Film Music Fridays

Film Music Friday - September 23, 2020 (Jazz in Films)

By Darrell Brogdon

Published September 23, 2022 at 4:46 PM CDT

In the beginning jazz and films had a problematic relationship. Until the 1950s the main function of jazz in a film was strictly for entertainment…or what’s called “source music”…in other words, music that—on film—might be heard in a bar or playing on a radio. However, in the hangover following World War 2, and the rise of film noir, more composers began to use jazz in their film scores. This week we'll hear some stellar examples, including music from A Streetcar Named Desire, Touch of Evil, Anatomy of a Murder, Bullitt and more.

Film Music Fridays

Darrell Brogdon

Darrell is a self-described "radio rat," having started on the air in high school and still hasn't hung up his microphone. His first job was DJ-ing at KERV-AM, the only radio station in his hometown of Kerrville, Texas. After getting his speech and drama degree at North Texas State University, Darrell kicked around the dial before landing at KANU in 1982. In addition to his role as Program Director, he has produced just about any kind of show imaginable at KANU/KPR - quiz shows, radio dramas, concert broadcasts, arts magazines, record shows. A fanatical record collector, the second floor of Darrell's house is threatening to become the first floor under the sheer weight of accumulated LPs. Darrell sums up his on-air time thusly: "Doing The Retro Cocktail Hour and Right Between the Ears is like having the world's biggest electric train set.

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