Boston, MA. September 10, 1995. Intensifying its pressure on radio station WGBH, members of The Committee To Save MusicAmerica brought their message to WGBH's annual, two-day Ice Cream Fun Fest held last weekend. Committee volunteers collected 1500 petition signatures demanding that the station bring back MusicAmerica, Ron Della Chiesa's popular radio program of classical American music that left the air on August 31. Among the 30 Committee volunteers were Boston cabaret artists Lynne Jackson and Mike Palter, and pianist Paul Broadnax.
Commenting on the weekend activities, Committee Chairman John Brady said, "You had to be there to see the incredible diversity of Ron's audience. We gathered signatures and contributions from people of every race, every ethnicity, and every age. Each day that MusicAmerica brought us together was like another Fourth of July!" Brady expects that the red, white, and blue 'Bring Back MusicAmerica' bumper stickers it distributed at the Fun Fest will now begin appearing on cars and signposts throughout the region.
The Committee estimates that it obtained signatures from 30%-40% of the families attending the Fun Fest. Adding their names to the thousands already collected were award-winning author Pamela Painter, noted architect Graham and wife Ann Gund (both are members of the station's elite Ralph Lowell Society). They join singer Tony Bennett, Boston Pops conductor Keith Lockhart, and virtually every member of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. in protesting MusicAmerica's cancellation. "Considering that so many people who came to this event were WGBH television viewers and that our focus is on a radio program, the results of our efforts greatly exceeded our expectations," Brady said.
The Committee to Save MusicAmerica maintains a 24-hour hotline, 617-662-0853. The Committee estimates that its efforts have already cut contributions to WGBH by $50,000 to $100,000. Its goal is to reach the $250,000 mark by December 31, if WGBH refuses to budge.