“Princess of the Blues” Ruby Hayes, with The Signal’s Aaron Henkin at the WYPR studios

(Click here for mp3’s of some recent stories from the show. And PODCASTERS, click here for a link to subscribe to The Signal’s weekly podcast.)

• A visit with writer and humorist John Hodgman. He’s a ‘guest correspondent’ on Comedy Central’s The Daily Show, and he’s recently authored an ‘Almanac of Complete World Knowledge’ that contains NO TRUE FACTS. He discusses his book, The Areas of My Expertise, and introduces his musical traveling companion, Jonathan Coulton, who shares a similar affection for the absurd.
• A talk with FOUND magazine publisher Davy Rothbart about some of his latest “finds” and about his collection of short stories, The Lone Surfer of Montana, Kansas
• The poetry of Signal contributor Rupert Wondolowski
• And the music and stories of Maryland blues diva Ruby Hayes. She started out as a teenage church choir singer in Arkansas. Then she moved out to the East Coast, where she’s gone on to earn the title, ‘Princess of the Blues’

Luthier Gary Flowers shows The Signal’s Andy Bienstock how to assemble an arch-top jazz guitar.

(Click here for mp3’s of some recent stories from the show. And PODCASTERS, click here for a link to subscribe to The Signal’s weekly podcast.)

Friday on The Signal, some favorite stories from past episodes of the show, including…

• A conversation with Peabody musicologist Mark Katz. He’s been researching the history of a simple rotating mechanical device that’s forever changed the way we listen to – and perform – music
• A radio portrait of the neo-cabaret ensemble Boister, a group of musicians who’ve drawn inspiration from the old silent films of Buster Keaton
• And a visit to the woodshop of luthier Gary Flowers. He turns blocks of spruce and maple into one-of-a-kind arch top jazz guitars