WTJU Observes Black History Month With a Week of Special Programs

February 18, 2011 — Black History Month on WTJU-FM sounds like soul, jazz, blues, gospel – and a bit of world-beat.

The University of Virginia's radio station (91.1 FM) will kick off its third annual weeklong celebration of Black History Month on Feb. 21 and continue through Feb. 27.

"This is an opportunity for our passionate and knowledgeable DJs to concentrate on special programming without the distraction of fundraising," David Eisenman, WTJU's jazz and blues director, said, "although donations are welcomed anytime."

Some of the highlights of the week's programming include:

• Feb. 21 at noon: "Fifty Years of Motown Records" will feature music by Marvin Gaye, Junior Walker and The Temptations, among many others on the "Soulful Situation" show. The host is WTJU's Robin Tomlin, aka Rum Cove.

• Feb. 23 at noon: "Radio Tropicale" will showcase the music of Carnival from Brazil and Spain with host Bruce Penner.

• Feb. 24 at 9 p.m.: Eisenman's "Induced to Judder" show will feature the music of the Mardi Gras Indians, the masked African-American Carnival revelers in New Orleans, who dress up for Mardi Gras in elaborate homemade suits influenced by Native American ceremonial apparel.

• Feb. 26 at 9 p.m.: "Living Time" will air jazz inspired by the African continent, its people, geography and history, as performed by the likes of Duke Ellington, John Coltrane, McCoy Tyner, Sonny Fortune and a host of others. Gary Funston is the host.

"Each regularly scheduled jazz program will focus on a different aspect of African-American culture as it relates to jazz," Eisenman said, noting that some rock and folk shows will also have special programming for Black History Month that week.

View the full schedule here, and either listen on 91.1 FM or enjoy the music streamed live at www.wtju.net.

More Black History Month observances at U.Va. are listed here.

— By Marian Anderfuren

Media Contact

Marian Anderfuren

UVA Media Relations