Morning Becomes Eclectic 30th Anniversary

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Morning Becomes Eclectic, the weekday music program on KCRW, operates on the principle described by Chris Douridas, the second of the show’s three hosts over the last three decades. “The show lives and breathes based on what’s being released across the world. My philosophy is, if you love it, play it. If you play something you love, chances are other people will love it, too."

Morning Becomes Eclectic stood apart as a new kind of music program from the day it was launched, breaking down the traditional barriers between pop, jazz, rock and classical. Originally hosted by world music and jazz guru Tom Schnabel, then Douridas, MBE has become increasingly influential under the helm of current host Nic Harcourt, who relentlessly exposes new talent to the show’s dedicated audience. 

Each host forged a singular and groundbreaking path in the world of music and their legacies were celebrated with special programming on the 30-year anniversary of the show on  Labor Day, Monday September 3, on KCRW 89.9 FM/Santa Monica and KCRW.com.  

All three hosts produced three-hour specials of live performances and choice master recordings that define their musical journey. The all-day special was broadcast live on air and streamed live on KCRW.com from 9am to 6 pm, repeated 6pm to 3am. The hosts featured the artists whose lives they changed and the artists whose music changed them including; David Bowie, Little Richard, Willie Nelson, Dido, Burt Bacharach, Fela Kuti, Gillian Welch, and the Flaming Lips.

Live performances started with a vengeance on Morning Becomes Eclectic during Douridas’ tenure in the ‘90s, due in part to newly upgraded studio facilities. Daniel Lanois once told Douridas that there was something special about KCRW’s performance space; since then hundreds of artists have come through and played special sets for our dedicated audience.
 
A featured live performance during Douridas’ three hours will be Ry Cooder and Ali Farka Toure, the first meeting of the musical minds that would create the Grammy winning Talking Timbuktu, which was recorded less than a week later.
 
Morning Becomes Eclectic is more than just a radio show and its cultural significance is recognized worldwide.

For further reading:

8/30/07: Tower of Song (Ventura County Reporter)
8/28/07: KCRW Celebrates 30 Years of Eclecticism (latimes.com)
8/27/07: Morning Becomes Eclectic Turns 30! (jambase.com)
8/22/07: Morning Becomes Eclectic Turns 30 (mydesert.com)
8/2/07: KCRW's Morning Becomes Eclectic celebrates its 30th anniversary (Campus Circle)

Listen to a promo by Boombip in celebration of 30 Years of MBE
 
Thanks to boom bip for creation of this promo

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