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At the
Crossroads – the radio show
– is a weekly 60-minute syndicated program that focuses upon blues music
and its various genres – Soul, R&B, Swing,
Delta, Zydeco and many other styles – that fit under the umbrella of the blues.
After almost 25 years as a broadcaster, in both commercial and campus radio, I have become quite aware that a growing number of listeners
are very interested in special-interest forms of music and that live and recorded blues, in
particular, is gaining in popularity.
A recent study
by Statistics Canada indicates that, in terms of CD sales, jazz and blues comprises the fastest-growing category in the industry,
with the number of
units
sold increasing by more than 45 percent between 1998 and 2000. After 2003 was officially designated as the Year
of the Blues,
celebrated
with a TV documentary series and multi-disc CD set, the blues now has a higher profile and
a greater number of dedicated fans than ever before.
I
research, write, host and co-produce the radio show, which is recorded and
co-produced by Mike Braniff
at a 'secret location'
in Kamloops, BC. Kate Sutherland, who welcomes listeners to each show,
provides the program’s signature voice
and the ATC theme song is played by Neil James Harnett.
For
the most part, each edition of ATC includes a dozen tunes, a two-song spotlight on a brand new CD release,
a classic blues cut or artist, emphasis upon Canadian
and independent artists, and as much useless trivia
as I can squeeze in. Artists in
the show range from Eric Clapton
and Bonnie Raitt
to Robert Johnson
and Bessie Smith.
The over-riding goal is to attract new listeners to the blues, while at the same
time satisfying purists and long-time aficionados.
At
the Crossroads – the
website – complements the radio show with more program information, links to the wonderful world of the blues,
and an easy and direct way for
listeners and site visitors to contact me with requests, comments and suggestions.
At
the Crossroads is dedicated
to the memory of my father, Doug Zwicker, not necessarily a blues guy,
but his passion for and curiosity about all forms
of music, from Handel
to Hendrix,
has always been an inspiration to me.