We are very excited to announce a birthday broadcast on June 10th for 24 hours to celebrate the bossa nova pioneer, João Gilberto. This special broadcast will preempt all regular Wednesday programming from midnight to midnight.

Born João Gilberto do Prado Pereira de Oliveira on the 10th of June in Juazeiro, Bahia, Brazil, Gilberto received his first guitar at 14 and broke off his studies at 18 to pursue a career in music. Gilberto is often credited with having written the first bossa nova beat. Due to advancements in musical technology in the mid-20th century, Gilberto could work with subtler, more interpretive sounds, allowing for a more nuanced guitar style that later became known as Bossa Nova. Gilberto's version of "Chege de Saudade" became a hit in Rio de Janeiro and internationally, launching Bossa Nova into fame.

At WKCR, we are honored to celebrate Gilberto's legacy and the beginnings of Bossa Nova. Listeners can tune in at 89.9 FM or at wkcr.org!