WXPN DJ Robert Drake Hosts 15th Annual 'The Night Before on XPN' Marathon Broadcast

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Created on Monday, 22 December 2008 10:41

Drake to play holiday music for 24 hours - nonstop

PHILADELPHIA, PA December 22, 2008 - WXPN (http://www.xpn.org), the nationally-recognized leader in Triple A (Adult Album Alternative) music and noncommercial radio service of the University of Pennsylvania, today announced its 15th Annual 'The Night Before on XPN' program which airs for 24 hours on December 24.

Host Robert Drake will take over the XPN airwaves, playing obscure and favorite holiday music from his eclectic personal collection, ranging from singer/songwriter to jazz to Creole to folk and beyond. Listeners can tune in to WXPN-FM from midnight Tuesday to midnight Wednesday or listen live worldwide at http://xpn.org/listen-live. This year, XPN will launch a live Jingle Cam and stream 24-hour footage of Drake through the XPN website. Listeners can watch their host live online as well as drop in to a special chat room and talk with other fans of 'The Night Before.'

"We started this program back in 1993 because no WXPN DJs were available to go on the air on Christmas Eve," said Drake. "I filled a three-hour time slot that year, which soon went to four, then six and eventually 12 hours in 2006. Now, for the second year in a row, we're doing 24 straight hours and I can't wait to get it started."

Drake's collection is decades in the making and avoids the typical, over-played, burnt holiday aural cookies. Featuring local, national and international artists, 'The Night Before on XPN' will include 'Gift Bag' music hours with nothing but requested songs, live guests and the classic 1947 radio broadcast of It's A Wonderful Life.

"For the past 15 years, listeners have joined me in their preparation for the holiday - some are knee deep in Christmas, others are simply trying to complete another work day," said Drake. "Regardless, one of the many joys of this special season is hearing from those who have made me one of their holiday traditions each and every year."

Related Links:
Robert Drake's Blog
'The Night Before' page on xpn.org WXPN

About WXPN
WXPN, the nationally recognized leader in Triple A radio and the premier guide for discovering new and significant artists in rock, blues, roots and folk, is the non-commercial, member-supported radio service of the University of Pennsylvania. WXPN produces World Cafe®, public radio's most popular program of popular music hosted by David Dye and syndicated by NPR, and the Peabody Award winning Kids Corner hosted by Kathy O'Connell. WXPN also produces the alternative rock service, Y-Rock On XPN (yrockonxpn.org) as its secondary radio channel in HD. WXPN serves the greater Philadelphia area at 88.5 FM, the Lehigh Valley at 104.9, Worton/Baltimore at 90.5 FM, Lancaster/York at 88.7 FM, Harrisburg at 99.7 FM and the world via online streaming at XPN.org.