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President Bush Message Will Be Part Of Historic April 30 Program;
Charles Osgood To Narrate "Retrospective" CommemorationSALT LAKE CITY - Music & the Spoken Word, the world's longest-running continuous network radio broadcast, will reach a remarkable milestone on Sunday, A pril 30, when it airs its 4,000th consecutive program and will celebrate that event with a nationwide 9:30 a.m. (MDT) radio and television broadcast of a special Music & the Spoken Word program featuring a recorded message from President George W. Bush.
In addition to the special broadcast, the unique observance in the Conference Center also will be celebrated by a 9 a.m. half-hour retrospective special entitled "A Legacy of Music through
4,000 continuous broadcasts
4,000 Broadcasts," narrated by long-time CBS newsman Charles Osgood and shown on the large screens in the Conference Center. The specially- produced program will take a backward look at the long and storied history of Music & the Spoken Word.
And at 10 a.m., following the 9:30 broadcast, the Choir, Orchestra at Temple Square, and those in attendance at the Conference Center will
enjoy a brief live program that will include the reading of proclamations from U.S. Senator Orrin Hatch and Utah Governor Jon Huntsman Jr., and
remarks from LDS Church President Gordon B. Hinckley, Bonneville International President & CEO Bruce Reese, Mormon Tabernacle Choir President Mac Christensen, and Mormon Tabernacle Choir Music Director Craig Jessop.
Special Retrospective Broadcast:
The 30-minute special entitled "A Legacy of Music through 4,000 Broadcasts" with Mr. Osgood will be broadcast in the Salt Lake City market on KSL 5 Television (NBC affiliate) at 10 a.m., immediately following KSL's 9:30 a.m. showing of the actual 4,000th broadcast of Music & the Spoken Word. The special also will be rebroadcast on KBYU Television that same day (April 30) at 3:00 p.m. and on BYU-TV (on cable, DISH Network, and DIRECTV) at 3:30 p.m., and 7:00 p.m. BYU-TV will also air additional rebroadcasts at various times during the month of May.
Since its initial broadcast on July 15, 1929, Music & the Spoken Word has featured the Mormon Tabernacle Choir as a weekly broadcast fixture for more than 75 years. And, joined during the past few years by the Orchestra at Temple Square, the program features a variety of music, such as religious, patriotic, folk, show tunes, and other genres. And, the blend of music with inspirational spoken messages compliments the award-winning musical interpretations and incomparable expertise of the Choir.
"Four thousand broadcasts over a period of more than 75 years," said Mr. Christensen, "is a truly remarkable achievement and a notable affirmation of Music & the Spoken Word's enduring quality and appeal across a wide spectrum of listeners and viewers.
"And, we're deeply honored," he continued, "to have President Bush, President Hinckley, Senator Hatch, Governor Huntsman, and others take time to honor us for this notable achievement."
Also included on the 4,000th broadcast of Music & the Spoken Word will be Jerold Ottley, who served as Music Director of the Choir for nearly 25 years.
Conference Center schedule:
The morning's events in the Conference Center begin at 9 a.m. with the Retrospective feature, followed by the 4,000th live nation-wide Music & the Spoken Word broadcast and the 10 a.m. remarks, and are open to the public ages eight and older. Guests should be in their seats in the Conference Center by 8:45 a.m. at the latest. KSL 5 Television and KSL Newsradio 1160 AM and 102.7 FM are originating stations for the weekly nation-wide Music & the Spoken Word broadcast.
Music & the Spoken Word is produced and distributed by Bonneville Communications (www.bonneville.com), located in Salt Lake City and a division of Bonneville International, a dynamic media company known throughout the broadcast industry for its values-oriented programming and involvement in the community.
