Afterglow

Series produced by WFIU

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Afterglow is a weekly, one-hour program of vocal jazz and popular song from the Great American Songbook, hosted by Mark Chilla.

Ella, Frank, Billie, Duke -- WFIU's Afterglow has them all.

Afterglow highlights the best of vocal jazz and popular song from the 1930s to today. Each episode explores a new topic about the greatest jazz singers. Whether it's the unlikely friendship between Frank Sinatra and songwriter Jimmy Van Heusen, the times trumpeter Clifford Brown worked with vocalists, or songs all about love, Afterglow tells the stories of the Great American Songbook.

Afterglow first aired on WFIU sometime in the late 1970s, hosted by a man named Dick Bishop, who gave the show its elegance, passion, laid-back expertise, congenial charm, and that "martini-moon" quality. After Bishop's retirement in 2005, the show was hosted by David Brent Johnson. In February 2015, Mark Chilla took the helm, continuing to bring an hour of the Great American Songbook to the airwaves in a high-quality production available every week.

For syndication information, please contact LuAnn Johnson at lujohnso@indiana.edu.

For help subscribing please email prxhelp@prx.org.

Find us at http://indianapublicmedia.org/afterglow/.

Afterglow is a production of WFIU at Indiana University in Bloomington. Hide full description

Ella, Frank, Billie, Duke -- WFIU's Afterglow has them all. Afterglow highlights the best of vocal jazz and popular song from the 1930s to today. Each episode explores a new topic about the greatest jazz singers. Whether it's the unlikely friendship between Frank Sinatra and songwriter Jimmy Van Heusen, the times trumpeter Clifford Brown worked with vocalists, or songs all about love, Afterglow tells the stories of the Great American Songbook. Afterglow first aired on WFIU sometime in the late 1970s, hosted by a man named Dick Bishop, who gave the show its elegance, passion, laid-back expertise, congenial charm, and that "martini-moon" quality. After Bishop's retirement in 2005, the show was hosted by David Brent Johnson. In February 2015, Mark Chilla took the helm, continuing to... Show full description


Additional Files

115 Pieces

Order by: Newest First | Oldest First
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This week on Afterglow, it’s part two of an exploration of colorful songs from the Great American Songbook, as we feature “Little White Lies,” “Tha...

  • Added: Aug 12, 2023
  • Length: 59:00
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We’ll continue our ongoing celebration of the late Tony Bennett with a look at his lengthy late-career revival. In 1986, he returned to the recordi...

  • Added: Aug 22, 2023
  • Length: 59:00
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From Frank Sinatra’s version of “Ol’ MacDonald” to Ella Fitzgerald’s version of “The Muffin Man,” we’ll explore some jazzy selections aimed at kids.

  • Added: Aug 25, 2023
  • Length: 59:00
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For National Hispanic Heritage Month, we’ll be exploring the influence of Latin music on the American jazz and pop singers in the 1950s, including ...

  • Added: Aug 30, 2023
  • Length: 59:00
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What do Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Perry Como, and Louis Prima all have in common? Their Italian-American heritage, of course! This week on After...

  • Added: Sep 08, 2023
  • Length: 59:00
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Vernon Duke immigrated to America as a classical composer, and became one of the finest songwriters in popular music. This week, we’ll explore his ...

  • Added: Sep 11, 2023
  • Length: 59:00
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Disney. The soundtrack of our childhood. This week on Afterglow, in honor of Disney's 100th anniversary, I’ll explore the jazz side of Disney songs...

  • Added: Sep 11, 2023
  • Length: 59:00
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Singer Keely Smith became famous as the deapan sidekick to her husband Louis Prima, and as a ballad singer in the late 1950s. This week on Afterglo...

  • Added: Oct 10, 2023
  • Length: 59:00
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This week on Afterglow, we turn our spotlight on arranger Pete Rugolo. We’ll hear some Rugolo’s progressive arrangements for many of the top singer...

  • Added: Oct 17, 2023
  • Length: 59:00
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Jo Stafford was one of the finest, most versatile singers from 1940s and 50, a chameleon who was at ease singing jazz, pop, country, folk, and even...

  • Added: Oct 18, 2023
  • Length: 59:00
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We pay tribute to jazz guitarist Barney Kessel and his work with notable singers like Billie Holiday, Dean Martin, Anita O’Day and many more.

  • Added: Nov 16, 2023
  • Length: 59:00
Caption: Louis Jordan
It’s Thanksgiving, so take a seat at the dinner table with Afterglow this week, as we explore classic jazz and popular songs about food by singers ...

  • Added: Nov 03, 2023
  • Length: 59:00
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We take a listen to some recent releases for the second half of the year, including new music from singers Laufey, Veronica Swift, Caity Gyorgy, an...

  • Added: Nov 17, 2023
  • Length: 59:00
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We’re celebrating Frank Sinatra’s birthday by exploring his musical partnership with the great arranger Nelson Riddle, including their work on icon...

  • Added: Nov 17, 2023
  • Length: 59:00
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We’re celebrating the 100th birthday of bebop vocalist Bob Dorough, listening to some of his hip jazz tunes like “Devil May Care” and “Comin’ Home ...

  • Added: Dec 01, 2023
  • Length: 59:00
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For Afterglow’s annual winter holiday show, we’ll explore some less familiar holiday gems from classic singers, including “Santa Claus Got Stuck In...

  • Added: Dec 07, 2023
  • Length: 59:00
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We’re looking up at the moon this week, exploring jazz standards all about our lunar companion, like “Fly Me To The Moon,” “Moon River,” and many m...

  • Added: Dec 08, 2023
  • Length: 59:00
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E.Y. “Yip” Harburg wrote words to some of the most memorable songs in American culture, including “Over The Rainbow” and “It’s Only A Paper Moon” a...

  • Added: Dec 14, 2023
  • Length: 59:00
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This week on Afterglow, I’ll explore the influence of country music on jazz and traditional pop songs from the 1940s, 50s, and 60s. We’ll hear coun...

  • Added: Jan 02, 2024
  • Length: 59:00
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Stars have always been an inspiration for songwriters, and this week on Afterglow, we’ll explore those Stardust melodies written by Hoagy Carmichae...

  • Added: Jan 03, 2024
  • Length: 59:00