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Now celebrating more than 15 years on the air, we are a listener-supported public radio station licensed to Detroit Classical and Jazz Educational Radio, LLC., and managed by <a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Detroit PBS</a>.  The station is located inside the <a href="http://dsa.schools.detroitk12.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Detroit School of Arts</a>, a public high school training young people for careers in performing, visual and media arts.

27777 Franklin Road, Suite 2500, Southfield, MI 48034

homberg

President and CEO

Rich Homberg

ollette-boyd

CFO/COO

Ollette Boyd

laura-brandt

VP, Operations

Laura Brandt

Ed Moore

VP, Content

Tracy Duda

VP, Human Resources

Ryan Laurie 02

VP, Development Operations

Ryan Laurie

Kathryn Baynes

Major Gifts Officer

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Bank of Ann Arbor logo

DSO Logo

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90.9 WRCJ is a non-commercial public radio station licensed to Detroit Classical and Jazz Educational Radio, LLC, and managed by the <a href="https://www.detroitpbs.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Detroit Educational Television Foundation (Detroit PBS)</a>.

Group 3451

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the world’s best classical and jazz music

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musical experiences for people of all ages

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artists and arts organizations with greater audiences

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people to attend live concerts and events

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<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.academyofearlymusic.org/">The Academy of Early Music</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.annarborago.org/">American Guild of Organists – Ann Arbor Chapter</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.detroitago.org/">American Guild of Organists – Detroit Chapter</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.a2so.org/">Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.chambermusicdetroit.org/">Chamber Music Society of Detroit</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.chambersoloistsdetroit.org/">Chamber Soloists of Detroit</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.dearbornsymphony.org/">Dearborn Symphony Orchestra</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.detroitconcertchoir.org/">Detroit Concert Choir</a></li>
<li><a href="http://detroitlutheransingers.com/">Detroit Lutheran Singers</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.dso.org/">Detroit Symphony Orchestra</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.fcbmusic.org/">Farmington Community Band</a></li>
<li><a href="http://gpsymphony.org/index.html">Grosse Pointe Symphony</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.macombsymphony.org/">Macomb Symphony Orchestra</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.michiganphil.org/">Michigan Philharmonic</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.oaklandchoralsociety.org/">Oakland Choral Society</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.promusicadetroit.com/">Pro Musica Society of Detroit</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.royaloakorchestra.org/">Royal Oak Symphony Orchestra</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.tuesdaymusicaleofdetroit.org/">Tuesday Musicale of Detroit</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.ums.org/">University Musical Society (UMS)</a></li>
</ul>

<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.thecarrcenter.org/">The Carr Center</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.scarabclub.org/events-programs-music">Chamber Music at the Scarab Club</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.dia.org/">Detroit Institute of Arts</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.detroitjazzfest.com/">Detroit International Jazz Festival</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.fordhouse.org/">Edsel &amp; Eleanor Ford House</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.louisa.michdar.net/">Louisa St. Clair Chapter of the D.A.R.</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.macombcenter.com/">Macomb Center for the Performing Arts</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.michiganbusiness.org/arts/">Michigan Arts and Culture Council</a></li>
<li><a href="https://michiganjazzfestival.org/wp/">Michigan Jazz Festival</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.motopera.org/">Michigan Opera Theatre</a></li>
<li><a href="https://michtheater.org/about">Michigan Theater Foundation</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.warmemorial.org/">The War Memorial</a></li>
</ul>

<ul>
<li><a href="http://christcd.org/">Christ Church Detroit</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.christchurchgp.org/">Christ Church Grosse Pointe</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.fpcro.org/">First Presbyterian Church of Royal Oak</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.fortstreet.org/chorale">Fort Street Chorale</a></li>
<li><a href="https://kirkinthehills.org/">Kirk in the Hills</a></li>
<li><a href="http://oldstmarysdetroit.com/">Old St. Mary’s Detroit</a></li>
</ul>

<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.bankofannarbor.com/">Bank of Ann Arbor</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.bcbsm.com/index/plans/michigan-health-insurance.html?WT.mc_id=SEM100017&amp;WT.srch=1&amp;gclid=CKTi887QprwCFStgMgodKVwA7w">Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.margots.com/">Margot European Day Spa</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.motorcitycasino.com/Home">Motor City Casino Hotel</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.music.umich.edu/index.php">University of Michigan, School of Music Theatre &amp; Dance</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.woodwardcamera.com/">Woodward Camera</a></li>
</ul>

<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.thecarrcenter.org/">Carr Center, The</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.detroitjazzfest.org/">Detroit Jazz Festival</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.dso.org/jazz">DSO Paradise Jazz Series </a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.greektowncasino.com/">Hollywood Casino at Greektown Hotel</a></li>
<li><a href="http://michiganjazzfestival.org/">Michigan Jazz Festival</a></li>
</ul>

<ul>
<li><a href="https://culturesource.org/">Culture Source</a></li>
<li><a href="https://inpactathome.umich.edu/">InPACT@Home</a></li>
<li><a href="https://kresge.org/">The Kresge Foundation</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.michiganhumane.org/">Michigan Humane</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.timothybogert.com/">Timothy Bogert</a></li>
</ul>

Stephen Danowski

Director, Business Development

Please support these 90.9 WRCJ partner organizations, just as they support public radio. Click on the organization’s name to view their website.

Dave Wagner is the host of the Morning Show and the Drive Time Elixir on 90.9. Other radio stations have included WQRS in Detroit, WGUC in Cincinnati, WTMI in Miami, WFLN in Philadelphia, KMZT in Los Angeles, KTIM in San Francisco, WBOQ in Gloucester/Boston, Classical Public Radio Network, and Public Radio International. Dave is also heard as the host of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra live broadcasts throughout the State of Michigan on the Michigan Classical Network, which includes WRCJ-FM, WKAR-FM, WMUK-FM, WCMU-FM, the radio stations of Interlochen Public Classical Radio and KMZT-FM in California.
David Wagner is a concert organist who has performed throughout the United States, in England, Wales, Scotland, Ireland, France, Hungary and in Russia. He holds the Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Michigan, where he studied with Marilyn Mason. In addition to his work as a solo performer, Wagner has also been organist and harpsichordist with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. Dave is the recipient of the Palmer Christian award from the University of Michigan School of Music, for postdoctoral achievement in the field of music performance, and the Arts Achievement Award from Wayne State University.

WRCJ Site-22-Dave Wagner Smiling control board background

Program Director/Host

Dave Wagner

Peter Whorf came home to Detroit in 2019, when he joined WRCJ as host of Midday Music. In a broadcasting career that has spanned three decades, Peter has hosted and produced music and news shows and held leadership positions at commercial and public radio stations across the country. These include WFMT and WBEZ in Chicago, WNYC in New York City and WXXI in Rochester, NY – where he earned his degree in violin performance from the Eastman School of Music. Peter has also served in managerial and on-air roles at the University of Missouri’s KBIA and as station manager at Michigan State University’s WKAR where his team earned the Michigan Association of Broadcasters Public Radio Station of the Year Award for 2018.
Musically, a lot has happened with Peter over the last couple years. He’s now a member of the Grosse Pointe Symphony Orchestra and has joined the string faculty at MSU’s Community Music School in Detroit.
Tune in weekdays at 10:00am to hear Peter play the hits and share musical insights with some of the top artists in classical music today. Recent conversations have included interviews with Hilary Hahn, Alisa Weilerstein, Sharon Isbin, Nicola Benedetti, DSO Music Director Jader Bignamini and Detroit OperaPresident Wayne Brown. Peter has also spent some time with Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan and Arts and Culture Director Rochelle Riley. And you’ll see Peter occasionally on Detroit Public Television’s One Detroit, where he serves as an arts and culture contributor.

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Director - Station Operations/Midday Host

Peter Whorf

I have been with WRCJ since 2007, and previously at WKRK Talk Radio and WMUZ The Light. I had never listened to classical music before—it always put me to sleep—but my very first day at WRCJ I was the only one in the office working and I kept hearing a drill and hammering. It sounded like there was some kind of work going on. I actually got up from my desk and walked out into the hall, only to see nothing. A few minutes later, I started hearing it again. Finally, it stopped. I didn’t want to say anything to anyone, didn’t want anyone to think I was crazy.  A few days later, I finally told someone about it—and low and behold, it’s CLASSICAL MUSIC. That got me to listen, and listen I do. I love being able to hear a piece and know where I heard it before or watch television and hear a piece and know who it is or the name of it.

Bridgette-Small

Operations Manager

Bridgette Blackburn

If Linda Yohn had a middle name, it would be “music”.  Her mother was an opera singer, pianist, and music teacher. Everyone in the family played an instrument and sang in church and at home. As Linda’s parents were of the “Greatest Generation”, swing and big band jazz were often on the hi-fi. This was how Linda’s early jazz love started. In the 1960s, Linda fell in love with Motown music and then with modern jazz after discovering it on late-night radio from Rochester, New York.
Linda Yohn now hosts WRCJ’s “Swing Set” on Sundays from 7 to 9 p.m.  It works well with WRCJ’s classical music. Linda keeps melody first and foremost as she mixes swinging music from the 1920s to the present. Another aspect of the program WRCJ listeners appreciate is that it is acoustic. You hear very little electric piano or electric bass in the mix. This attention to detail is subtle, but it holds the music together for two hours. Artists such as Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, Count Basie, Benny Goodman, Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Stan Kenton, and Oscar Peterson are on the playlist, along with current national and Detroit area musicians who bring a full sense of swing to their jazz.
Linda began hosting the “Swing Set” for WRCJ in September 2019, enjoying every minute of the privilege. Linda has enjoyed working professionally in music and radio since 1977. Her career began at WBBY in Westerville, Ohio. Her first public radio position was on WKSU at Kent State University where listeners in Cleveland and surrounding cities were captivated by her musical choices.  From WKSU, Linda moved to New York for two years to work as a publicist for Peter Levinson Communications. She represented Dr. Billy Taylor, The Village Vanguard, The Modern Jazz Quartet, Concord Jazz Records, Mel Tormé, and many others. In this position, she made professional friendships that she maintains today. In 1987, she happily returned to the Midwest to become Music Director for WEMU, Eastern Michigan University’s public radio station. With a great leadership team, Linda helped grow WEMU’s audience to become one of the nation’s most respected jazz and news public radio stations.
Linda knows there is more to radio than hiding in a studio and spinning songs. You must be in the community to know what listeners need and want. You must give back to the community. This is why Linda serves on the board of Vincent York’s Jazzistry and The Southeastern Michigan Jazz Association. She has worked as a stage manager for the Ann Arbor Summer Festival and consulted with the Detroit Jazz Festival, the Blue LLama Jazz Club, The University Musical Society, The Jazz Journalists Association, and JazzEd Detroit. Musicians turn to Linda for advice on new recordings, liner notes, reviews, hosting concerts, and moral support. She volunteers for Ypsilanti’s Riverside Arts Center, The Ypsilanti District Library, and The Lyman Woodard Organization for the Arts.
These efforts and dedication have not gone unnoticed. Linda has received numerous awards and accolades. JazzWeek, the national online jazz radio publication, has given her their “Presenter of the Year Award”, the “Lifetime Achievement Award” and the “Duke Dubois Jazz Humanitarian Award”. In 2019, the Michigan Association of Public Broadcasters gave Linda the “Public Media Impact Award”. She was the first woman music director to receive this dedication. The Southeastern Michigan Jazz Association gave her their highest honor: “The Ron Brooks Award for Service to the Jazz Community”. Linda was also recognized with two awards from the Jazz Journalists Association. In 2016, she received the “Willis Conover-Marian McPartland Award for Excellence in Jazz Broadcasting”, but Linda was most moved by the Jazz Journalists Association “Detroit Jazz Hero Award” in 2022. This award was conferred by Detroiters who, like Linda, love jazz and serving the jazz community. It is life-affirming to be recognized by community members.
Linda feels that listening to jazz is life-affirming. Its improvisation, honesty, communication, and emphasis on shared experiences can enhance your life. Linda loves life, music, and Detroit. As long as she is able, and WRCJ listeners welcome her, Linda will swing Sundays with the “Swing Set.”

Linda Yohn

Jazz Host

Michaels is a Detroit, Michigan-based broadcaster/communicator, talent booking agent, freelance entertainment writer and event planner. Michaels is passionate about all music and especially the genre of jazz. She is a music researcher and historian who is extremely knowledgeable of the music industry, as well as being an ambassador of goodwill in the city of Detroit.
Her most recent efforts to both entertain and educate music lovers utilizes the social media outlet of Facebook with daily contributions. The signature style and programming selections of Michaels is enjoyed by a huge list of friends and fans who span the globe. Michaels consistently reflects innovation with an uncanny ability to educate the masses about the rich history of jazz, cultural information and more.
From June 27, 2014, to December 2014, Maxine Michaels, in partnership with Briarwood Mall in Ann Arbor, treated shoppers to live performances, the feature Jazz to the Max (hosted by Maxine Michaels). These presentations showcased a long list of renowned Detroit based jazz artists, making it a great shopping destination, as well as an entertainment hub for the Ann Arbor community.
In June 2014, thousands of Hour Detroit magazine readers went on the record with their picks for the “Best of Detroit”, voting as number one winner in the People Section – Maxine Michaels as Best DJ (Non-Radio). This feature article is printed in the June issue of Hour Detroit magazine.
Michaels is a graduate of Specs Howard School of Broadcast Arts and has since gone on to develop an outstanding reputation for excellence in broadcasting, an exquisite fine taste for jazz, and she has ultimately created a high degree of name recognition.
Maxine Michaels entered her broadcasting career as a hardworking and focused intern at WJZZ (a heritage jazz radio station once licensed in Detroit). After graduating at the top of her class with numerous awards and accolades, her first assignment was as a midday news writer/reporter and ghost writer for Martha Jean “The Queen” Steinberg. Michaels also assisted in the production of Detroit Black Journal WTVS-56, as well the talk segment “Back To Back.” In the early stage of her broadcast career, she worked at WDZZ-Flint, and hit the pavement running again as an on-air personality in the Detroit market at Mix 92.3 Hits &amp; Oldies. Her interest in jazz was further enhanced on V98.7 Smooth Jazz hosting nights and evenings, and it was during this period she began to truly establish a presence in the community. Michaels became comfortable taking center stage, serving as emcee for many events and making countless appearances representing the station in the highest standard.
The next level of her growth in radio came at the calling of WGPR 107.5 Program Director, Rosetta Hines (formerly of WJZZ), who recruited Michaels as an evening talent, hand-picked to focus exclusively on a jazz and rhythm &amp; blues format. Michaels again displayed tremendous talent, having free rein to program her own jazz-centered radio show in a competitive, major broadcasting market. In 2002, Michaels was voted as the Detroit News, Readers’ Choice Award Winner – Best Radio Voice/Best Radio Show.
It was during this period that Michaels, spear-headed the Northland Jazz Series (a free to the public, 5-year run series that brought live jazz to the open courtyard at Northland Mall). In addition, Michaels became a solid live jazz producer, promoter and host at numerous venues. It has been through these ventures and many others that Michaels has gained valuable insights into promotions, generating funding, imaging and branding.
Maxine Michaels takes great pride in having given many Detroit-based music artists their first radio airplay, and she has consistently stood as an advocate in support of Detroit area music makers and increasing public awareness of talent through live jazz performances.

Maxine 2016

Maxine Michaels

John Penney was born and raised in Ithaca, New York, and began hosting and programming weekly jazz and folk music programs on student owned commercial radio station WVBR-FM at the age of 15.
In 1967, WVBR became one of the first FM radio stations in the country to program “progressive rock.” John was instrumental in the creation of the format and became one of WVBR’s most popular on-air personalities, frequently featuring live studio performances on his show. He served as Music Director beginning in 1970, and continued to program jazz, folk, and rock programs through 1971.
In 1978, at the age of 25, John became the National Promotion Director of Amherst Records in Buffalo, New York, where he was instrumental in establishing the career of the platinum selling band Spyro Gyra. He also became the most popular jazz host on public radio WBFO, as measured by Arbitron and listener donations.
In 1984, John moved to Detroit as the Michigan Regional Representative for Action, and in 1989, was hired by Warner Elektra Atlantic as a sales rep. During his 15-year career with WEA, John gained a national reputation as a creative and innovative marketer, among other things designing and executing the company’s first regional catalog promotion with Wal-Mart, which was used to leverage the first national event.
John joined the air staff of public radio WDET-FM in Detroit in 1986, as host of a music variety program. John pioneered the concept of presenting “all the varieties of music” in such a way as to demonstrate the continuity between diverse musical forms by making the connection between current and historic recordings. His program became one of the most popular on the air.
John is a popular and sought-after MC for live events, and for years was a fixture on stage at the Detroit Jazz Festival in Hart Plaza. He helped to create an innovative format for radio broadcasts of the festival and served as national co-anchor for five years.  John began his association with the AMRF in 2004, when Ron Harwood asked him to MC the 6th Annual Motor City Boogie Woogie and Blues Festival. He became Consultant/Director in September of 2005. John is also collaborating with Ron on a book about the life and times of classic blues singer Sippie Wallace and her siblings.

AboutStaff-JohnPenney

John Penney

You&#8217;ve heard Christa Grix many times on 90.9 WRCJ &#8211; as a music show host, voice of numerous special features, and during our on-air fund raising campaigns. Christa also serves as our Music Director and creates our weekday classical music playlists.
Some of Christa’s fondest childhood memories revolve around radio – in fact, she can’t remember a time when radio wasn’t a part of her life. As a child, she ate breakfast listening to J.P. McCarthy. Karl Haas introduced her to classical music, and she spent many late nights listening to Ernie Harwell give the Tigers play by play on her transistor. As a young music professional, she was devoted to WQRS, listening and learning from Carl Grapentine and “Mr. Music” himself, Dave Wagner. Her friend, the late, great Chris Felcyn, with his masterful wit and dry sense of humor, taught her that virtuosity can not only be found on the concert stage, but also in the broadcast booth. Every one of these icons fashioned her belief that radio is a vibrant and engaging art form that reaches out from the broadcast studio, connecting and captivating its listeners like no other medium.
Christa has been a highly respected free-lance harpist in the Detroit area for decades, playing with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra as well as for shows at the Fox Theatre, the Detroit Opera House, Music Hall, and for countless weddings, and other special events. Christa lives in Northville, and is a passionate advocate for gardening with native plants to help restore biodiversity in Michigan.

Christa Grix box

Music Director

Christa Grix

Adam Hinton graduated from the University of Michigan with a degree in Communications &#8211; Electronic Media and began his radio career at 94.7 FM WCSX.
Adam joined WRCJ in 2010, and was originally hired to work in the music library but now also does audio production, board operation, audience communications, social media, website management, technical support and more.
He learned much about live radio and classical music from the late, great Chris Felcyn and Jack Goggin.

Adam

Content Coordinator

Adam Hinton

Ms. Cecelia Sharpe, a graduate of Wayne State University, has been teaching and advocating for youth and the arts for 15 years. In addition to her role as a cellist, educator and advocate for youth and the arts, Ms. Sharpe has a passion for radio.
Since 2014, she has been sharing her voice on 90.9. Cecelia serves as a guest host for the station and produces her program “Live with C#”.
On “Live with C#”, Cecelia highlights a well-rounded and diverse variety of Classical (and sometimes Jazz) music, artists, composers, conductors, and ensembles.
As a radio host, C. Sharpe (C#) aims to make Classical music relevant to her Listener. Cecelia enjoys researching music and finding out interesting facts to connect the Listener to the music. She seeks to engage her listener in many ways, whether it’s by interviewing guests, on social media, or in person at various events!
Ms. Sharpe would not be on the air if it were not for two very special people. She is humbly honored to have been trained by two of the best men in radio: Dr. Dave Wagner and the late Chris Felcyn. During the time that Cecelia served as Manager of Education Programs for the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, she advocated for the support of WRCJ during their annual Pledge Drives. It was at this time that Dave and Chris noticed her potential for radio. Chris and Dave nurtured and fostered the growth of Cecelia as a newcomer to radio and encouraged her to find her “own voice”. She is grateful that they both chose to share their wisdom, skill, talent, and time with her. Dr. Dave and Chris will forever be C. Sharpe’s “Godfathers of Radio.”
Cecelia continues to learn from and be inspired by ALL of the incredible men and women in the 90.9 Family. Since joining the 90.9 Team, Ms. Sharpe’s love for radio has opened doors to new opportunities, including performing as narrator with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra and serving as host for the Pro Musica Detroit Live virtual concert series. C. Sharpe is proud to be a part of the 90.9 Team and is most appreciative to the Dear Listener.
Factoids about C. Sharpe
<ul>
<li>Must Haves While on the Air: Hot Tea, a Stack of Discs, and Lip Gloss.</li>
<li>When C. Sharpe is not on the air, she is in the air! Ms. Sharpe has incorporated her love for travel and people into a career as a flight attendant.</li>
<li>Sharpe is an absolute foodie, always trying something new.</li>
<li>Cecelia taught orchestra for about two weeks at a summer camp in Jacmel, Haiti.  While teaching, Ms. Sharpe became the student and learned a lot from her young “teachers”.</li>
<li>Sharpe is attempting to learn how to roller-skate.  Don’t worry, she wears knee pads!</li>
<li>Sharpe has performed in Zaragoza, Spain, St. Etienne, France, and at the Apollo Theater in Harlem, New York.</li>
<li>Cecelia had the honor of presenting the “Art of Resilience” Award to one of her beloved mentors, Mr. Marcus Belgrave.  That same summer Cecelia was the recipient of the “I Am Resilient” Award.  Both awards were given by the Star Commonwealth Organization.</li>
</ul>
Big Goal: Positively impact the world through her voice, arts education, music, and service to others.

C# 5

Producer/Host

Cecelia Sharpe

Davis Gloff is a singer, actor, pianist, poet, composer and any number of other things. He has appeared in several films, including small parts in &#8220;Gran Torino&#8221; with Clint Eastwood and &#8220;This must be the Place&#8221; with Sean Penn.
Davis started his career as an opera and concert singer (which he still does) and then moved into television and radio commercials, along with being a classical music host on 90.9 WRCJ. He has written poetry, always to a form, including over 250 sonnets, and a number of triolets, because it&#8217;s fun.

Davis Gloff Box

Guest Host

Davis Gloff

Carl Grapentine is known to Detroit&#8217;s long-time classical listeners as the morning host on WQRS in the 1970s and 80s, where he worked with Dave Wagner and Jack Goggin. He then enjoyed 33 more years at WFMT, Chicago&#8217;s classical radio station, before retiring and relocating to Michigan.
You can hear Carl on football Saturdays in Ann Arbor where he is the PA voice of Michigan Stadium. Carl is happy to fill in for any of WRCJ&#8217;s regular announcers for a few days &#8220;&#8230;until I remember that I like being retired!&#8221; And we are happy to have him available.

AboutStaff-CarlGrapentine

Carl Grapentine

Ron Nolan Box

Ron Nolan

Bill McGlaughlin’s introduction to music came late; he was fourteen before he took his first piano lessons. &#8220;Happily, I understood immediately what a wonderful thing I’d stumbled into. I can remember thinking as I walked away from my second piano lesson — &#8216;Well, that’s it. I’ll be a musician&#8217;. Of course, I had no idea what that decision meant exactly.&#8221;
Over the years, McGlaughlin was to discover that &#8220;being a musician&#8221; could embrace a great many paths. He has served as an educator, as a performer— a trombonist with the Philadelphia Orchestra and Pittsburgh Symphony, and as a conductor — seven years as Associate Conductor with the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, followed by periods as music director of orchestras in Eugene, Tucson and San Francisco, and most recently, a twelve-year engagement as Music Director of the Kansas City Symphony. He has also been active as a guest conductor, leading the Baltimore Symphony, Denver Symphony, Houston Symphony, Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, Minnesota Orchestra, National Symphony, New Orleans Symphony, Oregon Symphony, Pacific Symphony, Pittsburgh Symphony, St. Louis Symphony, Opera Theatre St. Louis, American Music Theater Festival and San Antonio Festival.
McGlaughlin has also been active in broadcasting, serving as host of the popular public radio program St. Paul Sunday since its inception in 1980. In 1996, the program received the highest honor in broadcasting, the George Foster Peabody Award.
McGlaughlin has worked with PBS, the BBC and as co-host of the chamber music program &#8220;Center Stage from Wolf Trap&#8221;. In November 2002, the NEA announced a special grant to the WFMT Radio Network to fund the development of a new daily program: &#8220;Exploring Music with Bill McGlaughlin&#8221;, which began syndication on October 6, 2003. Exploring Music plays in two hundred markets across the country, as well as in Australia and New Zealand. Bill McGlaughlin is also the host of Concerts from the Library of Congress.

AboutStaff-BillMcGlaughlin

Classical Host

Bill McGlaughlin

Dee Alexander is one of Chicago’s most gifted and respected vocalists/songwriters. Her musical interests span virtually every genre—especially those related to the African diaspora, including Gospel, R&amp;B, Blues, Neo-soul and other global musical forms. Her true heart and soul though, are ultimately expressed in their purest form through her explorations in “jazz”, the one idiom that can encompass all her interests and influences. Ms. Alexander gravitated toward this musical form at an early age. She names Sarah Vaughan, Billie Holiday, Nina Simone and Ella Fitzgerald among her many major influences. Chicago saxophonist “Light” Henry Huff, was also profoundly influential on her by encouraging the taking of risks and the crossing of boundaries, setting her on a path that has allowed her to emerge as one of the celebrated vocal improvisers on the scene today. From a sultry traditional ballad to a contemporary jazz-funk groove, a high-flying swing, or scat-filled romp, Alexander delivers each style with a passion and love of music that comes across in each and every note, and with a style and grace that is truly her own.
In addition to being a seasoned headliner in her own right, she has also shared the stage with Ahmad Jamal, David Sanborn, Earl Klugh, Gerald Albright, Roy Ayers, Joshua Redman, and Oliver Lake, to name a few. Avoiding the inclination to seek to monopolize the spotlight, Ms. Alexander has lent her considerable talents as a back-up vocalist to the live performances of many other well-known artists such as Melissa Etheridge, Michael Bolton, Phil Perry and Willie Clayton. Dee Alexander leads a quartet under her own name and has also established the Evolution Ensemble, an acoustic group consisting of string and percussion instruments that puts a strong emphasis on original compositions.
The Chicago group &#8220;Women Driving Excellence&#8221; honored Alexander as one of 2016’s Trailblazing Women. In 2012, she received the prestigious 3Arts Award in music and in 2011, the NAACP honored her for outstanding achievements in the arts. She was honored in 2009, by Muntu Dance Theatre of Chicago as the Alyo Awardee for Outstanding Service to the Arts.
Chicago magazine named her “Best Chicago Vocalist” in its July 2009 issue. Ms. Alexander received the 2007 Chicagoan of the Year in Jazz Award and in 2008–10 Jazz Entertainer of the Year from the Chicago Music Awards. She is a longstanding member of the Chicago chapter of the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians (AACM) and Chamber Music America. There is seemingly at this point no end in sight for Dee Alexander’s celebrated musical journey exploration on which she is so generously taking us all along with her.

AboutStaff-DeeAlexander

Producer/Host, Jazz Network

Dee Alexander

As a Jazz radio host, producer, Program or Music Director for commercial and public Jazz radio stations, Chicago native John Hill has gained over 35 years of Jazz radio experience.
His broadcast career started in Nashville, Tennessee, at Fisk University, where he was instrumental in putting their Jazz-formatted radio station on the air. Afterward he served Detroit’s WJZZ as a staff announcer and Music Director for nearly a decade.
John’s next opportunity brought him back home to Chicago, programming the popular Jazz and Gospel formatted WBEE radio in suburban Harvey, IL, serving Chicago’s south-side.
Currently employed at Northern Illinois University’s News and Blues-formatted WNIJ, John feels extremely fortunate to reprise the relationship with Jazz he describes as a “calling.”
“Ever since, out of sheer curiosity, I bought an Ahmad Jamal LP from a neighborhood grocery store rack and discovered Jazz art, or maybe it was first hearing Nancy Wilson during one of [legendary Chicago Jazz radio announcer] Daddy-O Daylie’s shows…when the opportunity came to play this great music on the radio, it was really like the fulfillment of a dream. So now, joining the WFMT Jazz Network is both a privilege and a real pleasure.”

AboutStaff-JohnHill

John Hill

Jana Lee Ross is a lifelong pianist and vocalist with a repertoire that blurs the lines between classical music and jazz. Unifying these two art forms is the overall arch of her career as a performer, composer and broadcaster. Jana Lee worked her way up from the long dark jazz night of the graveyard shift disc jockey as host of Jazz Beyond Midnight to become Director of Music for Classical 88.7 KCME in Colorado Springs. Capping off her 20‐year stay at KCME, she steered the launch of KCME’s sister station, Jazz 93.5, while still wearing her classical hat. Jana Lee has produced the weekly programs Ladies Who Lunch, which highlights the accomplishments of women in classical music, and The Bridge, which explored music and musicians that cross the bridge between classical music and jazz. Always up for a little retro fun, her nightly Bachelor Pad Cocktail Hour was a listener favorite.
In addition to her broadcasting work, Jana Lee Ross has a thriving performance career. She is in demand as a pianist and vocalist, incorporating Bach, BeBop, Bill Evans, and David Bowie into her personalized sound. She works regularly throughout Colorado as a sideman, accompanist, and music director. Between gigs as a honky‐tonk barroom groover and five‐star‐resort ivory‐tickler, she leads her own “punk jazz” combo, Jana Lee and the Powers That Be.
At the heart of Jana Lee’s love of jazz is a fascination with how this art form reveals the players’ musical lineage and expresses the individual’s soul. Respect for the past, an eye toward the future, and playing rooted firmly in the present moment—that is her favorite sound.

AboutStaff-JanaLeeRoss

Jana Lee Ross

Born and raised in Northwest Indiana, very near Chicago, Dave Schwan has been around music all of his life. Thanks to musical family members, Dave was exposed to jazz as early as age five and never looked back.
While playing and performing music on an amateur level, Dave has had a life-long fascination with the history of jazz, American music and its contributions to the world. Dave believes that jazz is a true art form and agrees with Duke Ellington’s dictum: “If it sounds good, it is good.” He has worked as a broadcast journalist and program host for nearly 40 years and has been associated with Chicago’s WFMT-FM since 2010.
In addition to music, travel is one of his main interests and that has taken him to all 50 U.S. states, Europe and Peru. Along with taking in the history of these places, Dave has always made a point to seek out their musical culture as well, something that never fails to enhance a journey anywhere in the world.

AboutStaff-DaveSchwan

Dave Schwan

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The primary source of our annual operating budget is voluntary contributions from loyal listeners like you. 90.9 WRCJ receives no ongoing funding from the State of Michigan, City of Detroit or Detroit Classical and Jazz Educational Radio, LLC. We thank you for your support!

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90.9 WRCJ’s vision is to provide an unparalleled selection of classical and jazz music programs to entertain listeners and increase music literacy. Additionally, the station is committed to partnering with cultural and educational institutions to help them achieve their goals.

The primary source of our annual operating budget is voluntary contributions from loyal listeners like you.
90.9 WRCJ receives no ongoing funding from
<ul>
<li>the State of Michigan,</li>
<li>City of Detroit or</li>
<li>Detroit Classical and Jazz Educational Radio, LLC.</li>
</ul>
We thank you for your support!WRCJ 90.9 FM is Detroit’s ONLY classical and jazz radio station. Now celebrating more than 15 years on the air, we are a listener-supported public radio station licensed to Detroit Classical and Jazz Educational Radio, LLC., and managed by <a href="http://www.dptv.org/">Detroit Public Television</a> and the <a href="http://www.dptv.org/aboutus/leadership.shtml?cmpgn=mn#trustees" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Detroit Educational Television Foundation Board of Trustees</a>.  The station is located inside the <a href="http://dsa.schools.detroitk12.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Detroit School of Arts</a>, a public high school training young people for performing, visual, and media arts careers.
<h2>Our Vision</h2>
WRCJ’s vision is to provide an unparalleled selection of classical and jazz music programs to entertain listeners.
The Station is partnering with cultural and educational institutions to help them achieve their goals.
WRCJ 90.9 FM Mission 
– Present the world’s best classical and jazz music 
– Provide musical experiences for people of all ages 
– Connect artists and arts organizations with more significant audiences 
– Encourage people to attend live concerts and events 
– Promote arts education
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WRCJ-FM" target="_blank" rel="noopener">WRCJ 90.9 FM</a> receives no ongoing funding from the State of Michigan, the City of Detroit, or Detroit <a href="https://wordpress.wrcjfm.org/schedule/">Classical</a> and Jazz Educational Radio, LLC. The primary source of our annual operating budget is voluntary contributions from listeners like you. Thank you!
<h2>90.9 WRCJ is Detroit’s ONLY classical and jazz radio station.</h2>
Now celebrating more than 15 years on the air, we are a listener-supported public radio station licensed to Detroit Classical and Jazz Educational Radio, LLC., managed by <a href="http://www.dptv.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Detroit Public Television</a> and the <a href="http://www.dptv.org/aboutus/leadership.shtml?cmpgn=mn#trustees" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Detroit Educational Television Foundation Board of Trustees</a>.  The station is located inside the <a href="http://dsa.schools.detroitk12.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Detroit School of Arts</a>, a public high school training young people for performing, visual, and media arts careers.

Best classical and jazz music | WRCJ 90.9 FM

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