Red Crystal was a music show started by Susan Sailow in 1973 at KPFA in Berkeley, CA. It was also known as “Music to the Nth Power”.
Ms. Sailow was part of the Music Department at KPFA, and contributed to the collective that produced the show, Focus on Women Composers, there. The show was later changed to Focus on Women in Music, to open up more music genres, such as rock and roll, which was a favorite of Ms. Sailow’s.
One night at a Music Department meeting, some air time opened up, and she was chosen to fill that space. She dove in with all arms and legs, and began a journey that was never to be forgotten (by her)!
She composed her music shows, mostly – at home she would play a track that was going around in her head, and follow it by another piece that had some connection – perhaps instrumentation, melody, or feeling.
There were also times when she winged it, and just spun the platters.
Red Crystal was on Tuesday nights and at one point changed to Thursday nights. From time to time there was a show on a particular musician or genre of music.
Red Crystal was, indeed, a labor of love!