"The Radio Kiosk"

with Kate Sobolewski

Fridays from 11am-1pm

**April in Paris, 2004**

**Bill Shertenlieb, Philco Glee Club, WFIL, Philadelphia, 1938**

If there were only one person to blame for this obsession, it would be dad. Ever since he built his first crystal set at the age of 12 (later hi-fi’s and stereos), radio would be a driving force in his life and eventually in mine. In the late 30’s Dad sang with the Philco Glee Club on WFIL, Philadelphia. While living in strange and distant lands in the 60’s, he made sure I was hooked up by way of short-wave to the American and British weekly Top 20. The Voice of America, American Armed Services Radio and the BBC were a lifeline. In the 70’s I recall him chatting away (“da-dit-da-da”) for hours as a HAM operator. He went to sleep at night with a transister under his pillow. Regrettably, Bill Shertenlieb never lived to see the Age of Internet radio; surely, he would have been right there in the mix.

However, I don’t have just one person to blame. Over the last 10-odd years, as both listener and performer, it has been my privilege to meet some incredible radio personalities, albeit from the other side of the board. These folks have been, and continue to be an inspiration to me. It is with respect for the music and the medium, and for all those who have gone before, that I cross over and join in the DJ fray.

I am intrigued by the kiosk. Those colorful and charming, cylindrical Parisian-style kiosques for posting events and flyers immediately come to mind. Yet, in some realms of the Middle East , kiosks are akin to gazebos and/or small romantic garden pavilions. An exotic word derived from Turkish for villa and Persian for palace, in England a kiosk could mean a humble newsstand. Then again, in this modern world there are freestanding computer and airport kiosks. A friend told me that in Israel a kiosk might be just a tiny “hole in the wall” but most assuredly a hip place to hang for tea and conversation.

It follows that The Radio Kiosk should evoke a sense of coming and going with a revolving vista on our world from different perspectives, locally and globally... an essence of romance, a place of respite, …a Homegrown haven for freeform music and commentary.

I look forward to meeting you at The Kiosk, Fridays, 11am-1pm !

Your host, Kate Sobolewski

Contact me: kateofthekiosk@comcast.net

And, from the other side of the board, check out my musical lifestyles at www.kateandpaulband.com.