WKCR 89.9FM NY

WKCR announces a 24-hour birthday celebration for Fela Kuti, broadcast on FM and HD radio and online all day on Monday, October 16th. The special broadcast will run from the beginning of The Celtic Show until the end of Caribe Latino. The broadcast will preempt all regularly-scheduled Monday shows. Owing to the 24-hour Ragas Live broadcast that will interfere with Fela Kuti’s actual birthday, October 15th, this broadcast will air the day after his birthday.

WKCR announces a special broadcast celebrating the 83rd birthday of American saxophonist Pharoah Sanders, broadcast on FM and HD radio and online for 9.33 hours on Friday, October 13, 2023. The broadcast will take place during our jazz shows on Friday: Daybreak Express from 5-8:20 am, Out to Lunch from 12-3 pm, and Jazz Alternatives from 6-9 pm.

WKCR announces a special broadcast celebrating the 106th birthday of American pianist Thelonious Monk, broadcast on FM and HD radio and online for 24 hours on Tuesday, October 10, 2023. The broadcast will preempt all regularly-scheduled Tuesday shows.

WKCR announces a 24-hour birthday celebration for Lata Mangeshkar, broadcast on FM and HD radio and online all day on Thursday, September 28th. The special broadcast will run from the middle of Som do Brasil until the end of The African Show. The broadcast will preempt all regularly-scheduled Thursday shows.

WKCR announces a special broadcast celebrating the 97th birthday of American saxophonist John Coltrane, broadcast on FM and HD radio and online for 24 hours on Saturday, September 23rd 2023. The broadcast will preempt all regularly-scheduled Saturday shows.

WKCR announces an overnight birthday broadcast jointly celebrating Fiona Apple and Nas, broadcast on FM and HD radio and online from 10 PM on Wednesday, September 13th to 6 AM on Thursday, September 14th. The special broadcast will run from Nueva Cancion until one hour into Thursday’s Daybreak Express. The broadcast will preempt all regularly scheduled Wednesday night early Thursday morning shows.

WKCR announces a 24-hour birthday celebration for Sonny Rollins’ 93rd birthday, broadcast on FM and HD radio and online all day on Thursday, September 7th.

WKCR announces a special broadcast celebrating the 111th birthday of American composer John Cage, broadcast on FM and HD radio and online for 24 hours on Tuesday September 5th, 2023. The broadcast will preempt all regularly-scheduled Tuesday shows.

Our annual three day birthday celebration for Lester Young and Charlie Parker is just around the corner!

August 27th, the 114th anniversary of the birth of Lester “Prez” Young will feature 24 hours of only Prez on WKCR’s airwaves.

August 28th will feature 24 hours of both Lester Young and Charlie Parker.

August 29th, the 103rd anniversary of the birth of Charlie “Bird” Parker will feature 24 hours of only Bird!

Tune in for this 72 hour radio tradition! On 89.9 FM in NY and streaming at wkcr.org

WKCR announces a special broadcast celebrating the 122nd birthday of American trumpeter Louis Armstrong, broadcast on FM and HD radio and online for 24 hours on Friday August 4th, 2023. The broadcast will preempt all regularly-scheduled Friday shows.

Sid Gribetz presents a five hour radio broadcast celebrating the career of Elmo Hope, this Sunday, July 23, 2023, from 2-7 PM on "Jazz Profiles" on WKCR.

WKCR announces a special broadcast celebrating the 53rd birthday of American drummer Brian Blade, broadcast on FM and HD radio and online for 24 hours on Tuesday July 25th, 2023. The broadcast will preempt all regularly-scheduled Tuesday shows.

WKCR announces a special broadcast celebrating the (alleged) 100th birthday of American drummer Philly Joe Jones, broadcast on FM and HD radio and online for 24 hours on Saturday July 15th, 2023. The broadcast will preempt all regularly-scheduled Saturday shows.

WKCR announces a special broadcast celebrating the (alleged) 122nd birthday of American trumpeter Louis Armstrong, broadcast on FM and HD radio and online for 24 hours on Tuesday July 4th, 2023. The broadcast will preempt all regularly-scheduled Tuesday shows.

Tune in tomorrow from 10am-12pm during The Moonshine Show to celebrate the life and work of bluegrass-mandolinist revolutionary and Kentucky-native, Bobby Osborne, who tragically passed away on June 27th.Osborne’s legacy lives on through his surviving brother and fellow co-founder of legendary bluegrass group, the Osborne Brothers, Sonny Osborne.

Join us this Saturday from 2PM to 6PM ET for a special four-hour celebration of blues legend Willie Dixon, songwriter, bass player, bandleader, and producer for the legendary Chess records and an unequaled contributor to the legacy and musical canon of the blues. We’ll play some of the numerous hits from his catalog as well as numerous other recordings and deep cuts.

89.9 FM and WKCR.org

Join us tomorrow, Saturday June 24, from 4pm until Midnight, for a memorial broadcast in honor of German free jazz saxophonist Peter Brötzmann (1941-2023). Known for his expressive playing and forceful tone, Brötzmann worked with numerous musicians of the avant-garde, including Don Cherry, Andrew Cyrille, and Anthony Braxton, and was part of the legendary group Last Exit. WKCR’s broadcast will include live and studio material from across his over fifty-year career, as well as special live recordings courtesy of Last Exit affiliate Mitch Goldman.

Sid Gribetz presents Carmen McRae in a five hour special radio broadcast this Sunday June 25, 2023 from 2-7 PM on “Jazz Profiles”, WKCR-FM in New York City.

WKCR is excited to announce a special 24-hour broadcast for June 26th celebrating the 86th birthday of Reggie Workman (b.1937).

WKCR announces a special broadcast celebrating the 102nd birthday of American pianist Erroll Garner, broadcast on FM and HD radio and online for 24 hours on Thursday June 15th, 2023. The broadcast will preempt all regularly-scheduled Thursday shows.

Due to planned transmitter maintenance, WKCR’s FM signal will be unavailable starting at 7AM on Monday, June 5th until maintenance concludes by 4PM. This outage schedule will repeat daily through Friday, June 9th.

⚠️ Important: our internet stream will not be affected by the maintenance, so WKCR programming will continue as usual each day.

Stay tuned to hear updates about changes to this schedule throughout the week.

WKCR alum and SNY broadcaster Gary Cohen sat down with Josh Kapilian and Schuyler Rabbin-Birnbaum to talk booth dynamics, baseball rule changes, and more! Tune into this week’s Firing Lion to hear the interview.

The full interview can be heard at https://www.cc-seas.columbia.edu/wkcr/audio/gary-cohen-interview

This Sunday celebrate the life and work of American composer, cellist, and disco producer Arthur Russell (1951-1992).
A fixture of the downtown new music scene in the late 20th century, he worked with artists from David Byrne to Philip Glass. His expansive and experimental discography is reflective of his involvement in an abundant array of music ventures and collaborations.

WKCR announces a 24-hour birthday celebration for Bob Dylan, broadcast on FM and HD radio and online all day on Wednesday, May 24th. The special broadcast will run from the middle of Tuesday’s Just as Bad until the middle of Som do Brasil. The broadcast will preempt all regularly-scheduled Wednesday shows.

WKCR is excited to announce a special 24-hour broadcast for May 22nd celebrating the 109th anniversary of the arrival of Sun Ra (1914-1993). The special broadcast will preempt all regularly-scheduled Monday shows.

Sid Gribetz presents organist Mel Rhyne in a five hour radio broadcast this Sunday, May 14, 2023 from 2-7 PM on “Jazz Profiles” on WKCR.

Melvin Rhyne is one of the masters from the 1950s heyday of the jazz organ, but he is not so widely remembered today. He should be.

WKCR announces a special broadcast celebrating the 100th birthday of American pianist Red Garland, broadcast on FM and HD radio and online for 24 hours on Sunday, May 13, 2023. The broadcast will preempt all regularly-scheduled Saturday shows.

WKCR is thrilled to celebrate the birthday of Russian composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky on Sunday, May 7th with a 24-hour celebration broadcast on FM and HD radio and online! The broadcast will preempt all regularly-scheduled Sunday Shows.

WKCR is excited to announce a special 24-hour broadcast for April 29th celebrating the 124th anniversary of the birth of Duke Ellington (1899-1974).