THE GYPSY CARAVAN WITH C.C. THE GYPSY KING

THE GYPSY CARAVAN WITH "C.C. THE GYPSY KING" Stratford, CT www.allnoiseradio.com Wednesday 10 p.m.-12 a.m. (EDT)

Do popular music and politics mix? Can you learn history from the songs you hear on the radio? Throughout the decades, many artists have shared with listeners their social and political commentary concerning the world, and times in which they lived. In fact, some of the most poignant and memorable songs ever written and performed have been done so in direct response to a world event that inspired them to react.

Political dissent in music is not a new thing. Mozart—the classical composer with a rock star image—famously appropriated the revolutionary banned play The Marriage of Figaro into an opera to the disgruntlement of the reigning monarch of the time. Protest songs of the 1960-70s provided listeners with cries for “peace, love, and togetherness”, while the emergence of punk rock music provided a call to arms for “rebellious youth” against apparent commercialism of the music industry, conformity, and—YES—disco music! There are even examples of music as social and political commentary in modern music—calls for an end to racism, oppression, war, starvation, exploitation of family farmers, urban decay, drug use, police brutality, globalization, environmentalism, unionization, class warfare, and equality.

The landscape of rock n’ roll is littered with artistic expressions of a personal worldview and private political views on a wide variety of social issues. The listener may not fully agree with the ideas expounded in the music, but I strongly feel that the song served its purpose simply for making the listener consider his or her position on that issue.

Simply speaking, the listener should not be merely a passive participant, but someone who is actively pursuing to engage the material and to fully analyze the messages and content of what they are being exposed to by the music industry.

"C.C. the Gypsy King" is a former public policy analyst and legislative agent with a passion for music with a message. The current high school teacher has used music in the classroom for years, but has always had the desire to develop a radio program focused on the link between musicology and politics. "CC the Gypsy King" has a great interest in social movements and political mobilization among America’s youth.

Sojourn with The Gypsy Caravan as we embark on a thematically musical adventure. Our merry band of gypsy travelers will experience musical enlightenment and attain higher levels of social consciousness at every stop of this rock n’ roll road trip.

The Gypsy Caravan—music that gets you thinkin’ and drinkin’!