A Diamond In the Rough No More

[Daveparts]

A Diamond In the Rough No More
By David Glenn Cox



Everyone is proud of their own hometown; we all have aspects of it we like to brag on. Atlanta has two Nobel Peace prizewinners and is one of only two cities in North America to have ever hosted the summer Olympic games. But we have something else in Atlanta to be just as proud of, we have a community radio station. WRFG, Radio Free Georgia http://www.wrfg.org /

To the casual observer you might ask what’s the difference between a public radio station and a community radio station? One of major differences is in the way they are funded WRFG gets a small grant from the Atlanta arts council but the majority of the funding is from the listeners. But the real difference is in the listening at WRFG there’s no formal stuff shirt Nina Totenburg here or endless hours of classical music this station is alive and vibrant this is by the community and for the community

Morning drive is Good Morning Blues four hours of daily drive time blues programmed by the air shifters themselves each focusing on a different aspect of the genre. Tuesdays are hosted by Blackjack and his wife A. J. along with her cat Belle the Blues kitty. The program is titled Riding the Blues Train and it opens with Black Jack announcing, “Hold on to your seats, we’re live!” Then proceeding to blow XM and Sirius out of the sky because the people programming the music love the music.

The programming is what they love not a computer model or what a programming service says is popular or just the radio cuts but diverse quality music. Thursday is UK Bob a transplant from the crown Bob gives insight into the British and European blues scene. With amazing interviews John Mayall, Ian Anderson, Paul Rogers, Alvin Lee to name just a few.

But Bob’s day job is with a local package service that requires he travel to Europe regularly and as Bob says he always brings back an arm load of CD’s. Suppose Bob plays something from a CD that’s not available in the states and you want a copy. You call Bob up and say “How can I get a copy of that?” Bob says, No worries mate give me your phone number and next time I’m in the UK I’ll pick you up a copy sure as Bob’s your uncle. Call XM and ask them to get you a CD not available in the states.

It’s community, It’s all about community, Friday morning is Michael Ellis a laid back ex Chicagoian with a smooth friendly delivery. A musician himself, Mike blends eclectic tastes from Blind Willie McTell or Mississippi John Hurt to Robin Trower along with his own original essays.

But it’s more than just blues the schedule is diverse, from Hard Knock Radio from KPFA in Berkley to Rap Hip-Hop, Bluegrass, Celtic and Zydaco. The Zydaco show sponsors dances, don’t know how to dance to Zydaco? Come early they give free lessons an hour before the dance. It’s a community and they want you to join the community its about inclusion. To be a part of the station they love.

Because the station is funded by the listeners they hold fundraisers just like the public radio stations. But they also sponsor concerts to benefit the station, for several years two of the listeners who lived next door to each other held their own fundraiser. Rex and Harry’s back yard blues festival, backing a tractor trailer into their back yard with porta potties and the whole nine yards. They provided twelve hours of music with national touring acts then recording a CD and then sold the CD with all the proceeds to benefit the station.

A ten-dollar donation bought you food and drink and music for the day. But many people donated more than that just because they wanted to. They were part of the community and wanted to share with that community. WRFG’s slogan is the right place on the left hand side of the dial and the station is just as active in public affairs. With Amy Goodman and Democracy Now and their own Heather Gray with Just Peace.

Sometimes my wife will get in the car and as the radio begins she’ll ask, “What are you listening to?” I explain its community radio I share this station with others in the community. They might not always have something I like on the air but they don’t scream at me or run stupid gags with annoying sound effects and best of all, no endless commercials, all music, all programming.

I find myself listening to programs I didn’t think I’d like, because it’s the good stuff not the corporate pop music play list. Air Shifter Super D plays soul music from the 60’s 70’s and 80’s interspersed with clips from movies and TV shows of the day. He keeps it light and keeps it real and it’s real fun.

The station has been on the air thirty-five years and for all this time the volunteers have scraped and scrimped to buy a bigger transmitter and a better tower space. The signal was weak and had blind spots and when the old transmitter went down we waited patiently while they scoured the world trying to locate obsolete parts for the transmitter. But yesterday at 12:30 all that changed WRFG went to full power 100,000 watts with a new higher tower space.

The difference was immediate and dramatic with callers calling in from as far away as Alabama. This diamond can shine on and the community can grow and all without anyone making a profit. Local people doing what they love giving of their time and talents to give a window into a community a community that welcomes you. They will spoil you smart adult music and programming public affairs where they discuss issues not just name calling; Rush and Hannity need not apply.

A basic membership is $35.00 and they’ll give you some CD’s or $89.30 maybe a tee shirt and some CD’s $500.00 and maybe a blues band will come to your house and do a live concert. Try hiring a top flight blues band for $500. WRFG inspires me, because with all that is wrong in this country today these people swimming against the tide of media consolidation and corporatism do it so right.

A community of hundreds of diverse people coming together with a shared interest in their community and have put together a gem. Now with the same power and tower as the commercial stations WRFG like David stands with slingshot and rock about to knock the giants in the dirt. WRFG is a diamond that proves the argument against media consolidation single handedly. Check out their schedule and give them a listen