OnAir October 2023

WKCR 89.9 FM

Station Manager

Ale Díaz-Pizarro stationmanager@wkcr.org

Program Director Maria Shaughnessy programming@wkcr.org

Director of Operations

Zachary Vanderslice operations@wkcr.org

Student Life Director

Ted Schmiedeler studentlife@wkcr.org

Publicity Director Georgia Dillane publicity@wkcr.org

Jazz Heads

Tanvi Krishnamurthy & Satch Peterson jazz@wkcr.org

New Music Head Razvan Matei newmusic@wkcr.org

Classical Head Melisa Nehrozoglu classical@wkcr.org

American Head

McKenna Roberts american@wkcr.org

In All Languages Head Ann Vettikkal ial@wkcr.org

Latin Head

Leni Bryan latin@wkcr.org

News & Arts Head

Josh Kazali news@wkcr.org

Sports Head August Phillips sports@wkcr.org

Dear Listeners,

Don't be fooled by this slimmer issue of OnAir: October is a heavyweight month at WKCR. For starters, it's our birthday! Though WKCR has been octogenarian since 2021, we turn 82 this year— and what better way to celebrate an 82nd birthday than 24 hours of Thelonious Monk? Born on October 10th, 1917, Monk shares a birthday with our station, a beloved and all-too-fitting coincidence.

That's not the only birthday coincidence this month: in this issue, you'll find articles about jazz great Pharoah Sanders and qawwali legend Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, both born October 13th. Selecting birthday broadcasts is difficult (if we had one for every artist who deserved it, we would never have any regular programming!), but while these two musicians do not have 24 hours this month, they are celebrated within these pages (and, in Sanders' case, in a reduced form on our airwaves). Who you can expect to hear for 24 hours, however, is no less impressive: traditions old and new, in the shape of Clifford Brown and Fela Kuti broadcasts, are joined by a day to celebrate salsa queen Celia Cruz, on this month's cover. And I would be remiss not to mention Ragas Live, the round-the-clock Indian classical festival in Red Hook, Brooklyn, that got started at WKCR and which we have the exclusive privilege of broadcasting every year.

Nothing I can add here would do justice to what's in store for this month (and that's without mentioning our regular programming), so suffice it to say that you'll want to keep your dial tuned to 89.9 all this month.

Happy Listening!

Alejandra Díaz-Pizarro Station Manager

Cover photo from Library of Congress archives.

The

The Promise of Pharoah Sanders

by Ian Pumphrey

For something as magical as Promises, it seems nearly intimidating to dive into its deep, spiritual beauty without being well-versed in the genius of jazz-great and tenor saxophonist Pharoah Sanders (born Ferrell Lee Sanders).

I don’t have that knowledge. What I do know, however, is that the piano motif that starts Promises (and guides it) hooked me immediately. Sam Shepherd, better known as Floating Points, selects a sparse arrangement of notes that sets an unforgettable tone of wonder and mystery. This atmosphere of dreamlike ascension builds when Sanders’ sax dances around the repetition of notes from Shepherd.

Sanders plays just as minimally and carefully as Shepherd does, an in-tune collaboration from two brilliant minds of sound. Through each of the nine movements, we hear various instruments come in and out of the beautiful conversation of saxophone and piano building between Shepherd and Sanders. Harpsichords, synthesizers, keyboards, organs, and even Sanders’ voice are used but never preserved. Oftentimes, this amalgamation of instruments will build and build until it all dies down, back into the

wistful backbone of the arpeggiated motif, never straying away from its beginning.

Promises seems to reach its collaborative crux on “Movement 6” when we listen to all three collaborators: Sanders and his masterful saxophone techniques, Shepherd’s continued atmosphere of synthesizer and piano, and the sweeping, grandiose sounds of the London Symphony Orchestra. When listening to this particular movement, it’s hard to deny the pure stroke of genius that Promises displays: the piece culminates with an achingly beautiful intensity that, as always through the album, is committed to Shepherd’s introductory sequence of notes.

After the album’s cathartic crescendo, Sanders’ tenor sax continues to guide the seventh movement in a fit of transcendent instrumentation before ultimately leaving Promises–both an instrumental and a symbolic departure, as this album would be his last before his passing on September 24th, 2022.

The last two movements that end Promises distinguish themselves by their compositions. The continual motif dies out in a towering, transcendent fury of organs in the eighth movement. What’s left for the ninth movement

is an understated conclusion of tension from the London Symphony Orchestra followed by roughly 40 seconds of silence, a powerful conclusion for Sanders’ musical career.

It feels numbingly trite to call Promises an experience more than an album, but it seems like that’s exactly what it's meant to be. It defies definition and, because of that, I’m often haunted by it. More simply, it’s something I’ve never heard before. But most of all, Promises is a historical moment in music not only because of its timing relative to Pharoah Sanders’ death, but also because it so accurately displays the brilliance of the jazz maestro’s transcendent talent.

This October 13th, 2023, would have been Pharoah Sanders' 83rd birthday.

On Friday, October 13th, Out to Lunch (12p,-3pm) and Jazz Alternatives (6pm9pm) will be dedicated to his work.

Pharoah Sanders & Floating Points in the studio, recording Promises.

Left to right: Floating Points, Pharoah Sanders.

Jazz ‘til Dawn (cont’d)

Field Trip

Amazing Grace

Monday Morningside

The Moonshine Show

The Tennessee Border Show

Sunday Profiles

Afternoon New Music

Raag Aur Taal

SoundStage

Live Constructions

Back in the USSR

The Celtic Show

Coordinated Universal Time

Phil Lives

Free Samples

Caribe Latino Honky Tonkin’

Urbano Latinx

Tuesday’s Just as Bad

Transfigured Night Night Train

Transfigured Night

Transfigured Night

Notes From Underground

Special Broadcasts

BIRTHDAY BROADCASTS

Thelonious Monk

Tuesday, October 10th, all day

Many compositions from the pen of Thelonious Monk have made it into the songbook of standards. Monk composed over 70 known tunes, almost all of which are just as distinctive, making him the second most recorded “jazz” composer after Duke Ellington.

Ragas Live

Saturday, October 14th, 8pm - Sunday, October 15th, 8pm

Our most unique yearly special will return this month with a whole new lineup of incredible musicians from all over the world. The festival, which started many years ago in our very studios, is broadcast live from Pioneer Works in Brooklyn. More information and tickets can be found at ragaslive.com.

Fela Kuti

Monday, October 16th, all day

A day after his October 15th birthday, WKCR is thrilled to bring back legendary afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti, the newest addition to our annual birthday lineup.

Celia Cruz

Saturday, October 21st, all day

Join us for an electrifying 24-hour birthday broadcast as we celebrate the Queen of Salsa, Celia Cruz. From her timeless hits to rare recordings and interviews, we'll honor the indomitable spirit and musical legacy of this iconic artist. Don't miss this salsa extravaganza!

Clifford Brown

Monday, October 30th, all day

Born in 1930, in Wilmington, DE, Clifford Brown's extraordinary trumpet artistry captivated audiences worldwide. Despite his tragically short life, he left an indelible mark with his brilliant improvisations and influential compositions. Join us in celebrating the enduring influence of this virtuoso on the world of jazz. From his early days with Lionel Hampton to his iconic collaborations with Max Roach, we'll explore the remarkable journey of Clifford Brown through his music.

SUNDAY PROFILES

Sundays 2:00-7:00 PM

Steve Reich

October 1st, 2:00 - 7:00 PM

Host: Casey Lamb

Labeled: Black Saint Records

October 8th, 2:00 - 7:00 PM

Hosts: Steve Mandel and J Cohn

Ernie Henry

October 22nd, 2:00 - 7:00 PM

Host: Sid Gribetz

The Fishmans

October 29th, 2:00 - 7:00 PM

Host: Ian Pumphrey

LIVE CONSTRUCTIONS

Sundays 10-11pm

Ghais Guevara - October 1st, 10-11pm

Moderate Rock - October 8th, 10-11pm

Dead Tooth - October 15th, 10-11pm

Pell - October 22nd, 10-11pm

FREE SAMPLES

Mondays 9-10pm

Host: Ted Schmiedeler

The Low End Theory - A Tribe Called Quest (10/2)

The Blueprint - Jay-Z (10/9)

Piñata - Freddie Gibbs & Madlib (10/23)

SATURDAY NIGHT AT THE OPERA

Saturdays 9:00 PM-12:30 AM

Host: Ale Díaz-Pizarro

Giuseppe Verdi Birthday

October 7th, 9:00pm-12:30am

Luciano Pavarotti Birthday

October 14th, 9:00pm-12:30am

Guillaume Tell (Rossini)

October 28th, 9:00pm-12:30am

Show Listings

Afternoon Classical, Fri. 3-6pm.

Daybreak Express, weekdays 5-8:20am

Out to Lunch, weekdays 3-6pm

Jazz Alternatives, weekdays 6-9pm

These three programs comprise the core of our jazz offerings. Programming consists of everything from New Orleans jazz, jazz age, swing era, bebop, hard-bop, modal, free, and avant-garde. In short, you’ll encounter the entire range of recorded jazz on these programs. Hosts rotate from day-to-day, offering an exciting variety of approaches, some of which include thematic presentation, artist interviews, or artist profiles

Birdflight, Tues.-Fri. 8:20-9:30am

Archival programs from the late Phil Schaap, one of the world’s leading jazz historians, who hosted this daily forum for the music of Charlie Parker for about 40 years.

Traditions in Swing, Sat. 6-9pm

Archival programs hosted by the late Phil Schaap, this award-winning Saturday night staple presents focused thematic programs dealing with jazz up until about World War II. Schaap presents the music, much of it incredibly rare, from the best sound source, which is often the original 78 issue.

Phil Lives*, Mon. 3-5am

This overnight show features archival broadcasts of longform programs from late NEA Jazz Master Phil Schaap.

CLASSICAL

Cereal Music, Mon.-Thurs. 9:30am-12pm

An entirely open-ended classical show to start your weekdays. Tune in to hear the most eclectic mix of classical music on the New York airwaves!

The Early Music Show, Fri. 9:30am-12pm

Dedicated primarily to European medieval, Renaissance, and baroque music, all from before 1800 (±50 years).

Extended Technique*, Wed. & Thurs. 3-6pm

WKCR’s first interdepartmental show (in the New Music and Classical departments) dedicated to contemporary classical music. You’ll hear everything from 12-tone and minimalist compositions to film and video game scores, and all things in between.

* Indicates show was created after January 2022

Similar to Cereal Music, most of Afternoon Classical has no restrictions on what type of classical music to play. The last hour of the show, however, is dedicated fully to the music of JS Bach.

Saturday Night at the Opera, Sat. 9pm-12:30am.

One of NYC’s longest running opera shows, Saturday Night at the Opera is a 3.5 hour show that allows operas to be played in their entirety, with room for commentary, descriptions, and some history.

NEW MUSIC

Afternoon New Music, Mon. & Tues. 3-6pm

Our daytime new music program features a wide variety of music that challenges boundaries and subverts categorizations. Shows include everything from seminal new music compositions to the most challenging of obscure deep cuts and new releases.

Transfigured Night, Tues./Thurs./Sat. 1-5am

Our overnight explorations into the world of new music, Transfigured Night rewards our late night listeners with a wide range of sounds and experimental music.

Workaround*, Fri. 9-10pm

WKCR presents live DJ sets from Columbia students and local artists.

Live Constructions, Sun. 10-11pm

This weekly program features a live in-studio performance or a performance pre-recorded specially for the show.

AMERICAN

Honky Tonkin’, Tues. 10-11pm

One of WKCR’s longest-running American music programs, Honky Tonkin’ lands in the harder side of Country music. Emphasizing the greatest voices in the genre, Honky Tonkin’ is a country music dance party every Tuesday night.

Tuesday’s Just as Bad, Tues. 11pm - Wed. 1am

Tuesday’s Just as bad explores the world of blues prior to World War II. Shows weave their way through the first decades of recorded music history and turn to the postwar years in the final half hour.

LISTINGS FOR LISTENERS

Night Train, Wed. 1-5am

All aboard! One of our two overnight programs in the American department, Night Train rolls through the postwar R&B and soul tradition, from the genre’s emergence in the 1940’s and 50’s through the funk revolution in the 1970’s. Shows often feature extended live recordings and concerts.

Offbeat, Fri. 1-5am

Offbeat is committed to broadcasting undiscovered new hip hop music. Shows typically focus on exposing underplayed or up-and-coming new artists, including experimental instrumental artists not typically played on mainstream hip hop radio.

Across 110th Street, Sat. 12-2pm

Kicking off our Saturday afternoon American music run, Across 110th Street airs soul, funk, and dance music from the 1960’s through the 1980’s and 90’s.

Something Inside of Me, Sat. 2-4pm

Something Inside of Me is WKCR’s Saturday afternoon blues show, focusing mostly on the electric and post-war styles.

Hobo’s Lullaby, Sat. 4-6pm

Rooted in the folk revival of the 1950s and 60s, Hobo’s Lullaby airs American folk and traditional music styles from the early 20th century through the present day. From old staples like Leadbelly, Elizabeth Cotton, and Woody Guthrie to contemporary stalwarts like the Carolina Chocolate Drops and lesser known artists, domestic traditions are alive and well on Hobo’s Lullaby.

Notes from the Underground, Sun. 12:30-2am

Notes from the Underground showcases contemporary hip hop and rap music with an emphasis on emerging and experimental artists. The program also hosts local and visiting artists for interviews, freestyles, and guestcuration.

Amazing Grace, Sun. 8-10am

Greeting listeners on Sunday morning, Amazing Grace shares with listeners the world of the African-American gospel tradition.

The Moonshine Show, Sun. 10am-12pm

On the air for nearly 60 years, The Moonshine Show showcases the American Bluegrass tradition, from the earliest roots in vernacular string-band music, through

the genre’s pioneers in the 1940s and 50s and advancements in the 60s and 70s, through the leading innovators and stars of today.

The Tennessee Border Show, Sun. 12-2pm

One third of WKCR’s country music programming, along with Honky Tonkin’ and the Bluegrass Moonshine Show, Tennessee Border highlights the singer-songwriter tradition, from Hank Williams and Townes Van Zandt to Lucinda Williams.

LATIN

Caribe Latino, Mon. 10pm-12am

Caribe Latino is a music program that features the diverse, upbeat music from numerous Latin communities in the Caribbean. Popular Latin rhythms such as Salsa, Merengue, Bachata and Latin Jazz take center stage throughout the program.

Urbano Latinx, Tues. 12-1am

A weekly Latin show airing contemporary sounds from Latin America, the Caribbean, and the diaspora, Urbano Latinx features mixes of salsa, merengue, Latin punk rock, and more.

Sin Fronteras*, Wed. 12-3pm

Falling in the space of Out to Lunch on Wednesday afternoons, Sin Fronteras explores the tremendous Latin Jazz tradition.

Nueva Canción, Wed. 10-11pm

Nueva Canción is an exploration of protest music created throughout Latin America during the 60s and 70s and its numerous other manifestations throughout other countries and time periods.

Som do Brasil, Wed. 11pm - Thurs. 1am

From samba and bossa nova to MPB, hear the numerous and enchanting sounds and rhythms of Brazil.

Sonidos Colombianos, Fri. 10-11pm

Sonidos Colombianos presents music from one of the most culturally diverse countries of Latin America: Colombia! Our bilingual musical tour is guaranteed to include not only cumbia, but also the guitar-based bambuco from the Andean region, the harp llanero music from the Eastern Plains, the marimba-infused currulao from the Pacific Region, and the accordiondriven vallenato of the North Atlantic Coast.

* indicates show was created after January 2022

LISTINGS FOR LISTENERS

The Mambo Machine, Fri. 11pm - Sat. 2am

The Mambo Machine is the longest running salsa show in New York City. The program presently plays a wide spectrum of Afro-Latin rhythms, combining new and old into an exciting, danceable mix.

El Sonido de la Calle*, Sun. 2-4am

A companion show to Saturday night’s American Notes from Underground, El Sonido de la Calle highlights the diverse world of contemporary Spanish-language hiphop and dance music.

IN ALL LANGUAGES

The Celtic Show, Mon. 12-1am

Music from across the island of Ireland throughout the era of recorded music, particularly focusing on traditional folk and vernacular music forms.

Coordinated Universal Time, Mon. 1-3am

Coordinated Universal Time brings our listeners the latest cut of music from anywhere in the world, especially highlighting music that does not get attention in America. Our programming tries to bring the hottest and the most recent tunes to WKCR’s airwaves.

The African Show, Thurs. 10pm-12am

The longest running African music radio show in the United States, the African Show brings you a variety of music from the entire continent of Africa.

Middle Eastern Influences, Fri. 12-1am

During the hour-long show, Middle Eastern Influences features a wide range of beautiful tracks from regions of the Middle East, North Africa, and even, at times, South Asia.

Sounds of Asia, Sat. 6-8am

Rechristened from Sounds of China, Sounds of Asia explores the recorded musical traditions and innovations of Asia and the Pacific islands.

Eastern Standard Time, Sat. 8am-12pm

One of New York’s most popular Reggae programs, Eastern Standard Time takes listeners through Saturday morning from 8 am to noon with the hypnotic sounds of Reggae and Jamaican dance music.

Field Trip, Sun. 6-8am

Field Trip focuses on the music and practice of field recordings: music recorded outside of a studio. Tune in and you may catch field recordings that were recorded fifty years ago, others that were experimented with by your favorite Afternoon New Music artist, or even those documented in New York City by WKCR itself.

Raag Aur Taal, Sun. 7-9pm

Raag Aur Taal explores the sounds and rich cultural heritage of South Asia. The term “Raag Aur Taal” roughly translates to “melody and rhythm,” indicating the classical nature of this program.

Back in the USSR, Sun. 11pm-12am

Back in the USSR features music from across the former Soviet Union and soviet states across Eastern Europe and East and Central Asia, from the mid-20th century through the present.

NEWS & ARTS

Monday Morningside*, Mon. 8:30-9:30am

Monday Morningside is WKCR’s morning news broadcast to kick off the week, featuring news segments on events around Morningside Heights and upper Manhattan. If you’re not an early bird, all episodes are available as podcasts on Spotify!

Free Samples*, Mon. 9-10pm

Explores landmark hip hop albums and their place in history and music at large by playing a selection of songs and breaking them down into the samples that make them up—meaning this show often crosses over with other genres, such as jazz, soul, and funk.

SoundStage*, Sun. 9-10pm

SoundStage features audio dramas and radio plays from the WKCR archives as well as new compositions by students and contemporary writers. Some shows also feature interviews with dramatists and directors.

SUNDAY PROFILES

Sunday Profile, Sun. 2-7pm*

A WKCR classic, programmers use five hours to showcase longform profiles of pioneering artists. While the primary focus remains on jazz music, we also feature other styles and traditions from across WKCR’s different programming departments.

* indicates show was created after January 2022

Sarah Barlyn, Chief Engineer

"Last Last" – Burna Boy

Ale Díaz-Pizarro, Station Manager

Ale hosts Saturday Night at the Opera weekly and Hobo's Lullaby every other Saturday.

"Dirty Mind" – Prince

Lulu Fleming-Benite, programmer

"Sex Dwarf" – Soft Cell

Echoed by Tanvi Krishnamurthy, Jazz Head, and Eva Elizabeth Arroyo, intern.

Georgia Dillane, Publicity Director

Georgia hosts Out to Lunch every other Monday.

"Ever New" – Beverly Glenn-Copeland

Sam Seliger, Librarian & Archivist

Sam hosts Tuesday's Just As Bad weekly and Out to Lunch every other Monday.

"The Whiskey Ain't Working" – Marty Stuart & Travis Tritt

Natalie DiFusco, programmer "Smile Please" – Dean Blunt

Maria Shaughnessy, Program Director

Maria hosts Early Music every Friday. "Mon Amour" – Annalisa

Echoed by Stella Fusaro, programmer, and Casey Lamb, programmer.

Satch Peterson, Jazz Head Satch hosts Out to Lunch every Friday. "Love Thy Neighbor" – John Coltrane

Stella Fusaro, programmer "Soldier" – Destiny's Child

Rachel Smith, programmer

Rachel hosts Out to Lunch every Thursday.

"I Drink Wine" – Adele

Erin Suh, intern "BBY" – Bladee

Echoed by Ted Schmiedeler, Student Life Director.

Razvan Matei, New Music Head

"You Said Something" – PJ Harvey

Maddox Mayo, intern

"Pash Rash" – Jeff Rosenstock

Natalie Najar, programmer

"Summertime" – The Sundays

Echoed by Georgia Dillane, Publicity Director, and Melisa Nehrozoglu, Classical Head.

Josh Kazali, News & Arts Head

"Green Green Rocky Road" – Dave Van Ronk

AROUND THE

What was of your summer?

Ted Schmiedeler, Student Life Director

Ted hosts Free Samples every Monday night. "Speed Drive" – Charli XCX

Echoed by Natalie Najar, programmer, Georgia Dillane, Publicity Director, Tanvi

Krishnamurthy, Jazz Head, Melisa Nehrozoglu, Classical Head, and Eva Elizabeth Arroyo, intern.

Tanvi Krishnamurthy, Jazz Head "Rush" – Troye Sivan

Echoed by Natalie Najar, programmer, Georgia

Dillane, Publicity Director, Maria Shaughnessy, Program Director, and Melisa Nehrozoglu, Classical Head.

Benjamin Rothman, programmer

"Together Again" – Janet Jackson

Melisa Nehrozoglu, Classical Head

"Big Time Sensuality" – Björk

Echoed by Natalie Najar, programmer, and Eva Elizabeth Arroyo, intern.

Eva Beeman, programmer

"She Lives in My Lap" – OutKast & Rosario Dawson

Echoed by Sam Seliger, Librarian & Archivist.

Rachel Yuan, programmer

Rachel hosts Extended Technique every Wednesday.

"ICU" – Phoebe Bridgers

THE STATION was the summer?song

McKenna Roberts, American Head McKenna hosts The Moonshine Show every other Sunday.

"Lovely Sewer" – Yves Tumor

Echoed by Melisa Nehrozoglu, Classical Head, and Erin Suh, intern.

Leon Zhou, programmer

"How Much is Weed" – Dominic Fike

Elena Hardy, programmer

"Pale Blue Sky" – Cranes

Isabelle Fishbein, programmer

"Corinthians (Proctor's)" – Zach Bryan

Hannah Revels, programmer

"Crush" – Ethel Cain

Stephen Dames, programmer

Stephen hosted Something Inside of Me every Saturday. He is currently on hiatus.

"Anna Calls From the Arctic" – Dry Cleaning

David Gonzalez, programmer

David hosts Urbano Latinx every Tuesday.

"Cada Vez Que Digo Adiós" – Enanitos Verdes

Lucia Santos, programmer

"Intoxicated" – Ol' Dirty Bastard ft. Raekwon, Method Man & Macy Gray

Echoed by Natalie Najar, programmer, and Georgia Dillane, Publicity Director.

Vivien Sweet, programmer

"Messages from the Stars" – The Rah Band

Ian Pumphrey, Events Director

Ian hosts Playlist Profiles on some Tuesday/ Wednesday evenings.

"Submarines" – The Frights

Casey Lamb, programmer

Casey hosts Cereal Music every Wednesday. "Cities" – Talking Heads

Anika Strite, programmer

"No Embrace" – Dirty Projectors, Björk

Ashwin Marathe, programmer

"Tere Vaaste" – Sachin-Jigar

Sofía Trujillo, Latin Head

"Domingas (Ao Vivo)" – Jorge Ben Jor

Hannah Puelle, programmer

"As We Go Up, We Go Down" – Guided By Voices

Jayin Sihm, programmer " " – Lamp

Ben Goldman, programmer

"Pedestrian At Best" – Courtney Barnett

Muna Ali, programmer

"Ayonha" – Hamid al Shaeri

King of Qawwali: Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan

by Ashwin Marathe

Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan’s 25-year singing career brought international attention to the repertoire of qawwali. From India, to Tokyo, to London, his voice was heard as the staple for qawwali music as art form. Though his death was early at 48, he had already cemented himself as the staple for qawwali music, earning the Pride of Performance performance from the President of Pakistan in 1987, two Grammy Awards, and the UNESCO Music Prize in 1995. His work continues to impact Bollywood music and the development of the world music genre.

Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan was born October 13th, 1948 in Faisalabad, Pakistan. Qawwali, an art form passed down from family to family, was present in his through his father, who himself was a vocalist and instrumentalist. Qawwali, a devotional Sufi musical form, dates back to the 13th century. The setup of a qawwali involves a lead singer, soloists, and a chorus of five to six singers accompanied by a tabla (drums) and a harmonium.

Khan began performing with his qawwali party—Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Mujahid Mubaarak Ali Khan & Party—in 1971, where he performed at Radio Pakistan’s annual music festival. His first hit, "Haq Ali Ali," soon followed.

Khan’s work brought qawwali music to the international stage. Khan traveled with his family in the 1980s and 90s to places like Paris, Japan, New York, and more, which brought qawwali into new spaces for the first time.

Along with traveling internationally, Khan

collaborated with western artists to fuse qawwali into different musical styles. His album Night Song with Michael Brook, a Canadian guitarist and music composer, earned him a Grammy Nomination for Best World Music Album. The album merged Khan’s qawwali lyrics with Brook’s electronic music, creating a spacy and dreamy vibe that showed the best of two vastly different styles of music. This release followed a previous collaboration between both artists, Mustt Mustt, another fusion album that brought qawwali and western electronic music together.

Khan sang in languages like Urdu, Punjabi, Hindi, Persian, and more. His discography includes hits like "Afreen Afreen," "Aur Pyaar Ho Gaya," "Sochta Hoon," and more. Though Khan passed at a young age, his work continues to live on through the Bollywood industry and has inspired figures like A.R. Rahman, Javed Akhtar, and more, who have taken Khan’s qawwali music and transformed it into Bollywood hits. Songs like "Dam Mast Qalandar" and "Tere Bin Nahin Lagda," originally sung by Khan, have turned into popular Bollywood songs in recent years.

Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan’s qawwali lives on in the songs and movies of Bollywood, often undetected and uncredited. I’m confident that his voice—fierce and passionate in songs like "Mast Qalandar" and "Sochta Hoon," but soft and gentle in songs like "Crest" and "Night Song"— will continue to echo in the genre of qawwali for years and years to come.

Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan.

SUPPORT WKCR

TOP 5 REASONS TO DONATE TO WKCR

1. You’d be helping a student-run, listener-funded, and volunteer-based radio station continue to bring you the absolute best in what radio has to offer. Music, arts, news, and sports— we’ve got the works!

2. You wouldn’t be a free-rider anymore.

3. WKCR donations are tax-deductible (so make sure you donate before tax season). For more info on that, or anything else business-related, email business@wkcr.org

4. Being “the Original FM,” our equipment is getting a bit old. For example, Buzz, the hamster that runs the wheel that powers the station, is getting a little worn-out and arthritic. We need a new hamster. Sorry, Buzz, but it’s gotta be done!

5. Isn’t OnAir cool? Without proper funding, projects like this can’t come to fruition and, if they do, don’t make it very long. Donate to allow the little OnAir minions to stay in the job (we are all OnAir minions).

HOW TO DONATE TO WKCR IN 4 STEPS

BY MAIL

Step 1: Locate your nearest checkbook

Step 2: Indicate “WKCR” as payee and fill out as usual

Step 3: Mail check to CU Gift Systems, 622 West 113th Street, MC 4524, New York, NY 10025

Step 4: ...and VOILÀ! Just like that, you have become a WKCR supporter!

WKCR also accepts checks to our direct address. Just Follow the same steps listed above but mail the check to:

2920 Broadway, New York, NY 10027

ONLINE

Step 1: head to www.wkcr.org

Step 2: Click the yellow “DONATE TO WKCR” banner at the top of the page

Step 3: Fill out the form in the giving portal and enter your information...

Step 4: ...and VOILÀ! Just like that, you have become a WKCR supporter!

Did you know you can make recurring donations to WKCR when you donate online?

Just indicate your frequency preferences on the giving portal when prompted!

Special thanks to Ale Díaz-Pizarro , Anika

Strite, Ashwin Marathe , Ben Goldman, Benjamin Rothman, Casey Lamb, David Gonzalez, Elena Hardy, Erin Suh, Eva Elizabeth Arroyo, Eva Beeman, Georgia

Dillane, Hannah Puelle, Hannah Revels, Ian Pumphrey , Isabelle Fishbein, Jayin

Sihm, Josh Kazali, Leon Zhou, Lucia Santos, Lulu Fleming-Benite, Maddox Mayo, Maria

Shaughnessy , McKenna Roberts, Melisa

Nehrozoglu, Muna Ali, Natalie DiFusco, Natalie Najar, Rachel Smith, Rachel Yuan, Razvan Matei, Sam Seliger, Sarah Barlyn, Satch Peterson, Sofía Trujillo, Stella Fusaro, Stephen Dames, Tanvi Krishnamurthy, Ted Schmiedeler, & Vivien Sweet.