L&L’s Radio Time Machine

If you enjoyed the Lyrics and Lyricists presentation of Radio Days at the 92nd Street Y last weekend, don’t fret–another one is coming soon. Radio Days II–Music in the Air 1940-1955 will be presented June 8-10. For some, a journey through the great hits of the post-War era will be nostalgic; for most of us, it will be revelatory.

Quite a lineup of talent has been assembled by L&L for this program. Sharing hosting duties will be Jim Lowe and Michael Bourne, both estimable New York radio personalities: Bourne hosts WBGO-FM’s “Singer’s Unlimited” on Sunday mornings and writes a column for Downbeat magazine; Lowe is a former program director and DJ at WNEW–he also was a singer in the ’50’s who, believe it or not, once knocked a certain Elvis Presley off the charts. Speaking of singers, here’s who L&L has ready to do “Chattanooga Choo-Choo”, “Paper Doll”, etc.: the Manhattan Rhythm Kings (who appeared on Broadway in Crazy For You), cabaret singer Charles Cermele, Hillary Kole (of Our Sinatra), and Broadway vets Terry Burrell and Ty Stephens. The musical director is D. Jay Bradley.

Lyrics and Lyricists has also announced its plans for next year. In January there will be A Tribute to Frank Loesser, followed by The Fabulous 50’s in February, Swing! Swing! Swing! in March, and The Woman of Rhyme and Song in May. And in June 2003, L&L will offer The People’s Choice, a revue of American songs to be decided by the series’ subscribers.