(NEWARK, NJ) -- Over the weekend, WBGO listeners were treated to the launch of WBGO's Rhythm and Song Weekend, featuring expanded Rhythm Revue with Felix Hernandez on Saturdays as well as a Sunday edition of the popular program, plus an expanded Come Sunday with Lezlie Harrison. On Monday, February 28 at noon, WBGO will begin airing a new two hour program Favorite Things with Pat Prescott.
Rhythm Revue has long been the most listened to program on WBGO 88.3FM and WBGO.org, and also the biggest revenue generator during membership drives. WBGO President and CEO Steven A. Williams, along with Stevan Smith, WBGO's Chief Content Officer, made the decision to add more hours with Felix to the air. In a return to the original format of Rhythm Revue, the Saturday program will go from four hours to six, starting at its usual 10:00am time slot. The program will also have a second shift on Sundays from noon to 5:00pm.
Immediately preceding Rhythm Revue Sunday, Lezlie Harrison's Come Sunday program will expand to four hours, from 8:00am to noon.
Decades ago, WBGO became a full time jazz station in the wake of WRVR's shift from jazz to country music. Many WBGO listeners and members recall the moment that happened. Former WRVR Music Director and on air host Pat Prescott was a staple in New York radio for 23 years before her time in Los Angeles. She makes a triumphant return to the New York airwaves with her two hour program, Favorite Things with Pat Prescott, weekdays from noon to 2:00pm on WBGO. The show will highlight Pat's favorite songs and artists, crafted around themes, interviews with musicians and celebrities who will share their favorite things as well. There will even be an opportunity for listeners to weigh in too. "After 47 years on the air," Pat reflected, "I'm thrilled to return to the New York airwaves to do a show that truly reflects my life experience with music. Doing it for a legendary station like WBGO makes it that much more special. I can't wait to get started."
WBGO's President & CEO, Steven A. Williams noted, "In my first year leading WBGO, we invested heavily in research to understand what our listeners and members love and what they would like to hear from WBGO going forward. It was imperative to the health of this public radio station to build on the strengths in our programming schedule and give our audience more of the music they love."
These changes have also shifted the remaining weekly programming schedule, which can be found on WBGO.org.
WBGO is a publicly-supported cultural institution that preserves and promotes jazz, blues, Latin jazz and classic rhythm & blues. From its home base of Newark, New Jersey, public radio station WBGO has long been an anchor institution in community engagement through its music and news programming, live performances and partnerships. WBGO reaches a diverse audience from its broadcast location in America's number one media market, the New York/New Jersey metro area. Through programs such as Jazz Night in America, produced in partnership with NPR and Jazz at Lincoln Center, the organization’s reach extends to millions more across the country, and around the globe through WBGO.org and the WBGO mobile app and social media plus Facebook Live broadcasts. WBGO is broadcast at 88.3 FM in the NY/New Jersey area and may be streamed from WBGO.org.
