Tulsa Radio Host Turns To Internet To Save Generation’s Music

Every generation has its music - Hip-Hop, rap, rock and roll.

Well, for the generation that grew up in the 1930s and '40s, it was Big Band Music, now one Tulsa man is trying to keep that music alive, and if not on the radio, then on the Internet.

Alan Lambert's been playing music on the radio since high school. For the last 20 years, it's been Big Band Saturday Night on a couple of local radio stations, but later this month it’ll have a new name and location.

"You're gonna love this one, right here on Big Band American Songbook,” Lambert said.

Now called Big Band American Songbook, it'll be a music show like always, but on The Grid – Tulsa Community College's Internet music site.

He said this particular slice of our musical pie is part of our history and needs an outlet.

"I think it's important for someone to take it seriously or it's going away," said Lambert.

He said the music came to fame from 1935-1945, but its popularity extended beyond that.

Even now younger listeners hear Big Band music in commercials and movie soundtracks and are curious about it.

"It's around them and they want to learn more about it - what is that," Lambert said.

Thanks to the Internet streaming of radio stations, his audience extends far beyond Tulsa.

"Furthest away I've ever had a listener is Alaska - California regularly, Florida regularly," he said.

Beginning later this month, Lambert will be back on the air, on the web, but he's still looking for a radio station too.

The last broadcast of Big Band Saturday Night was at the end of June - the end of one story, but the beginning of another.

The new program begins Saturday evening, August 22 on The Grid.