Louisiana gets to claim fame to alot of prideful things. Unfortunately, being the prison capital of America, and according to some statistics, of the world by way of number of inmates per capita, is not one of them. However, our state’s most famous (or infamous) prison, Angola Penitentiary has a very unique program where once again, music saves lives.
WWOZ FM is accepting CDs for the Angola Music Project through April 19
Of the less mundane activities available to inmates at Angola is their own KLSP 91.7 FM radio station, run by the inmates themselves. Beyond serving as a productive music and technology outlet, participating in KLSP also provides a space for direct communication and expression through music and musical commentary. And with the help of your CD donations to expand their music library you might just help make the listeners’ within their range a little happier too. After all, who wants to hear the same few songs over and over again all day?
To aid KLSP in their quest to build their music library, our local WWOZ 90.7FM has an ongoing music project with KLSP-91.7 FM. They are currently collecting quality CDs that WWOZ will deliver to Angola later this month.
GUIDELINES: KLSP plays contemporary Jazz, all types of Blues, Country, Gospel, original and contemporary R&B. They don’t play: Rap, Bounce or Hip Hop. If you would like to contribute used CDs in good condition for this project, please drop them off or mail them to arrive by Friday, April 19th, to:
WWOZ-FM
ATTN: Jelly Roll Justice
French Market Building, 2nd Floor
1008 North Peters
New Orleans, La. 70116
CDs donated to Angola Music Project must come through WWOZ and cannot be shipped directly to the prison — they have been pre-approved to do the collection and processing by the prison administration.
More about the Angola Music Project:
Help keep the music scene strong at Angola.
KLSP is the only FCC licensed radio station to operate from within a prison by inmate disc jockeys. Although KLSP, known as the “Incarceration Station,” operates at 100 watts, it reaches over 6,000 people (staff, inmates and visitors). KLSP, a non-commercial station, has been entertaining and educating its listeners since August 12, 1986.
There are over 5,000 inmates in Angola Penitentiary and 85% of them will never leave the prison’s 18,000 acres.
Prison officials desired a way to communicate to all the inmate population at once, especially when emergency information had to be conveyed. A radio station appeared to be a solution to this problem. KLSP has been able to both inform the inmate population by allowing prison officials the ability to address them at once and give the Angola community non-stop music, educational and religious programs.
According the prison: “Most importantly, it’s the enjoyment the men can receive through music. In a place where they must always remain, music can make their time seem less hopeless.”
If you have any questions, contact [email protected]
