WNYC® Radio to Broadcast "Parting the Waters"

An Hour-long Special Featuring Selections from The New Yorker Magazine's Benefit for Hurricane Katrina Relief Wednesday, September 28, Noon – 1pm

On WNYC 93.9FM, AM 820 and via live webstream at www.wnyc.org

(September 22, 2005, New York, NY) — WNYC, New York Public Radio® today announced that it will air "Parting the Waters," an hour-long special featuring selections from The New Yorker magazine's benefit on Saturday, September 24 at Town Hall. The special, hosted by WNYC's Leonard Lopate, will air on Wednesday, September 28 from Noon to 1pm on WNYC 93.9 FM, AM 820, and via live webstream at www.wnyc.org.

The evening is a celebration of the of artistic culture of the Bayou, and features Gulf Coast musicians, actors and writers including The Rebirth Brass Band, Buckwheat Zydeco, Allen Toussaint, Queen Ida, Richard Ford, Walter "Wolfman" Washington, Leigh "Little Queenie" Harris and Patricia Clarkson. Additional performers at the event will include Lou Reed, Laurie Anderson, Woody Allen, Audra McDonald, Elvis Costello, David Byrne & the Les Miserables Brass Band. Readings will be given by author Toni Morrison and actors Terrence Howard, Mary Louise Parker, Willem Dafoe, Kevin Kline, and Philip Seymour Hoffman.

"As the story of Katrina and its devastating aftermath continues to unfold, an event like 'Parting the Waters' reminds us of the rich cultural history and artistic spirit the Gulf Coast has always so generously shared with our nation and the world," said WNYC President Laura Walker. "WNYC is proud to share with our fellow New Yorkers the amazing array of talent that has come together to benefit a region of the country that has given us so much."

This hour-long special comes on the heels of WNYC's live broadcast of "Higher Ground," the benefit event organized by Wynton Marsalis and Jazz at Lincoln Center on Saturday, September 17. Excerpts from that extraordinary event aired this week on WNYC's Brian Lehrer Show, Soundcheck , and Evening Music.

WNYC, New York Public Radio, is New York 's premier public radio station, comprising WNYC 93.9 FM and WNYC AM 820. As America's most listened-to public radio stations, reaching more than one million listeners every week, WNYC FM and AM extend New York City's cultural riches to the entire country and air the best national offerings from affiliate networks National Public Radio and Public Radio International. WNYC 93.9 FM broadcasts a wide range of daily news, talk, cultural and classical music programming, while WNYC AM 820 maintains a stronger focus on breaking news and international news reporting. For more information, visit www.wnyc.org.

Press Contact: Jennifer Houlihan, WNYC Radio, (212) 669-7748.