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Pucker Up and Blow: the World of Whistling

Connecticut Public Radio | By Colin McEnroe
Published May 26, 2011 at 2:58 PM EDT
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http://cptv.vo.llnwd.net/o2/ypmwebcontent/Commodore%20Skahill/Colin%20McEnroe%20Show%2005-26-2011.mp3

We got interested in whistling after the Library of Congress launched its National Jukebox, an amazing online compilation of playable, often scratchy music from the library's collection. There's a lot of music there, including a whole section devoted to whistling. (Also yodeling, but that's another show ... )

Our semi-regular music expert Steve Metcalf had written, back in 1991, one of the more definitive articles on the history of artistic whistling and its status in the present day. 
 
We discovered also the world of competitive whistling and learned about Luke Janssen, a figure of controversy at the International Whistling Competition because of his unorthodox style of "palate" whistling. 
 
We also found John Parson, the whistling king of Connecticut. And we gradually realized there's more to say about whistling than we can possibly fit in this show.
 
Leave your comments below, e-mail colin@wnpr.org or Tweet us @wnprcolin. 

This show originally aired May 26, 2010.
Colin McEnroe
Colin McEnroe is a radio host, newspaper columnist, magazine writer, author, playwright, lecturer, moderator, college instructor and occasional singer. Colin can be reached at colin@ctpublic.org.
See stories by Colin McEnroe

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The independent journalism and non-commercial programming you rely on every day is in danger.

If you’re reading this, you believe in trusted journalism and in learning without paywalls. You value access to educational content kids love and enriching cultural programming.

Now all of that is at risk.

Federal funding for public media is under threat and if it goes, the impact to our communities will be devastating.

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