Peter Thompson Archives - Bluegrass Today

California Report: Peter Thompson’s Bluegrass Signal benefit CD

IBMA 2020 Broadcaster of the Year nominee and syndicated broadcaster of Bluegrass Country, Peter Thompson, has announced his next CD compilation benefiting KALW in San Francisco and Bluegrass Country. Turn Your Radio On is a 2-CD compilation of music recorded live in the KALW studios from 1999-2019, and originally broadcast on Bluegrass Signal as part of KALW’s acoustic music programs’ bi-annual On-Air Folk Festivals. The 40 songs and tunes encompass a wide variety of bluegrass and old-time musical styles, with outstanding performances by some 33 Bay Area bluegrass and old-time bands.

Turn Your Radio On is the third compilation Peter has produced for KALW and Bluegrass Country fundraising purposes; info on the other two at the Bluegrass Signal website.

Congratulations Peter. How did this compilation tradition come about?

I’ve always enjoyed sending CDs as thank-you gifts to listeners who support public radio. Back in 2013, we’d gone through a period of relatively few releases by Northern California musicians, and I hoped that a compilation featuring some wonderful bluegrass and old-time bands would be an effective fundraising tool — and would expand awareness of the breadth and depth of talent in our region. It was a success, so I produced a second sampler CD, this time with all live recordings from clubs, concert halls, and festivals.

The pandemic shutdown allowed me to unearth a number of previously broadcast shows featuring musicians performing live in the KALW studios. While revisiting them for Bluegrass Signal programs produced from home, I realized that some truly exciting music had been made at those seat-of-the-pants sessions. So, with the help of graphic artist Ellen Silva and audio wizard Lou Judson, I produced a 2-CD set of some of my favorites in time for both Bluegrass Country’s and KALW ’s Spring Membership Campaigns.

Do you have many repeat performers?

Many of those on the new compilation — Jody Stecher & Kate Brislin, the Kathy Kallick Band, Laurie Lewis & Tom Rozum, The Tuttle Family, AJ Lee, Suzy & Eric Thompson, High Country, Windy Hill, the Stairwell Sisters, and others — have been part of previous Bluegrass Signal collections. Some of the younger bands on this one, like North Country Blue and Crying Uncle, hadn’t even formed when the earlier ones were released, and a few of the musicians on those, including David Grisman and Peter Rowan, have yet to perform live on Bluegrass Signal.

As I recall, the studio space is very limited. How does that impact live recordings?

KALW has never had rooms designed for music-making, but we learned a great deal about effective microphones and effective microphone placement. Musicians have been extremely helpful, and quite tolerant of the vagaries of live radio. I have to admit that the music sometimes doesn’t sound particularly refined, but, then, that’s never been a crucial part of musical excellence for me.

You’ve had a lot of guest DJs in recent years. What does the future look like for Bluegrass Signal?

I’ve been producing and hosting radio shows since 1975, so you can imagine my delight when, within a few weeks, I had separate conversations with two young women about their interest in not only bluegrass and old-time music, but also radio. It turned out that both Allegra Thompson and Leah Wollenberg had great ideas about how to present music on the radio, and they’ve been doing so on a regular basis for several years. I also enjoy the perspective of musicians who like to program and talk about music and have done so with Ryan Breen, Kathy Kallick, Scott Nygaard, and many others over the years. And I appreciate how fellow collector-fans like Todd Gracyk and Jose Segue have shared their obscure discoveries. I hope this mix of presenters will continue on Bluegrass Signal for the foreseeable future, and that one or more of them will want to continue the program after I’m unable to do so. Assuming that such a thing as radio still exists …

More information about the Turn Your Radio On compilation can be found at the Bluegrass Signal website. Turn Your Radio On is featured on KALW online, Saturday, May 8, 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. (PDT), and is available for a $75 donation to this listener-supported public radio station via their secure online donation page.

Peter shared the following videos.

The traditional tune, Roscoe, performed by the Kathy Kallick Band on the USS Potomac (Oakland, CA) on 3-20-14 with Annie Staninec (fiddle), Greg Booth (banjo), Tom Bekeny (mandolin), Cary Black (bass), and Kathy Kallick (guitar). The new compilation has an Annie-Kathy duet of this tune.

Roy McMillan’s Cold Wind performed by Windy Hill at the Freight & Salvage (Berkeley, CA) on 7-17-12 with Ryan Breen (banjo), Henry Warde (mandolin), Thomas Wille (guitar), and Kyle McCabe (bass). Windy Hill has two songs on the new compilation.

Molly Tuttle’s Another Side performed by The Tuttles with A.J. Lee at the Freight & Salvage (Berkeley, CA) on 1-2-14 with Molly Tuttle (banjo), A.J. Lee (mandolin), Jack Tuttle (fiddle), Sullivan Tuttle (guitar), and Michael Tuttle (mandolin). This very song was on a previous Bluegrass Signal collection. Molly performs with two different bands on the new compilation, and it also includes two songs by AJ Lee & Blue Summit.

Peter Thompson – 40 years of Radio

With the April 11, 2015, program DJ Peter Thompson celebrated 40 years of radio broadcasting.

Currently working for Radio KALW, San Francisco, Thompson marked the occasion with a program of live recordings by a few of his favorites, including the Stanley Brothers and Bill Monroe, the Kentucky Colonels and Hazel & Alice, the Good Ol’ Persons and Hot Rize, and Mac Martin and Vern Williams.

Although he grew up quite a distance from deep rolling hills of Virginia – he was raised in Michigan – the little hairs on the back of his neck went straight up the first time he heard the Stanley Brothers sing.

Initially, Thompson was listening to wide variety of musical genres: blues, Motown’s best, rock and jazz.

During his college years Thompson spent his recreation hours recording concerts (mostly the Grateful Dead) at the Fillmore and Avalon Ballrooms, and making what came to be called ‘mix tapes’ of favorite songs on a portable cassette player, activities that became the basis for his radio endeavours.

It was college friend who introduced him to bluegrass music, giving Thompson a cassette copy of the Stanley Brothers’ eponymous LP (King 615). He listened to the tape repeatedly, captivated by the vocal harmonies. That experience led to an ongoing involvement with bluegrass and old time music.

He began radio work as a 28 year old at Vancouver’s (British Columbia) Co-op Radio/CFRO-FM in 1974, where he not only produced a wide variety of programs, but also served as Program Director and Music Director. It was here that Thompson recognized the community aspect of radio, providing a calendar and musical previews of performers working in the vicinity. This he continues to make a part of all of his shows.

Thompson also worked freelance at CBC Radio for many years and taught in a college media production program.

Following a move to the Bay Area, he hosted programs at KCSM and KPFA before launching Bluegrass Signal on KALW in October 1995.

When asked about the highlights of his 40 years in radio, Thompson responded with this list …

“1) Interviewing Kathy Kallick! It lead to 20-plus years of marriage and joy.

2) Forming lasting friendships with Mac Martin and Bob and Dan Paisley, both of which happened as much because of my concert presentations as radio production.

3) Working with so many wonderful radio colleagues.

4) Contributing to the development of the local music scenes.

5) Gaining rapid and widespread acceptance in the bluegrass community when I moved to California 20-plus years ago.

6) Having the opportunity to interview (and sometimes get to know a bit) everyone from Bill Monroe and Ralph Stanley to Hazel Dickens and Del McCoury to the guys from Hot Rize and Nashville Bluegrass Band to Suzanne Thomas and Lynn Morris/Marshall Wilborn to …

7) Having the opportunity to hear so much great music — and share it with others.”

Since 2004 Bluegrass Signal has been syndicated on WAMU’s Bluegrass Country.

In addition to his radio work, Thompson has worked as a bluegrass concert presenter, M.C., record producer, road manager and publicist.

Thompson is a member of the IBMA, the California Bluegrass Association, Northern California Bluegrass Society, the Redwood Bluegrass Associates, the Pacific Bluegrass & Heritage Society (Vancouver, British Columbia) and the Berkeley Society for the Preservation of Traditional Music/Berkeley’s Freight & Salvage Coffeehouse, and has served on the Board of Directors for the last three organizations.

In 2013 he was awarded a Lifetime Membership of the California Bluegrass Association.

As mentioned, Thompson is married to his favorite singer, songwriter, band leader and guitar player Kathy Kallick. They live in Oakland, California.

Gospel Choices #1

Here’s another new feature, where we ask bluegrass personalities to choose their top five Gospel songs. This week we hear from Peter Thompson, host of Bluegrass Signal on KALW.

The five I’ve chosen are all from the wonderful world of bluegrass, although I can imagine a collection that also includes favorites from African-American Gospel.

Wings – Kathy Kallick Band: Walkin’ In My Shoes (Live Oak, 1999)
Some Glad Day – Mac Martin & the Dixie Travelers: Basic Blue Grass (Old Homestead, 1987)
I’ll Not Be a Stranger – Stanley Brothers: The Early Starday-King Years (King, 1961)
When I Wake Up To Sleep No More – Marshall Family: Requests (Rebel, 1976)
Won’t You Come and Sing For Me? – Hazel Dickens & Alice Gerrard: Pioneering Women Of Bluegrass (Smithsonian-Folkways, 1973)

Of course, Kathy is my favorite singer, songwriter, guitarist, and bandleader, and I treasure the 20 years we’ve lived together. It’s hard to limit myself to just one of her great songs, but this one seems appropriate. I love its ecumenical and inclusive approach, optimistic perspective, and soulful singing. The recording is the first one issued on the Live Oak Records label that Kathy and I founded, named for areas of Florida and Michigan where the Stanley Brothers and Jimmy Martin were based — and for the trees that grow right outside our bedroom window in Oakland.

One of the joys of producing a concert series is the ability to call up a musical hero and invite him/her to come for a show. When I did so with Mac Martin, I had no idea it would lead to a close relationship with him and his wife, Jean, along with several concerts and visits. Mac’s County album with the classic Dixie Travelers is what drew me to his music, but I appreciate his version of another positive song, this one from the Monroe canon. Mac has always been a distinctive interpreter and arranger, and is a singer with loads of nuance and feeling.

The Stanley Brothers’ music was what got me hooked on bluegrass, and I never tire of listening to Carter’s powerful songs and that equally powerful duet with Ralph. Again, this is not from my favorite Stanley Brothers era — the Mercury sessions get that nod — but everything they recorded has merit, and I think this song fits well with the others. I’ve done thematic radio shows for many years, and I guess this set is no exception.

Hazel Dickens and Judy Marshall represent, for me, the yin and yang of bluegrass vocals, encompassing the edgy and haunting as well as the beautiful and transcendent aspects of singing, equally thrilling and moving. Hazel was, of course, one of our music’s extraordinary songwriters, and always made me listen to what she had to say. Judy, with her siblings, could sound sweetly powerful like no others. Both make the hairs on the back of my neck stand up and stay there — as do all the musicians in this Gospel set.

Peter Thompson currently produces and hosts Bluegrass Signal on KALW (San Francisco) and WAMU’s Bluegrass Country, and earlier did bluegrass shows for Vancouver Co-op Radio and CBC Radio. He has been involved in bluegrass since the mid-1970s as not only a radio producer/host but also as a concert presenter, emcee, publicist, tour manager, record producer, booking agent, board member, product seller, label owner, and nanny.