wnyc.org / 93.9fm / am 820

Wednesday, February 15th at 8PM on 93.9 FM, AM 820, and NJPR; Saturday, February 18th at 6AM on 93.9 FM and NJPR; Saturday, February 18th at 2PM on AM 820; Sunday, February 19th at 8PM on 820 AM and NJPR

Langston Hughes, an enduring icon of the Harlem Renaissance, is best-known for his written work, which wedded his fierce dedication to social justice with his belief in the transformative power of the word. But he was a music lover, too, and some of the works he was most proud of were collaborations with composers and musicians.  I, Too, Sing America will dive into the songs, cantatas, musicals and librettos that flowed from Hughes’ pen. As he did with his poetry, Hughes used music to denounce war, combat segregation and restore human dignity in the face of Jim Crow. 

Sunday, February 5th at 9PM on AM 820; Thursday, February 16th at 8PM on 93.9 FM, AM 820, and NJPR

A musical portrait of the wife of late Congressman Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. and Julliard-trained pianist who performed in the most prestigious concert halls in the world. Known as the “darling of Café Society,” Hazel Scott became a trailblazer in Hollywood; an outspoken civil rights activist which made her a political target; and ultimately, an outcast, ostracized by the Church community because of her music.

Martin Luther King, Jr. grew up listening to and singing church songs, and saw gospel and folk music as natural tools to further the civil rights movement. In this hour-long special from WNYC, host Terrance McKnight interweaves musical examples with Dr. King's own speeches and sermons to illustrate the powerful place that music held in his work--and examines how the musical community responded to and participated in Dr. King's cause.

Cease the last full month of Summer with the Look & Listen Festival running through August here on Cued Up. For the fest's third concert of four, enjoy two world premieres by the delightfully unclassifiable drummer/composer John Hollenbeck and his group The Claudia Quintet with Theo Bleckmann, a world premiere by past Q2 composer-portrait Angélica Negrón and works by toy piano wiz Phyllis Chen and textural magician Zibuokle Martinaityte.