Radio Show History
Trisha Yearwood’s “The Song Remembers When” (3rd song in this Old Cars, Strong Hearts ‘CD Showcase Memories’ artist spotlight entry) is the inspiration for my radio show theme: “…because a song remembers when”.
You can see & hear me on the 11/22/2022 “Chamber Chat” episode (starting around the 31 minute mark), the radio program of the Elgin Area Chamber on Elgin IL’s WRMN 1410 AM.
College Days
My broadcasting career started during my sophomore year at Manchester College.
I hosted “The Saturday Evening Mostly Country Music Show” for three years (September 1993 to May 1996) & “CD Showcase” for one semester (Spring 1996) on my college’s radio station, WBKE 89.5 FM, North Manchester IN.
To say I enjoyed this time on the air would be an understatement. In my last few broadcasts, I realized that some day I had to get back on the radio because I love spinning tunes that most radio stations have forgotten.
Fun fact: the “E” in WBKE is for Mike “Doc” Emrick, the famed hockey announcer, who earned a degree at Manchester in 1968. Emrick was one of three station managers included in the call letters .
Check out these links for my college radio show information-notes & playlists:
1993-1994 “Saturday Evening Mostly Country Music Show”
1993-1996 “Saturday Evening Mostly Country Music Show”
1995 “Saturday Evening Mostly Country Music Show”
1996 WEEKDAY “CD Showcase”
1996 “Saturday Evening Mostly Country Music Show”
Hometown Shows
Later, my radio show history continued 10 years after my last college broadcast, when I started hosting “CD Showcase”, a brokered show (I paid them to be on the air), on my hometown radio station, WRMN 1410 AM, Elgin IL.
Between April 2006 & December 2011, I broadcasted several live shows from the downtown studio, including live Holiday editions on Christmas Eve.
I was thrilled to broadcast live across the country and globe this time around. The interaction with listeners via email and on-air shoutouts was awesome. Plus, I was able to spark lots of memories for many people, while exposing fans of other genres to new songs & memories.
Check out these links for hometown radio show information-notes, interaction-comments from listeners, & playlists:
2006 “CD Showcase”
2007 “CD Showcase”
2008 “CD Showcase”
2009 “CD Showcase”
2010 “CD Showcase”
2010 “CD Showcase” — Holiday
2011 “CD Showcase” — Holiday
Community Radio
My radio show history continued when I volunteer hosted “CD Showcase” weekly, from May to December 2019, on WHRU-LP 101.5 FM, Huntley IL.
Since these shows were not live, I did not have immediate interaction with listeners. Even so, I enjoyed recording the shows at the station’s studio and hearing myself on the radio, once even in my 2003 Mercury Grand Marquis LS while I was out driving.
Check out this link for community radio show information-notes & playlists:
2019 “CD Showcase”
Return To Hometown
A new edition of my radio show history began September 2024 when “CD SHOWCASE” returned to the LIVE airwaves of my hometown radio station, WRMN 1410 AM, Elgin IL.
In early 2024, WRMN got new ownership, which wanted more local programming. Several meetings in early-mid 2024 led to a signed contract in July, but changes and updates at the station delayed the re-debut date. Remix Market Chicago & Junkluggers Chicago NW are sponsors of the 11/28, 11/30, 12/07, 12/14, 12/21 & 12/28/2024 broadcasts. Read more of the details in the original 2024 page.
Check out these links for the new-edition hometown radio show information-notes, interaction-comments from listeners, & playlists:
2024 “CD Showcase”
2024 “CD Showcase” — Holiday
Radio Show Tidbits
Complete list of links for radio show information, interaction from listeners, & playlists:
1993-1994 “Saturday Evening Mostly Country Music Show”
1993-1996 “Saturday Evening Mostly Country Music Show”
1995 “Saturday Evening Mostly Country Music Show”
1996 WEEKDAY “CD Showcase”
1996 “Saturday Evening Mostly Country Music Show”
2006 “CD Showcase”
2007 “CD Showcase”
2008 “CD Showcase”
2009 “CD Showcase”
2010 “CD Showcase”
2010 “CD Showcase” — Holiday
2011 “CD Showcase” — Holiday
2019 “CD Showcase”
2024 “CD Showcase”
2024 “CD Showcase” — Holiday