Cultural Manifesto

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June 11, 2020

This week's show features an interview with Taylor Hall, a nineteen-year-old musician/activist. Hall is a member of Black Women in Charge, the organization behind the Saturday, June 6, 2020 historic protest at the Indiana Statehouse. Hall performs a song written in tribute to George Floyd titled "I Can't Breathe."

Tyron Cooper

June 4, 2020

This week, Kyle Long features Indiana music of peaceful protest, including an interview with Tyron Cooper, a professor with Indiana University's African American and African Diaspora Studies department.

Rock & Roll Pioneers of Indiana Avenue

May 29, 2020

The Indiana Avenue neighborhood is known for it's celebrated jazz history, but the Avenue was also a hotbed for early rock & roll and rhythm & blues music. On this week's show Kyle Long pays tribute to the rock & roll pioneers of Indiana Avenue.

John Loflin

May 21, 2020

Joining Kyle Long on the show this week is John Loflin. The two discuss John's journey in music, from growing up playing country music in Fountain Square in the 1950s, to joining the first reggae band in Indianapolis during the 1980s.

Elayne Jones

May 14, 2020

On this week's show Kyle's guest is Elayne Jones, a world renown percussionist and the first Black woman in the New York Philharmonic Orchestra. Jones worked with some of the greatest orchestras and conductors of the 20th Century, including Leopold Stokowski and Duke Ellington.

The Watts Prophets

May 7, 2020

Host Kyle Long talks with Father Amde of the Watts Prophets, their 1971 debut release is widely regarded as the first rap album.

The Fatelics

May 1, 2020

Kyle interviews guitarist Rodney Wood, and listens to the The Fatelics's demo recordings.

Legendary Women of Indianapolis Soul Music

April 23, 2020

Host Kyle Long pays tribute to some of the legendary women of Indianapolis soul music, with interviews and music from: Lois Blaine, Aretta La Marre, The Pearls, The Indy's, The Sentimentals, Debbie Nelson, Mary Brown, and Niambi Steele of 24 Carat Black.

NPR's Tiny Desk Contest

April 16, 2020

This week, Kyle takes a look at the NPR's Tiny Desk Contest. Small Studio Sessions producer Melissa Davis joins the show to discuss the evolution of the WFYI's music series and its connection to the Tiny Desk contest. Kyle also airs his chat 2017 Tiny Desk winners Tank and The Bangas, and shares his interview with this month's Small Studio artist Okara Imani.

Dena El Saffar and Tim Moore of Salaam

April 9, 2020

This week Kyle's guests are Dena El Saffar and Tim Moore of Salaam, a Middle Eastern music ensemble based in Bloomington. Kyle shares tracks from their new album Mediterranean Nights.

Indy Music in the 1920's, '30s and '40s

April 2, 2020

On this week's show host Kyle Long looks back to the 1920s, '30s and '40s to examine how Indianapolis musicians dealt with the severe economic and social problems brought on by catastrophic events like the Great depression and World War II. Kyle focuses on the music of Leroy Carr, Scrapper Blackwell, Little Bill Gaither, and Emry Arthur.