For this year’s WVYL broadcast, I will be spinning records from my personal collection, sharing selections drawn from some of my favorite genres. The show will reflect the music that has shaped my listening life, with each track chosen from records that mean something to me and that I am excited to share with others.

Radio matters because it has a unique ability to bring people together. There is something special about listening to a broadcast that is unfolding in real time, knowing that others are hearing the same songs and stories at that exact moment. It creates a sense of community and shared experience that few other mediums can match, and that feeling of connection is what makes radio so powerful.

Many different artists have shaped my musical tastes over the years. Daft Punk first opened the door to so much of the music I now love. I am also deeply inspired by Electric Light Orchestra and the inventive songwriting and production of Jeff Lynne. The funk brilliance of Heatwave and songwriter Rod Temperton continues to stand out, while Bee Geeshelped spark my appreciation for disco and 1970s pop. Other favorites include America, whose catalog from the 1970s remains one of my most cherished collections, the meticulous musicianship of Steely Dan, the spiritually reflective music of Love Song, and the work of Wings, whose music reflects the enduring creativity of Paul McCartney.