On a summer morning in 1929, a young man perched atop a 15-foot ladder became the voice of something far greater than anyone realized. In a modest studio at KZN in Salt Lake City, nineteen-year-old Ted Kimball announced songs by Wagner and Mendelssohn, his microphone dangled from the ceiling and wired a full city block back to the control room. As The Tabernacle Choir performed below, Ted leaned and adjusted the mic, following the ebb and swell of each section’s harmonies. It was raw, it was ambitious—and it worked.

Despite audible conductor taps and shuffling feet, the broadcast sparked praise from NBC’s president. His note read simply: “Eagerly awaiting your next.” That next became a weekly ritual.

Now, nearly a century later, what began as a scrappy technical experiment has blossomed into a broadcast phenomenon. On Sunday, July 13, 2025, Music & the Spoken Word will air its 5,000th consecutive weekly broadcast, marking a milestone unmatched in network history. This enduring half-hour program, featuring the world-renowned Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square, blends stirring musical arrangements with a short, inspirational message—each carefully selected to reflect the moment and uplift the spirit.

Whether it’s a classic hymn, a cinematic favorite, or a slice of sacred choral tradition, the program reaches more than 5 million listeners and viewers each week, carried across radio, television, cable stations, and streamed online through the Choir’s website and YouTube channel.

Music & the Spoken Word airs every Sunday on KNCT at 9:20 a.m., keeping Central Texas tuned in to timeless inspiration and musical excellence.

This milestone isn’t just a celebration of broadcast longevity—it’s a tribute to the art of thoughtful communication and the power of consistency in an ever-changing media landscape. From Ted Kimball’s ladder-bound mic checks to today’s high-definition global reach, Music & the Spoken Word stands as a testament to the quiet brilliance of doing something meaningful, week after week.