Events

Released in 1998 and produced by DJ Squeeky, 2 Wild For The World is a defining document of Memphis rap’s late-’90s underground — Tom Skeemask’s raw delivery riding production that bridges 8Ball & MJG’s soulful funk with Three 6 Mafia’s darker textures, anticipating the sounds later recontextualized through phonk and beyond.

The WYXR Dowd Awards is an annual ceremony celebrating the contributions of Black musicians, creatives, and community leaders whose artistry and service have shaped the sound and spirit of Memphis. Presented during Black Music Month, the awards are named for Nat D. Williams — legendary DJ, journalist, educator, and Memphis Music Hall of Fame member — honoring his legacy of music and community commitment.

Released in 1977 and recorded at Ardent Studios, Wanna’ Meet the Scruffs? is one of Memphis rock’s great lost classics — Stephen Burns-led power pop that blended British Invasion melodicism with American garage grit, arriving quietly and disappearing almost immediately. Often mentioned alongside Big Star but tougher and more street-level, the album has spent decades earning its reputation among power-pop devotees as a record of melody, momentum, and emotional abandon.

Released in 1983 on Three Angels Records, Master Save Me pairs Wanda Lott’s commanding vocals with rhythm-forward arrangements and synthesizers — a gospel-embracing contemporary sound without losing its testimonial roots. Written by Gale Jones Murphy and featuring a choir that includes the parents of The Sensational Barnes Bros., it’s both a sacred work and a document of Memphis gospel’s quiet influence on the city’s broader musical culture.

Released in 2002 on Bardot Records, Our Land Brains captures Snowglobe translating local acclaim into national recognition — melodic psych-pop rooted in ’60s tradition but firmly of the early-2000s indie underground. Balancing hook-driven songs with more expansive moments, it’s a front-to-back listening experience that holds up: later reissued as a remastered double LP, the album stands as a testament to Memphis’s enduring album-driven indie tradition.

Released in 1981 on EMI America, To The Point finds KWICK — emerging from the Stax-affiliated Newcomers — fusing deep harmony traditions with sleek synthesizers and dance-floor precision in the competitive aftermath of Stax’s collapse. Produced by Allen Jones, architect of the Bar-Kays’ reinvention, the album places KWICK alongside contemporaries like Ebonee Webb and Galaxy in a post-Stax wave that embraced disco’s momentum without abandoning Memphis’s muscular groove.

WYXR’s Pledge Drive is our biannual week-long fundraiser where our volunteer DJs pair up on-air to ask for your support. Tune in all week for special duo broadcasts and live music performances, and help keep Memphis radio alive.

WYXR’s Raised By Sound Fest celebrates Memphis music, new and old, across multiple genres and features our unique group of volunteer DJs. It will feature free, day-long performances on Saturday, a ticketed headline concert on Friday, and a ticketed headline concert and after-party on Saturday night. Sign up for our newsletter to be the first to hear about festival updates!