KCRW (89.9 FM) has turned over most of its schedule today to specials on American music, leading this morning with the stories of Sly Stone and Paul Simon, followed by Nina Simone, Fats Waller, Bob Wills, Patti LaBelle and Santana. At 6 pm is Gerald Zellinger's hour-long documentary on Columbia Square, the former Hollywood home of radio on CBS.

It's author day at KPCC (89.3 FM.) Larry Mantle is talking this morning to writers of new books on religion in the U.S., Harriet Tubman and Billy the Kid. Patt Morrison talks at 2 pm to the authors of books on Abe Lincoln, Richard Nixon and historical border-shaper Andrew Ellicott.