Why radio?

Music has been the soundtrack of my life from the very start. I vividly remember diving into my father’s record collection, losing myself in the sounds of legends like The Beatles, Chicago, Grand Funk Railroad, and The Guess Who. My passion for rock grew even stronger thanks to my neighbor’s older siblings, who insisted we crank up Queen, Kiss, and Van Halen.

When I finally got my hands on the car radio, it was like the universe was speaking to me—every station seemed to play the songs I loved, like they were meant just for me. And when my friends would visit, I couldn’t wait to show them what I knew about music, lifting the needle with a dime taped to it and placing it down seamlessly—I was already in radio training.

Why CLZ?

As I grew older and started exploring new music in the new wave, there was no denying the impact MTV had on my tastes. It introduced me to bands that weren’t getting much airplay on the stations I had access to, like Elvis Costello, XTC, and R.E.M. Yet, despite these new discoveries, the only place to truly feel the music was in my car, where I could crank up the volume and let the radio take over, spinning the classics I’d grown up with.

WCLZ takes me back to those days—where the familiar favorites played alongside emerging artists who would go on to become legends. It’s a perfect blend of nostalgia and discovery, and I’m happy to be spinning tunes there, and perhaps, be the part of someone else’s soundtrack.

What would people be most surprised to learn about you?

People are often surprised to learn that I’ve been teaching for over 30 years. My journey started in middle and high schools in Biddeford and Lewiston, and eventually led me to higher education. For the past 16 years, I’ve had the privilege of teaching at UNE and SMCC. When I mention to my students that I’m also a jock on WCLZ, they can definitely hear it in my voice, but it often leaves them a bit puzzled. They don’t always make the connection between my two worlds.

What was your first concert?

My first concert was in 1987 at the Cumberland County Civic Center, where ZZ Top and The Del Fuegos made a wave of sound that hit me like nothing I’d ever experienced before. The next day, I proudly wore my ZZ Top Afterburner t-shirt to school, still buzzing from the experience.