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KEDM Receives Grant To Preserve Local Blues Heritage

KEDM Public Radio received a $2,000 grant from Entergy Charitable Foundation for the production of a new weekly radio series calledByway Bluesbeginning in January 2016.

The grant will allow KEDM to preserve the musical and cultural heritage of Louisiana's blues by recording musicians and artists from northeast Louisiana.

Byway Blues will share the lives and musical accomplishments of famous artists such as Blind Joe Reynolds, Mable John, Doug Duffey, and many more.

Byway Blues is a taste of a much larger project," said host Lesli Rambin. "In addition to this program, my husband Kirby and I are working to establish a Louisiana Blues Trail. I'm so pleased KEDM is a part of this education effort that can spill over to revitalize downtowns through preservation."

KEDM General Manager Jay Curtis says Byway Blues is going to be a breath of fresh air to the local listeners. He explains, "Byway Blues will educate listeners on local history they may not have been aware of in addition to the news they hear every day."

The grant will also assist the station in training students at the University of Louisiana at Monroe in audio production and documentary storytelling. During the production of Byway Blues, students will pair stories with music by editing and producing a radio documentary.

The Entergy Charitable Foundation supports initiatives that help and sustain thriving communities. The foundation focuses its support on low-income initiatives and educational and literacy programs.

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