What is Sunday Bluegrass all about? It exudes the love of the traditional bluegrass and country music. Old time country music at it’s finest.
Sunday Bluegrass is an outpouring of respect and remembrance of the artists who made the music and laid the foundations for the music of the everyday people. It is in part, history in music as it tells of the struggles, joys, and events of life. Both real events and representative stories.
Sunday Bluegrass may bring back memories of growing up or you may hear “another” music for the first time and embrace it!
It’s the music, artists, honesty, and sincerity in family radio. It’s here on WFPK with listeners (by proxy) all over the country. Thanks to you if you’re a dedicated listener and welcome if you may become a new one!
Berk was born in Lynchburg, VA. 8 June 1930. He grew up there and learned to love “hillbilly,” string music, mountain music, whatever name it was given over the years. A graduate of E.C. Glass high school in Lynchburg, he went on to become a non-graduate of Virginia Polytechnic Institute. Drafted for the Korean war during the school year of 1952. After that two-year stint in the army, he obtained a job at a local radio station WWOD and developed a country show called Country Gentleman Time. The show name was taken from the theme, “Country Gentleman” by Chet Atkins, and Berk adopted the name for himself.
After a few more years in radio, and a couple of years at G.E., it was back to the army in ’64 and a trip to Vietnam. Berk didn’t leave the army again till 1982.
Having a desire to get back in radio and to have a bluegrass and traditional country show eventually led to public radio. After talking to station manager Gerry Weston, Berk was given the Sunday Bluegrass show, which debuted in June of 1989.
Sunday Bluegrass has been and is strictly a volunteer effort, done for the love of the music, the artists and a sincere desire to get all of this on- the- air. Berk has been performing to some degree in various types of show for 65 years. He does emcee work at festivals in Michigan, Tennessee, and Kentucky every year.
“I thank you all for your dedicated support and special thanks to my parents who always encouraged me. It just keeps getting better all the time.”
