Happy 25th anniversary to David Dye and World Cafe! Listen to the national debut of the show

David Dye and My Morning Jacket | photo from the WXPN archives

On October 14th, 1991, the host and producer of World Cafe, David Dye, put the first national episode of the show up into the public radio satellite to begin what has been 25 amazing years bringing music to audiences around the world.

World Cafe was started with a grant from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. In August of 1991, David hosted the show locally on WXPN, and on October 14, 1991 the show premiered nationally on four stations including WFUV Public Radio, KUMD 103.3 FM, Iowa Public Radio, and WNCW.

The first guest that week was singer-songwriter Bruce Cockburn. On the first show David played music by World Party, Indigo Girls, Tracy Chapman, Billy Bragg, John Gorka, House Of Freaks, Taj Mahal, Happy Rhodes, The Dixie Hummingbirds, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, John Hiatt, and celebrated the Paul Simon’s birthday.

It was Columbus Day, and David played songs that addressed the theme. At the end of 1992, World Cafe had just over 50 stations carrying the show. Today the show is broadcasted on 200 + public radio stations and through the years have introduced millions of listeners to thousands and thousands of new artists. Congrats to David Dye and to all the folks from the past and present who contributed to the making of the show.

Below, listen to the very first episode of the national show, from October 14th, 1991.