Few individuals have done more to celebrate, document and preserve the rich legacy of early jazz than San Francisco Bay Area historian, broadcaster and author Dave Radlauer. In recognition of more than four decades of dedication to America’s early (traditional) jazz roots, the Art Deco Society of California has named Radlauer the recipient of its 2026 Award for Preservation & Education on the History of Jazz of the Art Deco Era.
The award recognizes Radlauer’s lifelong commitment to preserving the sounds, stories, and personalities that helped shape one of the nation’s most vibrant traditional jazz communities.
Since beginning his broadcasting career in 1982, Radlauer has transformed radio into a living archive of America’s jazz heritage. His work in Bay Area radio and beyond has introduced generations of listeners to classic jazz recordings while providing historical context that made the music come alive. Starting in 1998, his nationally syndicated radio series, Jazz Rhythm, reached audiences across the country, blending rare recordings, insightful interviews, and meticulous research into programs that appealed equally to devoted jazz enthusiasts and newcomers alike.
Today, Jazz Rhythm continues to find new audiences as an exclusive program on Swing Street Radio, where Radlauer’s weekly broadcasts remain a cornerstone of the station’s commitment to preserving the music of the Swing Era and the Great American Songbook.
Over the course of his broadcasting career, Radlauer has received over a half dozen coveted broadcasting awards and has documented the lives and music of many of the Bay Area’s most influential traditional jazz artists. Through extensive interviews, he preserved the voices and memories of legendary musicians including Bob Helm, Barbara Dane, Wally Rose, Clancy Hayes, and Turk Murphy- performers whose contributions were central to San Francisco’s internationally recognized traditional jazz revival.
His work has extended well beyond the microphone. As an accomplished writer, Radlauer has authored approximately 200 published articles examining the history of traditional jazz, helping readers around the world develop a deeper appreciation for the musicians, recordings, and cultural significance of early American jazz. His careful research and engaging writing have made him one of the foremost authorities on West Coast jazz history.
Radlauer has also devoted countless hours to restoring rare recordings that otherwise might have been lost to history. More than a dozen hours of previously unavailable local performances have been carefully restored and released through his efforts, allowing modern audiences to hear musicians whose artistry might otherwise have disappeared forever. One of his recent projects brings a famous jazz venue back to life via a radio series featuring rare live recordings from San Francisco’s legendary night spot, Club Hangover. From the late 1940s through the mid-1950s, this intimate venue played host to giants like Louis Armstrong, Kid Ory, Earl Hines, and Duke Ellington’s finest sidemen.
Perhaps one of his most enduring contributions is his generous donation of the Dave Radlauer Jazz Collection to Stanford University. The extensive archive includes rare recordings, photographs, manuscripts, research papers, concert programs, and memorabilia documenting decades of traditional jazz performance throughout Northern California. The collection provides scholars, students, and future historians with an invaluable resource for understanding the development of West Coast jazz.
Radlauer also remains an active educator. Through university extension courses and public lectures, he continues sharing the remarkable story of San Francisco jazz from 1916 through 1966. His popular course, “Fifty Years of San Francisco Jazz,” was recognized in 2025 as one of the Best of Osher Lifelong Learning courses at the University of California, Berkeley, reflecting both the depth of his scholarship and his gift for bringing history to life.
The Art Deco Society of California’s 2026 preservation award recognizes not simply a distinguished broadcaster and historian, but a lifelong steward of America’s musical heritage. Through his passion, scholarship, restoration work, broadcasting, writing, and extraordinary generosity, Dave Radlauer has ensured that the joyful pulse of early jazz- and the remarkable musicians who created it- will continue to inspire generations to come.
Jazz Rhythm with Dave Radlauer can be heard Saturday mornings at 7AM Pacific/10AM Eastern on Swing Street Radio.
Club Hangover Revisited with Dave Radlauer airs Friday nights 11PM Pacific & Sundays 10AM Pacific/1PM Eastern on Swing Street Radio.
Craig Roberts writes the “Hot Big Band News” column for Swing Street Radio, and on occasion claims to have been Mildred Bailey’s vocal coach.
