advertisement

Radio show reignites passion for music

We all remember the great song by Don McLean called "American Pie" which was about the plane crash that took the lives of Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and The Big Bopper (J.P. Richardson Jr.).

As the lyrics go "I can't remember if I cried, when I read about his widowed bride, but something touched me deep inside, the day the music died."

Why do I bring this up more than 45 years after the song was released you ask? The day I started hosting on Huntley Community Radio, Oct. 31, 2012, was the day the music came alive for me.

My story and opportunity are almost too random to believe. My career was due for a change. I couldn't make the grind of the five-hour daily commute from Huntley to Chicago anymore. It was not fair to my wife and not fair to my children. I needed a new career, I needed a new passion in my life.

It was originally my son who brought up the idea to start a radio show. I am not sure why he suggested this as my broadcasting experience was limited to a couple of stints at a college radio station in the 1980s.

On Oct. 31, 2012, my radio career was born. It was not a great start as Huntley Community Radio relegated the show to the 11:30 p.m. slot.

But a few months into it, things started moving in the right direction. Today, the show "2 Dudes and The Duchess" is in its fourth year with 625 episodes. We are now on twice a day, 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. Also, I have had the opportunity to be the anchor of the Huntley Community Radio Evening News every night at 6 p.m. In addition to a 1970s music show and color-coordinator of Huntley High School football games, I have circled the wagons at the station.

Why is my story important? Maybe it is not, but I am telling it because there are 50 other people at Huntley Community Radio who also have stories. Stories that come out in their shows or just hanging around the studio.

This station has been a golden opportunity for people to rekindle experiences from their youth and create magic that can be shared with an entire community.

"And I knew if I had my chance, that I could make those people dance and maybe they'd be happy for a while."

Article Comments
Guidelines: Keep it civil and on topic; no profanity, vulgarity, slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about tragedies will be blocked. If a comment violates these standards or our terms of service, click the "flag" link in the lower-right corner of the comment box. To find our more, read our FAQ.