Page 28 - Litteratteur Redefining World December issue

Litterateur redefining world December 2020

Turning point

In 1986 I took over the series at Larry Blake's and then, in 1988, I was offered a
radio show on KPFA, where I have been producing programs ever since. I
became deeply involved with the community of writers here, organizing,
discussing, reading, writing. From 1990 to 1995 I edited an Oakland-based
magazine, Poetry USA. Heaven Bone called it "the poetry Bible of the 'Bay'
area"; The Beatlicks: Nashville's Poetry Newsletter described its experimental

issue as "a wake up call for poetry in America." In 1992 Joyce Jenkins named
me contributing editor of her wonderful magazine, Poetry Flash. Larry Eigner,
James Broughton, Al Young, Michael McClure, Jess, Ishmael Reed, and Lou
Harrison became dear friends, and they have all encouraged my work in various
ways. An appearance with Lou Harrison issued in a performance on his CD, Lou
Harrison: A Birthday Celebration. In June, 2010, I received a Lifetime
Achievement Award from The Berkeley Poetry Festival, and June 5, 2010 was
"Jack Foley Day" in Berkeley. Adelle and I gave a performance and we had T
shirts made. Later, I received a Lifetime Achievement Award from Marquis
Who's Who.

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