Special programs to air on MSPR

Morehead State Public Radio (MSPR) will celebrate the July 4 holiday with special programs.

“That Was Radio – Westerns” will air at 9 a.m. Host Leon Smothers explores the golden age of radio, including the radio programs, personalities and events that shaped those programs. On this edition, Smothers will be your guide for a review of old-time radio Westerns including shows for kids, adults and the whole family. The program will be a nostalgic hour of singing cowboys, adventure and suspense. The program will repeat Sunday, July 8, at 3 p.m.

"Freedom- United We Stand" will follow at 10 a.m. Music and the Spoken Word special will include new music for 2018 that includes "This is a Great Country, from Mr. President,” "Hymn for America,” "Cohan's Big Three,” and "America the Beautiful.” The program will repeat at 8 p.m.

MSPR will present “Kentucky Writers Hall of Fame" at 11 a.m. The Kentucky Writers Hall of Fame announced the 2018 Hall of Fame class at an induction ceremony at the Carnegie Center in Lexington. This year’s inductees were John Fox Jr., Annie Fellows Johnston, Walter Tevis and Dr. bell hooks. A production of WUKY in Lexington.

“2018 United States Air Force Band Jazz Heritage Radio Series” will air at noon. The special will feature the USAF Airmen of Note. Throughout its long history, the Airmen of Note has regularly performed and recorded with the leading artists in the jazz world. In fact, the list of guest artists featured with the Note reads like a "who's who" of the jazz industry. Stationed at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling in Washington, D.C., it is one of six musical ensembles that comprise The U.S. Air Force Band. Created in 1950 to continue the tradition of Maj. Glenn Miller's Army Air Corps dance band, the current band consists of 18 active duty Airmen musicians including one vocalist.

The specials will conclude at 9 p.m. with "Patriotic Music for Independence Day.”

Morehead State Public Radio broadcasts from the campus of Morehead State University, and serves more than 20 counties in Kentucky, Ohio and West Virginia. WMKY (90.3 FM) serves as the flagship station for the network, which includes a translator (88.3 FM) in Inez.

Additional information is available by contacting MSPR at 606-783-2001 or visit www.wmky.org.