Jim Ridley, editor-in-chief and beating heart of the Scene from 2009 until his death in 2016, enthusiastically supported the mission of community radio station WXNA, which seeks to bring an overflowing cornucopia of programming by and for the people to Nashville’s airwaves. Sadly — and that’s a use of the word that’s in the running for for “understatement of the century” considering it’s applied to one of the most generous spirits ever to walk the planet — he passed two months before the station officially signed on in June 2016. Ridley’s 60th birthday would have been Wednesday, July 23, and shows across the listener-supported station’s kaleidoscopic array of programs are set to celebrate his life and legacy throughtout the week.
Starting with Monday’s edition of Randy’s Record Shop, various WXNA shows will spotlight the intersection of film and music, two storytelling mediums Jim loved passionately and knew with extraordinary breadth and depth. To quote the release from the station: “Expect a week’s worth of soundtracks, original scores, music documentaries, ‘as featured in’ songs, movie dialogue, and golden-throated stars of stage and screen. Anything goes! (Goodness knows!)”
Set your tuner to 101.5 FM or visit wxnafm.org to hear tributes on at least one show each day through July 27. The following shows have confirmed their plans for Jim tributes to a representative from the station, and more are expected to announce as they get locked in.
- Randy's Record Shop (7-9 a.m. Monday)
- Tommy Womack's Happiness Hour (9-10 a.m. Monday)
- Groovy Potential (5-7 p.m. Tuesday)
- Gilded Splinters (8-10 p.m. Tuesday)
- Works Progress Radio Hour (noon-1 p.m. Wednesday)
- The Continental (7-9 a.m. Thursday)
- Psychobabble (noon-1 p.m. Friday)
- Mojo's Attic (5-7 p.m. Saturday)
- Teen Power Hour (2-4 p.m. Saturday and 2-3 p.m. Sunday)
- Hipbilly Jamboree (noon-2 p.m. Sunday)
There are two special notes to highlight on Friday, July 25. First, a panel will convene during the live broadcast of Psychobabble for a roundtable discussion about the ways Ridley impacted Nashville’s culture and its arts scenes. And at 7 p.m. the party becomes three-dimensional when WXNA volunteer DJs turn their longstanding weekly set at East Nashville’s Vinyl Tap into Jim Ridley Night. Brush up on the duet part of “In Spite of Ourselves” that suits you best and make plans to come through.
