Listening Lyrics

John Murietta shares his story today on Listening Lyrics, and we’ll use some of his own song selections to help tell it along the way. Life can change in a moment—but that moment is never the whole story. A snowboarding accident changed the course of John’s life, but what followed is a story of adapting, moving forward, and building a life far larger than the wheelchair he uses. And a quick heads-...

Today, John Murietta shares his story, and we’ll use some of his own song selections to help tell it along the way. Life can change in a moment—but that moment is never the whole story. A snowboarding accident changed the course of John’s life, but what followed is a story of adapting, moving forward, and building a life far larger than the wheelchair he uses. And a quick heads-up—we had a little...

This week, I’m spinning songs that do a little product placement of their own—tunes that name-drop everything from cars to Coca-Cola. And between the music, we’ll turn back the clock with some classic radio commercials from days gone by. Great songs, vintage ads, and a few surprising facts along the way. It’s music, memories, and marketing—all rolled into one hour on Listening Lyrics .

The band  Home by 5 3 0  is made up of students from Davis High School—young, bright, and overflowing with creativity. That energy and talent spill across the stage when they perform. Today, three members of the band joined me in the studio:  Evie Barnett on vocals, Tjin Reusken on guitar, and Andrew Gonzalez on bass. They came to share a few stories and, more importantly, to sing and play. Simply...

A Century of Sound: 10 Decades, 10 Songs takes listeners on a musical journey from the 1930s to today, featuring one fun and memorable song from each decade. Along the way,  Listening Lyrics  explores how popular music changed—and how advances in recording technology transformed the way we hear it. Join us on KDRT for nearly 100 years of music, sound, and innovation in just ten songs. Check out th...

Listen NOW to songs about coffee.   Coffee in the cup, music in the air Songs about java are playing everywhere. From a gentle sip to a lively beat, Listening Lyrics makes coffee sound sweet.

This week on Listening Lyrics we have Didar Singh Khalsa. He is a Woodland-area guitarist, singer and highly prolific songwriter whose music blends Americana, alternative folk rock and country-rock. Didar has played guitar for more than five decades. He began writing and recording his own songs much later, partly inspired by attending several songwriting camps taught by British guitarist and songw...

Tune in as Benjamin Brothers (pictured) and Louise Joyce, chief development officer at YoloCares, share the inspiring story behind a special afternoon of music, community, and giving back. Benjamin, a Davis high school student, was looking for a meaningful way to get involved when he discovered Galileo Place, an adult day program operated by YoloCares. The program offers physical and cognitive act...

This week’s  Listening Lyrics  tries to do the nearly impossible: squeeze an entire busy week into one music format without needing a permit from the city of New York. First, we celebrate Independence Day, with all the red-white-and-blue spirit, and the annual reminder that someone, somewhere, is about to overcook a hot dog. Then summer festivities kick fully into gear, bringing sunshine, long eve...

Grab the closest hammock you can find and tune in for Listening Lyrics  on KDRT 95.7 FM / KDRT.org at 4 p.m. Pacific!

Rock 'n' roll and jazz have always had a complicated relationship. Rock is often built on simplicity, energy, and attitude. Jazz thrives on improvisation, reinterpretation, and surprise. But when jazz musicians get their hands on rock songs, something magical can happen. Whether you're a jazz fan curious about rock, a rock fan curious about jazz, or simply someone who enjoys hearing great musician...

When it comes to guests, Karl Rasmussen is definitely on the “A” list. He’s articulate, thoughtful, full of energy, and brings the kind of warmth and enthusiasm that leaves an impression on everyone he meets. Karl is a true multi-instrumentalist—equally at home on guitar, keyboards, trombone, percussion, and vocals. He’s a driving force in Davis/Sacramento’s own Big Sticky Mess, a band with deep l...

Listen in to Listening Lyrics   as I play the top 11 songs from February 1953 … in Toronto, Canada. Not randomly. Those songs will carry a story—my story—of immigrating with my family from the Netherlands to Toronto. We’ll move through it in 11 acts, each one introduced, summarized, and—ideally—kept on track by my friend and fellow DJ Gil Medovoy , who will connect the moment to the music. This ho...

Tonight on Listening Lyrics , we head to Sweden – a land better known for forests, Volvos, ABBA, winter nights, and great design, but also home to a remarkable jazz and blues tradition. Swedish jazz often blends cool elegance, folk melodies, and deep atmosphere, while Swedish blues brings heartfelt grit with a Scandinavian twist. From smoky clubs in Stockholm to late-night festivals across the cou...

Tonight on Listening Lyrics we salute James Brown—the Godfather of Soul, a man whose grooves, screams, rhythms, and swagger became a musical blueprint. His songs didn’t just become hits—they became assignments. Generations of artists from jazz, rock, reggae, funk, blues, and pop have all taken their turn covering him. When musicians need fire, rhythm, and attitude, they often start with James Brow...