Boston, MA. March, 1996. Carp Ferrari, of South Natick, announced the formation of the Save MusicAmerica Trust. The Trust's purpose is to collect and to escrow contributions that will be turned over to radio station WGBH-FM/89.7 upon restoration of the popular weekday afternoon radio program featuring jazz, showtunes, big band, swing, and the broadest range of classic American music programming.
In discussing why she formed the Trust, Ferrari said, "Many MusicAmerica supporters I've spoken with over the last several months told me that by making a financial commitment to the station, we offer a constructive way to back our demands for restoring the show. In setting up this Trust and raising money, we will not only show WGBH just how much demand there is for classic American music radio programming on weekday afternoons, we'll also take on the challenge of financing it! Thinking long-term, I hope that the Trust will play a central and leadership role in funding the program on a continuing basis."
The Trust is now planning its first major fund raising event-a benefit concert hosted by Carol Sloane, the Concord Jazz recording artist. The event will feature Paul Broadnax, Donna Byrne, Artie Cabral, Michael Calmes, Lynne Jackson and Mike Palter, Steve Marvin, Cercie Miller, Gray Sargent, Paul Schmeling, and Marshall Wood-all of whom have agreed to contribute their talents to raise money for the program. "It's a grassroots movement," Ferrari said. "We'll be entertained at the beautiful Museum of Our National Heritage-can you think of a more appropriate place!?-in Lexington on Sunday evening, April 28 to hear 'The Great Ameican Songbook.' People wanting ticket information can call us at 617-259-0250.
Commenting on this strategy, Steve Low, a founder of the Committee to Save MusicAmerica, reflected that the significance of the Save MusicAmerica Trust may go far beyond restoration of this program. "We may have stumbled upon a creative new mechanism for supporting public radio broadcasting," said Low. "As Federal funding continues to diminish, here is an exciting way to organize listeners wishing to underwrite specific programs that for various reasons cannot be offered by commercial stations. An independent body like this Trust can do far more than just rely on on-air appeals for promoting and funding important programs like MusicAmerica."
The Trust's initial trustees include Mrs. Ferrari, its founder and a member of the Committee to Save MusicAmerica; Steve Low a business consultant from Lincoln; Joan Mayhew of Mashpee, a long-standing jazz patron and WGBH contributor, Robert B. Parker, Cambridge author of the Spenser mysteries; and Carol Sloane of Stoneham, the internationally-renowned Concord Jazz recording vocalist.
Tax-deductible contributions to the Trust can be mailed to the Save MusicAmerica Trust, at 207 Union Street, South Natick, MA 01760.
Ron Della Chiesa's MusicAmerica program kept classical American music alive for 18 years and reached a weekly audience of 100,000 listeners at the time it left the air. The Committee to Save MusicAmerica, a separate organization sharing the Trust's mission, is continuing its campaign to restore the show and maintains a 24-hour hotline, 617-662-0853.