"For me it's always been about music," said Larry London the host of Border Crossings, VOA's Music Mix all-request program.
Chasing the thrill of a crowd, London has been an entertainer since he was a little boy. Exposed to music through old R&B records his father used to play and dance to, he developed a passion for music and eventually broadcasting, the outlet for his creative energy.
When he took over Border Crossings in 2001, he brought a new flavor and determination to the show. Focusing mostly on pop music and using connections from his thirty-year, globe-spanning career, he has brought in such artists as Tom Jones and Quincy Jones, and attracted a younger audience to the popular program by featuring artists such as Beyonce, Alicia Keys, Fall Out Boy, Raven Simone and Bon Jovi.
Border Crossings is a live, unscripted show airing in English to 60 countries, connecting people across cultures through music. Unlike single-genre commercial radio, Border Crossings plays a wide variety of music. The audience is the entire world, and the overall goal is to represent American culture. "There is no better representation than entertainment, which is our biggest export," said London. "I am the vehicle that brings them a piece of American culture."
A key example is Iran, where even though U.S. music is outlawed, it's obvious the people are listening. "We still receive e-mail and even call-in requests from Iranian listeners," says London.London's thirty-year broadcasting career hasn't been only within the U.S.; after teaching and working in several top American markets, he took a job in Hong Kong. The Hong Kong job, starting up a bilingual pop station from scratch, was eye-opening: he witnessed firsthand the influence American pop culture has on the world. "Pop stars in Hong Kong and Japan all fashioned themselves after American singers," he said.
Returning to the U.S. after seven years, London used his unique domestic and international experience to create a revitalized Border Crossings, not only relating to but building relationships with listeners. Along with taking requests for music from all genres, he gives away prizes such as CDs and t-shirts, and brings musician interviews to television as well as radio.
"I love what I'm doing," he said. "I can't imagine stopping."
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