WFMT Celebrates Studs Terkel's 'River Songs' Radio Series

The late broadcaster's 1950s creative music program explored the lives and stories along waterways.

Mar. 28, 2026 at 4:00am

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In the late 1950s, during the first of almost five decades that legendary broadcaster Studs Terkel hosted programs on Chicago's WFMT radio, he presented a creative, music-based series he called 'This Is Our Story.' In this archived episode, Terkel wove together a wide range of songs about rivers, exploring how they flow and the lives lived upon them.

Why it matters

Studs Terkel's innovative radio programs helped establish oral history as a popular and socially conscious literary genre, giving voice to the stories of everyday working people alongside renowned 20th century figures. This 'River Songs' episode exemplifies Terkel's unique approach to radio, blending music, interviews, and the lived experiences of communities along waterways.

The details

The 'This Is Our Story' series featured Terkel's eclectic mix of music and conversation, often highlighting the voices of uncelebrated, working-class Chicagoans alongside notable public figures. In the 'River Songs' episode, Terkel curated a range of folk, blues, and Americana tracks that explored the themes of rivers, their journeys, and the lives of those connected to them.

  • The 'River Songs' episode aired in the late 1950s, during Terkel's early years hosting programs on WFMT.
  • Studs Terkel had a 45-year career on WFMT, from 1952 until his death in 2008.

The players

Studs Terkel

A Pulitzer Prize-winning author and radio host who helped establish oral history as a popular literary genre. Terkel hosted programs on WFMT radio in Chicago for almost five decades, featuring eclectic mixes of music, interviews, and the voices of everyday working people.

WFMT

A classical and fine arts radio station based in Chicago, Illinois, that was Studs Terkel's homebase for his acclaimed radio programs for 45 years.

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The takeaway

Studs Terkel's innovative 'This Is Our Story' radio series, including the 'River Songs' episode, exemplified his unique approach to broadcasting - one that elevated the stories and perspectives of everyday working people alongside renowned public figures, helping to establish oral history as a powerful literary genre.