Keillor's Prairie success helped to make him a best-selling author — for Lake Wobegon Days and Leaving Home — and has brought him no shortage of offers from commercial radio and television companies.

But he says that brand of radio doesn't offer him the freedom he wants: ''Commercial radio is imprisoned by the recording business, and the recording business has been so enthralled by the 14-year-old consumer that it grew out of touch with the adult consumer. I gave up on commercial radio because it's entirely a prisoner of its format.''

Television, he says, doesn't interest him either. ''If you are trying to say something, then radio is what you ought to be doing. I think it has to do with that tremendous voice coming out of the dark.''

And right now, that voice presides over interesting and eclectic music, rueful reminiscence, wry commentary — and lots of laughs. With a big L.

Originally posted Apr 20, 1990 Published in issue #10 Apr 20, 1990 Order article reprints
Page 1 2
You Might Also Like

Add your comment

The rules: Keep it clean, and stay on the subject or we might delete your comment. If you see inappropriate language, e-mail us. An asterisk * indicates a required field.

500 characters remaining