The Connection
Encyclopedia
The Connection was a public radio call-in program from WBUR
that ran from 1994 to 2005. Originally hosted by Christopher Lydon
(1994–2001), and (after a series of short-term fill-in hosts) followed by Canadian Dick Gordon (2001–2005), it was syndicated to as many as 66 public radio
stations in the United States
.
In March 2001, Lydon was dismissed after negotiations for renewal of his contract broke down. Lydon subsequently hosted the PRI
radio show Open Source until 2007.
Dick Gordon became the show's host just after the September 11, 2001 attacks
. He eventually took the program to Baghdad for 10 days in April 2003.
The Connection was abruptly canceled after the August 5, 2005 broadcast, and Gordon laid off. Gordon says that the circumstances surrounding his termination were not explained well, though it is believed that WBUR was presumably not able to continue carrying the show.
WBUR filled The Connection' s 10 a.m. to noon timeslot with On Point
, a similar program previously aired in the 7-9 p.m. timeslot. Gordon now hosts The Story with Dick Gordon
at North Carolina Public Radio
.
The Connection's theme song was the jazz tune "Cantaloupe Island
" by Herbie Hancock
.
WBUR
WBUR refers to two radio stations in Massachusetts, WBUR AM and FM, both owned by Boston University. WBUR is the largest of three NPR member stations in Boston, Massachusetts, along with WGBH and WUMB-FM, and the only one to focus exclusively on news and talk...
that ran from 1994 to 2005. Originally hosted by Christopher Lydon
Christopher Lydon
Christopher Lydon is an American media personality and author. He is best known for being the original host of The Connection, produced by WBUR and syndicated to other NPR stations.-Background:...
(1994–2001), and (after a series of short-term fill-in hosts) followed by Canadian Dick Gordon (2001–2005), it was syndicated to as many as 66 public radio
Public broadcasting
Public broadcasting includes radio, television and other electronic media outlets whose primary mission is public service. Public broadcasters receive funding from diverse sources including license fees, individual contributions, public financing and commercial financing.Public broadcasting may be...
stations in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
In March 2001, Lydon was dismissed after negotiations for renewal of his contract broke down. Lydon subsequently hosted the PRI
Public Radio International
Public Radio International is a Minneapolis-based American public radio organization, with locations in Boston, New York, London and Beijing. PRI's tagline is "Hear a different voice." PRI is a major public media content creator and also distributes programs from many sources...
radio show Open Source until 2007.
Dick Gordon became the show's host just after the September 11, 2001 attacks
September 11, 2001 attacks
The September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks (also referred to as September 11, September 11th or 9/119/11 is pronounced "nine eleven". The slash is not part of the pronunciation...
. He eventually took the program to Baghdad for 10 days in April 2003.
The Connection was abruptly canceled after the August 5, 2005 broadcast, and Gordon laid off. Gordon says that the circumstances surrounding his termination were not explained well, though it is believed that WBUR was presumably not able to continue carrying the show.
WBUR filled The Connection
On Point
On Point is a two-hour call-in radio show hosted by Tom Ashbrook, a former The Boston Globe foreign editor and reporter, author and Internet entrepreneur. It is produced by WBUR in Boston and syndicated by National Public Radio...
, a similar program previously aired in the 7-9 p.m. timeslot. Gordon now hosts The Story with Dick Gordon
The Story with Dick Gordon
The Story with Dick Gordon is a weekday interview program hosted by Dick Gordon, former host of WBUR's The Connection and, before that, fill-in host for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation's national radio program This Morning...
at North Carolina Public Radio
North Carolina Public Radio
North Carolina Public Radio is a public radio network based in Chapel Hill, North Carolina and operated by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. It broadcasts NPR, American Public Media, Public Radio International, and BBC programming in an "all-news-and-information" format...
.
The Connection
Cantaloupe Island
Cantaloupe Island is a jazz standard composed by Herbie Hancock and recorded on his 1964 album Empyrean Isles. during his early years as one of the members of Miles Davis '60s quintet. It is one of the very first examples of a modal jazz composition set to a funky beat...
" by Herbie Hancock
Herbie Hancock
Herbert Jeffrey "Herbie" Hancock is an American pianist, bandleader and composer. As part of Miles Davis's "second great quintet," Hancock helped to redefine the role of a jazz rhythm section and was one of the primary architects of the "post-bop" sound...
.
External links
- The Connection website, with streamable show archives from 2000 to 2005