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Video: Ken Nordine turns 90, gives us a trippy tour of his house/studio
by Justin Kaufmann | Apr. 29, 2010
One of the joys of working for Chicago Public Radio is to come in contact with some amazing broadcast legends. Ken Nordine definitely fits in that category. When I was a radio student at Columbia College, my production teachers would play Nordine's Word Jazz to give us inspiration for what was possible in audio.
Nordine is the host of Word Jazz, the trippy audio-art program that airs Sundays at midnight on WBEZ. This month, he turned 90. Yep, that's right. He's 90 years old and he's still producing new Word Jazz episodes from his studios on Chicago's far North side.
We were lucky enough to be invited up to his house, where the third floor/attic serves as his long-time studio. Here's the video piece we put together, featuring Steve Edwards on lead-interview.
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Comments
Incredible. I've loved Ken for years and years and years. Years even. Thank you.
Awesome studio. I'd love to know more about the software he's using to generate visuals.
How cool is that!! Assuming I live that long, I hope I have even half the energy and sharps as Ken. Thanks for the update.
He still has the best voiceover throat in the business !
Great story-telling about my favorite story-teller. You made my week Justin, Steve, and KEN.
I'm so glad to have found this. Ken Nordine is a brilliant artist, and Devout Catalyst served as the soundtrack for many of my trippy days. Its a very very interesting and creative album.
I'm so glad Ken Nordine is still with us and active! I ended up here on a "where is he now" trip...I used to hear Ken a lot on WFMTs midnight special back in the 60s-70s. Ironically, I grew up in Deerfield-right next to Highland Park. Ken was in my backyard the whole time!
I'm glad to know he's still at it. Thanks Justin and WBEZ. Great look behind the scenes.
Mr. Nordine did voice-over work for my father who ran an Industrial film studio in Evanston. I met Mr. Nordine for the first time when I was just a kid in the 60's while he was in the booth. He was cool then, he is still cool today.
Happy belated birthday Ken! Wow - soon you'll be 91!!!
Thanks to all of you at the Edit Booth for celebrating this wonderful personality and talent. Ken is a great artist of our time. I've loved his work since the days in the 60's when word Jazz would play at 10:30 after the all day news WBBM radio feed. I'd listen with a little transistor radio after I had been sent to bed. I still love his work today. Go Ken!
I've looked for the recordings from my youth with the voice and that feel. Listening to WBEZ as a kid and being FREAKED OUT over that smooth as a close shave inside my mind voice. What a find - I've looked for 35 years and just now found KN. This is a milestone.
Thanks so much for this piece. I was wondering how KN was doing! He's a genius. I do a comedy podcast called The Inverse Delirium, and he's definitely an influence!
Ken Nordine is a national treasure. His compilation album, How Are Things in Your Town, was my first eposure to his recordings, when I had just graduated from Hgh School in the early 70's.During my recent trip to Chicago I was again reminded of his genius.
What a guy. Great stuff at my age.
Ken Nordine's work with Billy Vaughn's rendition of "Shifting Whispering Sands" caught my attention as a young DJ working at WLOL twin cities. I was doing the all-night gig, and was in the enviable position of selecting my own music. The first time I heard Ken's narrative behind Billy Vaughn's twin sax sound, it caught my attention, and although I cannot be certain, believe my air play was the first in the Twin Cities. I put Ken Nordine in league with Franklyn MacCormack of WGN fame.
Nordine turned me out when I was a young beat in LA during the exciting, demanding and pure '50's, My man. DJ
I first heard Ken on the Dr. Demento Show, and picked up the 'how are things in your town' LP while in college in Chicago. It's still one of my favorite listens. I'm so glad he's still working. He sent me an email many years ago when I asked about his new recordings, and I can't even find it now ...
P.S. If you like Ken, the only other artist who is like him is 2nu.