Big Broadcast: Pirate Radio

For much of the 20th century, radio was the voice of the establishment, selling not just detergent, but a whitewashed, idealized vision of America. But that wasn’t entirely true. From the early 30’s until the early 70’s, late at night, strange sounds would skip across the stratosphere, filling the air over America with the howls of wild animals, the promises of faith healers, the voices of Spanish speakers, and–heaven-forbid–that devil rhythm and blues music. On this week’s Texas Music Matters, we’re celebrating the outlaw spirit of the airwaves, which has deep roots in Texas, or, to be precise, the Texas border. Hear it Friday at noon and again Friday night at 11 on KUTX 98.9.

 

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