>>> COMING UP, STORIES WE'RE CONNECTING YOU WITH TONIGHT.

DON'T TOUCH THAT DIAL!

WE'LL LOOK BACK AT 40 YEARS OF COMMUNITY-FOCUSED RADIO AT WRSI.

>> RADIO WAS SO DIFFERENT BACK THEN BECAUSE THIS IS THE PREINTERNET ERA.

EVEN PRE-DIGITAL MUSIC ERA.

WITH WERE PLAYING LP SOME THINGS.

CDS WERE JUST COMING IN AT THAT POINT.

>>> ONE OF THE BERKSHIRES' MOST BELOVED FESTIVALS IS BACK, JUST IN TIME FOR HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH.

>> WE'RE A VERY LOVING PEOPLE AND WE TANT TO GET TO KNOW -- AND WE WANT TO GET YOU AS MUCH AS YOU WANT TO GET TO KNOW US.

>> AND BITE INTO ONE OF THE BEST HOT DOGS IN THE STATE.

>> 12 SEATS A COUPLE GRILLS, LOTS OF DOGS, LOTS OF BURGERS, STEAMED BUNS, AND LOTS OF LOCALS COMING IN.

>> WE'LL BRING YOU THOSE STORIES AND MORE AS WE EXPLORE THE CREATIVITY, CULTURE, AND COMMUNITY THAT MAKE US WESTERN NEW ENGLAND, UP NEXT ON CPR.

-- ON "CONNECTING POINT."

¶ ¶ ¶ ¶ >>> GOOD EVENING AND THANKS FOR JOINING US FOR "CONNECTING POINT."

I'M SIDE.

-- I'M ZYDALIS BAUER.

WRS, FIRST WENT ON THE AIR IN 1981 AS A SMALL, LOCALLY OWNED RADIO STATION IN GREEN FIELD, MASSACHUSETTS.

THE STATION HAS EXPERIENCED MANY CHANGES OVER THE YEARS, INCLUDING A MOVE TO NORTHAMPTON IN 2001.

BUT THROUGH ALL THE UPS AND DOWNS, ONE THING HASN'T CHANGED -- MUSIC THEY PLAY AND THEIR COMMITMENT TO THE COMMUNITY THEY SERVE.

TO CELEBRATE 40 YEARS OF WRSI, PRODUCER DAVE FRASER TALKED WITH SOME OF THE PEOPLE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE WESTERN MASS RADIO STATION'S SUCCESS OVER THE YEARS.

>> THAT'S THE FELLICE BROTHERS ON THE HIEFER.

I'M JOAN HOLIDAY.

I CAME HERE 11 YEARS AGO?

>> CAUGHT UP IN 10 MINUTES, WE'LL PLAY GET THE CONNECTION.

I STARTED HERE IN 2002.

I WAS BASICALLY A GLORIFIED INTERN.

AND SOMETIMES LUCKY SIDEKICK TO THE MORNING SHOW HOST AT THE TIME, WHO HAPPENED TO BE RACHEL MADDOW.

>> I WAS MOSTLY AS I CALL THE MIDDAY -- AS I RECALL THE MIDDAY HOST AND THE MUSIC AND PROGRAM DIRECTOR.

>> MY NAME IS JOHN RILEY.

AND I'M KNOWN AS JOHNNY MEMPHIS BECAUSE THAT'S THE RADIO NAME I TOOK WHEN I STARTED WORKING IN 1986 AT WRSI.

>> IT WAS A LOAN FOR $60,000 TO BUILD THE TOWER, $20,000 FOR OPERATING COSTS.

I SAID, WHAT'S OPERATING COSTS.

AND THE GUY AT THE BANK SAYS, THAT'S SO YOU CAN OPERATE FOR AT LEAST THREE MONTHS UNTIL YOUR CASH STARTS COMING IN.

OH, THAT'S A GREAT IDEA.

SO THERE IT WAS.

GET ON THE AIR AT NOON, JULY 26TH, 1981.

AND OUR FIRST DISC JOCKEY, PHIL DRUMHELLER, PHIL D, ABOUT THE -- DID THE FIRST BROADCAST.

>> ED STARTED THE STATION LITERALLY HIMSELF.

BUILT THE EQUIPMENT AND THE STUDIO HIMSELF.

WHEN I GOT THERE, THE MUSIC THAT WAS PROGRAMMED WAS ED'S RECORD COLLECTION LITERALLY.

MIRACULOUS YOU REMEMBER THE NIGHT ¶ >> WE'RE RUNNING REEL TO REEL TAPES BECAUSE THERE'S NO DIGITAL.

WE RAN RECORDS AND TAPES.

>> THIS GOES OUT TO DENNIS DOWN IN HADLEY.

HE WANTED TO HEAR SOME FATS WALLER.

>> WE PLAYED LIKE JAZZ, BLUES, REGGAE, POP, COUNTRY, FOLKS, I KNOW ISER SONGWRITER.

IT WAS REALLY -- SINGER/SONGWRITER.

IT WAS QUITE A WIDE MIX.

I HAD A LOT OF SHOWS BUT I DID EVENTUALLY REALLY END UP IN THE AFTERNOON, WHICH WAS REALLY THE BEST PLACE FOR ME, BECAUSE FOR ONE THING I GOT TO INTERVIEW ALL THESE AMAZING MUSICIANS WHO WERE COMING TO THE AREA WHO WOULD PLAY LIVE IN THE STUDIO.

WE'VE GOT JOEY LEE AND JOHN HYATT IN THE STUDIO.

JOE, WHAT DO YOU HAVE FOR BRECK TAS IN MORNING -- BREAKFAST THIS MORNING?

>> QUICHE AND CAVIAR.

>> DAN HICKS AND B.B.

KING.

I INTERVIEWED IN THE ROAD BUS.

HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE THAT I GOT A CHANCE TO MEET AND HAVE FUN.

¶ [SINGING] ¶ >> RADIO WAS SO DIFFERENT BECAUSE THIS IS THE PRE-INTERNET ERA.

EVEN PRE-DIGITAL SMUK ERA.

WE WERE PLAYING LPs TO START WITH.

CDC WERE JUST COMING IN -- CDS WERE JUST COMING IN AT THAT POINT.

BACK THEN WE ALL WORKED A LOT OF HOURS AND WE HAD FUN, YOU KNOW.

IT'S REALLY A FUN KIND OF WILD WEST PLACE BACK THEN.

¶ WHOA BUDDY ¶ >> I WAS IN THE PERIPHERY OF THE BUDDY RUBBISH ERA, TOO, AND HE'S ONE OF THE BIG LEGENDS.

THERE WAS A STORY WHERE THE BEACHES WERE GOING TO BE CLOSED BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T AFFORD TO KEEP THEM CLEAN OR SOMETHING.

AND BUDDY WAS LIKE, I'M NOT GONNA HAVE IT.

SO HE SAID, I'M GOING TO BROADCAST FROM A RAFT IN THE MIDDLE OF PUFFER'S POND UNTIL WE RAISE ENOUGH MONEY TO OPEN THE BEACHES AGAIN.

SO A LOT OF THE DUMB THINGS THAT I'VE DONE OVER THE YEARS ARE BASED ON THAT KIND OF NOTION, SO LIKE BEING STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF DOWNTOWN NORTH HAMPTON IS A DIRECT ANALOGUE TO BUDDY RUBBISH ON A RAFT.

>> COMING UP, WE'LL HAVE BIRDSONGS TODAY.

>> I DO BIRDSONGS WITH DAN, BECAUSE EVERYBODY LOVES BIRDSONGS.

IT'S SORT OF A -- IT'S A HALLMARK OF MY SHOW NOW WHICH I NEVER THOUGHT WOULD HAPPEN.

BUT IF I MISS A DAY, PEOPLE FREAK OUT!

[LAUGHTER] >> DIFFERENT IS GOOD.

MORNINGS WITH MONTE ON THE WEATHER.

>> THIS IS ANOTHER FACEBOOK THING.

>> IT'S UNIQUE.

IT'S LIVE.

AND I THINK THERE'S MORE DIVERSITY IN THIS AREA THAN YOU'RE GONNA FIND IN THE BIG CITIES.

¶ ¶ >> IT WAS ALLOWED TO KIND OF FLOURISH IN THIS WAY, IN THIS SOIL OF THE PIONEER VALLEY AND BECOME THIS THING THAT'S VERY UNIQUE, LIKE THE PIONEER VALLEY IS UNIQUE N A WAY THAT'S NOT SO PREDETERMINED THAT YOU YOU KNOWU KNOW, YOU CAN FLOW IT WITH, FLOW WITH THE RIVER, AS IT WERE.

¶ ¶ .

>>> ONE OF THE MOST ANTICIPATED CULTURAL EVENTS IN BERKSHIRE COUNTY IS BACK IN PERSON THIS YEAR.

THE FESTIVAL LATINO OF THE BERKSHIRES WILL CELEBRATIES 25TH ANNIVERSARY, SATURDAY, SEARCH 25TH, IN GREAT -- SEPTEMBER 25TH IN GREAT BARRINGTON.

AND WITH ITS RETURN COMES THE FOOD, MUSIC, AND DANCING THE COMMUNITY EAGERLY AWAIT EACH YEAR.

I SPOKE WITH ERIKA WAINWRIGHT VELEZ PUBLIC RELATIONS SOMETHING TO LEARN MORE ABOUT HOW THE FESTIVAL BEGAN AND HOW IT HAS GROWN AND EVOLVED SINCE THE FIRST FESTIVAL IN 1995.

>> SO IT WAS FOUNDED BY ELENA MUNEZ AND HENRY AND THEIR FRIEND.

THEY'RE THE FOUNDERS OF THE FESTIVAL LATINO OF THE BERKSHIRES.

AND IN THE 1980s, THEY WERE LIVING HERE AND GOING TO DIFFERENT EVENTS.

AND AT THE TIME THERE WAS NO, YOU KNOW, LATINO REPRESENTATION IN THE DIFFERENT EVENTS THAT THEY WERE GOING TO.

SO THEY WANTED TO SEE SOME KIND OF LATINO PRESENCE IN THE AREA BUT THERE WAS NONE.

>> SO 1995 THIS FESTIVAL HAS BEGUN.

I'M SURE THAT IT HAS EVOLVED AND GROWN OVER THE YEARS.

TALK TO ME ABOUT THAT CHANGE THAT HAS HAPPENED, THAT WE'VE SEEN.

>> YEAH.

THE FESTIVAL LATINA BEGAN PURELILY AS A CELEBRATION.

THEY WANTED TO HAVE FUN, THEY WANTED AN OPPORTUNITY TO CELEBRATE WITH THE LATINO COMMUNITY IN THE AREA.

THEY WANTED SPACE WHERE THEY COULD SHOW THEIR PRIDE, THEIR CULTURE, FOLKLORE.

BUT WHAT THEY DIDN'T REALIZE IN ITS INCEPTION WAS THAT FESTIVAL LATINO WOULD BECOME AN IMPACTFUL, POWERFUL, AND INFLUENTIAL EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE FOR EVERYONE AS WELL.

>> THIS FESTIVAL HAS CREATED A LEGACY IN THE BERKSHIRES WITH ITS CULTURAL PERFORMANCES, MUSIC, AND OF COURSE, FOOD.

WHAT CAN WE EXPECT DURING THIS MILESTONE CELEBRATION THIS YEAR?

>> WE HAVE SIX DIFFERENT PROFESSIONAL DANCE GROUPS COMING FROM NEW YORK CITY WHO ARE ALL GOING TO PERFORM REPRESENTING THE FOLKLORE OF THE VARIOUS COUNTRIES THAT THEY'RE COMING FROM.

WE HAVE LOCAL PERFORMANCES, WE HAVE LOCAL VENDORS, FOOD VENDORS, WE HAVE ORGANIZATIONS COMING TO DO ACTIVITIES WITH KIDS.

SOCIAL ORGANIZATIONS COMING TO PROMOTE THEIR SERVICES, BOTH FOR THE LATINO AND NONHISPANIC COMMUNITIES IN THE AREA.

ALL AROUND THE CELEBRATION IS A COLLABORATION BETWEEN BOTH LOCAL COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND BUSINESSES, AS WELL AS PERFORMANCES FROM PROFESSIONAL GROUPS.

¶ [SINGING] ¶ ¶ ¶ >> IN THE BERKSHIRE EAGLE, ORGANIZERS OF THE FESTIVAL DESCRIBE THIS EVENT AS ONE OF THE MOST EAGERLY ANTICIPATED CULTURAL EVENTS OF THE YEAR.

IN YOUR OPINION, WHAT DO YOU THINK IT IS ABOUT THIS EVENT THAT MAKES THE COMMUNITY SO EAGER FOR IT TO HAPPEN EACH YEAR?

>> I THINK A BIG PART OF IT IS HOW -- HOW MUCH JOY AND HOW MUCH PRIDE AND HOW MUCH JUST EXCITEMENT THERE IS WITHIN OUR CULTURE THAT WE'RE HERE TO DISPLAY AND TO REPRESENT.

WE COME FROM SO MANY DIFFERENT COUNTRIES WITHIN, YOU KNOW, LATIN AMERICA, THAT THERE'S SO MUCH CULTURE WITHIN EACH OF THOSE COUNTRIES THAT'S REPRESENTED.

IT'S ALSO JUST SO EXCITING TO HAVE SO MANY DIFFERENT CULTURES WITHIN THE OVERALL UMBRELLA OF LATIN AMERICA COMING TO THIS FESTIVAL AND BEING REPRESENTED AND OFFERING NOT ONLY THE NONHISPANIC COMMUNITY TO LEARN AND TO PARTICIPATE IN ALL OF THAT CULTURE BUT ALSO FOR THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY TO REALLY EXPRESS THEIR PRIDE AND ENJOY A LITTLE PIECE OF HOME.

>> YOU SPOKE ABOUT THE EDUCATIONAL ASPECT, WHICH IS REALLY INTERESTING, BECAUSE I ALSO REMEMBER AT THE FESTIVAL THAT THERE WAS A TABLE TO COME SPEAK CONVERSATION AL SPANISH.

IN -- CONVERSATIONAL SPANISH.

IN WHAT OTHER WAYS ARE THERE EDUCATIONAL ELEMENTS FOR PEOPLE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THEIR CULTURE IF THEY ARE HISPANIC LATINO OR OTHERS FROM DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES IN THE REGION?

>> I THINK EVERY PIECE OF THE FESTIVAL LATINO IS EDUCATIONAL IN SOME WAY.

EACH OF THE PROFESSIONAL PERFORMANCES ARE DISPLAYING SOME PIECE OF THEIR OWN FOLKLORE, FROM VIA MEXICO, THE DOM RIP WHERE I'M -- DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, WHERE I'M FROM, COSTA RICA, WHEREVER THE COUNTRIES THAT ARE BEING REPRESENTED.

EACH GROUP IS COMING TO SHOW OFF THEIR OWN FOLKLORE AND TELL THEIR OWN STORIES.

SO THAT IN AND OF ITSELF IS EDUCATIONAL.

LEARNING ABOUT THE DIFFERENT FOODS FROM THE VENDORS.

YOU CAN ALWAYS HAVE A CONVERSATION.

AND LEARN ABOUT THE DIFFERENT FOODS.

THERE ARE ARTISANS, ARTISTS SHOWING OFF THEIR ART.

AND OVERALL, THERE'S JUST A HUGE COMMUNITY OF LATIN-AMERICAN PEOPLE AND HISPANIC PEOPLE THERE.

SO I THINK EVERY LITTLE COMPONENT COMES TOGETHER TO BE AN EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE IN A LOT OF DIFFERENT WAYS.

>> WHAT HAS BEEN THE MOST REWARDING PART FOR YOU BEING A PART OF THIS FESTIVAL?

>> HMM.

THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

SO WHEN I WAS YOUNGER, I REMEMBER DANCING IN THE LEAF FOUNDERS DAY PARADE WITH THE FESTIVAL LATINO.

SO NOW BEING ABLE TO PARTICIPATE AS PART OF THE COMMITTEE ORGANIZING THE FESTIVAL HAS BEEN INCREDIBLY GRATIFYING.

AND I HAVE A LOT OF GRATITUDE FOR THE LATIN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY IN THE AREA AS BEING PART OF MY UPBRINGING AND MY EDUCATION.

AND I HAVE A LOT OF LOVE FOR THEM, SO BEING ABLE TO GIVE SOME OF THAT BACK AND PARTICIPATE IN THE CREATION OF THIS CELEBRATION HAS DEFINITELY BEEN GRATIFYING.

>> WHEN I VISITED THE FESTIVAL BACK IN 2019 FOR "CONNECTING POINT," I SPOKE WITH FOUNDER LILIANA AND I REMEMBER HER TELLING ME IN HER FIRST 10 TO 12 YEARS, LIVING IN BERKSHIRE COUNTY, SHE RARELY SAW ANY FELLOW LATINOS IN THE COMMUNITY.

BUT NOW MUCH OF THAT HAS CHANGED.

SO WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE PEOPLE TO KNOW ABOUT THIS GROWING COMMUNITY IN THE BERKSHIRE COUNTY?

>> I WOULD LOVE PEOPLE TO KNOW ABOUT OUR JOY.

I WOULD LOVE PEOPLE TO KNOW ABOUT OUR TALENT.

I WOULD LOVE PEOPLE TO KNOW ABOUT THE HARD WORKING COMMUNITY ORIENTED NATURE THAT WE HAVE CULTURALLY.

AND I WOULD LOVE PEOPLE TO KNOW THAT WE'RE A VERY LOVING PEOPLE AND -- AND WE WANT TO GET TO KNOW YOU AS MUCH AS YOU WANT TO GET TO KNOW US.

SO I THINK THE FESTIVAL IS A PERFECT OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR COMMUNITIES TO ALL COME TOGETHER TO LEARN ABOUT EACH OTHER, TO CELEBRATE WITH EACH OTHER, AND TO SUPPORT EACH OTHER.

¶ ¶ ¶ ¶ >>> ALL MONTH LONG NEPM AND "CONNECTING POINT" WILL CONTINUE CELEBRATING THE RICH DIVERSITY OF LATINO CULTURE RIGHT HERE IN WESTERN NEW ENGLAND.

THIS SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 26TH AT 6:00 P.M., NEPM88 PRESIDENT 5PM PRESENTS ELPUERTO RICO 3, FEATURING A SELECTION OF CHAMBER.

¦ FROMWORKAN COMPOSERS.

-- CHAMBERS MUSIC FROM POKAN COMPOSER, AND IND OUT MORE STORIES OF CREATIVITY, CULTURE, AND COMMUNITIES THAT MAKE UP THE LATINO EXPERIENCE.

AT NEPM.ORG/CONNECTINGPOINT.

>>> OVER THE YEARS "CONNECTING POINT'S" BRIAN SULLIVAN HAS EXPORED DIFFERENT FACETS OF THE AMERICAN DINING EXPERIENCE.

WHETHER IT'S THE ENDURING LEGACY OF THE ROADSIDE DINER, THE DISAPPEARING FAMILY-OWNED DOUGHNUT SHOP, OR THE MULTI-GENERATIONAL PIZZA PLACE THAT HELPS KEEP THE COMMUNITY TOGETHER, EACH LOW CAL OFFERS UP AN EXPERIENCE THAT'S JUST AS MEMORABLE AS THE FOOD.

BRIAN VISITS A HOT DOG STAND IN NORTH ADAMS THAT WAS THERE LONG BEFORE ANY OF TODAY'S DINERS, DOUGHNUT SHOPS, OR PIZZA PLACES AND SHOWS NO SIGNS OF SLOWING DOWN.

>> EAGLE STREET HAS ONLY ONE WAY IN WITH INTRANS THAT LOOKS LIKE SOMETHING WE -- ENTRANCE THAT LOOKS LIKE SOMETHING WE NIGHT SEE IN A HISTORY BOOK THAT WHAT A MODERN AMERICAN STREET WOULD LOOK LIKE HEADING INTO THE 20TH CENTURY.

THERE'S ONE BUSINESS THAT APPEARS AS THOUGH IT'S BEEN HERE SINCE SHOVELS FIRST HIT THE GROUND.

SINCE 1917, IT'S MANAGED TO OUTLIVE NEARLY EVERY OTHER LOCAL BUSINESS THAT'S POPPED YOU EVER HERE FROM -- POPPED UP HERE FROMWORLD WAR I TO PRESENT DAY.

SO HOW HAS IT SURVIVED OVER A CENTURY'S WORTH OF ECONOMIC DOWNTURNS AND CATASTROPHEES.

THE ANSWER IS QUITE SIMPLE.

>> WE PUT OUR FOOD AS CHEAPLY AND EFFICIENTLY.

IT'S ALWAYS FRESH.

IT'S ENSPINSEEF.

-- INEXPENSIVE.

AND PEOPLE, WE RELY ON REPEAT CUSTOMERS.

IT'S A VERY SIMPLE PROCESS.

>> 12 SEATS, COUPLE GRILLS, FRIDAYERS, LOTS OF DOGS, LOTS OF BURGERS, STEAMED BUNS, AND LOTS OF LOCALS COMING IN.

THAT'S BEEN THE RECIPE FOR SUCCESS HERE.

AND EVEN THOUGH NORTH ADAMS HAS TRENDED MORE ARTSY AND TOURISTY SINCE THE LATE 1990s, JACKS HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE TOWNY SPOT FOR GENERATIONS OF WORKING-CLASS FOLKS, RAISING THEIR FAMILIES HERE, WHETHER WORKING AT THE HOSPITAL, THE BANK, HAGGING SHEETROCK, POUNDING NAILS, OR DOING WHATEVER THEY HAVE TO DO, THIS HAS BEEN THEIR LUNCH COUNTER.

>> THIS IS THE PEOPLE YOU NEED TO TAKE CARE OF.

THIS IS THE PEOPLE WE CATER TO.

IT'S LIKE THE CHERRY ON THE SUNDAE TO HAVE TOURISTS COME IN.

BUT I KNOW JANUARY, FEBRUARY, AND MARCH, YOU NEED YOUR REGULAR CUSTOMERS IN HERE.

AND THOSE REGULAR CUSTOMERS ARE YOUR CONTRACTORS, YOU KNOW, AND EVERYBODY YOU JUST MENTIONED.

>> THAT PHILOSOPHY OF TAKING CARE OF LOCALS WAS PREACHEDDED BY -- PREACHED BY JEFF'S GRANDFATHER, THE FIRST GENERATION OF THIS GREEK FAMILY ENTERPRISES.

NOW IN ITS FOURTH GENERATION WITH JEFF SON'S JOE IN THE MIX MANNING THE GRILL.

APPARENTLY THE PHILOSOPHY WORKS BECAUSE THERE ARE STILL CUSTOMERS COMING IN WHO HAVE BEEN HERE FOR ALL FOUR GENERATIONS.

>> I'VE BEEN COMING HERE FOR 74 YEARS!

CAN YOU IMAGINE THAT?

I SAT IN THERE, I SAT THERE AND MY MOTHER SAD NEXT TO ME.

-- SAT NEXT TO ME.

74 YEARS.

>> AND IT'S NOT JUST FOR THE TOWNIES.

IF MEMORY SERVES, THEY USE TO LET COLLEGE CREEPS LIKE ME IN HERE, TOO.

BACK WHEN I WAS COLLEGE NONE OF US HAD CARS, SO WE ALMOST NEVER VENTURED OUT OUR ONE-BLOCK RADIUS OF CAMPUS.

BUT ON THE RARE OCCASIONS WHEN WE HAD AN EXTRA COUPLE OF BUCKS, WE WOULD COME DOWN HERE TO JACK'S.

TURNS OUT THAT THE COUPLE OF BUCKS I HAD BACK IN 1995 COULD STILL SERVE ME WELL NOW, ALL THESE YEARS LATER.

IN THAT CASE, I'LL HAVE A CHILI BEEZ BURGER.

-- CHEESEBURGER.

FOR A PLACE THAT DOES VR ADVERTISING AND ASIDE -- ZERO ADVERTISING AND ASIDE FROM THE HOT DOG OUT FRONT, NO MARKETING, EITHER.

HOW IS IT POSSIBLE TO STAY AFLOAT WITH PRICE THAT DON'T REFLECT THE CURRENT DAY AND AGE?

>> OPENING THE PROPERTY I'M IN, I DON'T HAVE A MORTGAGE.

I CAN KEEP ME PRICE DOWN.

-- MY PRICES DOWN.

MY GRANDFATHER SAID IF YOU OWN THE PROPERTY YOU'RE IN, YOU DON'T HAVE TO PAY RENT.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO PAY MORTGAGE.

YOU CAN KEEP YOUR PRICES DOWN.

HE WAS ADAMANT ON KEEPING THE PRICES DOWN AS LOW AS YOU CAN.

MAKE YOUR PROFIT, YOU KNOW.

MAKE YOUR -- AND HE ALWAYS TOLD ME, YOU'RE NEVER GONNA GET RICH OWN JACK'S BUT IF YOU TAKE CARE OF IT, IT WILL TAKE CARE OF YOU.

¶ ¶ ¶ ¶ >>> JUST LIKE HOT DOGS, CROSS COUNTRY ROAD TRIPS ARE AN ICONIC PART OF THE AMERICAN EXPERIENCE.

AUTHOR BILL HARRY'S LATEST NOVEL WEAVES A FICTIONAL TALE ABOUT A YOUNG GIRL, HER ON-THE-SPECTRUM BROTHER, AND THEIR MONUMENTAL CROSS COUNTRY JOURNEY AFTER THE DEATH OF THEIR MOTHER N. A DIGITAL EXCLUSIVE, HARLEY READS AN EXCEPT FROM THE NOVEL, "NOW YOU SAY QUESTIONS -- SAY YES," WHERE MARI CONTEMPLATES HER FUTURE WHILE WATCHING A SOLAR ECLIPSE DURING HER JOURNEY ACROSS THE U.S. >> WHAT SHE SEES AROUND HER IS WHAT IS ASTONG SHIN.

SHE -- ASTONISHING.

SHE SEES THEIR PUDGY KNEES AND THEIR WHEELCHAIRS AND THEIR SKINNINESS AND GRASPING AND THEIR WANTING AND THEIR DESPERATION TO FIT IN.

>> YOU CAN FIND THIS INTERVIEW AS WELL AS EXTRA FEATURES, DIGITAL-ONLY CONTENT, AND SO MUCH MORE ONLINE RIGHT NOW AT NEPM.ORG/CONNECTINGPOINTCH.

>>> WESTERN NEW ENGLAND IS HOME TO SEVERAL VIBRANT MUSIC SCENES AND ONE LOCAL NONPROFIT'S MISSION AND TO SUPPORT AND HELP ADVANCE THE CAREERS OF THE AREA'S TALENTED MUSICIANS.

THE NEW MUSIC ALLIANCE IS DEDICATED TO SHOWCASING CREATIVE LOCAL MUSICIANS WHITE ORIGINAL MUSIC AS WELL AS PROMOTING OUR REGION AS DESTINATION FOR ORIGINAL MUSIC WRITING, PRODUCTION, AND PERFORMANCES.

I SPOKE WITH EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR MARK SHERRY, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR MAR RAMONE, AND BOARD MEMBER MIRAM SIROTA TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION, ITS EVENTS, AND INITIATIVES.

>> THE LOCAL MUSIC SCENE IS JUST SO INCREDIBLY RICH IN THIS REGION.

AND IT'S NOT NECESSARILY WELL KNOWN ANYWHERE OUT IN THE AREA.

AND MUSICIANS TRADITIONALLY GET ATTENTION MUCH MORE SO IF THEY'RE SOMEWHERE AROUND EITHER A MAJOR CITY OR A MUSIC HUB LIKE, YOU KNOW, NASHVILLE OR AUSTIN OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

AND AROUND HERE, IT'S MUCH MORE DIFFICULT FOR REALLY GOOD ARTISTS TO GET KIND OF ATTENTION THAT THEY DESERVE.

THERE'S AN AMAZING AMOUNT OF MUSIC HERE AND A LOT OF PEOPLE DO GO TO NEW YORK CITY EVENTUALLY BUT A LOT OF PEOPLE STAY AND COME BACK HERE AND I JUST FELT LIKE WE NEEDED TO DO SOMETHING TO GIVEN THEM THE KIND OF ATTENTION AND ALSO FOSTER YOUNG MUSICIANS AND TRY AND HELP THEM ASSIST THEIR CAREERS AND HELP THEM ADVANCE THEIR CAREERS.

>> YOU RECENTLY LAUNCHED THE ESSENTIAL WESTERN NEW ENGLAND SONG BOOK THAT CONTAINS 151 SONGS WRITTEN BY ARTISTS FROM THIS REGION.

TALK TO ME ABOUT WHY THIS WAS AN IMPORTANT PROJECT AND WHAT MAKES THIS SONG BOOK SO ESSENTIAL.

>> I FEEL LIKE THAT WITH THE SONG BOOK, WHAT WE CAN DO IS SO WHAT'S THE BEST STUFF THAT PEOPLE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO AND SHOW THAT IT'S AS GOOD AS ANYTHING THAT THEY COULD HEAR ON THE RADIO.

IN FACT, IT'S A LOT -- A LOT OF IT YOU DO HEAR ON THE HEYED RADIO.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT THAT AND YOU SEE THE BREADTH AND THE QUALITY THAT'S THERE, AND YOU SAY I CAN GO OUT AND LISTEN TO SOME OF THESE PEOPLE ON THE WEEKEND.

>> AND LET'S TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE BREADTH.

RANGE THAT IS INCLUDED IN THIS ESSENTIAL SONG BOOK, BECAUSE I'M SURE THERE ARE NEEDS THAN SURPRISE PEOPLE THAT ARE INCLUDED FROM THIS AREA THAT THEY LISTEN TO ALL THE TIME.

SO WHAT CAN PEOPLE EXPECT ARE -- FROM THE SONG BOOK?

>> IT GOES BACK TO THE 1950s.

THERE ARE PEOPLE IN IT LIKE THE FIVE SATINS AND GENE PITNEY, WHO ARE JUST ICONS FROM BACK THEN AND PRODUCED SOME GREAT STUFF.

>> BILL FLAG.

>> BILL FLAG AS WELL.

HE'S THE INVENTOR OF ROCKABILLY.

AND THEN YOU GO TO PEOPLE WHO ARE AROUND US RIGHT NOW, TASH MA HAUL FROM -- TAJ MAHAL FROM SPRINGFIELD, ARLO GUTHRIE.

LIKE STAINED FROM SPRINGFIELD WHICH WAS A MEGA SELLING BAND.

AVERY SHARP, A LEGEND IN THE JAZZ WORLD.

WE COULD GO ON.

[LAUGHTER] >> BUT THERE ARE ALSO -- WHAT I REALLY ENJOY ABOUT IT, TOO, IS THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF YOUNG BANDS COMING OUT OF HERE.

I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE IF I CAN.

WHEWEDA THUNK IT.

THEY'RE A WOMEN'S BAND.

THEY'RE VERY YOUNG.

THEY'RE VERY ORIGINAL.

THERE'S LIKE NOTHING DERIVATIVE ABOUT WHAT THEY DO.

YES, IT'S FUNK MUSIC BUT THEY -- THEY ARE IN THE SONG BOOK.

>> NOW, THERE ARE SEVERAL WAYS THAT YOU WORK WITH LOCAL ARTISTS, INCLUDING OFFERING WORKSHOPS THAT ARE AVAILABLE ON YOUR WEBSITE, AS WELL AS HAVING THE NEW MUSIC ALLIANCE RADIO HOUR.

THAT THE THREE OF YOU ARE DJs FOR.

AND IT AIRS ON SEVERAL LOCAL STATIONS.

NOW TWO YEARS INTO THIS SHOW, WHAT HAVE YOU ENJOYED MOST ABOUT IT AND HAS THERE BEEN ANYTHING THAT HAS SURPRISED YOU ABOUT DOING THIS RADIO SHOW?

>> I JUST THINK THAT IT'S GREAT THAT THERE ARE ALTERNATIVES TO A LARGE COMPANIES AND NATIONWIDE COMMERCIALS ARE FEEDING US.

WE CAN LISTEN TO LOCAL TALENT.

SEE BANDS AT LOCAL VENUES AND LISTEN TO SONGS THAT WERE PRODUCED BY LOCAL RECORDING STUDIOS.

I THINK IT'S AN ALTERNATIVE THAT PEOPLE WILL FIND VERY, YOU KNOW, PLEASING AND SOMETHING DIFFERENT IF THEY JUST GO OUT AND MAKE AN EFFORT TO TRY SOMETHING DIFFERENT.

>> IT'S A LOT OF FUN.

THE WAY IT'S DONE IS THAT EVERY WEEK, SOMEBODY PUTS TOGETHER THE PLAY LIST.

AND THEN YOU HAVE ONE OF THE OTHER DJs HAS A GUEST AND USUALLY VIEO LET -- VIOLET, WHO'S FANTASTIC AND DOES HER EDITING.

SO PUTTING TOGETHER THE LIST ITSELF IS SO MUCH FUN.

I TEND TO, YOU KNOW, GO FOR THEMES.

EVERYBODY HAS THEIR OWN THING.

WE ALL -- AND IT'S -- IT'S WONDERFUL TO SEE PEOPLE' THEIR POINT OF VIEW, WHAT DRAWS THEM TO CERTAIN ARTISTS.

LIKE I KNOW, YOU KNOW, WORK WITH THIS PERSON.

THEY MIGHT BRING IN SOME CLASSICAL OR JAZZ MUSIC THAT WE'VE NEVER HEARD BEFORE.

>> THE MUSIC THAT WE BRING IN, WE HAVE A HUGE CHOICE OF.

SO WHAT WE BRING IN IS ALL REALLY EXCELLENT QUALITY MUSIC!

YOU KNOW, WHEN I FIRST STARTED IN THIS, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT AMAZED ME IS THAT I THOUGHT EVENTUALLY WE WERE GOING TO RUN OUT OF REALLY GOOD SONGS.

[LAUGHTER] >> FROM ARTISTS FROM THIS AREA.

>> THEY KEEP POPPING UP.

>> I'M VERY, VERY COMMITTED TO ONLY, YOU KNOW, SHOWING REALLY WHAT THE BEST OF MUSIC CAN BE.

SO PEOPLE CAN SAY, WOW, YOU KNOW, I WANT TO SUPPORT THIS.

SO WE HAVEN'T EVEN COME CLOSE TO WRITING OUT OF ALL THIS STUFF THAT PEOPLE ARE PRODUCING AND HAVE PRODUCED FROM THIS AREA NAS REALLY GREAT STUFF -- THAT IS REALLY GREAT STUFF.

>> I WANTED TO TOUCH ON, BECAUSE MIRIAM AND MARK SHERRY, YOU'RE FROM NEW YORK BUT HAVE RELOW CAKED.

MARK -- RELOCATED TO THIS AREA.

MARK, YOU'VE ALWAYS BEEN HERE.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE THING ABOUT MUSIC AND ARTIST THAT HAS COME OUT OF THIS REGION, SPECIFICALLY?

>> THERE'S A LOT OF COLLEGES IN WESTERN NEW ENGLAND.

AND THAT'S USUALLY A GREAT HUB FOR LISTENING TO NEW, YOUNG, LOCAL TALENT.

>> THERE IS A VERY COLLABORATIVE, YOU KNOW, SPIRIT OF CREATING MUSIC HERE.

AND I THINK THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT.

AND ONE THING I WANT TO JUST REITERATE IS THAT JUST REMEMBER, EVERYTHING THAT WE PLAY IS ORIGINAL MUSIC BY LOCAL ARTISTS.

YOU KNOW, SO IT'S ALL ORIGINAL MUSIC BY LOCAL ARTISTS.

>> NOW, FOR ANY LOCAL ARTIST OUT THERE, HOW DO YOU ENCOURAGE THEM TO BE A PART OF THE NEW NUKE A -- NEW MUSIC ALLIANCE?

>> YOU'LL BE ABLE TO GET A HOLD OF US ON NEWMUSICALLIANCE.COM.

JUST GO TO OUR WEBSITE.

¶ ¶ .

>>> THAT DOES IT FOR "CONNECTING POINT" FOR SEPTEMBER 124th, 2021.

YOU CAN ALWAYS FIND STORIES YOU SAW TONIGHT AS WELL AS EXCLUSIVE FEATURES, DIGITAL-ONLY CONTENT, AND MORE ONLINE ANYTIME AT NEPM.ORG/CONNECTINGPOINT.

AND PLEASE BE SURE TO JOIN US AGAIN NEXT FRIDAY NIGHT AT 6:00 RIGHT HERE ON NEW ENGLAND PUBLIC MEDIA FOR MORE STORIES OF THE CREATIVITY, CULTURE, AND COMMUNITY THAT MAKE US WESTERN NEW ENGLAND.

I'M ZYDALIS BAUER.

THANKS FOR WATCHING AND HAVE A GREAT EVENING.

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