Terrance McKnight
Terrance McKnight is the WQXR weekday evening host. He also hosts the Saturday evening program, All Ears with Terrance McKnight, a show about musical discovery, which was honored with an ASCAP Deems Taylor Radio Broadcast Award in 2010.
McKnight’s musical experiences – from glee club soloist and accomplished pianist, to professor at Morehouse College, and finally as producer and host of several music programs for public radio – have consistently juxtaposed the European Classical tradition alongside American classic traditions – jazz, gospel, African American spirituals and other musical genres.
McKnight was first heard in New York in 2008 when he joined the staff of WNYC. He moved to WQXR in October 2009. Previously he worked at Georgia Public Broadcasting, where he was creator, producer and host of Studio GPB, a program that introduced a wide array of musical artists through interviews, live studios sessions and commercial recordings.
Wednesday is the 110th birthday of Harlem Renaissance author and social activist Langston Hughes. Celebrated around the world for his emotionally charged yet economic use of language, one of the lesser-known aspects of Hughes' legacy is that of lyricist. In a collaboration with the African-American classical composer William Grant Still - and grandfather of The Takeaway's own Celeste Headlee - Hughes created an opera based on the life of Haitian revolution leader Jean-Jacques Dessalines titled "Troubled Island."
This week has been a time of reflection on the loss, perseverance, and humanity displayed on September 11, 2001. It's also been a time for remembrance of 9/11. We asked our listeners to send us suggestions for songs that helped them cope with and process the events of that day. Here are some of their suggestions.
The Detroit Symphony Orchestra is one of the nation's top orchestras. It has been facing financial problems in recent years, with corporate contributions and ticket sales down and an operating deficit that could reach $5 million this year. Now they are negotiating with the orchestra's musicians over a new contract.
Nominations for theater's Tony awards have been announced, and three productions have taken the majority of the nominations. The revival of August Wilson’s “Fences” received 10 nominations, the musical version of the classic drag comedy “La Cage aux Folles” snapped up 11: the same number as “Fela!” It's a depiction of the life of Nigerian composer and political activist Fela Kuti.
Frederic Chopin always claimed that March 1st was his birthday, despite church records saying he was born on February 22. Chopin would have been 200 this year, and it seems churlish to argue with a 200-year-old, so in honor of his special day we look back on what made him great, and why we still love his music.
Terrance McKnight, host of Evening Music on WNYC, explores the musical legacy of Mary Travers. Mary is best known for her work with the legendary folk trio Peter, Paul and Mary. She died of leukemia yesterday at the age of 72.
Here's Mary singing with Peter and Paul on the folk classic, "Blowin' in the Wind":
You know, the only group ... that I can think of in recent memory that had as much earnestness about social justice and politics as Peter, Paul and Mary, was Fugazi. A punk band from Washington D.C., known to a lot of people in an underground way, and they're not even playing any more... I don't know that there's a band around today that uses music in an earnest way, as Peter, Paul and Mary did.
--Todd Zwillich
Miles Davis’s seminal jazz album, “Kind of Blue
Joining The Takeaway to talk about the impact this album has had is WNYC’s Evening Music Host Terrance McKnight.
Mozart: The Complete Collection just got a little bit bigger. Two new pieces of music have now been identified as compositions of the young Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, written when he was seven or eight years old. These two pieces of musical history have been in possession of the International Mozarteum Foundation since 1864. Its Research Department Director, Dr. Ulrich Leisinger, who is responsible for identifying these two pieces, joins us from Salzburg, Austria. Also joining us is Terrance McKnight, host of WNYC’s Evening Music.
After the news of Michael Jackson’s death, his fans went out into the streets and to the places that he was associated with in their cities. Togther, they shared memories, listened to Jackson's music—and sang along.
In New York, people gravitated to the Apollo Theatre in Harlem, where Jackson had his first big break. And in Detroit, people found themselves standing on the steps of the Motown Historical Museum.
Joining us are two people who joined the vigils. Terrance McKnight, WNYC’s Music Host, went out to the Apollo, while Amanda Le Claire , a producer at WDET in Detroit, headed towards Motown.
Click through for the full transcript
"What people will remember are these tunes. People will be able to separate the man, or his lifestyle, from the music."
— WNYC music host Terrance McKnight on Michael Jackson
For some people, the best thing about Thanksgiving dinner is the leftovers. But it isn’t just turkey and potatoes that qualify as leftovers. When it comes to music, methodical composers have for centuries written leftover songs. Sometimes the composer doesn’t like the tune and sometimes the audience doesn’t. For some insight into musical leftovers the Takeaway talks to Terrance McKnight, host of WNYC’s Evening Music.
Today's Takeaway: What the Mortgage Settlement Means
Comedian Baratunde Thurston on 'How to Be Black'
Today's Takeaway: Focus on Violence Syria
In-Depth Look at the Situation in Syria
Today's Takeaway: Big Night for Rick Santorum
Some Combat Restrictions for Women Lifted
'Tebow Bill' May Allow Home-Schoolers to Play on High School Teams
Newly-Discovered Recordings Shed Light on a Young Malcolm X
Today's Takeaway: Multi-Billion Dollar Foreclosure Settlement Imminent
Is Our Constitution Out of Date?
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