Peabody Award winning radio host/producer @WXPNfm; retro DJ; life-long fan of all things Philly! Winner @PhillyMag Best DJ 🌟@PhillyAList Best Radio Personality
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Articles by Robert Drake
Inside the visual world of Making Time ∞ with Klip Collective
Four projectors are pointed at a giant parabola at Making Time ∞, the annual Philadelphia festival that takes over Fort Mifflin each September. It is, in Ricardo Morales’ words, “projection mapping in its most fucked up form.” Morales founded Klip Collective, the Philadelphia-based visual production company behind much of the Making Time event’s projection and lighting.
Local emerging artists release their Philly Anthems
Local emerging artists release their Philly Anthems All summer, we featured established local artists’ commissioned songs as part of our Philly Anthems project. We asked Eric Bazilian, Lady Alma, Devon Gilfillian, Eliza Hardy Jones, and Christian McBride to compose original songs stemming from their perspectives on freedom, identity, belonging, and hope. All five of those tracks are out now. And we’re here to share Philly Anthems from eight emerging local artists who we assigned the same task.
Robert Drake’s Philly Phlashback: Zombie Prom at the Troc
First of all, welcome. It’s widely known that I have an insane amount of love for my hometown, Philadelphia. Born in Kensington, raised in various parts of the Great Northeast and finally landing in Center City in the fall of 1980 (once I graduated from George Washington High!), I have spent decades exploring the city’s underbelly, both figuratively and literally. My first job while a senior in high school was working in the newly opened Gallery at Market East.
Live Aid Conversations
Live Aid at JFK Stadium in Philadelphia | photo via Wikimedia Commons Music News Commemorating the 40th Anniversary of Live Aid, here are chats with those who were on the ground at JFK Stadium. To commemorate the 40th anniversary of the legendary Live Aid benefit concert — which took place in part at Philadelphia’s JFK Stadium on July 13, 1985 — WXPN presents a series of deep dives into the historic event, beginning with a short documentary feature by WXPN Morning Show news anchor Bob Bumbera.
Dr McMillen retires after 42 years
Forty-two years ago, Dr. Marilyn McMillen completed her Anatomic and Clinical Pathology residency at the University of Kentucky College of Medicine. The Jessamine County native had also obtained her medical degree from the University of Kentucky College of Medicine, studying under Dr. Abner Golden and Dr. Debbie Powell in the Pathology Department. She joined Dr. Carl Strand at Lake Cumberland Regional Hospital to begin her 42-year career on September 20, 1982.
Scout anniversary gave us time to reflect
The 100th Anniversary Celebration gave many of us a chance to reflect on how Scouting has impacted our lives. My parents, church, school teachers and my Scout leaders had the greatest impact on my life. From the time I joined Pack 184 of Hopkins School and Jean McCormick was my Den mother to joining our wonderful scout troop began a “career” of over sixty years in the BSA. Larry Nunemaker and M.N. (Nic) Berry were my Sunday school teachers at First Christian Church.
Troop 79 Centennial Celebration was a remarkable event
BSA Troop 79 of the Blue Grass Council, sponsored by the First Christian Church of Somerset, celebrated its 100th consecutive year of service to the community on Sunday, March 17 in the sanctuary of the First Christian Church. Over three hundred family, friends and supporters were there to celebrate. The Council Key Three of President Dr William Greisner, Commissioner Bill Beach and Council Executive James Chip Armishaw from Lexington attended.
Campfire Mentor: Scoutmaster Larry Nunemaker was a outstanding Scouter
Larry Nunemaker was a part owner in the Maytag store, but he was far from “The Loneliest Man in Town”. Nunemaker, M. N Berry, and Jack Goldenberg took over Troop 79 with the death of Ches Kaiser in 1957. Scouts would go to the Maytag store on Market street to pass scouting requirements, learn to tie their knots and “”talk scouting ... All three men had military training and expected their scouts to dress in complete scout uniform at their meetings and events, including dress shoes.
The XPN Files: Episode 1 - WXPN Music Festivals
In this episode of The XPN Files, we present a short history of the WXPN Music Festivals and travel back some thirty years when the WXPN Singer-Songwriter Weekend was born along the Delaware River at Penn’s Landing. With the rise of social media, finding photos and documentation of recent XPoNential Music Festivals is far easier. Here’s a brief slideshow from those first few years of the WXPN Singer/Songwriter Weekends.
IT'S YOUR HEALTH: Functional Gastrointestinal Disease can be worsened by stress
Belching is one of the functional gastrointestinal conditions and is often worsened by psychological distress.. Belching is the expulsion of gas from the stomach. It may or may not coexist with bloating and distention. Belching occurs because of an excess of swallowed air. Belching prevents gas accumulation and distention. Typically it occurs 25-30 times a day. It is usually not perceived and is rarely excessive or troublesome.
Heat Related Illnesses can be dangerous
Heat related illnesses can vary in severity and may be life-threatening. You may be in the garden or mowing during the hottest time of the day, watching or playing in a regional baseball tourney or just working outdoors and being exposed. Certain medical conditions, environmental factors medication use and inadequate acclimation may put you at risk.
WXPN's Robert Drake chats w/ authors Matthew Riemer & Leighton Brown - We Are Everywhere
Robert Drake of WXPN-FM in Philadelphia chats about the new book "We Are Everywhere - Protest, Power and Pride in the History of Queer Liberation" by Matthew Riemer & Leighton Brown - published by Ten Speed Press
The Night Before The Night Before Christmas / WXPN-FM Philadelphia PA
The story of one man's quest to create a new holiday standard to celebrate the joy of Christmas. Originally broadcast on WXPN-FM in Philadelphia - December 24, 2018 - with host Robert Drake
Announcing The 26th Annual #XPNNightBefore
Robert Drake gets ready for #XPNNightBefore | photo by John Vettese for WXPN Twenty-six years ago, WXPN was in need of a body – any body – to work Christmas Eve. It was that pre-digital era when specialty shows were broadcast from reel-to-reel tape, which meant someone had to thread the shows into the machines and hit play/stop at the right cues.
The Doctor Is In…
After several weeks of behind-the-scenes planning, we are beyond excited to announce that our special VIP guests for KindieComm 2018 are the one and only Dr. Demento and Osaka Popstar frontman John Cafiero, producer of the new compilation Dr. Demento Covered in Punk! Before there was kindie – kids (and adults) found their musical joy in the quirky sounds of novelty music … a genre that all-but-disappeared in the 1970s, or so we thought… if not for one man, Barry Hansen.
Robert Drake returns for the 25th Annual #XPNNightBefore - and the second Holiday Card-Tastrophe!
A quarter century ago, WXPN was in need of a body – any body – to work Christmas Eve. It was that pre-digital era when specialty shows were broadcast from reel-to-reel tape, which meant someone had to thread the shows into the machines and hit play/stop at the right cues. With no real plans in place, I volunteered to work – as long as the station would allow me an hour or two to play songs from my personal collection of holiday music.
It's Official: Mayor Jim Kenney has declared it Philly Loves David Bowie Week
This fall and winter, I’ve been busy organizing and coordinating a week-long celebration around David Bowie, both the man and the music … As it stands we have over a dozen events beginning tomorrow and ending next Saturday, January 14. You can learn more about #PhillyBowieWeek at our website, PhillyLovesBowie.com.
DJ Robert Drake • Hey, Robert Drake! Just dropping by to thank you...
Anonymous asked: Hey, Robert Drake! Just dropping by to thank you for Jingle Jams! I turned my husband on to it last year, and he's once again tuning in almost nightly on our HD radio. We love the eclectic mix of fantastic tunes, and the many genres and styles. Thanks again! - Jean Dolan thank YOU for enjoying it … I really love programming the channel and glad to hear it’s worthwhile! Happy Holidays!
Announcing The 24th Annual #XPNNightBefore
Twenty-four years ago, WXPN was in need of a body – any body – to work Christmas Eve. It was that pre-digital era when specialty shows were broadcast from reel-to-reel tape, which meant someone had to thread the shows into the machines and hit play/stop at the right cues. With no real plans in place, I volunteered to work – as long as the station would allow me an hour or two to play songs from my personal collection of holiday music.
Essay: Don't trick yourself into thinking Gayborhood racism is new
Like many, I've been watching the recent protests in the Gayborhood, following the release of a candid video, in which a principal owner of the club iCandy used the n-word — again and again — in describing some of his customers. This video came on the heels of reports that both iCandy and Woody's were using unofficial dress codes to discourage people of color (POC) from entering — like "No Timberlands" and "No sweat suits," etc. Watching this all go down brought on a strong case of déjà vu for me.
#TBTXPN: DJ Robert Drake's 10 best New Wave videos
It almost goes without saying that without video there would be no music – – at least in regards to new wave music. It took a perfect storm to create the new wave genre; frustration over the arena-rock icons of the 70s and the more-established industry artists of the day, mixed with the introduction of technology that gave the world the Casio (et al) and cable television (hello MTV) – toss in an young, artsy generation to embrace all of this and create … a culture club.
DJ Robert Drake • Sex Dwarf
Celebrate the land of skinny ties, bouncy lyrics, and free will - no prepackaged pop here! Just pure authentic non-stop new wave dance trax in a kick-ass dance club! Now in our THIRTEENTH YEAR, Sex Dwarf has become Philly’s Premier Nonstop New Wave Dance Party! In fact the Philadelphia City Paper named Sex Dwarf as the Best DJ Night to Get New Wave Nostalgic At! Maybe only a handful of you remember Old City’s Club Revival during the late ’80s/early ’90s.
Get ready to melt with Modern English at Johnny Brenda's
These days much of America might associate Modern English with Hershey’s Chocolate thanks to their successful ad campaign last year. But for those of us who know better, Modern English formed in ’79 and, as many bands did, had the opportunity to showcase their talents to England via a Peel Session on BBC Radio 1 recorded right before their debut LP dropped in 1981, which showcased a guitar-driven sound. Their second LP After The Snow is when things gelled and Modern English found their note.
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