Pensacola Independent News

A&E | Vol. 36, No. 5, July 29, 2010
(Fluoride Divide)
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Saving Grace

by Bradley "Beej" Davis Jr.

WUWF Listeners Called to "Save RadioLive"

For over 20 years, WUWF's RadioLive has established and cultivated a specific listener audience with the program's carefully crafted selection of local, regional and national musicians.
However, the live, monthly radio show, taped in front of a live audience at Pensacola's Museum of Commerce on the first Thursday of every month, needs those listeners' help. As a result of budget cuts, RadioLive is no longer a WUWF-funded program and is currently relying on the kindness of listeners and strangers alike through contributions made to the "Save RadioLive" initiative.
At the helm of WUWF and RadioLive is executive director Pat Crawford. He shares how the fundraising efforts are going and why it's imperative to keep up such important programming.
IN: How long has RadioLive been showcasing musicians on WUWF?

Crawford: RadioLive made its debut in September of 1988 as a part of the inauguration of Morris Marx as UWF's third president.
IN: I know there is a mix of local, regional and national talent that graces the RadioLive airwaves. Can you explain the selection process for these musicians?
Crawford: I select all of the acts myself from scores of artists who send me their music for consideration. After all these years, I know our audience pretty well and base my selections and the combination of artists for each show on what I think they will like. I also like to expose them to new things as well.

IN: It's rumored there is a substantial waiting list for musicians to appear on RadioLive. If this is true, what is that typical wait and, in your opinion, how does that denote the caliber of music for the program?
Crawford: There is a waiting list, and because there are only 12 shows a year, we generally are booked 18-24 months out. As the show has matured and become more well-known, the caliber of artists has improved significantly. Artists love our audiences and word of mouth has kept a steady stream of new acts coming our way, as well as interest in return visits. We have never had an artist who didn't want to come back -- a real tribute to our great audiences.

IN: According to the website, RadioLive was an unfortunate cut in the WUWF operating budget. Can you please explain why that program was eliminated?
Crawford: It's no secret that the economic downturn has had a tremendous impact on state funding for the university. Unfortunately for WUWF, we also have experienced reductions in grant funding and a decline in contributions from listeners. Preserving our great national programming, particularly the National Public Radio (NPR) news and information, is our top priority. When we started RadioLive in 1988, we made the decision to charge no admission, but rather ask our audience members to support Manna Food Pantries by bringing canned goods to each show. This has been extremely successful for Manna, and we are pleased to be able to support them in this manner. Last year, we simply had to cut something significant in order to balance the budget, and I chose RadioLive. After 20-plus years as our gift to the community, I figured the show had to become largely self-supporting or go away. The audience has been responding to the need in a very positive way, through donations at the door and some fundraising initiatives to keep the program going. The challenge is to keep it up.

IN: What does the $20,000 operating budget for RadioLive pay for?
Crawford: Mostly artist fees and expenses related to their appearances. None of the $20,000 we are attempting to raise covers any staff time or station resources -- it is the actual cash outlay necessary to bring these great artists to our community.

IN: WUWF holds membership drives throughout the year. Does RadioLive receive any portion of those funds and, if so, how much?
Crawford: Since RadioLive is no longer a budgeted item, it does not receive membership contributions unless the donor designates that their gift be applied to RadioLive.

IN: Why is it important for the community to rally around grassroots programs such as RadioLive?
Crawford: We are bringing world-class talent to our area and presenting them in a comfortable, family-friendly environment. Audiences in larger markets would think nothing of paying $40 or more for tickets to a show like RadioLive. We are still admission-free, but ask for free-will contributions.

IN: What has been the general response to this particular fundraising initiative for RadioLive?
Crawford: Excellent. We are slightly more than half way to our $20,000 goal for this year, but the majority of the contributions are coming from a small core group of supporters. If everyone who attends the show would make a $5 contribution each month, we would have the resources we need.

IN: If someone wanted to donate, how does he or she do so?
Crawford: He or she can make a contribution online at wuwf.org (specify that you want your gift to support RadioLive), drop it in the "tip" jar at the show, or become a corporate sponsor of the program.

IN: What else can individuals do to support RadioLive?
Crawford: Attend the shows, bring your friends, feed the "tip" jar, and show the artists how much this community appreciates their music.

IN: Anything else you would like to get off your chest?
Crawford: If it wasn't for the support of businesses like the Hilton Pensacola Beach Gulf Front (who provides accommodations for the artists) and Ever'man Natural Foods, it would not be possible for us to present RadioLive. We are committed to providing the manpower and equipment -- all contributions go to artists in the form of performance fees -- and as long as folks step up and contribute, RadioLive has a long run ahead of it.

info@inweekly.net

The Aug. 5 RadioLive program welcomes Atlanta's T.J. Edmond and The Beggars' Guild, along with Nashville songwriter Laurie McClain and Pensacola blues group The Panhandle All-Stars.

T.J. Edmond and The Beggars' Guild T.J. Edmond is a prolific songwriter, musician, bandleader and audio engineer living in Athens, Ga. With his band, The Beggars' Guild, he has received radio airplay and critical praise for his honest, catchy and well-crafted songs.
Edmond has performed both on the stage and behind the sound board in venues ranging from coffee shops and dives to elegant theaters and prestigious music and arts festivals. Having also worked as a studio engineer, he has gained insight into songwriting, recording and performing.
Having a near legendary grassroots following throughout the South, they have shared the stage with the Marshall Tucker Band, Colonel Bruce Hampton and the Zac Brown Band. The Guild released their first full-length album, "It Only Gets Better From Here," to popular acclaim and critical success.

Laurie McClain Born in Southern California and being a child of the 60s, Laurie announced to her family early on that she would be a singer when she grew up. The popular radio of the "flower power generation" carried a heavy dose of folk music, and Laurie naturally gravitated to the sound.
Although her covers of popular songs were well received, she took the advice of a mentor and began writing and performing her own songs at age 18. After endless gigs around the Midwest, Laurie moved to Nashville in the late 90s and soon released her first album. Her latest release in 2009, "Ascend," won Folk Album of the Year at the Just Plain Folks Awards, which is known as the "Grassroots Grammys," with over 42,000 entries in 50 categories.

Jeff Glickman and The Panhandle All-Stars The music he makes constantly redefines itself, calling him down one alley then up another flight of stairs and on to the roof for a holler. The sounds he hears come from his Yankee roots through the big city noise into the hush of the Delta at first light: a thick, crooked line drawn from Frankie Lymon to Howling Wolf past Hank Williams, Little Walter, Johnny Adams and Chris Whitley. The sound can be a folk-funky, 12-string throw down or "Hellhound On My Trail" played out on a National Steel, a wild ox moan or a high harmonica jump.
Glickman was once a young folk singer, then a rock n' roller, next a Shakespearean actor, and finally a bluesman -- all of which feed the sound he makes. After living in New York City, where he played with The Alligator Club, Licks Radio and The Asteroids, Glickman relocated to northwest Florida in 2004 where he formed The Panhandle All-Stars before going solo.

RADIOLIVE
WHAT: RadioLive featuring T.J. Edmond and The Beggars' Guild, Laurie McClain, and Jeff Glickman and The Panhandle All-Stars
WHEN: Doors open at 5 p.m., performance and taping begin at 6 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 5
WHERE: Museum of Commerce, 201 E. Zaragoza St.
COST: Free, although donations of cash or non-perishable food for Manna Food Pantries are accepted
DETAILS: wuwf.org/radiolive/radiolive.shtml

InWeekly

Saving Grace