Leave it to a Brit to move to Chattanooga to cultivate original radio programming of value amid the pre-programmed, electronic disco that fills commercial radio.
WUTC-FM’s Richard Winham, who also writes The Pulse’s music column, has long enriched the local independent/NPR station at 88.1 on the FM dial with not only his own daily show from 2 to 4 p.m., but has discovered and nurtured others with abiding and passionate music interests, including his most recent production, “Connect the Dots,” a monthly program hosted by the father-and-son team of Chris and Chris Dortch that links songs to themes and influences of the bands and artists they highlight. Less than two years ago, Winham recruited Doug Cook, creative director with the local outpost of the Neathawk, Dubuque and Packett advertising agency, to host the SuperSonic Soul Show.
“I’d describe the show as a broad-stroke take on soul music, with an emphasis on southern soul and off-the-beaten path artist from all points,” Cook says. “In some instances, we make the link to current artists like the Drive-By Truckers, but it’s not necessarily a point of emphasis. House bands and the sense of place are a big deal for me—Memphis and Muscle Shoals didn’t happen by accident; or more to the point, the ‘accident’ was one of time and place.”
A lifelong music fan who came to love classic southern soul in reverse, discovering the sounds to be the roots of rock ‘n’ roll, Cook revels in sharing his passion and says, “it’s fun to just spin what sounds good.”
The SuperSonic Soul Show airs from 8 to 10 p.m. the first Sunday of each month on WUTC-FM.