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Brother John Sellers (07/02/1982)

October 17, 2025, 11:00 pm

Studs Terkel (Photo: Ray Burley)

Brother John Sellers (1924 – 1999) was a friend of Big Bill Broonzy, godson of Mahalia Jackson, and an inspired singer of gospel, folk, and work songs. This conversation with Studs Terkel dates from 1982 and includes many recordings and remembrances.

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Meet the Host

Studs Terkel (1912-2008) radically redefined the concept of radio interviews. For 45 years starting in 1952, WFMT was his homebase. His daily radio show was a pillar of WFMT’s programming, with its eclectic and astute mix of music and conversation. Studs juxtaposed interviews with the many of the 20th century’s most significant figures with the voices of uncelebrated, working people from Chicago. As a Pulitzer Prize-winning author, Studs helped established oral history as a popular and socially ambitious literary genre. Some of his titles include: Division Street, Hard Times, Working, Race and And They All Sang (Adventures of an Eclectic Disc Jockey). Studs was also a recipient of the National Book Award.

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Brother John Sellers (07/02/1982)