David Dye, the host of the popular syndicated music radio program World Café, is stepping down after 25 years. Dye, 66, made the announcement Monday.
Dye, a Philadelphia native and longtime fixture at WXPN radio, says his last day as host and producer of World Café will be on March 31, 2017. He will still host WXPN’s weekly Funky Friday show however and will continue to work on World Café as a special contributor.
“On one hand, it is extremely hard to picture my life without hosting the World Cafe on a daily basis,” Dye wrote on WXPN’s website. “It is the best job in radio, working with the most talented people. For years I have had the opportunity to sit in the same room talking with the likes of Leonard Cohen, Joni Mitchell, Herbie Hancock and thousands of others. Our 25th anniversary seems like the perfect juncture to get off the treadmill of daily radio and see what is next.”
Dye began his radio career in Philadelphia in 1970 as the host of a music show on WMMR 93.3FM for four years. He then worked at radio stations in Maine for five years before returning to Philadelphia where he worked at WHYY. Dye then worked at alternative rock station WIOQ 102.1 FM in 1981.
Dye joined WXPN in 1989 where he launched World Café two years later. The program features live performances and interviews with both established and up-and-coming artists in various musical genres. The program has been distributed by NPR since 2005 and is syndicated on more than 250 public radio stations across the country. Dye has won several awards during his tenure as the World Café host including “Best Triple A Air Talent,” from the Album Network, four “Best of Philly Awards,” from Philadelphia Magazine and the 2006 “Triple A Air Personality of the Year” by Radio & Records.
Dye will be honored on March 3 and March 4 of next year with two concerts marking World Café’s 25th anniversary.
