30 YEARS

Thirty years... they go faster than you might believe.

Thirty years ago today... January 5th... my homegrown Rock 'n' Roll program debuted on WCIC-13 in Ithaca, New York. It ran from 11:30 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. on a Friday night.

In honor of gritty New Wave music popular at the time, I called it "Punk-Out!"

My work at the station began in late 1978, through 'The Learning Web' apprenticeship program of Cornell University. But a personal dream of broadcasting adventure soon carried me to the next level - hosting my own show.

I had nothing more than an armload of vinyl albums, and a belly full of desire. Yet the idea worked. From the beginning, it attracted lots of attention from the community.

Eventually, the show featured a boisterous crew of local celebrities like Manic McManus, Neon Diamond, Joshua Fried, and Mark Lebowitz. Also present was a live studio audience. Phone callers were numerous as well, sometimes approaching one hundred per night. I hosted the program through February of 1980.

It was a hands-on learning adventure. One that reverberates with meaning, even today.