WGSU
Encyclopedia
WGSU is an FM
college radio station located at 89.3 MHz and broadcasting
from Geneseo, New York, USA
. The station is located on the campus of the State University of New York at Geneseo
and is run and staffed primarily by the students of the college.
In the early 1970s, WGSU was one of the most progressive radio stations in the country. Imagine hearing Bessie Smith followed by Erik Satie followed by a spoken word artist followed by Sun Ra with some Firesign Theater tracks and some Hungarian folk music. The radio format
, brilliantly developed and executed by John Davlin, was known as a "continuum." Alumni of this era went on to be music and program directors of commercial stations, a TV news anchorman, and a manager of a college radio station.
After Davlin's departure in 1976, WGSU continued to operate with a dedicated staff of student managers and programmers, providing the western New York region with an eclectic mix of rock, jazz, blues, World music (referred to at the time as "ethnic") and a smattering of classical music. A typical program during that period could include such diverse artists as Pat Metheny
, Bruce Cockburn
, Karla Bonoff
, Clifton Chenier
, Thelonious Monk
, Gentle Giant
, Patti Smith
and Captain Beefheart
.
WGSU rode the first rumblings of the New Wave
in the mid 1970s, featuring musicians like Talking Heads
, Elvis Costello
and Devo
before they gained nationwide attention.
Despite having an antenna measured at only three meters (9.84 feet) above surrounding terrain, WGSU's signal occasionally reached as far as Toronto, according to listeners' letters.
The current station manager is Erik Talbot.
WGSU is the home of Geneseo Ice Knights hockey, broadcasting all of their home and away games.
Frequency modulation
In telecommunications and signal processing, frequency modulation conveys information over a carrier wave by varying its instantaneous frequency. This contrasts with amplitude modulation, in which the amplitude of the carrier is varied while its frequency remains constant...
college radio station located at 89.3 MHz and broadcasting
Broadcasting
Broadcasting is the distribution of audio and video content to a dispersed audience via any audio visual medium. Receiving parties may include the general public or a relatively large subset of thereof...
from Geneseo, New York, USA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The station is located on the campus of the State University of New York at Geneseo
State University of New York at Geneseo
The State University of New York at Geneseo—also known as SUNY Geneseo, Geneseo State, or, colloquially, Geneseo—is located in Geneseo, Livingston County, New York, United States. It is a University College of the State University of New York...
and is run and staffed primarily by the students of the college.
In the early 1970s, WGSU was one of the most progressive radio stations in the country. Imagine hearing Bessie Smith followed by Erik Satie followed by a spoken word artist followed by Sun Ra with some Firesign Theater tracks and some Hungarian folk music. The radio format
Radio format
A radio format or programming format not to be confused with broadcast programming describes the overall content broadcast on a radio station. Radio formats are frequently employed as a marketing tool, and constantly evolve...
, brilliantly developed and executed by John Davlin, was known as a "continuum." Alumni of this era went on to be music and program directors of commercial stations, a TV news anchorman, and a manager of a college radio station.
After Davlin's departure in 1976, WGSU continued to operate with a dedicated staff of student managers and programmers, providing the western New York region with an eclectic mix of rock, jazz, blues, World music (referred to at the time as "ethnic") and a smattering of classical music. A typical program during that period could include such diverse artists as Pat Metheny
Pat Metheny
Patrick Bruce "Pat" Metheny is an American jazz guitarist and composer.One of the most successful and critically acclaimed jazz musicians to come to prominence in the 1970s and '80s, he is the leader of the Pat Metheny Group and is also involved in duets, solo works and other side projects...
, Bruce Cockburn
Bruce Cockburn
Bruce Douglas Cockburn OC is a Canadian folk/rock guitarist and singer-songwriter. His most recent album was released in March 2011. He has written songs in styles ranging from folk to jazz-influenced rock to rock and roll.-Biography:...
, Karla Bonoff
Karla Bonoff
Karla Bonoff is an American singer-songwriter, primarily known for her songwriting.As a songwriter, Bonoff's songs have been interpreted by other artists such as "Home" by Bonnie Raitt, "Tell Me Why" by Wynonna Judd, and "Isn't It Always Love" by Lynn Anderson...
, Clifton Chenier
Clifton Chenier
Clifton Chenier , a Creole French-speaking native of Opelousas, Louisiana, was an eminent performer and recording artist of Zydeco, which arose from Cajun and Creole music, with R&B, jazz, and blues influences. He played the accordion and won a Grammy Award in 1983...
, Thelonious Monk
Thelonious Monk
Thelonious Sphere Monk was an American jazz pianist and composer considered "one of the giants of American music". Monk had a unique improvisational style and made numerous contributions to the standard jazz repertoire, including "Epistrophy", "'Round Midnight", "Blue Monk", "Straight, No Chaser"...
, Gentle Giant
Gentle Giant
Gentle Giant were a British progressive rock band active between 1970 and 1980. The band was known for the complexity and sophistication of its music and for the varied musical skills of its members. All of the band members, except the first two drummers, were multi-instrumentalists...
, Patti Smith
Patti Smith
Patricia Lee "Patti" Smith is an American singer-songwriter, poet and visual artist, who became a highly influential component of the New York City punk rock movement with her 1975 debut album Horses....
and Captain Beefheart
Captain Beefheart
Don Van Vliet January 15, 1941 December 17, 2010) was an American musician, singer-songwriter and artist best known by the stage name Captain Beefheart. His musical work was conducted with a rotating ensemble of musicians called The Magic Band, active between 1965 and 1982, with whom he recorded 12...
.
WGSU rode the first rumblings of the New Wave
New Wave music
New Wave is a subgenre of :rock music that emerged in the mid to late 1970s alongside punk rock. The term at first generally was synonymous with punk rock before being considered a genre in its own right that incorporated aspects of electronic and experimental music, mod subculture, disco and 1960s...
in the mid 1970s, featuring musicians like Talking Heads
Talking Heads
Talking Heads were an American New Wave and avant-garde band formed in 1975 in New York City and active until 1991. The band comprised David Byrne, Chris Frantz, Tina Weymouth and Jerry Harrison...
, Elvis Costello
Elvis Costello
Elvis Costello , born Declan Patrick MacManus, is an English singer-songwriter. He came to prominence as an early participant in London's pub rock scene in the mid-1970s and later became associated with the punk/New Wave genre. Steeped in word play, the vocabulary of Costello's lyrics is broader...
and Devo
Devo
Devo is an American band formed in 1973 consisting of members from Kent and Akron, Ohio. The classic line-up of the band includes two sets of brothers, the Mothersbaughs and the Casales . The band had a #14 Billboard chart hit in 1980 with the single "Whip It", and has maintained a cult...
before they gained nationwide attention.
Despite having an antenna measured at only three meters (9.84 feet) above surrounding terrain, WGSU's signal occasionally reached as far as Toronto, according to listeners' letters.
The current station manager is Erik Talbot.
WGSU is the home of Geneseo Ice Knights hockey, broadcasting all of their home and away games.