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ARCLight Podcast: "The Cost of Saving a Life" - An interview with Katie Standefer

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  The first episode of Season 2 of the ARCLight Podcast has dropped. In this episode, 2003 Hersey graduate Kati Standefer talks about her book, Lightning Flowers: My Journey to Uncover the Cost of Saving a Life.  When she was 24, Kati went into cardiac arrest and ended up getting a cardiac defibrillator wired into her chest. That device, though, malfunctioned several years later, sending three powerful shocks to her heart. The device was supposed to save her life, yet there she was writhing on the ground in pain. That incident prompted a global journey of inquiry. She wanted to know what the cost was to create that device, not just on her, but on the people who mined the minerals and on the environment. This led her across the United States, and to Madagascar and Rwanda. On this episode of the ARCLight Podcast, Kati discusses that journey, the writing of the book and how Lightning Flowers was her "attempt to figure out how to keep being a living person." Listen below, ...
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New Music Matters -- A 1973 Album Produced by John Hersey High School's Music Department

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Welcome to the new season of Music Matters!  Our first episode is a time capsule taking us back to the Spring of 1973. That year, the John Hersey High School Music Department put out a record album, featuring live performances by the Chamber Choir and the Freshman Girls' Chorus.  The record contains a wonderful collection of pop hits from the early 70s, plus some great musical numbers as well. The pictures on the back are gloriously retro, featuring some marvelous plaid bell-bottom jumpsuits. This episode will be streaming all month on Huskie Radio. Plus, you listen to it on demand at Mixcloud or below:
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Attention Alum from 1972, '82 and '02

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Homecoming is on the way, and the classes of 1972, '82 and '02 have reunions and homecoming activities planned. How about being a part of Huskie Radio, too? We are working on a special alumni episode of our show Music Matters . We are looking for alum from those years to record a short intro for a song that reminds you of your time at Hersey High School. That recording will be used in our Music Matters show, which will stream on Huskie Radio and be available on-demand via Mixcloud . This is super easy to do: 1) Pick a song you would like to introduce. This song should be something from your time at Hersey -- a song that reminds you of a specific event, or person, or activity associated with Hersey High School. 2) Using a voice recording app on your phone, record a short introduction to the song and tell a little bit about why that song reminds you of your time at Hersey.  Be sure to include your name and your graduation year. See some examples below. Send the file to jhhs.libr...
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Huskie Radio is Here!

By Bruce Janu -
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Huskie Radio is online! Right now, we are testing our stream and will soon be broadcasting right out of the ARC Studio in the Library. Also, students will be commanding these airwaves soon. We will hold auditions for the Huskie Radio Morning Show, and offer other times and slots for students who want to become DJs and host programing on Huskie Radio. We have registered with the FCC, and will also be paying royalties through SoundExchange. Right now, we have several thousand songs in our library, which is nearly a week of music playing constantly without ever hearing the same song twice. About 75% of our music rotation is Top 40 and recent hits. Then about 10% Classic Rock, 10% 80s/90s and 5% Oldies. 6am-12am -- Regular Rotation: Hits and Greats 12am-1am -- Midnight Blues : An hour of classic Blues to ease you into your early morning or late night, depending on your mood. 1am-3am -- Overnight Jazz : Two hours of an eclectic mix of jazz, from Dixieland, to Swing to BeBop -- we have it al...
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Huskie Radio Coming Soon!

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  Huskie Radio is coming soon! Introducing a new online radio station, programmed and run by students! We will have student DJs, a student-run morning show, news and more!! Auditions for the morning show will be held in August. Huskie Radio will feature all sorts of music -- from Top 40, to Classic Rock, to the music of the decades--Plus, Jazz and Classical as well. The station will stream 24/7 from the Academic Resource Center, and can be accessed via this website or any provider of online radio. We will also have a downloadable app as well. More information, click here . 
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Music Matters - The Music of TikTok

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The social media platform TikTok has played a role in popularizing music. On this final episode of the year, Freshman Amreen Tejani takes a look at some of the biggest songs on TikTok this last year and spins some Olivia Rodrigo, Kid Cudi, Ed Sheeran, Glass Animals, Jaymes Young, and many more!  Listen below, or on Mixcloud . 
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Summer 2022 Playlist - Songs about Summer!

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Well, summer is just about here. How about some songs that celebrate summer?  Take a listen to our Summer 2022 playlist . Perhaps you'll be sitting on a beach somewhere, reading your summer reading book --- what better soundtrack than songs that feature "summer " or "summertime" in the title? Enjoy your summer!
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"Race Music" and the Beginning of Rock and Roll

By Bruce Janu -
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Last month we highlighted Elvis Presley. He may have been the “King of Rock and Roll,” but in no way did he invent the music. In fact, he merely copied the music that had been invented and played in the Black community for years.   Not to diminish the importance of Elvis, though. He would eventually develop his own style. But more importantly, he introduced Rock and Roll to a whole new audience. Billboard , January 1, 1949 Public Domain Like Blues and Jazz before it, Rock and Roll music was developed by Black musicians in Black communities. But it was not known as Rock and Roll, however. It was, at the time, called “rhythm and blues,” or “R & B.” Which, according to Little Richard , stood for “real Black.” To White America, however, it was called “Race Music.” Major record labels refused to record it. White-owned establishments did not put the music in their juke boxes. White performers did not record the music, either. At least, not yet. This was a pattern that had played o...
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Artists of the Month: Jerry Butler and Betty Everett

By Bruce Janu -
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My first exposure to Jerry "The Iceman" Butler came from a K-Tel commercial for an album called Superbad   in 1973 that I saw when I was a kid. I didn't know much about him at the time.  It wasn't until I was much older that I became a fan. Although Jerry Butler was born in Mississippi, he moved with his family to Chicago in 1941, and grew up in the  Cabrini Green housing projects. It was in church where he met Curtis Mayfield. Together, in 1958, they joined with three other singers to form "Jerry Butler and the Impressions." After leaving the group a couple of years later, Jerry Butler went solo and received the moniker "The Iceman" from a Philadelphia DJ, to highlight his cool, baritone voice. The name stuck. Betty Everett, too, was born in Mississippi. At the age of 18, she moved to Chicago in 1957 to pursue a music career. In 1964, she produced a hit single. You probably know it, because it has been covered by many people including Linda Ronsta...
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New Episode of Bookmarked with a Happy Couple in Dublin!

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Something special happened making the new episode of Bookmarked.  As always, we change the background in every episode. Since Olivia and Viktoria mention St. Patrick's Day, we recorded 2 minutes of a live stream outside of Temple Bar in Dublin, Ireland.  And we noticed a happy couple. The footage was captured at 9am Central time, which would have been 3 pm in Dublin, After having their picture taken outside of Temple Bar, the moved to the sidewalk to share their happy news with family and friends. Their happiness is palpable. Watch the entire episode below, and see the footage as an extra at the end of the episode. It has all the feels. In the episode, Olivia and Viktoria talk about Natasha Preston, with playful banter about their differing opinions. This may be the best episode of Bookmarked yet. So, if you know anyone who got engaged in Ireland on March 13, tell them that they've been Bookmarked!
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