,
such as sitar and tabla, with modern instruments such as guitar and synthesizer.
The resulting combination, which draws on pop music forms from all over
the world, is quite stunning. This is exactly the kind of music that college
radio stations should be playing -- especially since no one else will.
- Nashville Scene, 3/30/95
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It Ain't Just Rock and Roll Any More:
Vanderbilt Radio Moves into Uncharted Territory
Through the years, the music played on WRVU has evolved from classic rock
in the '70's, to pop in the '80's, to college alternative throughout the
'80's, to the most recent less alternative "alternative" music of the '90's.
As 1994 came to a close, the Executive Staff of WRVU gathered to brainstorm
the changes needed to bring about yet another new era of music. Yet, this
new era cannot be classified under one term, which is precisely the goal
of the station. When asked to define this change, General Manager Sherri
Scott said that "definitions are stifling" and prefers to refer to the
new format as "a cornucopia of music." If you tune into 91.1, within one
hour you will probably hear a mixture of blues, jazz, various foreign music,
along with the familiar alternative music associated with college radio.
The format of WRVU has always included a wide variety of music, but
it has traditionally been concentrated into individual specialty shows.
So one might ask, "Why the change?" E-Staff (the station's executive board)
feels that recently the quality of the radio station has declined as DJs
play the same types of music without adding anything new or creative to
their shows. Their goal is to make turning on the radio interesting and
fun by challenging the listeners to open their minds and discover their
own definition of music. Program Director Stacy Hand says, "We want to
dispel the whole myth of the liberal alternative, in which the audience
thinks they are so liberal and punk rock, yet are falling into the same
traps of closure that they often criticize."
By launching a musical experimentation with the new format, WRVU desires
to provide a means for listeners to escape this trap of musical closure.
Hopefully, playing a variety of music that many may not have been exposed
to previously will cause individuals to question why they listen to the
type of music they do. Scott explains that "people are in a fluctuating
period of their life where they want to discover new types of music, but
the only music they hear comes from their own circle of friends. This way,
we are allowing people to open up to new types of music and encouraging
them to explore music as a way of finding their own identity." Yet Hand
remarks that they "are not trying to appear as musical elitists, which
is why we are adding a diversity of music and experimenting with anything
different." Thus, through the format change, WRVU is making a statement
about how the rising "alternative" culture of the '90's stifles originality
and creativity in the type of music Americans are listening to.
With 14,500 watts of broadcasting power, an increase in university
funding, and a plethora of DJs, WRVU has the potential to be an exceptional
college station. Hand remarks, "All we need now is the initiative to get
things going the way they need to be running." The station has already
received numerous positive responses to the format change, especially with
the increase in blues and jazz music. DJs like having a variety of music
available to them, and a lot of listeners have called in with remarks indicating
their pleasant surprise with regard to the changes. For example, one caller
commented, "Is this a joke? It's so random and diverse. I really like it."
The diversity of the new format has sparked some negative remarks.
For the most part, however, DJs have received positive feedback about the
format changes. Although everyone might not like it at first, WRVU hopes
that people will continue to listen and greatly expand their musical interests.
Hopefully, increasing the variety of music the station plays will appeal
to a wider range of listeners, including more graduate students and older
members of the community. They want to expand the listening body in the
Nashville community, with hopes that, as Scott states, "Nashville will
open its mind, invite new bands in, and end the stagnation of music." She
notes that the local scene is improving and praises Local Music Director
Jack Wongananda "for finding local music that does not seek us out."
WRVU General Manager Sherri Scott savors a balanced meal at the station.
Program Director Stacy Hand (at left) is not so enthusiastic. Photo
by Wilmer Lin
The changes in the format are the greatest addition to WRVU right now,
but it is only one of many new modifications. The increased number of specialty
shows adds to the new diversity of the station. When asked which new specialty
shows they were most pleased with, Scott and Hand encouraged listeners
to tune into 91 on Thursdays from noon until two pm for "Aural Intercourse,"
a vocal performance and opera show; on Saturdays from eight pm until midnight
for two jazz shows, followed by an acid jazz show with Chek from midnight
until 3 am; and on Sundays from noon until two pm for "91 Namaste," a collection
of Indian music. These are only a few of the specialty shows playing on
WRVU. The programming schedule for the spring semester is now available
at the station, the Overcup Oak, and a variety of other places around campus
and the community.
The future holds many exciting changes for WRVU. The station is pursuing
plans to remodel its offices by getting new carpet, painting the walls,
and adding a new control room with state-of-the-art equipment. The current
eqiupment is from the early eighties and is becoming harder to maintain.
The new control board will allow for more interviews and expanded capabilities
for live in-studio performances.
This year WRVU plans to hold their annual benefit with National Public
Radio and the National Endowment for the Arts in response to Congress'
threat to cut funding for the NEA. By holding this musical protest they
want to make the public conscious of the benefits art brings to Nashville.
In addition to having bands play, they hope to have artists set up booths
and to invite speakers to voice the benefits that public radio, music and
art bring to the community. There will be a booth providing stamps and
posttcards for people to write to their congressmen and protest these changes.
Also, Sinking Creek, which is funded by the NEA, will be showing clips
from their films, The benefit will be held at 328 Performance Hall on April
15, and the music will be indicative of the new format by inviting several
local, alternative bands, a blues band, a jazz band, and possibly a "twisted
bluegrass" band.
WRVU wants to provide music that everyone can enjoy at the benefit
as well as on the air. E-Staff acknowledges that they have limited resources
and knowledge about the changes they are making, and therefore they encourage
everyone to respond to the changes by calling or coming to the station,
because by hearing its listeners input, they can continue to make the station
better. So challenge yourself to a little musical experimentation by tuning
in to 91 Rock!
- Versus Magazine, March 1995
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Turned On and Tuened In
By Jim Ridley and Michael McCall
For many years, Nashvillians have fantasized about having a local
public-access radio station. The appeal of such a station is
obvious: a wide-ranging, continuously surprising mix of music, unburdened
by consultants or rigid formats. The obstacles are
just as clear--mainly, finding a signal, constant funding, and station
operators willing to work for little or no money.
A true community station, like Memphis' excellent WEVL-FM, is probably many
years away. But Nashville does have the
next best thing: Vanderbilt's WRVU-FM (91.1 FM), a college-radio operation
that offers the most eclectic, unusual, and
imaginative programming in town. Casual listeners tune in to 91 Rock every
morning not knowing whether they'll get a sampling
of edgy indie rock or a swell two-hour block of Cajun and zydeco music. All
they know is that they might hear something
they'd never hear anywhere else in Nashville.
For that reason, the station has plenty of loyal listeners. Devoted
followings have sprung up around such regular shows as
Dave Ellis and Eric Watts' "91 Soulsville" (classic soul music from 4 to 6
p.m. Wednesdays), Traci Todd's "George, the
Bluegrass Show" (from 2 to 4 p.m. Sundays), and Karina Bull's long-running
lounge show "The Mad Pad" (from 6 to 8 p.m.
Mondays). Friday's all-night funk/hip-hop/house programs have cult
audiences; so do the Thursday-night "Booze Party" of
vintage sleaze-rock; Monday night's "Buster's Ball," with its big-band
boogie and snippets of old radio serials; and Friday's
all-encompassing "Shake Your Booty for the Revolution" broadcast, which
features deejay Jesus spinning Hank Williams
alongside P-Funk and Jimmy Cliff.
91's influential dance shows, however, may be its most popular feature.
WRVU is capitalizing on these programs with an
all-night dance party and fundraiser from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m. Saturday at the
Marathon Village complex at 1305 Clinton St. Three
separate halls have been devoted to the blowout: a downstairs "chill-out
room" with coffee, acid jazz, and a live performance
by Dinah Shore Jr.; a main upstairs room for house music; and a hardcore
jungle/hip-hop room. Computerized graphics will
play on giant video screens, and a light show will blaze away throughout
the evening.
The headliner is San Francisco deejay Robbie Hardkiss, who makes his first
Nashville appearance. The event has drawn other
mixmasters from across the country, including New York's Micro and Odi, San
Francisco's Dante and Niven, and Lexington's
Trevor LaMont. As for local talent, 91 Rock's DJ Chek, Avalanche, DJ Ron,
Egon, and "Club 91" host Brad Robinson will be
on hand. Nashville's Chip B (who helped assemble the talent), Alejan, MK2,
and Lary Brakes will also mix. Capping the night
will be a live PA battle between Audio Transit and Digital Information
Systems.
Station manager Jamie Noble, a Vanderbilt junior (and chemistry and math
major) who deserves some credit for WRVU's
strong lineup of programming this semester, says the event will be
non-alcoholic and fully secured; anyone staying past midnight
will have to present an ID. Even so, it should be a blast, and the $15 door
charge is a small price to pay to help keep 91
Rock's airwaves free. For more information, call 322-6397. (JR)
--Nashville Scene, April 10, 1997
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WRVU
WRVU has been an important part of the music scene at Vanderbilt and in student
life in general since its inception in 1953. Recently, Versus talked to both Ken Berryhill
whose show The Old Record Shop can be heard from 12-2 p.m. Thursday afternoons and
Jamie Noble, the current general manager of the station. Ken operated his own radio
transistor from his dorm room in Cole Hall in the early '50s and was instrumental in setting
up the first (legal) radio station at Vanderbilt. Versus explores some of the changes that
WRVU has undergone over the years and WRVU's importance as an outlet for different
kinds of music.
Purpose On-the-Air
Ken's purpose is to entertain through humor while providing informative research. Ken
modestly compares himself to a "ham" actor, or a pretentious, unskilled performer. He
describes himself as a bit "verbose" as well. Ken is proud to be the father of WRVU.
How Ken Originally Envisioned WRVU
Ken had grand, concrete plans for the station: 1) He would manage the station. 2)
WRVU would be a variety station, playing music ranging from rock to jazz. 3) It would
educate, offering credit courses for the community on the air. Ken now laughs at this idea.
While he had enough power in his room to reach radios a mile in every direction, using
this amount of power was illegal. 4) WRVU would be staffed entirely by students.
In reality, WRVU, one of the few campus stations at the time, was extremely entertaining
and popular.
Story Behind the Radio Station
While attending Lamberth College in Memphis, Tennessee, Ken used a $15 transmitter he
bought in high school to launch his radio career. The radio station was an instant hit.
When Ken was preoccupied with class (or a date, he adds), other students were welcome
to start their own shows on the air. Ken later transferred to Vandy. He approached the
chancellor about beginning a radio station, lacking a concrete proposal. The chancellor said
he would look into the matter. Within days, Ken was called to the chancellor's office once
again, wondering what mischief he had done. Rather than punish him, the chancellor told
Ken that he was willing to begin the radio station step-by-step. A committee responsible
for the radio station was formed by Ken's senior year. By that time, Ken had been drafted
into the army to fight in the Korean War. WRVU was finally born in 1953 in his dorm
room at Cole Hall; it was simply a carrier station, or a station operated through the electrical
system without an antenna. Students across campus could now tune in to the 600 am dial
and enjoy listening to Vanderbilt's first radio station.
Ken's Shows
Ken generally controls every aspect of his shows, writing the script independently for each
show. Working at a television station made him appreciate the freedom of the radio.
Ken's shows begin with a half-hour of old pop music, known as the "Old Record Shop,"
followed by "Ken's Country Classics." Ken ends with "Old Jazz Boy," a series of
Dixieland jazz songs. Ken says this portion of the program is his favorite. As a side note,
Ken and his wife founded the Memphis Jazz Blues Club. It began with eight members; at
its peak, it consisted of 400 members. The Blues Club is still active today.
Memories of the Old Radio Days. . .
As a joke, Ken would rewrite the last half of a script for a commercial. After a friend
would read an embarrassing script on-the-air, Ken remembers being threatened. While he
was not sabotaging scripts for commercials, Ken would place an alarm clock in a box
covered with heavy books. He would then set the alarm to ring during the middle of a
show of an unsuspecting DJ. Interestingly enough, Ken also remembers becoming
extremely depressed after each of his shows. A psychology professor told him that he
probably suffered from withdrawal after expending so much emotional energy during
shows.
Ken's Book
Ken is author of the book Funny Business. While teacher of a class on how to become a
comedian, Ken received a letter from Prentice Hall, requesting that he write a book similar
to the textbook he used in class. Ken says he thought about the offer for about 30 seconds
before he agreed to write the book. Receiving this letter was a dream come true for Ken.
What Ken Thinks of WRVU Today
Ken listens to only two radio stations: WSM, a country station, and 91.1 WRVU. He is
very impressed by the management of the station and confidently agrees that the station is
well-equipped and well-handled. He gives the station an "A+," although he doesn't
necessarily relate to all the different types of music played over the air.
Importance of Radio in Society
We seem to have stumped Ken with this question. He is not sure exactly what importance
the radio station has. However, he emphasizes that each station should define its goal
before it begins. Managers should regularly ask themselves, "Are we doing what we
planned to do?" Other important questions university radio stations should ask are, "Will
prospective students want to come after they listen to the station?" and "How are we going
to raise funds?"
* * *
WRVU is located in several dimly lit rooms behind the Commodore Card office in Sarratt.
If you've ever gone out that exit into the Sarratt parking lot, you've probably peered
through the large glass pane and glimpsed the panoply of microphones and record players,
the blinking panel with its strange knobs and dials, and the real live DJ operating it all.
Versus talked to Jamie Noble, the station's general manager, about his views on the role of
WRVU in student life and on the music scene in Nashville.
We are led down a narrow corridor into one of the mysterious back rooms where several
members of the E-staff (the station's executive board) are gathered. It is about 12:30 in the
afternoon, so most of them are eating their lunches while talking shop back there. The
furniture in the room is decrepit. There is an impressive array of stickers, posters, and
graffiti decorating the walls.
When we first arrive, Jamie is not there. I joke about how this would be a good place for
one of the temporarily homeless to camp out. One member of the E-staff, Eric, points to
some blankets in the corner and says "Somebody is!" Eric does a show called 91 Flavas,
which can be heard Friday nights, 8p-10p.
Jamie arrives. He makes it a point to say hello to everybody at the station before settling
down to do the interview. Jamie is relaxed, but highly articulate.
Versus: When did you take over the office of GM?
Jamie: Well, I was elected in December of '96. The general manager has several
responsibilities, but I'm really equal with everyone else. I mean, none of us gets paid.
Versus: What kind of message do you have? What is your mission statement?
Jamie: Personally, I don't have a mission statement per se. But the music I play tends to
lift me emotionally and mentally. It changes my sense of spirituality, and I try to convey
that to our listeners. I know that a lot of other people, through whatever genres of music,
also have a deep connection to the music. And the fervor for it is reflected in the number of
hours they spend at the station. Also, I try to make people more aware of what different
kinds of music is available other than what is played on MTV. I have a jazz show because
I felt that there wasn't enough jazz played over the radio.
At this point, Brad, the engineer of the station, pulls out a large can of Lemon Dude from a
file cabinet and emits a few spritzes into the room. Everything suddenly starts to smell like
lemon-fresh laundry detergent. Brad's show 91 Club can be heard 6-8 p.m. on Friday
evenings.
Versus: Do you plan on producing any changes in the radio station?
Jamie: We have tried to implement some. But we have run into some walls, and people
have put up walls for that matter. Last Thanksgiving break, the telecommunications
department decided to put up a wall where our business office was. We have a pretty
cramped space as it is, and they just made it more so. I have been trying to change the
layout of the place, but it has been hard. We have been trying to update our computer
system because our computer system is fairly out-dated. And we have been trying to get
out of our AP wire contract. I found out recently that this is a 10-year contract. We don't
have the contract around; it is through the AP so they have the written contract. That's
$5000 we're stuck with that hardly gets used. The money can really be put to use
somewhere else. We have been trying to get equipment to entice more bands to come.
With our limited equipment, we can't do a whole lot right now.
Versus: What does it mean for WRVU to be alternative?
Jamie: That's not a word that we really associate ourselves with anymore. Alternative was
an MTV coined phrase that came up when Nirvana's smash hits came through. We have
never touted ourselves as an alternative station in that sense, but more of an alternative to
the mainstream. It's not so much a different style of music but a difference in music styles.
We have always prided ourselves in not having to answer to anybody as far as what we
play at the station.
Brian comes into the room and listens to our interview for a few minutes. Brian's show,
the Haunted Mansion, is broadcast every Thursday from 8-10 p.m.
Versus: Have you met any famous people through the radio station?
Jamie: I don't know about famous, but I do get to meet a lot of people. I had a band from
North Carolina that I'm a big fan of called Spent on my show last year. The other day, I
got to interview Tim Gaine from Stereolab along with Brian and Eric. That was definitely
one of the high points of my radio career because he [Tim Gaine] is such an influential
member of the indie rock community. I also got to go up to the College Music Journal
Festival three or four weeks ago. I met Beck and the Chemical Brothers there. Recently,
the Pixies and the Clash have come by. I think that Versus even did an article on it two
years ago.
Versus: So do you think WRVU serves an important function in student life?
Jamie: Definitely. It's the largest group of actively participating students. We have
anywhere between 100-125 active DJs every semester. And it's growing. We currently
have about 50 trainees, which is the highest number I've seen since I was a freshman.
That's encouraging. It seems that people are becoming more aware of WRVU.
Versus: And most people don't have the opportunity to do this other than in college.
Jamie: Yes. And a lot of people don't realize what a privilege it is to have the radio station.
Aside from Georgia State University in Atlanta which has a 100,000 watt station, we're
one of the largest college stations in the southeast. We have over a million people in our
broadcasting area and a 50-60 mile radius depending on the weather. We're serviced by all
the major record companies and report to all the major college recruiting magazines. In
terms of a college radio station, it doesn't get much better than this.
Versus: Versus is doing an issue on music. We were wondering if you had any general
comments about the music scene in Nashville or at Vanderbilt.
Jamie: I know of Dave Cloud's Gospel of Power, a Vanderbilt graduate. Actually, two
Vanderbilt graduates are involved in that right now. That's definitely a student related
project. I know that Belmont has quite a few bands, but Vanderbilt mostly has the frat
bands. Unfortunately, even as commercial as 94 was, they were a good competitor to keep
the music scene in check before they went off the air. The outlet for a lot of music in
Nashville nowadays is going to be MTV because 103 is changing its format to more of an
adult genre. There's a big gap there. Say someone listens to the new Beck song on what
used to be 94. He might then be more likely to listen to some of the music we play. You
can't really pull a person in to different kinds of music unless he first listens to what is
slightly off-kilter in commercial music. The individual contributions really make a
difference in Nashville. Nashville is unique in that it's still of the size where that sort of
thing can happen. You can still have the smaller clubs getting the bigger bands. And I
think that's very fortunate for the city and the music scene as a whole.
Versus: Is there anything else you'd like to add?
Jamie: Listen to 91. Open up your ears.
Tune into Jamie's show, The Beat, from 6-8 on Wednesday evenings.
- The Versus
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Cross Country
By Jim Ridley
Eddie Stubbs' WSM-AM show doesn't broadcast on weekend nights --
he's busy hosting something called the Grand Ole Opry. But there's a new
option for those seeking stone-country nuggets on the airwaves: the
rollicking Hipbilly Jamboree, which rumbles every Saturday night from 10
p.m. to midnight on Vanderbilt's left-of-the-dial wonder 91 Rock. Hosted
by music writer Randy Fox and Great Escape comanager Doyle Davis, the
Hipbilly Jamboree features what Davis terms "country that kids who don't
like country would like."
So far, that includes everything from Bill Monroe's "The Little
Girl and the Dreadful Snake" to Faron Young's "Live Fast, Love Hard, Die
Young," which get requested every show. Every week the Jamboree is
deluged with requests for obscure songs, and Fox, Davis, and Vanderbilt
senior Emily O'Brien do their damnest to oblige. One of their finds, a
barrelhouse-piano number called "Doggie House Boogie" by Merrill Moore,
has become an audience favorite. And when they aren't lugging in stacks
of wax from their private stash, the hosts turn the mic over to guest
artists -- including Paul Burch, Paul Niehaus, and the Calvins -- who
aren't exactly household names to 91 listeners.
"We don't seem to be drawing the regular 91 audience," says
Davis, who also hosts 91's popular "D-Funk Show" every Friday night.
Davis first launched the Jamboree in the summer of 1996, but it didn't
join 91's regular line-up until last summer. Ever since, the show has
steadily picked up listeners -- and it'll probably pick up even more now
that it has moved from a Thursday-night slot opposite the master himself,
Eddie Stubbs. "We don't like going head-to-head with Eddie -- he's too
good," Davis says. "But we're trying to play something a little bit
different."
To find the Jamboree, lock in 91.1 FM on the dial this Saturday
night at 10. The request line is 322-ROCK. Playing stump the host with
Fox is well-nigh impossible, but we still recommend calling in either
Johnny Paycheck's "Pardon Me (I've Got Someone to Kill)" or Porter
Wagoner's "The Rubber Room."
--Nashville Scene, October 16, 1997
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91 Dance
By Jim Ridley
Over the past five years, WRVU deejay Ron Slomowicz has hipped Nashville to
some of the nation's hottest dance music
every Saturday night on 91 Rock. Slomowicz is considered such a tastemaker
that his playlist is printed regularly in the trade
journal DMA; more than 3,000 revelers got a taste of his stash when he
manned the wheels of steel at the wall-to-wall
Artrageous late party a few weeks back.
This Saturday, starting at noon, Slomowicz is throwing himself a live,
on-air 23rd birthday bash, spinning 12 consecutive hours
of dance music mixed live in the studio. Some of Slomowicz's favorite
artists and local celebrities will be phoning in birthday
greetings, and the city's foxiest drag queens will pop by to lend the
marathon that hormone-enhanced je ne sais quoi. In case
you're busy, Slomowicz will repeat the affair Saturday, Nov. 30, starting
once again at noon. And don't bother listening for his
selections elsewhere: Slomowicz refuses to play any track listed on any
other local dance station. The request lines are
open.
--Nashville Scene, November 21, 1997
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