WBAI, New York City - 99.5 FM

Music, Comedy, Call-ins, Topical discussions of the week's events: cultural, political, media, food, and sports. A lot of commentary about New York City: institutions: schools, architecture, parks, neighborhoods/communities (or loss of them); raising a family and parenting. Music includes artists such as: Jazz and jazz vocalists, (Louis Armstrong, Coleman Hawkins Billie Holiday, Chris Conner, Sarah Vaughn); Bluegrass (Allison Krause, Flat and Scruggs, New Lost City Ramblers); Latin (Celia Cruz, Larry Harlow, Tito Puente, Willie Colon, sambas, Soca, Reggae. Rhythm and Blues (Otis Redding, Etta James, Percussions, Holmes Brothers); Singer/Songwriter (Christine Lavin, Laura Nyro, Roches, Modern Man). Accapella, (Do Wop groups).

Comedy includes performers such as: Flip Wilson, Mel Brooks, Ellen De Generous, Groucho Marx, Richard Pryor, Nichols and May, Myron Cohen, Steve Martin, Moms Mabley, Woody Allen, Henny Youngman

Phone Call-Ins include questions for the listeners such as: "What is the oldest leftover in your refrigerator?" "What--besides cash and credit cards--is in your pocketbook or wallet?" What organizations do you belong to?" "What was your telephone exchange?" "Can you play Lady of Spain on your accordion?" At times Fred will try to reconstruct a scene from a film and ask the listeners to help. Who is singing this song might be asked.

Fred often talks about an article in the paper, takes few calls on the subject, plays a related recorded comedy piece, mixes 4 or five pieces of music with the comedy/ The music will have a philosophical or musical connection with the comedy piece, the phone calls and the initial talk by Fred.

Fred also discusses serious topics too, and again will turn to the listeners for their ideas.

Home Fries is in the Arts Department. Home Fries has aired on WBAI since 1981.

Fred Herschkowitz was born in Sunnyside, Queens, graduating from Newtown High School and Queens College. Except for three years exiled to New Jersey, Fred is a life long New Yorker. He was a public school teacher and community organizer. He has listened to WBAI since 1965. A book that changed his life was The Iron Heel by Jack London, read when he was 12. Recently he loved reading The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay. His favorite movies include 'Night of the Hunter," "Duck Soup" and "Shot the Piano Player." He could listen to the 1939 version of Coleman Hawkins' "Body and Soul" every day, forever. Before hosting "Home Fries," Fred hosted and produced "Seventh Inning Stretch" on WBAI and the "Grandstand Mangers" on WNYC-AM; live, sports shows. He is married with two children.

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