“WPFW, with its powerful transmitter, has had a stressful time recently given the loss of its long-term facility and the struggle to find a new permanent home in the expensive Capital District,” said Summer Reese, Pacifica’s Interim Executive Director. “We are so pleased,” she said, “to have launched the station in a new temporary location in order to maintain its important and unique voice in the DC area.”
WPFW’s program schedule has always resonated with a vibrant musical mix that includes some of the most knowledgeable experts in the history of jazz music and progressive public affairs, including “Democracy Now!” with Amy Goodman and Juan Gonzalez.
Since its inception, volunteerism has always been at the heart of WPFW. In fact, it’s thanks to talented volunteer radio producers who have continued to offer DC listeners a vast array of rich cultural and relevant local and international public affairs information. Von Martin, a volunteer, was the first voice on WFPW 36 years ago. He began his first broadcast with Duke Ellington’s “Take the ‘A’ Train” and WPFW has been the “Jazz Messenger” ever since.
Examples abound at WPFW of others who have maintained this tradition, like Brother Ah (pictured here) who continues to both entertain and educate listeners about jazz history and his own experiences as a jazz performer.