Tag Archives: Bill Tilford

Regency TR1: Anniversary of the first commercially available transistor radio

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Bill Tilford, who shares the following:

Today is the anniversary of the announcement of the first commercially available transistor radio, the Regency TR1, in 1954. It wasn’t very good, but it started something.

You can tell something about the frequency allocations of the time by how the numbers are spaced.

To put the ad below in context, the median weekly family income in 1954 was about $81.00.

Thank you for sharing this, Bill! If you’d like to read more about the TR1 and view a wide variety of product photos, check out this dedicated TR1 website.

I’m curious if any Post readers own a Regency TR1. Please comment!

Spread the radio love

Coming Soon to WBCQ 7490: Uncle Bill’s Melting Pot

1 Reply

Bill Tilford, who currently brings us From the Isle of Music on WBCQ and Channel 292, is launching a second program, Uncle Bill’s Melting Pot, a half hour music variety program, on March 2 on WBCQ, 7490 Khz. It will be a combination of Americana, World Music, Comedy, Novelty, and Bill threatens that it will be one of the most musically eclectic programs on any band along with a few laughs here and there.

WBCQ pegs its long term schedule to EST/EDT and translates to UTC. UBMP will air 7:00-7:30pm EST/EDT Thursdays (for the first couple of weeks, 0000-0030 UTC Fridays, then 2300-2330 Thursdays).

Spread the radio love

From the Isle of Music for June 13/14

Leave a reply

Our June 14 (June 13 in the Americas) program features special guest Luna Manzanares, who has the lead role in Carmen la Cubana, a cubanized version of Bizet (remember Carmen Jones?). We’ll also feature some of the album Cosmopolitan by D’Corason, which won the Nueva Trova category in Cubadisco 2016. We’ll also have some more music from Popularmente Sinfónico Vol II by Orquesta Sinfónica de Matanzas and some vintage Los Papines.

Two listening options on shortwave:
WBCQ, 7490 KHz, Tuesdays 0000 UTC (8pm EDT Mondays)
Channel 292, 6070 KHz, Tuesdays 1900 UTC (2100 CEST)

See the NOTES section of our Facebook page for more information.

Spread the radio love

Updade: From the Isle of Music

Leave a reply

Many thanks to SWLing Post reader, Bill Tilford, who shares this From The Isle of Music update:

Beginning June 7, From the Isle of Music begins an exciting new phase. Our host, Bill Tilford, recently returned from Cuba with the music of the winners and nominees of Cubadisco 2016, which among other things is Cuba’s equivalent of the GRAMMY Awards. He also recorded several interviews. We will begin sharing this music and the interviews this week.

Our June 7 (June 6 in the Americas) program brings back NuJazz artist Zule Guerra, who recently won a Cubadisco 2016 in the category Opera Prima (Best New Artist), and we’ll feature some of El Arte del Sonido by Thellus, which won the Cubadisco 2016 category Electronic and Electronic-Acoustic Music. We’ll also have some vintage Orquesta Aragon from the 70s along with more of Popularmente Sinfónico Vol II by Orquesta Sinfónica de Matanzas. This week, we begin bringing the winners and nominees of Cubadisco 2016 to you on the radio.

Two listening options on shortwave:

WBCQ, 7490 KHz, Tuesdays 0000 UTC (8pm EDT Mondays)
Channel 292, 6070 KHz, Tuesdays 1900 UTC (2100 CEST)

See the NOTES section of our Facebook page for program updates and other information.

Spread the radio love

May Update: From the Isle of Music

Leave a reply

Havana, Cuba (Photo: Wikimedia)

Many thanks to SWLing Post reader, Bill Tilford, who shares this From The Isle of Music update:

Our May 10 (May 9 in the Americas) program will feature two special guests with interviews and music:

1. Cuban Laud (a relative of the lute) master Barbarito Torres, whose prolific career includes the Buena Vista Social Club, but we will be playing some of his wonderful work with songstress Miriam Ramos.

2. Albertico Lescay, leader of the Cuban Jazz/Fusion group Formas. NuJazz is a new branch of Jazz in Cuba that we’ll let him explain to you.
We’ll also feature some more of Danzas Para Piano de Ignacio Cervantes.(the musical gift that keeps on giving)

Our May 17 (May 16 in the Americas) program will feature a brief interview with Angel Toirac, pianist of Influencia, and a lot of music by this distinctive Jazz ensemble, We wiill also have some vintage 1970s Cuban Funk from Grupo Monumental, some recent Cuban R & B by Eme, and we’ll finish the wonderful concert piano album Danzas Para Piano de Ignacio Cervantes.

Our May 24 (May 23 in the Americas) features a brief interview with phenomenal Jazz saxophonist Michel Herrera and his music. Also some popular dance music from the 70s by Grupo Monumental, the Timba of Manolito Simonet y su Trabuco, and we are going to begin listening to Popularmente Sinfónica Vol II by Orquesta Sinfónica de Matanzas.

Two listening options on shortwave:

WBCQ, 7490 KHz, Tuesdays 0000 UTC (8pm EDT Mondays)
Channel 292, 6070 KHz, Tuesdays 1900 UTC (2100 CEST)

See our Facebook page, From The Isle of Music, for more information.

Thanks as always for all you do for radio.

Spread the radio love

Update: From the Isle of Music

Leave a reply

Many thanks to SWLing Post reader, Bill Tilford, who shares this From The Isle of Music update:

Our April 26 (April 25 in the Americas) program will feature special guest Cuban Jazz/Blues/Fusion guitarist Hector Quintana, a nominee in the Jazz category in Cubadisco 2015.

Also, some nice Charanga from Orquesta America, also a Cubadisco 2015 nominee (Traditional Son), some of David Alvarez & Juego de Manos (yet another nominee, in Popular Dance Music) and more of the beautiful concert piano album Danzas Para Piano de Ignacio Cervantes.

Two listening options on shortwave:
WBCQ, 7490 KHz, Tuesdays 0000 UTC (8pm EDT Mondays)
Channel 292, 6070 KHz, Tuesdays 1900 UTC (2100 CEST)

On Facebook: From the Isle of Music

Spread the radio love

Update: From the Isle of Music

Leave a reply

Many thanks to SWLing Post reader, Bill Tilford, who shares this From The Isle of Music update:

Since the addition of Channel 292 we are now getting excellent reception reports from as far east as Moscow.

Our April 11 (in the Americas) / April 12 (for the rest of the world) program will have more dance music than usual, with special guests Jesus Chappottin and Miguelito Cuni Jr. of Conjunto Chappotin, some classic dance tracks from Conjunto Los Bocucos and some Timba from El Niño y la Verdad. On the Jazz front, a new release by Brenda Navarrete, and more beautiful Cuban concert music from the album Danzas Para Piano de Ignacio Cervantes.

Two listening options on shortwave: