Jar-E and Guy Raz: BFFs?

Posted on by Rebecca Sulock

The setting? The wild social-media world of Twitter. The players? Local soul man Jar-E (a boisterous guy who does stand-up comedy on the side), and the weekend host of NPR’s All Things Considered since 2009, Guy Raz.

Jar-E had been heckling Raz on Twitter for months. Sample taunts: “The voice of Guy Raz has ruined All Things Considered Weekend for me” (Feb. 14, 2010), “I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again, damn you Guy Raz. You ruin the news sir. Resign!” (May 1, 2010). And “Guy Raz is doing an on-air beer tasting!! I hope it’s poisoned.”  (July 17, 2010).

Raz found out. Was he angry? No, he actually sent a nice email (in November): “A friend pointed out some of your ongoing critiques of my voice. (The wonders of the internet.) I checked out your website. Your music is great. Sorry I sound smarmy. You’re the first to use that adjective. But there have been worse. Believe me. And thanks for still listening to the show despite the vocal distraction.

Regards,
GR”

The latest in the saga? Raz has become such a fan of Jar-E’s music, he invited him onto All Things Considered. The two taped an interview at downtown Asheville’s WCQS studios on Friday (that’s Jar-E on the right, WCQS operations manager Lee Wilcher on the left). It will air between 5 and 6 p.m. on Sunday’s weekend edition.

We can’t wait to hear how the heck it went.

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