Frank French’s Ragtime Show Returns to Radio This Month

Frank French’s weekly radio program on ragtime and other early forms of American music returns to the airwaves March 13 after a six-month hiatus.

“From Ragtime to No Time,” which features vintage and contemporary recordings along with interviews and occasional live performances, will air Sundays from 7 to 9 p.m. on KSBR (88.5 FM) in Mission Viejo.

French, a ragtime pianist and self-styled music historian, has been in New Orleans studying several music archives, primarily at the Tulane Jazz Archives. He also performed in a number of festivals around the country.

He said his new shows will incorporate some of the discoveries he made in his research. “A lot of music is being rediscovered that has just been laying around for a while,” he said. He said he will put more emphasis on Southern California ragtime musicians and events.

The March 13 show will feature a taped interview with David Thomas Roberts, whom French described as “one of the foremost composers of folk ragtime.”