For decades, Michael Lasser hosted Fascinatin' Rhythm (previously Anything Goes) on WXXI Classical, celebrating the Great American Songbook.
On July 22, 2025 Mike passed away at age 89. Listeners immediately shared their memories, many asking to hear his programs again.
WXXI Classical has chosen four episodes to honor Mike's career to re-broadcast on Saturdays at 11am throughout September. Here's more:
9/6 "Fascinating Rhythm" Cliff Edwards, also known as “Ukulele Ike” is a largely forgotten performer. His successes came in the midst of change in American music. He was part of the change.
9/13 "Telephone Soup" (The program from the 1994 season that was entered for the George Foster Peabody Award) Alexander Graham Bell must have been in love when he did his most important work. Either that or else he was an inventor with a romantic streak, who took special delight in playing cupid. With the possible exception of the drive-in movie and the automobile back seat, no invention ever did more for lovers than Mr. Bell’s telephone. And don’t the writers of popular songs know it.
9/20 "Yip's Barbed Wit" E.Y. Harburg, called “Yip” by everybody was an unusual combination of left wing idealist, bruised romantic, practicer of word-play, and sometimes costic humor. Each quality informed and shaded the others. But the focus today is on the word-play and barbed wit of Yip Harberg.
9/27 "In the Kitchen" Setting love songs in the house is pretty obvious. You put them in the bedroom or maybe the living room. A bed, a sofa, an overstuffed armchair. But the kitchen? That too.
