AMPERS
Minnesota's Community Radio Stations
Bruce Swedien set up his first recording studio in his parents’ basement in Minneapolis. But he’s best known for his work with Michael Jackson. Britt Aamodt looks back at 1982 and Swedien’s contribution to “Billie Jean”, the breakout track from Thriller, still the best-selling album of all time. [Read Transcript...]
How does a kid go from being a coffee shop guitarist to City Pages’ best new music act of the Twin Cities? Britt Aamodt unravels the legend of Thomas Abban and his 2017 album A Sheik’s Legacy. [Read Transcript...]
The Wallets were a band in 1980s Minneapolis known for their high-energy jams and theatric performances. Producer Daniel Zamzow describes how in one of their earlier shows at Jay’s Longhorn Bar, the band attempted a prank that didn’t go as planned. [Read Transcript...]
Frances Gumm was born in 1922 Grand Rapids, Minnesota. She would grow to become the singer and actor Judy Garland, star of The Wizard of Oz. Producer Daniel Zamzow recounts the time she came back to her home state to sing with the Minneapolis Symphony in 1958. [Read Transcript...]
