40s Music Radio - The Sound of the 1940s

Some songs become popular. Some become memories. And a very few become part of people’s lives. 

“We’ll Meet Again” was one of those songs. 

Released in 1939 just as the clouds of World War II were gathering over Europe, the song quickly became a source of comfort for millions of families facing separation, uncertainty, and fear. Soldiers were leaving home. Sweethearts said goodbye at train stations. Families gathered around radios, hoping for good news from overseas. 

And through it all came the warm and reassuring voice of Vera Lynn. 

With simple words and gentle confidence, she sang about hope — not despair. About reunion — not loss. 

“We’ll meet again… don’t know where… don’t know when…” 

For those living through wartime, those words mattered deeply. Vera Lynn became known as “The Forces’ Sweetheart,” and her songs were heard by troops and civilians throughout the war years. Her voice reminded listeners that even in difficult times, better days could still lie ahead. 

What makes this song endure even now is its universal message. Almost everyone has experienced separation. A goodbye. A season of waiting. Or the hope of seeing someone again someday. That’s why “We’ll Meet Again” still touches hearts more than 80 years later. 

At 40s Stateside Radio, we believe the music of the 1940s, including the beloved Glenn Miller music and the sounds of big band radio, is more than entertainment. These songs carried people through some of life’s hardest moments — and somehow still speak to us today. 

Maybe that’s the magic of great music. A melody can cross generations. A lyric can reopen a memory. And an old song can remind us that hope never really goes out of style. 

So this month, we celebrate “We’ll Meet Again” — a song that became a promise to an entire generation. And perhaps, in its own gentle way, it still is.

We’re more than listeners. We’re more than a playlist. We’re people who remember. People who hum along. People who smile when the brass kicks in. Some of us were there in the 1940s, enjoying the sounds of 40s Stateside Radio. Some of us grew up with parents who cherished big band radio. Some of us just love music that feels real, like Glenn Miller music. Here’s what makes someone part of the Family: • You love the music • You value the stories behind the songs • You treat others with kindness • You believe great music never expires That’s it. No membership card. No fees. Just belonging. When you leave a comment… When you share a memory… When you listen live… You’re part of the Stateside Family. And we’re glad you’re here.

The idea for From Stateside didn’t begin in a studio; it began in the middle of the night. I was traveling to a wedding in Michigan, and like many nights on the road, sleep wouldn’t come easily. So, I picked up my phone and started searching for something to listen to—old time radio, big band music, anything from the era I loved. That’s when I discovered The UK 1940s Radio Station. I listened for hours on my drive back home to Florida. The music was wonderful, but a thought kept coming to me: they needed a voice from America… someone to talk about what it was like here during those wartime years. When I got home, I went straight to work. I created a 15-minute demo program and sent it across the Atlantic to the station in the UK. They liked it—and before long, they were running the program twice a day, all week long. That little idea eventually grew into 186 episodes of “From Stateside.” The concept was simple: if television can rerun classic shows for new generations, why can’t radio share the stories and music of the 1940s again? Today those same stories and songs live on at 40s Stateside Radio, where the memories—and the music—continue to play, including the iconic sounds of Glenn Miller music and the vibrant tunes of big band radio. Larry King

40s Stateside Radio was created out of a lifelong love for radio and the music that defined a generation, especially the captivating big band radio sounds of the 1940s.

Larry King, the station’s founder and executive producer, grew up during a time when radio was more than just background noise—it was a companion. The big bands, the crooners, and the unforgettable melodies of the 1940s told stories of hope, romance, courage, and resilience during one of the most important decades in American history.

That love of broadcasting led Larry into a career in radio, television, and creative media that has spanned many decades. Early in his career, he worked in television production, learning the art of storytelling through pictures and sound. Later, he entered the world of advertising and media production, where creativity and communication became central to his work.

But radio was always close to his heart.

With the growth of internet streaming, Larry saw an opportunity to bring the music of the 1940s, including the iconic Glenn Miller music, to listeners everywhere. From his own studio, he launched 40s Stateside Radio, a place where the great orchestras, vocalists, and songwriters of the era could continue to be heard.

The station streams 24 hours a day, sharing the timeless sounds of artists such as Glenn Miller, Benny Goodman, Tommy Dorsey, Duke Ellington, the Andrews Sisters, Frank Sinatra, and many others whose music helped shape the American sound.

But the station is about more than music.

Larry often refers to listeners as part of the Stateside Family—people who share memories, stories, and a love for the music that carried a nation through wartime and into a hopeful future.

Today, 40s Stateside Radio continues to grow as a gathering place for listeners around the country and around the world who appreciate the warmth, history, and spirit of the 1940s.

As Larry likes to say: 'If you’re listening to 40s Stateside Radio, you’re already part of the family. Thanks for being here.'