People have complained about Milwaukee's generic FM music stations since Sigmund Snopek was a pup (and probably even longer than that), but there is an alternative just to the left of the dial. It's The World Cafe, an eclectic mix of non-commercial music, and over the past 11 years, the program has been the breeding ground for superstars like Sheryl Crow and Macy Gray.
The repertoire of tunes is great -- mostly alternative folk-based stuff, world beats and quality pop by underappreciated talents -- but the best part of the show is the host, David Dye. Intelligent and down to earth, Dye's mellow voice, engaging questions and sincere love of music make him the very best in his class.
A lifelong resident of Philadelphia (with the exception of a five-year stint in Maine), Dye began his career in 1970 at WMMR-FM, where he helped launch the careers of then-no-names like Bruce Springsteen, Todd Rundgren and Tom Waits. He was later a program director for another commercial station in Philly before crossing over to public radio in the 1980s.
Dye began hosting the "Midday Mix" at WXPN, the current home base station for The World Cafe, introducing the country to a new style of commercial-free radio. Dye's exhaustive music knowledge and impeccable taste enable him to smell a superstar months, even years, before the mainstream get a whiff.
But even more interesting are the Dye-discovered musicians that never receive radio exposure other than on the World Cafe. These artists are talented and charismatic, but for whatever reasons, never achieve fame or fortune. Thanks to David Dye, we hear these talents, buy their CDs and realize that some of the industry's best will never be on MTV.
Although he continues to discover some of the most exciting and unexplored artists in music, it is Dye who really makes the show what it is. A masterful interviewer and a passionate listener, David Dye, unlike others in the field, knows when to talk and when to let the music speak for itself.
Today, The World Cafe is played on more than 150 stations, seven days a week. Most Cafe fans are hardcore followers, tuning in every night. The three hour program is seven nights a week, from 7 to 10 p.m. on WUWM (89.7), and on Saturday afternoons from 1 to 4 p.m. (Hosted by Milwaukee's Bruce Winter.)
Over the years, Dye has been very supportive of Milwaukee, following the local music scene, visiting numerous times to host concerts and saying many complementary things on the air. Recently, it was our honor and pleasure to interview David Dye, a music visionary and, as of this moment, an honorary Milwaukeean.
OMC: You have been to Milwaukee numerous times, supported many artists from the area and said nice things about our city on the air. What is your connection to Milwaukee?
DD: To be truthful, the connection comes from Milwaukee! There was such early acceptance of the World Cafe by WUWM listeners that I was overwhelmed! People were incredibly friendly every time I've been there. It helps that I am a long-time BoDeans fan and have gotten to know Paul Cebar over the years. Heck, I was even a Semi-Twang fan!
OMC: When --and why -- did you stop doing the World Cafe on Saturday?
DD: It was their (WUWM's) decision and it was primarily financial. Bruce (Winters) does a great job!
OMC: Do you choose your guests?
DD: We have a five-person World Cafe staff, and suggestions for guests can come from any one of us. That said, I tend to take the lead in choosing who we have on. It's a combination of who is touring, whose album I'm into and who I'm curious about. We are making more of an effort here in our 11th year to chose people who we have never had on who have a real history, like our recent interview with Johnny Cash.
OMC: What were some of your favorite CDs in 2002 and who was your best interview in 2002?
DD: The best interview in 2002 was Jackson Browne. I am a long-time fan and I had a long time to talk with him and he was willing to talk about just about anything. We will probably be re-running it til everyone is sick of it!
As for albums: Norah Jones, Coldplay, Rhett Miller, Orchestra Baobab, Kim Richey, Chuck Prophet.
OMC: What CDs are you most looking forward to in 2003? Who are you most looking forward to interviewing in 2003?
DD: There is supposedly a new Lucinda Williams CD out soon and I am definitely looking forward to that. Also a new band called Thorn which puts together Matthew Sweet, Pete Droge and Shawn Mullins -- those guys should have some good songs. I'm not sure about interviews. We are trying to get Ray Charles. We definitely want more interviews with long-timers.
OMC: What's in your CD player right now?
DD: The new album by the Scottish band, The Delgados, called "Hate."
OMC: Are you a musician? Have you ever been in a band?
DD: Well, I was in a band in high school called Walter Brown and the White Trash. Walter was Black and we....well, you get the picture. It was my band. It had to be because I could only play four chords on my guitar and everyone had to follow me because I couldn't follow them! We played two gigs.
OMC: What kind of band would you like to be in, say, another life?
DD: Oh definitely a folk rock agegation with lots of Teles and Rickenbackers and a B-3 organ.
OMC: How many of your questions are pre-written, and how much of your banter is off the cuff?
DD: Topics are pre written but questions are almost always phrased off the cuff. It's best when the conversation leads into another direction unexpectantly.
OMC: How much research do you do prior to each show?
DD: I spend considerable time, going over a fairly full folder on each act that our staff has put together and then spend some time on the Web as well. I spend at least an hour and a half per act, not including listening to the album.
OMC: Are you constantly bombarded with people trying to "sell you" on their music?
DD: Yes.
OMC: What are the guidelines for World Cafe's music choices?
DD: Tough question. I'm open to anything that is somewhat unusual. I'm drawn to great lyrics and seem to be drawn to great pop music, but also lover rougher things like R & B. I'm afraid it's totally subjective.
OMC: What is your opinion of commercial radio?
DD: Commercial radio is unfortunately getting more repetitive and limited. Part of that has to do with the audiences' limited time to spend listening to music radio. World Cafe listeners spend a lot more time than the average listening to the radio. I don't find myself listening to music radio stations that much except for those at the left of the dial. I spend too much time listening to CDs.
OMC: Can you see the World Café changing its format to become more mainstream?
DD: Are we always looking for more listeners? Yes. Are we going to change dramatically to get them? No. The reason we are doing this is about discovery. Being part of the "mainstream" means repeating the familiar which is not what we are about.
OMC: Why is The World Cafe an important vehicle for so many musicians?
DD: It lets newcomers get a real shot at having their music heard by a large number of people around the country. Not many shows will do that.
{INSERT_RELATED}OMC: How did you get into radio?
DD: I always wanted to do it. Believe it or not my father made me a wooden microphone when I was 9. I went to the college radio station as soon as I got there and started practicing. I got a part time gig in Philly when I was in my sophomore year. I now see that I was incredibly lucky and was again very lucky to arrive at XPN (home station of the World Cafe) when they started developing the show in 1990.
OMC: What advice would you give to someone who strives to land a career like yours?
DD: Develop your craft in any way you can. Make mix tapes, talk into tape recorders, keep listening and if you get a job, never complain about what shift you get stuck on.
OMC: Do you love your job?
DD: Mais oui!
Molly Snyder started writing and publishing her work at the age 10, when her community newspaper printed her poem, "The Unicorn.” Since then, she's expanded beyond the subject of mythical creatures and written in many different mediums but, nearest and dearest to her heart, thousands of articles for OnMilwaukee.
Molly is a regular contributor to FOX6 News and numerous radio stations as well as the co-host of "Dandelions: A Podcast For Women.” She's received five Milwaukee Press Club Awards, served as the Pfister Narrator and is the Wisconsin State Fair’s Celebrity Cream Puff Eating Champion of 2019.
