WAMU looking for photos

1997 WAMU program guideWAMU’s Bluegrass Country is getting ready to celebrate 45 years of playing bluegrass music on WAMU on July 2, and is asking listeners, fans and current/former colleagues to help them assemble a comprehensive photo history of the experience. A special commemorative scrapbook is being prepared, which will debut online July 2.

To get things rolling, morning host Katy Daley sent along just a few of the images in her collection that will be included. Of course Katy isn’t old enough to have been with WAMU since they launched bluegrass programming in 1967, but she has had two memorable stints at the station. She was a part time broadcaster there from 1973 to 1979 (while working a day job at the CIA), returning in 2006. She’s been full-time there since 2007 with a Monday-Friday program mornings from 7:00-10:00 a.m.

Daley is quick to voice her enthusiasm for bluegrass on WAMU, reminding us of the many legendary broadcasters whose voices have gone out over their air. Tom Reeder, Dick Spottswood, Bob Webster and Gary Henderson come to mind, not to mention WSM’s Eddie Stubbs, who got his start at WAMU.

“We are proud of what WAMU has accomplished, and look forward to what we can do going forward.

I think bluegrass and radio just go together, and I see us as a perfect marriage of broadcasting and music.”

Katy asked that anyone with photos of WAMU hosts, studios, volunteers or any images from the DC bluegrass scene from the mid-1960s forward they would be willing to share, to please contact her by email. So far she says that they have gotten photos from WAMU-sponsored concerts, flyers and program guides, plus pictures of old T-shirts, mugs, belt buckles and other station premiums over the years. Basically, any and everything to do with WAMU since ’67 would be greatly appreciated.

Here are some of the photos Katy sent:

 

If you have photos you would be willing to share, contact Katy by email at katydaley@wamu.org.

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About the Author

John Lawless

John had served as primary author and editor for The Bluegrass Blog from its launch in 2006 until being folded into Bluegrass Today in September of 2011. He continues in that capacity here, managing a strong team of columnists and correspondents.