WNYC Launches New 24-hour Home for Jonathan Schwartz and The American Songbook

New 24/7 Music Stream Devoted to American Popular Standards, Curated by Jonathan Schwartz, To Launch Friday, November 1 at 12 noon ET

NEW YORK, Oct. 28, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The sounds of Sinatra, Nelson Riddle, Ella Fitzgerald, Tony Bennett, Mel Torme, Bing Crosby, Billie Holiday and other masters of the American songbook will soon be heard 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, anywhere in the world, when WNYC launches "The Jonathan Channel," a new music stream on Friday, November 1 at 12 noon ET. The stream will be available at www.thejonathanchannel.org.

"The Jonathan Channel" will provide an unparalleled showcase for this timeless music, presented by its strongest advocate, Jonathan Schwartz, in his intimate, insightful, and utterly original approach that combines impeccable taste with countless personal tales, colorful anecdotes and encyclopedic knowledge.

Jonathan, who has been a fixture on the New York City radio dial for 50 years and a host on WNYC for the past 14 years, will host and curate the playlist. Jonathan's stream will champion the Golden Age of American song with recordings by both the legends and the next generation of American standards performers, including Diana Krall, Michael Buble, Jane Monheit, Nancy LaMott, and obviously many others. "The Jonathan Channel" will also feature weekly programs from the internationally revered Michael Feinstein and John Pizzarelli with Jessica Molaskey.

"The Jonathan Channel" will help people to deepen their love of the music through a web site, blog and live events from WNYC's intimate theater venue The Jerome L. Greene Performance Space. "The Jonathan Channel" will live at www.thejonathanchannel.org, and will also be available at WNYC.org, through the WNYC App, and via iHeartRadio and TuneIn Radio.

Jonathan will also continue to host his weekly Saturday and Sunday programs on WNYC 93.9 FM.

"To me there is no greater music than American standards. It transcends cultures and generations. And now I'm pleased that we will transcend time and space by offering access to this music 24 hours a day, anywhere, if you have internet access," said Jonathan. "I deeply believe that 500 years from now people will be listening to Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Peggy Lee, and the music and lyrics created by, among others, George Gershwin, Irving Berlin, Richard Rodgers, Jerome Kern, Jimmy Van Heusen and my own father, Arthur Schwartz.  And, of course, what I like to think of as the house band, Count Basie."

"Jonathan Schwartz is a national treasure, one that we've been privileged to host on WNYC for close to 15 years," said Laura Walker, President and CEO of New York Public Radio, which includes WNYC.  "His knowledge of American popular standards, as well as his close relationships with many of the contributors, make his presentation of this material incomparable. We are delighted that 'The Jonathan Channel' will bring this New York radio icon to a larger online audience and an even larger audience worldwide, and will preserve this music for generations to come."

Jonathan has hosted two weekend programs on WNYC since 1999. For four years he served as the artistic director of Lincoln Center's American Songbook series, and for three years appeared as the music correspondent on NBC's Sunday Today Show. He is the author of a memoir, All in Good Time, two novels, Distant Stations and The Man Who Knew Cary Grant, and a collection of stories, Almost Home. These books were published by either Random House or Doubleday. As well, Jonathan performed at New York's well-known nightclub Michael's Pub for 11 years.

New York Public Radio is New York's premier public radio franchise, comprising WNYC, WQXR, and The Jerome L. Greene Performance Space, as well as www.wnyc.org, www.wqxr.org and www.thegreenespace.org. As America's most listened-to AM/FM news and talk public radio stations, reaching 1.1 million listeners every week, WNYC extends New York City's cultural riches to the entire country on-air and online, and presents the best national offerings from networks National Public Radio, Public Radio International, American Public Media, and the British Broadcasting Company. WNYC 93.9 FM broadcasts a wide range of daily news, talk, cultural and music programming, while WNYC AM 820 maintains a stronger focus on breaking news and international news reporting. Classical 105.9 FM WQXR is New York City's sole 24-hour classical music station, presenting new and landmark classical recordings as well as live concerts from the Metropolitan Opera, the New York Philharmonic, among other New York City venues, immersing listeners in the city's rich musical life. In addition to its audio content, WNYC and WQXR produce content for live, radio and web audiences from The Jerome L. Greene Performance Space, the station's street-level multipurpose, multiplatform broadcast studio and performance space. For more information about New York Public Radio, visit www.nypublicradio.org.

SOURCE New York Public Radio