Barbara's Views on wART 95.5 FM
Sharing music and stories - Spreading Joy!
Barbara was a radio program host on WCQS-FM, an NPR station back in the early 1990's and in June, 2026 made her way back on the airwaves. The station is wART 99.5 FM the voice of Madison County, NC. Tune in to hear the show live on Tuesdays at 8 PM ET.
If you prefer listening when the time is right for you or would like to hear a show again, visit the program archives below.
Archival Radio Programs by date, newest to oldest
In this episode you'll hear some really great music and artists including Word Up!, the Fearless Flyers, George Benson, Mr. Big Stuff, 3 Doors Down, Toots and the Maytals, and Surfin' Bird from the Trashmen. I also share a song I loved listening to in Mexico while working on a TV Series in the early nineties; a band who is credited in the etymology of a word in the Oxford English Dictionary; and I tell a story about a question my kids asked me when I sang a certain lyric that is now forever a part of listening to that tune for me.
Image: Rock and Autumn Leaves - Taken by Barbara Turman in western North Carolina
In this episode you'll hear music from Jimmy Cliff, Destiny's Child, Koko Taylor, and more. You'll also learn where the Ventura Highway lyrics 'Alligator lizards in the air" came from, learn about what Sam Cooke's father told him, and about a group who writes their music on month long travel journeys.
Image: Vintage Tractor Tire - Taken by Barbara Turman in western North Carolina
In this episode you'll enjoy a beautiful song by Cassandra Wilson who recently passed away (thanks for the recommendation Kendra and Christopher!), as well as songs by the Fireside Collective, John Lennon, Glenn Miller and his Orchestra, the Boston based progressive string band Twisted Pine, Fall Out Boy, Celia Cruz, The Smiths, and many more really great performances.
Image: Crimson and Yellow Crabapple 'Berries'- Taken by Barbara Turman St. Davids, PA
In this episode I open with a fivesome of musical "answer songs" featuring Muddy Waters, Bo Diddley, Etta James and Peggy Lee. I also play songs Avi Wisnia and The Manatawny Creek Ramblers, both based in the Philadelphia area. You'll also hear songs from Diana Ross, the theme from Rawhide by the Blues Brothers, No Doubt, Genesis, Brazilian musician Jorge Ben Jor, and more.
Image: Elk Grazing at Dusk- Taken by Barbara Turman on in Stallion Springs, CA
In this episode the program opens with Miles Davis and includes songs from Scottish soft rock band Wet, Wet, Wet, Frank Sinatra singing with his daughter Nancy, the Andrews Sisters, Dusty Springfield, Blind Blake, and more. You'll also hear two songs from the Muppets performed by Ray Charles and Jim Henson as Kermit and a flashback to 1978 with Steve Martin and King Tut!
Image: Grand Canyon Shadow Play 1- Taken by Barbara Turman on the south rim, Arizona
In this episode I share Allen Toussaint's take on West End Blues, the Beatles with Eleanor Rigby, and play a tune from American R&B/funk band L.T.D. You'll also hear Carmen McCrae, Elvis Presley, Zorba the Greek, Alison Krauss, and many more.
Image: Birds In Flight at the Beach - Taken by Barbara Turman in Redondo Beach, CA
In this episode, you'll hear songs from Roberta Flack, Styx, Burt Bacharach, Bastille and Lucinda Williams to name a few. I talk a little about Cyndi Lauper's 2005 album The Body Acoustic, a group from the Ozark Mountains who the NY Times says: "If Dolly Parton, Earl Scruggs, and Spinal Tap spawned a Litter of Puppies...." and I share a Queen song from their eleventh studio album that is based on an aria from an 1892 Pagliacci Opera. I hope you have fun listening!
Image: Flowing Water, Rock, Moss IV - Taken by Barbara Turman in western North Carolina
In this episode, I share a little about the Irish family band The Corrs, talk about Stomp Gordon and share his playful song "What's Her Whimsey, Dr. Kinsey", highlight Carlos Santana's Havana Moon album, and share a funny story about my kids and a talent show performance. You'll also hear from a wide variety of artists including Earth Wind and Fire, The Flamingos, U2, Nanci Griffith, and Marian McPartland.
Image: Wild Bloom Dandelion Fluff - Taken by Barbara Turman in western North Carolina
In this episode, you'll learn about the Neil Diamond song that turned into a global reggae-pop hit; hear from artists like Van Morrison, Wes Montgomery, John Hiatt, the Byrds, The Lumineers, and The Pretenders, and New Grass Revival. The show also closes with Dolly Parton and Forever Love from her album Pure and Simple - Dolly, thank you for everything - you will be forever in our hearts.
Image: Ebb and Flow Greens III - Taken by Barbara Turman in Rancho Palos Verdes, CA
In this episode you'll learn about the list of 100 essential country songs compiled for Roseanne Cash by her father; I share a story Junior Wells shared on the cover of his Hoodoo Man Blues album; and hear tunes from Otis Clay, Carlos Santana and Buddy Miles, the Hollies, the Talking Heads, and Doris Day along with many other gifted performers.
Image: Japanese Knot Berries I - Taken by Barbara Turman in western NC
In this episode, you'll learn about the Monks of the Weston Priory and hear one of their songs; hear what some call the greatest Bond song ever; and enjoy songs from many artists including Alicia Keys, DEVO, Barbra Streisand and Barry Gibb, Louis Prima, the California Honeydrops, Katrina and the Waves, and the Neville Brothers.
Image: The Starry Arch - Taken by Barbara Turman in Pasadena, CA
In this episode, the program opens with Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong and 'Let's Call the Whole Thing Off'; tell a story about my first time working the Oscars in 2019; share Beyonce's cover of the Beatles tune 'Blackbird'; and close with Johnny Cash and 'Rusty Cage.' You'll also hear songs from the Lonesome River Band, Gary Moore, the film Sing Sing. and from Rufus and Chaka Khan and more.
In this episode you'll learn a little about Russian-born American film composer and conductor Dimitri Tiomkin; get inspired to spread joy with Perry Como and 'Accentuate the Positive'; and hear tunes from a wide range of artists including Ben Harper, The Tony Rice Unit, Regina Carter, k.d. lang, the Gipsy Kings, Nickel Creek, and Swedish trombone player Nils Landgren and quite a few others.
Image: On the Road, Careful it's Icy - Taken by Barbara Turman, Saluda, NC
In this episode, I share a song written by Billy Joel that he credits as his most definitive song; play side by side two songs with similar names Que Sera ("What [it] will be") performed by Jose Feliciano and Que Sera, Sera (Whatever will be, will be) performed by Sly and the Family Stone (a rare cover); feature a song from the soundtrack of the 2022 Indian language epic "RRR"; and feature lots of other great artists including Z Berg and Keith Carradine, the Squirrel Nut Zippers, Hilary Gardner, Muddy Waters and the Seldom Scene to name a few.
Image: What a Sky IV - Taken by Barbara Turman, Highland Park, NJ
In this episode, the program opens with Joni Mitchell and 'The Circle Game'; I talk about the 2001 French-language film Amelie and feature a song from the soundtrack; I share how Ida Cox wrote Wild Women Don't Get the Blues in 1924; and along the way you'll hear artists like Aretha Franklin, Chuck Mangione, Da Vinci's Notebook, Ottmar Liebert, and Los Lonely Boys and many more.
Image: Vintage Gas Pump - Taken by Barbara Turman, Balsam, NC
In this episode, I play a song from the 1989 film Cousins; share a story about my kids and our monthly music budget playing a song from one of our finds; talk about the prolific career of Brazilian singer-songwriter Milton Nascimento; and share what inspired Steve Young to write Seven Bridges Road. On top of that, so many other great artists and songs including Jimmy Landry, Sade, Diane Schuur and the Count Basie Orchestra, Cat Stevens and Faith Hill.
Image: Rock, Red Leaf, Moving Water ii - Barbara Turman in western NC
In this episode, I take you back to 1944 with Peggy the Pin-Up Girl from Glenn Miller and the Army Airforce Band; play an early gem from Anne Murray - Send a Little Love my Way; give you some Janis Joplin, Loggins and Messina, McCoy Tyner, and Mumford & Sons. Along the way, two stories, seeing the Subdudes perform on stage at the Little Bear Saloon in Greenwood, CO and their harmonic vocals on their song 'The Rain'; and the humor and meaning behind the Blues Traveler's song The Hook which I completely missed until now and many more tunes intended to delight you!
Image: Oak Grove Sunset by Barbara Turman, Stallion Springs, CA
In this episode, I open with a warm and sultry live performance recording of Try A Little Tenderness by Al Jarreau and talk about the Montreux Jazz Festival and I close with the 1954 Irving Berlin song 'Sisters' by sisters Rosemary and Betty Clooney featured in the film White Christmas. In between, you'll hear the music of Strunz & Farah, Randy Crawford, the Baha Men, Bill Frisell, the Pacific Mamo Orchestra and She & Him to name a few. I also feature two songs by the 'high priestess of soul' Nina Simone - did you know she was born in Tryon, NC?
Image: Porch Welcome - Taken by Barbara Turman in Saluda, NC
In this episode, I feature two songs from the singer and musician Sippie Wallace recorded more than 50 years apart, and I talk about Stevie Wonder's soundtrack for the film: The Secret Life of Plants. Other artists feature include musicians I first saw perform in the early nineties including David Wilcox and Eddie From Ohio; and some of my favorite artists and songs including performances by George Benson, Paul Winter, Bobby McFerrin, Yo-Yo Ma, New Grass Revival and Bob Marley and the Wailers.
Image: Iris and Birch - Taken by Barbara Turman in western NC
My show features an eclectic mix of music and because it's my debut of Barbara's Views , I feature a number of song debuts in this episode. I also share stories about and feature music from Arturo Sandoval; Oleta Adams and the band who walked into a bar changing the course of their careers; the story of B.B. King and his guitar(s) named Lucille; and more.
Image: River Run in Shadow - Taken by Barbara Turman in western NC