A special two part episode featuring the musician and archivist Rick Wilkerson, a co-founder of the Indiana Music History Project, and the Indiana Musicpedia - an alphabetically-listed compendium of Indiana musicians, and music-related businesses.

Wilkerson will share an A to Z playlist of Indiana music, featuring classic Hoosier jazz, funk, punk, folk and psychedelic music.

This week on Cultural Manifesto  the Indianapolis-based rapper Skypp. His new album Sorry 4 My Trauma explores the trauma Skypp experienced growing up on the Eastside of Indianapolis, and his attempts to cope with that pain.

Skypp is one of the most prominent voices in Indianapolis rap music. He's had multiple releases hit the iTunes rap charts, and he's performed alongside artists including DMX, Too $hort, Anthony Hamilton, Floetry, and Babyface.

This week on Cultural Manifesto we'll celebrate Black History Month by looking back at the work of Calvin Carter, an unsung figure in Indiana music,

Carter was born in Gary, Indiana on May 27 of 1925. He's best known for his work with Vee-Jay Records, a label founded in Gary, Indiana in 1953 by his sister Vivian Carter. Carter worked as a songwriter, producer, arranger, and A&R manager for the label. 

We’ll focus on Carter’s work as a songwriter.  Carter wrote, or co-wrote many classic rock and R&B hits - including The Spaniels' "Goodnite, Sweetheart, Goodnite", and Jerry Butler's "He Will Break Your Heart". Over the years, Carter’s songs have been performed by a wide range of artists, from Dolly Parton, to Aerosmith.

This week on Cultural Manifesto we speak with saxophonist Brandon Douthitt. He’s one of the featured performers at this year’s Art & Soul Festival. 

Douthitt will share his memories of performing at Afropunk with the R&B star Solange, and we’ll listen to his jazz interpretations of music from SpongeBob SquarePants. 

We'll also pay tribute to the Indianapolis big band singer Virginia Maxey, who recorded and performed with artists including Frank Sinatra and Tommy Dorsey. This year marks the 100th anniversary of her birth.

This week on Cultural Manifesto, we speak with Florence LaRue, an original member of the legendary ‘60s psychedelic soul group the 5th Dimension. LaRue has performed with the 5th Dimension for over 50 years, and on the eve of her 81st birthday, she’s taking the 5th Dimension back out on the road. 

We also have a new edition of Rebel Music with Karla Lopez. This week Karla’s guest is the activist and musician Isaias Guerrero. He’ll discuss his song "Preciosas Vidas Negras,” a Spanish language anthem for the Black Lives Matter movement.

This week on Cultural Manifesto we'll listen back to my 2017 interview with the 1960s rock icon David Crosby, he passed away last week at the age of 81. 

And we'll talk with the jazz pianist Isaiah J. Thompson, he’s one of the finalists in the American Pianist Associaiton’s Cole Porter Jazz Fellowship. We'll discuss Thompson's recent performance for NPR's Tiny Desk, and his tribute to the Indianapolis jazz legend Buddy Montgomery.

This week on Cultural Manifesto Indianapolis rapper and R&B vocalist Aye Marcay.

Aye Marcay is a young artist, she’s only been releasing music for two years, but her work has already attracted National attention. In 2021 her track “Give Me Peace” was featured on a mixtape by the rap star Bow Wow. 

We'll listen to tracks from Aye Marcay's catalog, and she’ll share information about her family’s extensive history in Indiana music.

This week on Cultural Manifesto an interview with violinist Kevin Lin. Lin made news in 2020, when he left his role as co-leader of the London Philharmonic Orchestra, to take a position as concertmaster with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra. Lin will discuss the ISO’s 2023 season

We’ll also have another edition of Rebel Music with Karla Lopez, this week’s featured guest is the librarian, archivist, and activist Stephen Lane, a member of the Indianapolis chapter of the Party for Socialism and Liberation. Lane will share how music has shaped his work as an archivist and activist.

Join Kyle Long as he listens back to words and music from a wide variety of local and national artists, including Angélique Kidjo, Sweet Poison Victim, RAM, Oltanie Charles, Emily Wells, Giauna Neville, and Mafer Bandola of Ladama.