October 7th Celebrating the 90th Birthday of Thelonius Monk with Following MonkOct. 10th (10/10) marks what would have been the 90th birthday of music genius and son of North Carolina, Thelonius Monk. Aaron Greenwald, Producer of the Duke Performances, and in collaboration with Sam Stephenson of the Jazz Loft Project, (above photo from the Jazz Loft Project Collection) audaciously dreamed up a six-week extravaganza of 18 events to honor the creative giant, Monk. The series is called Following Monk and has brought incredible jazz talent to the Triangle area of NC.

Thelonius was born in Rocky Mount, NC. He is probably the greatest creative soul this state ever bore. His influence and music continue in a profound way many years after his death. For my show tonight, I played many of the songs of Thelonius Monk and music that was influenced by him.

Playlist -

• Nina Simone (b. Tryon, NC); Anthology CD; I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel to be Free
• Thelonius Monk (b. Rocky Mt., NC); Thelonius Monk Plays Duke Ellington CD; It Don't Mean a Thing
• Professor Longhair; Rum & Coke CD; Gone So Long
• Thelonius Monk; Thelonius Monk Himself CD; April In Paris
• Brother Yusuf Salim (lives Durham, NC); Yusuf Plays Yusuf; A Hymn for Us All
• Thelonius Monk & John Coltrane (b. Hamlet, NC); Thelonius Monk with John Coltrane; Trinkle Tinkle
• Al Neese (lives Greensboro, NC); The Omen Seeker CD; The Tale of Two Lovers
• Thelonius Monk & John Coltrane; The Complete Riverside Recordings; Well You Needn't
• Elmer Gibson (lives Raleigh, NC); The Reach of Memory CD; In a Monkish Mood
• Thelonius Monk; Thelonius Monk Himself CD; 'Round Midnight
• Frankie Alexander (lives Durham, NC); Mad About the Words CD; I Loves you Porgy
• Thelonius Monk; Thelonius Monk Quartet with John Coltrane at Carnegie Hall CD; Blue Monk
• Charlie Haden & Hank Jones; Steal Away CD; Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child
• Gene Harris; Gene Harris and the Three Sounds Live at the IT Club CD; On Green Dolphin Street
• Elmer GIbson; The Reach of Memory CD; Changes
• Thelonius Monk and John Coltrane; Riverside Recordings CD; Nutty
• Billy Taylor (b. Greenville, NC); Music Keeps Us Young CD; I Wish I Knew How it Would Feel to be Free

My radio show can be heard in the Carrboro and Chapel Hill community area every Sunday night from 7:00 - 9:00 EST. From the studio of WCOM in downtown Carrboro, you can hear us on the dial at 103.5 fm. You can listen to my show off of the internet, by going to the WCOM website at www.communityradio.coop and click on the button in the upper right-hand corner for webstreaming. You can listen in while you work on your computer or while hanging around your home. WCOM is 100 Watts of Wonder and serves the community with volunteer power. You can call in during my show to talk or make a request by dialing 919 929-9601. I hope you'll join me.