I would like to take a moment to commemorate National Radio Month (El Mes Nacional de la Radio) in Puerto Rico. This is not to be confused with similar commemorative events concerning radio, like World Radio Day on February 13th (sponsored by UNESCO) and National Radio Day on August 20th. From its introduction on the island nearly a century ago, this form of audio technology has provided audiences in Puerto Rico with access to a plethora of genres: from live broadcasts of música jíbara (Puerto Rican folk music), to radio dramas and comedies, to news and international broadcasts. I have talked extensively about the hisotrical, social, and economic impacts of radio on the island from the 1920s to 40s in The Jíbaro and the Gaucho United in Music and Song[1], both in terms of the technology and the foundation of radio stations like WKAQ in 1922. That radio station is currently still in operation (albeit under ownership by Univision Radio) as a Spanish language talk radio station. National Radio Month also functions as a time to both honor and appreciate radio broadcasters. That aspect presents a personal connection for me. because my grandfather was a Political Science professor who had a radio program in the 1960s on WEUC (Emisora Universidad Católica). That station has since changed to the FM band under WPUC (Pontifico Universidad Católica) 88.9.
[1] Readers can find this excerpt from my book in the following blog post from September 15, 2020.
[1] Readers can find this excerpt from my book in the following blog post from September 15, 2020.
My grandfather, Antonio Cruz Reyes (1931-1988), working at WEUC
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