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Fundraising has been a staple of life at Minnesota Public Radio throughout its 

. But there's one bit of pledge drive banter that remains the stuff of legend.

When music and news shared a call sign


While making their fundraising pitch to listeners in 1974, morning music program host Garrison Keillor and then-MPR president Bill Kling paused to tease the audience about a new weekly music and comedy program MPR was about to debut.


And that's how "A Prairie Home Companion," a program that went on to attract millions of listeners for decades, was officially announced to the public.

To listen to their full discussion, click the audio player above.

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Sara Porter

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Fundraising has been a staple of life at Minnesota Public Radio throughout its 50 years on the air. But there's one bit of pledge drive banter that remains the stuff of legend.

Sometimes history is made during the fundraising breaks.

From the archives: MPR's president, Garrison Keillor discuss a new show

Garrison Keillor's final 'Prairie Home Companion'

How MPR unveiled 'A Prairie Home Companion' in 1974

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