MTV premiered at midnight on August 1st, 1981. The 24-hour channel ushered in the age of the music video - and gave birth to the modern video star. Today, we chart the rise of the network that brought pop stars like Michael Jackson and Madonna into America’s living rooms. Plus, a live performance from sax player and composer Rudresh Mahanthappa.
This is a repeat edition of Soundcheck.
Rise of the Video Star
The book called “I Want My MTV” chronicles the boom – and bust – of the one-time videocentric cable channel. The “father of MTV,” John Lack (who voiced the opening words of the channel on August 1, 1981: “Ladies and gentleman… rock and roll”), joins us along with co-author Rob Tannenbaum to discuss the channel’s formative days and heady times that led up to the end of MTV’s “Golden Era.”
Rudresh Mahanthappa: In Studio
Sax player and composer Rudresh Mahanthappa has long drawn on his dual influences of American jazz and South Indian classical music. Now a hint of electronica is creeping into his new project called Samdhi. He and his band will play live.
Gig Alert: Jenny Scheinman
Violinist and singer Jenny Scheinman and her band Mischief & Mayhem brings a cross-genre blend of rock, jazz, and folk to Le Poisson Rouge on Monday night. Download their new song "A Ride With Polly Jean."