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Cesar Maldonado on the roots of Mariachi Herencia de México
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Cesar Maldonado on the roots of Mariachi Herencia de México
February 18, 2026

Listen to a conversation with Cesar Maldonado, founder and artistic director of Mariachi Herencia de México. Based in Chicago, the ensemble grew out of the Mariachi Heritage Foundation, a nonprofit organization devoted to preserving and advancing mariachi music through youth education.

Wayne Newton on his early work in country music
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Wayne Newton on his early work in country music
February 11, 2026

Listen to Kyle Long’s interview with “Mr. Las Vegas” Wayne Newton. With a career spanning more than seven decades, he is among the most enduring figures in American popular entertainment. But Newton’s career began much earlier, in the 1950s, when he was still a child, singing country music alongside his brother, Jerry.

The Indiana pioneers of Puerto Rican music
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The Indiana pioneers of Puerto Rican music
February 11, 2026

Bad Bunny’s performance at the Super Bowl last Sunday was the most-watched halftime show in history, placing Puerto Rican music squarely at the center of American pop culture. For decades, Puerto Rican music has enjoyed widespread popularity here in the Hoosier State. We’ll celebrate the Puerto Rican music pioneers of Indiana.

Scholar and broadcaster Nia I’man Smith discusses Sonic Blacknuss Radio
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Scholar and broadcaster Nia I’man Smith discusses Sonic Blacknuss Radio
February 4, 2026

Kyle Long speaks with Nia I’man Smith, who is a scholar and radio host based in Bloomington, Indiana. She’s currently a PhD candidate in the Department of Folklore and Ethnomusicology at Indiana University Bloomington. Smith is also the creator and host of Sonic Blacknuss, a biweekly program on Bloomington’s community radio station, WFHB.

Discovering Sun Ra’s Indiana connections
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Discovering Sun Ra’s Indiana connections
February 4, 2026

This month on American Masters, PBS will present “Sun Ra: Do The Impossible” — a new documentary celebrating the life and legacy of Sun Ra, one of the most visionary figures in jazz music. Sun Ra’s early work was shaped by Hoosiers, including trumpeter Art Hoyle, saxophonist/flutist James Spaulding, and recording engineer Bud Pressner.

Exploring Gil Scott-Heron’s work with the Princeton, Indiana producer Robert Hosea Williams
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Exploring Gil Scott-Heron’s work with the Princeton, Indiana producer Robert Hosea Williams
January 28, 2026

Explore music featuring the Princeton, Indiana producer and engineer Robert Hosea Williams (also known as R. José Williams), best known for his work with Gil Scott-Heron.

Surina Gangwani is bringing Sofar Sounds back to Indianapolis
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Surina Gangwani is bringing Sofar Sounds back to Indianapolis
January 28, 2026

For more than a decade, Sofar Sounds has connected music fans with intimate, unconventional concert experiences in cities across the globe. After a hiatus, the project is returning to Indianapolis—thanks to local ambassador Surina Gangwani, who is relaunching the series with a renewed focus on community.

Martin University founder Boniface Hardin fought for equality in classrooms and communities
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Martin University founder Boniface Hardin fought for equality in classrooms and communities
January 28, 2026

Last December, Martin University announced it would close, citing years of financial strain and declining enrollment. The closure brings to an end a legacy that began more than 50 years ago with Boniface Hardin.

Neko Case discusses her new album, Spotify, and the influence of Umm Kulthum
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Neko Case discusses her new album, Spotify, and the influence of Umm Kulthum
January 21, 2026

Neko Case is a critically acclaimed singer-songwriter known for her distinctive voice and genre-defying albums. She discussed her new album, “Neon Grey Midnight Green,” and her upcoming performance in Indiana with WFYI’s Kyle Long.

Jazz bassist and beatmaker Brandon Meeks reflects on his roots in Indiana
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Jazz bassist and beatmaker Brandon Meeks reflects on his roots in Indiana
January 14, 2026

Listen to an interview with Brandon Meeks, an Indianapolis–based jazz bassist, bandleader and hip-hop producer, widely recognized as a key figure in the city’s contemporary jazz scene. He is best known for his work with acclaimed saxophonist Rob Dixon and as a member of the hip-hop jazz trio Native Sun.

Beatmaker Scott Matelic on the evolution of his soulful, psychedelic hip-hop sound
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Beatmaker Scott Matelic on the evolution of his soulful, psychedelic hip-hop sound
January 7, 2026

Scott Matelic is an Indianapolis-born hip-hop producer and DJ whose sound emerges from the crate-digging traditions of DJ culture, blending sample-based production with soulful textures and psychedelic atmospheres. He discusses his new album Dead Weightt with Kyle Long at WFYI studios.

Remembering Indiana musicians who died in 2025
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Remembering Indiana musicians who died in 2025
December 31, 2025

Join us as we honor some of the notable Indiana musicians and music figures who passed away in 2025. These are artists who shaped funk, rock, music education, and global psychedelia — including Gray Babson, DeMorris Smith, Ron Hedrick, Toby Myers, Gladys Stone Wright, and Stan Denski.

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